Netflix, Inc. Announces Talk Show With Chelsea Handler In 2016

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While Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is no stranger to producing original content and has received critical acclaim for both House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, the company is known for releasing the entire season at once for “binge viewing” rather than producing content on a daily basis.

Late night to keep a woman around

Handler served as host of “Chelsea Lately” on E! for the last seven years and has been a mainstay foil to the male dominated world of late night talk shows that includes the likes of David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Seth Myers, and Stephen Colbert among others during her time at the network.

While the announcement makes it clear that it’s a late night talk show that is a touch incongruous given the fact that Netflix allows its customers to watch what they want, when they want it for a nominal monthly fee.

Handler has never shied from her public criticism of the E! Network and recently stated on the Howard Stern’s radio show that the network is a failure and a “sad, sad place to live.”

Netflix has reached a multi-year deal with the comedian beginning with a periodic place on with the streaming company before the show begins in earnest. On October 10, Handler will have a stand-up special released to Netflix customers on October 10th based on her most recent book, “Uganda Be Kidding Me.” In 2015, she will return with four separate documentary-style comedy specials.

Netflix’s late night shakeup

The move is just one of many in the late night talk show arena in the last year. Jimmy Fallon took over the “Tonight” show from Jay Leno returning it to its birthplace of New York City while Seth Meyers left his place at “Saturday Night Live” to take over for Jimmy Fallon. Earlier this year, David Letterman announced his retirement from CBS and will be replaced by Stephen Colbert, who in turn will be replaced by Daily Show correspondent Larry Wilmore.

While Craig Ferguson’s replacement on CBS has yet to be named, Handler didn’t seem interested in the post and told Ellen DeGeneres on her daytime show that she would never work for the network for fear that they would try to rein her in and appeal to the mainstream.

Handler, enjoys a modest following and fell off 25% in the last quarter in advertisements sold with about 560,000 people watching her show each evening.

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