James R | On 19, Oct 2017

Chelsea Handler’s Netflix talk show is stopping after two seasons, its host has announced.

The series, which launched in May 2016 to decidedly mixed reviews, has struggled ever since. Initially airing three nights a week, in an experimental departure from the streaming giant’s normal release pattern, the series swiftly lost its showrunner, Bill Wolff. Season 2 shifted to hour-long episodes, instead of 30-minute instalments, airing once a week. Despite the change in format, though, with more externally shot segments around the world, Chelsea Handler’s talk show has failed to gain any major momentum or following, partly due to the crowded late-night space.

That segment of US entertainment has been galvanised in recent months, following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. Indeed, Handler is planning to quit the show to focus on activism in a shifting political landscape.

“Like so many across the country, the past presidential election and the countless events that have unfolded since have galvanized me. From the national level down to the grassroots, it’s clear our decisions at the ballot box next year will mark a defining moment for our nation,” Handler wrote on Twitter.

“For these reasons, I’ve decided not to return for another season of Chelsea, and instead devote as much time as I can to becoming a more knowledgeable and engaged citizen and to focus on projects that have significance to me. My goal is to be better informed, raise my voice, and participate in a more meaningful way. I want to travel the country and visit areas and people I don’t know enough about, speak at colleges and listen to students, and gain a better understanding of our political divide. I have joined forces with EMILY’s List to elect more women to public office, register people to vote, and campaign for candidates who are fighting for women’s rights.”

“I’m excited to share that I will continue my partnership with Netflix, working together on a documentary where I’ll engage with people I don’t talk with enough – people of different ethnicities, religions and political philosophies,” she added. “Netflix could not be more understanding, and I’m grateful for their continued support.”

New episodes of Chelsea will continue to stream weekly until the end of this year, while Netflix will also be introducing a new talk show-style series, hosted by David Letterman, and has also renewed its science talk show, hosted by Bill Nye.

 

Trailer: Chelsea Season 2 offers tips for modern TV hosts

4th April 2017

Chelsea Handler returns for a second season of her Netflix talk show this month, and a new trailer sees her back on typically brash form.

Offering tips for the modern TV host, the trailer makes it clear that Handler will be offering up her usual blend of celebrity guests and recorded segments, all of which see her say what’s on her mind without worrying what anyone else will think of it. The premiere episode will feature Melissa McCarthy, Ben Falcone and the cast of Nobodies (Larry Dorf, Hugh Davidson & Rachel Ramras), CNN’s Van Jones, Christiane Amanpour and Veep’s Matt Walsh.

Future episodes include Charlize Theron, Rosario Dawson, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Senator Cory Booker, and an Education Dinner Party with Jim Parsons, Rashida Jones, Gaby Hoffmann, and Mary McCormack.

Season 2 will scale down from Season 1’s three-times-a-week format to instead release one episode every Friday. The show returns on Friday 14th April. Here’s the new trailer:

 

Chelsea Handler’s Netflix talk show switches to weekly format

19th February 2017

Chelsea Handler is coming back to Netflix this spring with a new season of her talk show. This time, though, production has been notably scaled back from daily episodes to weekly episodes.

The talk show is one of Netflix’s more unusual commissions to date, not least because of its release structure, which saw new episodes arrive on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays every week through Season 1. Reception was not exactly positive, due to the show’s shallow nature, lack of originality and heavy focus on Chelsea herself (read our review of Season 1 here). Several weeks into Season 1, Exec Producer Bill Wolff stepped down from the series, with no one stepping up to replace him.

For Season 2, Chelsea will change things up with one hour-long episode being released every Friday. There will also be more of an emphasis on pre-taped segments than in-studio celebrity interviews with Handler spending more time out in the field – something hinted at by the Season 2 teaser video released by Handler this week.

Season 2 starts April 14th. A new hour-long episode every Friday on @Netflix. @chelseashow pic.twitter.com/9hPfKnxOHh

— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) February 16, 2017

Why the change? Deadline reports that part of the decision was because data showed that viewers tended to wait and watch each week’s three episodes in one go on Fridays. With the second season still running for 30 weeks, the show’s broadcast hours will therefore drop from 45 to 30.

The decision also potentially makes more room on Netflix’s slate for for its other non-fiction productions, with the streaming giant placing a growing emphasis on reality TV. This month sees the premiere of Sly Stallone’s sporting tournament series, Ultimate Beastmaster, while Netflix is also rebooting Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. This will be one of 20 unscripted series to launch on Netflix in 2017, with former Universal TV President Bela Bajaria recently hired to oversee the development of the site’s reality TV arm.

As for Chelsea, will the new weekly format see Handler move closer to something like John Oliver’s weightier, weekly talk show? You can find out on Friday 14th April, when Season 2 premieres.

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