Chelsea Handler, 39, is calling it quits. E! Network has confirmed the late-night show will end its run in August.
Handler, 39, will wrap Chelsea Lately‘s seven-year run with a live, hour-long episode on August 26.
“I myself am more surprised than anyone that I was able to hold down a job for seven years, and it was a fantastic seven years,” Handler told The Hollywood Reporter. “I will always look back at my time on E! as most people look back at their time in college. I’m glad I went.”
This is not breaking news. Handler’s manager, Irving Azoff, revealed in March the comedienne’s intentions to leave the network.
“Chelsea intends to leave when her contract expires. She hired me to figure out her life after E! We have at least seven suitors and many ideas,” said Azoff.
Chelsea Handler hints to Conan on what's next for her: http://t.co/UTs4LoVo4p
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) April 29, 2014
E! Network president Suzanne Kolb had nothing but good things to say about Handler.
“We are very proud of Chelsea Lately‘s long-running success and the unique space that the series carved out in late night television,” said Kolb. “Chelsea brought a distinct voice to late night with her acerbic wit and fearless commentary and we look forward to providing fans with a memorable send-off that lives up to that tradition. Most of all, we are grateful to the Chelsea Lately team for making this show so special for seven years.”
In the month preceding the final episode, E! Network will host a month-long celebration complete with surprise guests and a look back at Chelsea‘s favorite episodes.
It’s no big secret Handler was unhappy at E!. In a March 5 appearance on Howard Stern’s radio show, she said the network was “a sad, sad place to live. They don’t know what they’re doing. They have no ideas. It’s a failure.”
There have been many rumors about what’s next for the comedienne — from Netflix to CBS — but it is unknown at this point what her future plans might be.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
