EP Bill Wolff steps down from Netflix’s Chelsea talk show
James R | On 28, May 2016
Exec Producer Bill Wolff has stepped down from Chelsea Handler’s Netflix talk show.
The series, for which he was effectively showrunner, has been developed over the last nine months by Wolff and Handler. It premiered earlier this month, with three episodes arriving every week, partly recorded live in front of a studio audience and partly comprised of pre-recorded segments from around the world.
Within a few weeks of the show’s arrival, though, Wolff has departed the production.
“I am excited for Chelsea as she continues to produce her singular vision for a television talk show,” he told Deadline. “My friends at Netflix provide the foremost platform in developing ambitious and compelling creative content.”
“I’m grateful that Bill was part of the pioneering effort to get Netflix’s first talk show off the ground,” said Handler.
Wolff will not be replaced, however, with the rest of the show’s team remaining in place and Handler continuing to be heavily involved in the show’s creative direction. The show will continue its weekly release without any disruption. With production slated to continue at least through to December, Chelsea is on course to release 90 30-minute episodes this year.
You can read our review of the show here.
Chelsea Handler’s Netflix talk show to premiere on 11th May
Originally published: 18th March 2016
Update: Friday 18th March
Chelsea has now revealed the title for her Netflix series: Chelsea.
The announcement was made during a Periscope Q&A with fans on Thursday 17th March, in which she jokingly referred to the name of her old talk show on traditional TV and the social media campaign that accompanied the supposed indecision in picking a name.
“We thought long and hard about the title for my new Netflix show, and there was a whole team at Netflix who worked on it; we hired a digital department and some small children who work in various countries to help roll this show out, and after two to three long hours, we came up with the name Chelsea,” she said. “That’s it. Just Chelsea. Not Just Chelsea. Chelsea. Because that’s my name. I look forward to not thinking my last name is Chelsea Lately because that’s not even a real last name. My name is Chelsea Handler. It’s nice to meet you.”
She also confirmed that the show will be pre-recorded (in front of a live studio audience) and that episodes will be released three days a week – every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – which means that 90 episodes will air every year.
Original story below
Chelsea Handler’s talk show will premiere on Netflix on Friday 11th May.
The comedian announced the show’s release date this morning in her own decidedly analogue way: a handwritten letter that she then photgraphed and posted online.
The new show will be on every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on Netflix, with each episode running for 30 minutes. Once an episode is up and streaming on Netflix, it will be available until the end of time.
“Dear you,” she wrote to herself. “This is your new show schedule, so if you’re thinking of having a baby – DON’T.”
The letter continued to give herself advice about the programme.
“I know it’s hard for you, but waking up is a great way to start the day,” she added, noting: “You’ll be traveling around the world and learning new things all courtesy of Netflix. Treat this as an opportunity to get the college education you forgot to get.”
“You’ll be streaming in 196 countries, so remember to keep a deeper, more culturally sensitive perspective.Specifically towards the Germans, they’re still touchy about everything they did,” she wrote.
“You wanted a new show, you got it. You wanted to be on Netflix, you are. You wanted to spread your wings, now FLY, BITCH.”
Other details about Handler’s talk show are unknown, although her dream guest list reportedly includes Michelle Obama, The Pope and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s maid.
Even the title of the show is not yet confirmed, with Handler instead taking to social media to request suggestions for the programme’s name from fans.
The most popular title is by @fhaid. What else you got? @netflix pic.twitter.com/wP973t55f6
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) March 15, 2016
Her decision will be announced live in a press conference on Thursday 17th March at 5pm GMT.