A FBvian who used to work here reminds me that Eric Celeste not that long ago interviewed Ms. Handler for an online-only story, the full text of which follows after the jump. But she mentioned the Dallas lesbians back then, too.
Better Lately Than Never
Hide the Children. Chelsea Handler Hits on Dallas May 2.
By Eric Celeste
Chelsea Handler is not hard to find on the Internet. The wonderfully saucy comedian has clips all over YouTube, most from her late-night E! Network talk show, Chelsea Lately. There’s the clip of her showing how she sexually harasses her staff (here), her attempt at a stripper-style workout class (here), or even her recent Letterman appearance, where she proves she’s now funnier than the once-king of late-night television (here).
She is, however, hard to find in real life. That’s because she’s so busy filming her five-night-a-week show, promoting her just-released book, Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea, and touring her stand-up act. (She appears in Dallas on May 2 at the Lakewood Theater.) In fact, we caught up with her five minutes before she boarding a plane. She said she wanted to be sure to phone in, though, as she loves Dallas – and the venue.
“I absolutely love Dallas,” she says as the call for boarding passes booms in the background. “I have two lesbian friends I always stay with when I’m there. And my publisher/book guy lives there. Plus, the Lakewood is such a great space. I always enjoy playing there.”
Since I live down the street, I tell her that one important fact has changed. She knows the Balcony Club is open adjacent should she want cocktails after. She knows Matt’s is open should she want margaritas on the patio. But now that Arcade Bar has opened underneath the Balcony Club, she’s got a place to go should she want rock music and Budweisers.
“Excellent!” she says, sounding genuinely enthused. “It’s good to know all the places I can find booze.”
As you can tell from her book’s title, her background as a heavy adult beverage consumer (and current social drinker) is something she continues to mine for comedic value. (Sample question from the interview: Are you a writer, a TV star, or a comedian? Her answer: “I’m a drinker.”) It folds naturally into her material, which discusses her sex life, skewers the pop culture tarts of the day, and generally mocks all the news fit to be mocked, from a decidedly female perspective.
And this is no small part of her appeal. Like Tina Fey and other female comedians thriving today, Handler has been allowed to show America how funny women can be while addressing issues such as yoga, relationship woes, and concern over her arm fat. Her manner on the show, too, is very different from that of Kimmel, Stewart, or Conan.She laughs easily with her guests, instead of trying to have fun at their expense. “I’m genuinely having a great time on the show, and I think that comes through, and I think that’s part of the appeal.”
So appealing, in fact, Handler has begun to attract too big an audience, in that she’s become a favorite of many young teenage and pre-teen girls. (Including this author’s 13-year-old, who squealed with glee when she found out about this interview.) “I don’t know what to do,” Handler says. “I see these young girls showing up at my book signings and my shows, and I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me? You know what I talk about, right?'” What are these parents doing? It’s not like my show is PG-13. It’s more like R-20. But whatever. I watched all kinds of stuff my parents didn’t know about. I guess I’m that person now.”
Handler’ suggests leaving the 13-year-old at home, and apologizes. It’s last call for her flight. She has a show to tape, and more book signings to attend. (She has one before her show here at Border’s on Preston.) She offers a compromise. “I’m doing another signing at that gay bar at midnight or so that night. What’s it called? The Grapevine. Come out there.”
