Chelsea Handler has less to be bitter about these days, but that won’t stop the comedian from bringing her signature wit to Comedy Works this weekend.
“Now more than ever female comedians are getting out there and saying the things they want to,” said Handler, a “Tonight Show” correspondent, star of her own E! Network show and author.
We spoke with Handler about her recent successes, the state of comedy for women and why her favorite humor deals with her own failures.
Q: You’re not afraid to mock yourself on your E! show, like in the yoga segment. I think you know what I’m talking about.
A: Every good comedian has a sense of humor about his or herself, but I really don’t mind looking or sounding goofy. My humor comes from me constantly making a fool out of myself and getting into these situations.
Q: Do you think the taboo of female comedians being “unladylike,” from Sarah Silverman to Lisa Lampanelli, has sort of a cultural cachet?
A: I think it’s not as much of an issue. Women are getting away with so much more than ever before. You look at people like that (or us) going out and saying things that 10 or 15 years ago we weren’t able to get away with.
Q: So you think it works in your favor?
A: There is a stigmatism to it. Some people are totally put off by it.
Q: You poke fun on one of your shows about being a triple threat, but you really have found success with your books, TV shows and stand-up.
A: I didn’t plan on any of this, and the fact that I’m an author is the biggest joke ever. The fact that I’m publishing my second book this summer is an even bigger joke.
Q: Your family must be proud, though.
A: They’re just like, “What?” The first time I told my brother and sister I got a book deal they said, “About what?” I said, “The important thing is that I’m an author, and you guys need to start respecting me.” They’re all lawyers, doctors, nurses, accountants, chefs.
Q: Did they not believe in you before this?
A: I think they were like, “Who would have thought the one that was the biggest disaster growing up managed to make a career out of it?”
Q: You do a lot of TV, from the Oxygen show “Girls Behaving Badly” to appearances on “The View” and “Scarborough Country.” What else is planned?
A: Well, E! just ordered 30 episodes of “The Chelsea Handler Show.” We start shooting in June and will probably add a radio element … maybe even put out a CD.
Q: What inspires you more than anything else?
A: Grey Goose (vodka), and little people that have a weight problem.
Chelsea Handler plays Comedy Works tonight-Saturday.
Staff writer John Wenzel can be reached at 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com.
