After encouragement from friends, the comic pursued a stand-up career in her early years and performed in venues around Los Angeles.
Michael Schwartz/WireImageHow the actress-turned-comedian forged an unlikely path to become television’s late-night queen and a primetime producer.
2002: My Wife and Kids
As a struggling actress, Handler played a number of bit parts, including a short stint on the ABC comedy starring Damon Wayans and Tisha Campbell-Martin.
2002: Stand-up Comedian
After encouragement from friends, the comic pursued a stand-up career in her early years and performed in venues around Los Angeles.
2002: Girls Behaving Badly
Handler beat out heavy competition to land a recurring role on Oxygen’s Girls Behaving Badly, where five women prank unsuspecting victims.
2002: E! Commentator
The funny lady became a regular commentator on E!, hosting many of its “Best of” programs as well as the MSNBC opinion/analysis show Scarborough Country.
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2006: Chelsea Handler Show
Handler debuted the Friday night sketch-comedy series on E!, spoofing celebrities, TV and the entertainment industry.
2007: Chelsea Lately
E!’s late-night half-hour talk show, which draws 1 million viewers, mixed a cocktail of stand-up, pop-culture gossip reports and celebrity interviews.
2010: MTV Video Music Awards
The comic was panned for her hosting gig, but it drew more than 11 million viewers and became the network’s third-most-watched telecast.
2011: After Lately
A reality-inspired sitcom that claims to re-enact behind-the-scenes moments from the Chelsea Lately writing team has been picked up for a second season on E!
2011: Feature Films
Handler landed a small cameo in Universal’s 2011 hybrid-animated Easter bunny flick Hop and a role in Fox’s upcoming action-comedy This Means War.
2012: Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea
The NBC comedy, set to air as a midseason replacement, shares the same name as her best-seller and is loosely based on Handler’s life.
