Last week we brought you the news that Chelsea Handler was not going to be perusing the Late Late Show slot after all, as many people had anticipated, but instead was working on a top secret “proper new exciting project” that would soon be revealed. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it sure wasn’t a somewhat revolutionary deal with Netflix to bring a talk show to the streaming service, but that’s exactly what’s happening. CNN Money reports:
In a statement, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said “the Internet has disrupted many of the conventions of traditional television and together with Chelsea Handler, Netflix is looking forward to reimagining the late night talk show for the on-demand generation, starting with the late night part…”
Indeed, Thursday’s announcement was met with a flurry of questions: what will a Netflix “talk show” look like? Will it be scheduled at the same time every weekday like “Chelsea Lately”? Without a traditional TV network home, will she lose some clout?
Netflix and Handler have more than a year to figure out the answers. For now, Netflix said the unnamed show “will feature an updated format that still encompasses Chelsea’s unfiltered opinions on topical entertainment and cultural issues, as well as her signature guest interviews.”
According to Dave Itzkoff, the series will debut in early 2016. This deal could be a massive game changer for Netflix, broadcast television, and the way we watch TV. Who would have ever thought Chelsea Handler of all people would be leading the charge? I think she may be a much more savvy business person that people give her credit for.
