‘Chelsea’ Gets Renewal From E!

By Jon Lafayette

E! Entertainment says it has renewed its late-night show “Chelsea Lately” through 2009.

Household ratings for the show, hosted by comedienne and author Chelsea Handler, were up 21% in the third quarter from a year ago.

“E! viewers are enamored with Chelsea’s unique comedic approach and hilarious commentary on the world of entertainment. She is truly one of Hollywood’s fastest-rising stars, and we look forward to having the show on our air through 2009 and many years to come,” said Lisa Berger, executive VP for original programming and series development at E!

“My life has really improved over the past year, and I’m grateful to have such an IQ-reducing job. I’m also thrilled to no longer be riding a moped,” Ms. Handler quipped in a prepared statement.