Chelsea Handler to Katie Couric: 'Funny Trumps Everything in My Mind'

By Sarah Crow Posted Dec 9th 2010 05:00PM

Chelsea Handler has a well-earned reputation as a tough cookie, but in her recent interview with Katie Couric, the comedienne shows off her softer side (she has one!) between barbs.

The news anchor and Glamour correspondent, who became a lifelong fan of Handler's raucous humor after inviting her to last year's White House Correspondents' Dinner, interviewed the late-night host for the magazine, getting Handler to open up about everything from Brangelina to bullying.

New Jersey native Handler, the youngest of six children, describes first honing her comedic talent as a child, despite her detractors.

"As a child, I didn't necessarily know if I was funny or not," she says. "I sure thought I was, and my family was really funny, so together nobody really stood out as being particularly funny because we all just kind of got a kick out of each other. And I got in trouble in school a lot, so whatever I thought was funny wasn't being interpreted that way at school. And that's when I was like, Wow, maybe I'm just really annoying."

The 'Chelsea Lately' host, who is rumored to be dating rapper 50 Cent, says that despite her often frank discussion of sex and relationships, she's in no rush to tie the knot. "I'm not a typical girl in the sense that I'm dying to get married or dying to procreate. I don't really have those desires. I respect them, but I do feel like more of a guy in that way. And I don't like to be tied down to one person. I don't like long-term commitments."

Couric, who calls Handler's humor "pretty out there," asked the host where she draws the line between good fun and bad taste, to which Handler responded, "I'm pretty clear about what I'm willing to say and the lengths I'm willing to go... You don't want to be nasty, and you don't want to be malicious. But it's OK-I mean, funny trumps everything in my mind... Look, I'm never going to please everybody. So I just have to be true to myself and think, OK, this is something I'd say in my living room, so it's OK to say on the show. Because I want my audience to truly know who I am."

Part of who Handler is, apparently, is a vocal opponent of all things Angelina Jolie, whom she recently ranted about during a comedy set in Newark. Explaining her tirade to her Couric, Handler says, "I'm not a fan. She just doesn't come off to me as a sincere woman. She seems like a woman that you'd really want to avoid."

In her corner, however, is Jolie's tabloid nemesis, Jennifer Aniston, with whom Handler recently vacationed in Mexico. "Jennifer Aniston makes me laugh," says Handler, who calls the actress "irreverent and hilarious."

While she's clearly comfortable voicing her opinions on other celebrities on her show and in the press, Handler admits that there are limits on what she'll do for a laugh. "I think talking about children and their looks is not nice. I don't do that," she says. "And I don't talk about people who are dying. I think that's inappropriate."

In addition to her ban on certain subjects, Handler is adamant in her anti-bullying message. "I think bullying of anybody, whether they're gay or straight or anything in high school is unbearable. I dealt with it, and I did it. It's terrible. And you want the school to tell people that at some point you all grow up, and it was a terrible thing to do, and be a reminder of it's never acceptable."

So, despite her biting humor, Handler's main take-away for fans is self-acceptance. "If there's a message that I can't say loud enough, it's that it's OK to be who you are... We should be bringing each other up, not putting each other down."

For the full interview, check out Glamour.com.

Tags: chelsea handler, katie couric

Comments

(37)

Thursday 09 December

By stu

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first again!!!!
get an upper lip inplant chelsea & i would give u a 7.

By VR

Chelsea seems like one of those people without an edit button but I really like a lot that she has to say. She sometimes says what we are all thinking but are afraid to say and I agree with her 100% about Angelina Jolie. That is one messed up woman!

Friday 10 December

By Seriously?

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It's so funny how she can be so nasty and malicious about Jolie and then say how bullying is wrong and that it's "OK to be who you are". "We should be bringing each other up, not putting each other down" ...are you serious. What she said in concert was not in her act and was a personal attack on someone else. She is the very definition of a bully whether she is trying to be funny or not. I'm sure some high school kids are trying to be funny too when they make fun of gays. Instead of her teaching these kids "self-acceptance" she really is teaching them that bullies in high school grow up to be adults that are accepted for being a bully.

By KALI

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Seriously!?! Chelsea is a bully, really? Jolie is a big girl with a big ego to match. She can take care of herself and her litter. Pitt is no better in my mind, they deserve one another. Here's hoping Jen has a huge hit SOON. Chelsea, you go.

Ah, yeah, if ya' don't like Chelsea, turn the dam channel. That's what the remote is for.

Sunday 12 December

By Peach

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As far as I know, most people think bullying = picking on someone weaker than you. Chelsea making fun of Angelina isn't bullying if that's how it's defined.

Tuesday 14 December

By d.kelly

too bad she isn't funny in the least! no trumps here

By Javadude54

If Handler isn't nasty and malicious... who is?

By BTDT

A half wit without lips.
Holds true for Katie too.

By rlr8

What a hypocrite! (enuff' said)

By Reality

Chelsea and I quote "Wow, maybe I'm just really annoying." She said it all !

By joan

How many more people have to feel sorry for Jennifer. Grow up.

Monday 13 December

By Kevin

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J Aniston couldn't act wet if she was in the tub -
name one hit?

By PJ

I used to like her but now I wouldn't pay "25 cent" to see her ;)

By ...

Okay, she's against bullying, but she makes fat jokes, ethnic jokes, and gay jokes on her show. Hypocrite.

By Courtney

Why does everyone have to start off with the word "Look" when they are trying to make a point? EVERYONE does this and it's really starting to annoy me. Am I alone in this?

By gerry

Look, maybe they got it from president Obama,
as in "Look, no one is in favor of abortion....."

By bigD

I know it's everywhere. Mostly among non-intelleigent types who lack confidence in what they're saying. They think they sound more authoritative if they say 'look' before they speak.

By Diana

So now Chelsea is giving "I hate Jolie" interviews 24/7? Because she is friends with Jennifer Aniston? phfft

By LuLzYAnEGlinaSbigToe

Great post-Angelina Jolie-rant damage control interview, Chelsea! You're absolutely right, people should just be who they are. You should take your own advice. No need to keep up with the subterfuge. After all, we all figured it out a long time ago that you're really a man.

Tuesday 18 January

By angie

umm she was in playboy last december. a man? idiot.

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