Chelsea Handler Returns In Time to Take on Trump: ‘He’s Unfit to Do Anything’ — IndieWire’s Turn It On Podcast
Chelsea Handler has plenty to say about Donald Trump, and argues for her right to say it. While critics may blast celebrities for speaking out about politics, the “Chelsea” host thinks that’s absurd.
“It’s one thing to be an idiot and not know what you’re talking about,” she said. “But if you’re informed and have an opinion, why would I not talk about politics?”
IndieWire’s TURN IT ON podcast sat down with Handler to discuss the return of “Chelsea” and how the Trump presidency has affected her both personally and professionally. Listen below!
“Chelsea” returns for Season 2 on Netflix this Friday, with a slightly different format: Rather than three half-hour shows a week, “Chelsea” will now post a one-hour episode weekly (every Friday). This week’s episode was taped on both Monday and Wednesday (in order to accommodate guest schedules), and features Melissa McCarthy, Ben Falcone and the cast of “Nobodies,” as well as CNN’s Van Jones, Christian Amanpour and Veep’s Matt Walsh.
The show will also continue to highlight Handler’s experiences as she travels around the globe in order to learn new things and meet new people. Among her stops during hiatus: England, Wales, Paris, and India (where she thinks she may have ingested opium).
But it’s the election of Donald Trump as president that is driving Handler these days. Topical conversations were a hallmark of “Chelsea” Season 1, and they now take on a new urgency.
“I like the idea of doing a serious show mixed with funny stuff,” she said. “Now especially with this shitshow in the White House I want to make sure we’re able to talk about the serious stuff and the funny stuff about it. I’ve been more motivated than I’ve ever been in terms of politics, and been trying to keep people informed and be a loud voice of opposition.”
Handler said it’s been “easier than I thought” to take on the White House, given the regular gaffes coming from his key aides. “He’s obviously proven time and again that he’s unfit to do anything.”
IndieWire’s “TURN IT ON with Michael Schneider” is a weekly dive into what’s new and what’s now in TV – no matter what you’re watching or where you’re watching it. Each episode features interviews with producers, reviews, essays on the latest buzz and trends, plus a roundup of what’s premiering and what’s returning over the coming week. With an enormous amount of choices overwhelming even the most sophisticated viewer, “TURN IT ON” is a must-listen for TV fans looking to make sense of what to watch and where to watch it.
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