New NBC Series Style with Chelsea Handler and Laura Prepon

The life of comedian Chelsea Handler debuts in scripted form January 11 at 8:30pm on the NBC airwaves with the series debut of Are You There, Chelsea?, starring Laura Prepon in the role of outspoken but funny Handler. Inspired by the best-selling books by Chelsea Handler, Are You There, Chelsea? follows the unique life of Chelsea in her 20s as the young Handler lives life to the fullest as a waitress, friend, daughter, sister and sexually dynamic good-time Chelsea.

With former That 70s Show actress Laura Prepon in the title role, Are You There, Chelsea? follows Handler’s younger days as a waitress at Jerry’s Ultimate Sports Bar in New Jersey. As well, the new NBC series follows Prepon as Chelsea, who also shares an apartment with two friends, one of which is the polar opposite of the outspoken and opinionated Handler. Interestingly, Chelsea Handler herself has a recurring role as Chelsea’s born-again Christian sister, Sloane, a married, conservative, new mom who has little in common with her carefree sister.

Ahead of the series debut of Are You There, Chelsea?, The Deadbolt spent some time with both Chelsea Handler and Laura Prepon to learn more about the series, how Chelsea’s life story may evolve in series form, and how both Handler and Prepon feel their sense of style has changed over the years.

THE DEADBOLT: Although the show is just premiering, how do you hope the progression of Chelsea’s character will continue as you tell the story, or her story?

LAURA PREPON: Right now we’re not too worried about that. Right now we’re just telling amazing stories. I think people are going to really love the characters and want to come back to just kind of check out what we’re up to and what’s going on with the relationships. But I think, if anything, we’ll just naturally grow like any other show and we’ll have evolved to that type of thing.

CHELSEA HANDLER: Yes, I think it’ll probably progress naturally like it has in real life, over time obviously. The character’s set in her 20s. She plays 26 or 27, when I’m in the mid-20s, and just kind of where I was at at that time. Obviously, you grow over time. I mean, it’s just one season. So right now we’re just trying to establish the character.

But with success, obviously she’ll go though ups and downs and probably grow out of it just the same way I have. But I had a really good time for a really long time, and then it just turned into a different kind of good time. So we shall see. She’s definitely getting her share of good times, though, because she has a different guest star – male guest star – every week that she has to make out with or have sex with.

PREPON: And they’re all …

HANDLER: Sometimes when we want to give her a break, we don’t make her have sex with them. We just make her kiss them.

PREPON: Exactly. Thank you. And I appreciate that.

THE DEADBOLT: Chelsea, you’ve made a lot of references on your talk show to your style, or sense of style, and how sometimes you have to get a little bit more glammed up depending on who your guests are that day. What’s the sense of personal style that you want to translate to the show?

HANDLER: You know what? I’ve never really been one [to focus on that]. I mean, obviously it’s nice to have nice things. But I’ve always kind of had the feeling, ever since I started doing stand-up, that it was better to draw attention to what you’re saying than the way you look. I’ve gotten a lot of flack for it. People are like, “Oh, you could be dressing up! You look like such a tomboy.” This was earlier on.

I’ve always been like, “Well, that’s not really the focus of what I’m doing.” I wanted to be a comedian. I wanted people to laugh at what I was saying, not to be staring at my boobs or wearing a skirt. I just didn’t think that that was the best way to get taken seriously in that world.

Now it’s a little different and I have a lot more fun with stuff, because I’ve established myself. But you definitely don’t want it to be a distraction. Obliviously Laura’s really sexy and cool, and all of those things. So you want to embody that without making it the focal point.

THE DEADBOLT: As two women who have had enjoyed longevity on television, have you noticed or felt your personal style changing over time?

PREPON: Yes. It’s like when you start out a certain way, everything evolves. It always changes. You’re always growing. From when I first started acting, I’ve evolved and changed so much and learned so much. And I think that all comes through in your acting and your comedy.

HANDLER: Yes, I would say definitely. I’ve definitely evolved with style and all of that stuff. Because when you’re able to get nicer things, you get them and you’re able to appreciate nicer things. It’s like anything in life. You start to travel to the places that weren’t able to afford before.

It’s also where your focal point is in life and what’s important to you at the time. In the sitcom, Laura’s whole life is just about the here and now. It’s about having as much fun as possible, enjoying life and not being judgmental, just taking everything in stride and being able to make fun of herself while also being able to make fun of the people around her.