Chelsea Handler's no-holds-barred documentary series hits Netflix in January

By Parker Hall November 18, 2015

Comedian Chelsea Handler will star in a four-part Netflix documentary series called Chelsea Does, to be released in January 2016. First announced in 2014, the documentary miniseries is the first of two upcoming projects Handler has ruminating at the streaming company.

In the new documentary miniseries, the comedian will use her wry sense of humor and self-deprecation to investigate topics and ask questions that a large portion of the American public are too afraid to, focusing each installment on one topic. The four planned episodes span marriage, racism, Silicon Valley, and drug use.

An unscripted series, Chelsea Does will be directed by Academy Award-nominated documentarian Eddie Schmidt (This Film is Not Yet Rated) and produced by Academy Award-winner Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom).

The 40-year-old funny woman from Livingston, New Jersey, is most famous for her late night talk show on the E! network, Chelsea Lately, in which she and a roundtable of comedians would discuss pop-culture events. The talk show ran for seven years from 2007-2014, and featured many of the industry’s most prominent comedians. Handler eventually let her contract with E! expire, went off air, and began speaking to Netflix, inking a deal last year to host the four-part documentary series for the company, along with a forthcoming talk show.

As far as what her future talk show will look like, no new details about the show have emerged since the deal was signed, so it’s anybody’s guess how it will work on the less-than-traditional network. That said, we do know who will run the show; executives at Netflix have tapped producer Bill Wolf (The View, Rachel Maddow) to helm the project.

Fans of Handler who are looking for streaming entertainment to tide them over until the new documentary series and talk show hit the Internet can still check out her hilarious stand up special out on Netflix, or watch highlights of her old E! show here.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Parker Hall is a writer and musician from Portland, OR. He is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin…

Entertainment

Like the hit Netflix show Ripley? Then watch these 3 movies and shows right now

Christian Bale smirks and points to a stero.

Anthony Minghella's The Talented Mr. Ripley is a masterful adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's iconic novel from 1955. The film stars Matt Damon as Tom Ripley, the charming criminal who cons his way into a life of wealth, luxury, and high social status. His means of acquiring these items, however, are a result of violent and murderous actions. While Damon is perfect as Tom, Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers) provides a compelling interpretation of the notorious character in the new TV series, Ripley.

The eight-episode Netflix show has received positive reviews, with Digital Trends' A.A. Dowd calling Ripley a "terrifically tense thriller." After consuming Ripley, check out these three movies and TV shows with similar vibes to Ripley. Our selections include a Stephen King adaptation, a disturbing docuseries, and a brilliant satire.
Misery (1990)

Entertainment

Like the hit Netflix true crime series The Program? Then watch these 3 shows now

A group of teenagers on their knees in 'The Program.'

There are plenty of great Netflix shows about basically whatever it might be that you want to watch. Among the many things that Netflix is great at is true crime docuseries, which it has released steadily since its earliest days as a streamer.

One of those recent documentaries is The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping, which tells the story of one woman who decides to expose the seedy underbelly behind the "troubled teen" industry. The documentary is riveting from beginning to end, but if you've already finished it, we've found three other docuseries that might be great follow-ups. Not all of these docs are the easiest to watch, but if you want something thrilling, these will fit the bill.
Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence (2023)
Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence | February 9 | Hulu

Entertainment

Like the hit Netflix show Homicide New York? Then watch these 3 true crime shows now

A promo image for Netflix's Homicide New York.

Thanks in large part to its hugely familiar setting, Homicide New York has been a huge success since it premiered on Netflix. The series follows some of the grisliest crimes that have taken place in America's largest city.

If you're looking for more great true crime that's in a similar vein after you've consumed all of Homicide, though, then we've got a couple of shows that might fit the bill. These are three great true crime shows you should check out if you liked Homicide New York.
I'll Be Gone in the Dark (2020)
I'll Be Gone In the Dark (2020): Official Trailer | HBO