NBC Late Night host Seth Meyers and guest Chelsea Handler admitted on Monday that they view their comedy routines as less of a chance to make people laugh, but to use their “platform” to push left-wing policy, particularly when it comes to abortion.
Meyers began the conversation by recalling, “Obviously you have a history as being a talk show host but this summer you filled in for a full week for Jimmy Kimmel, did a great job. How was it? Did you find it took you a while to get your host legs back, or was it immediate?”
Looking back on that, Handler noted:
it was right after Roe v. Wade was overturned, so I was ready to rumble. I mean the timing -- the timing couldn't have been any more perfect. And I have to say, like, I didn't miss doing that until I did it again and then I remembered. I was like, "Oh, this is exactly what I'm built for,” you know just kind of like real commentary you know, about being able to comment on things in real time on a platform is a great, you know, advantage to have, and it's a great -- it's something we're definitely missing for -- you know, there's a dearth of women doing this, and it's not cool anymore so I'm definitely going to get back in the mix and do it again.
That week was full of non-hilarity from Handler. On one occasion she falsely declared an AR-15 has more rights than her vagina, claimed that she “didn’t give a [bleep]” about men on the internet think about her three abortions, and then proved she didn’t care by going after a Twitter account that, at the time, had only three followers, “I am funny, [bleep]. That's why I'm here telling jokes about one of the darkest days in human history, while you're masturbating into your pillow.”
Still, Meyers agreed with the “platform” idea, “That's great. It does -- I always say -- and I'm sure you feel the same way, like, it's the-- having a platform saves me from just muttering to myself in the street like you have-- obviously stand-up saves you in the same way.”
Transitioning into the lack of female comics, Handler expressed appreciation for Meyers and his fellow late night hosts, but wanted more, “It's like you guys are all great and woke and liberal and you're all for women's rights but we need women up there, like standing up for us, commenting on this, you know? It's so -- it's just -- it's crazy in this day and age that we don't have more females on TV doing the same thing so it just needs to happen so I'm going to make it happen.”
With James Corden eventually leaving CBS and Trevor Noah leaving The Daily Show in December, there will be two openings. Hopefully whoever fills those slots, male or female, do not take Meyers and Handler’s advice of being a progressive first and comedian second.
This segment was sponsored by Subway.
Here is a transcript for the November 14th-taped show:
Late Night with Seth Meyers
11/15/2022
1:09 AM ET
SETH MEYERS: Welcome back to Late Night. We're here with Chelsea Handler. We were talking backstage. Obviously you have a history as being a talk show host but this summer you filled in for a full week for Jimmy Kimmel, did a great job. How was it? Did you find it took you a while to get your host legs back, or was it immediate?
CHELSEA HANDLER: No, it was right after Roe v. Wade was overturned, so I was ready to rumble. I mean the timing -- the timing couldn't have been any more perfect. And I have to say, like, I didn't miss doing that until I did it again and then I remembered. I was like, "Oh, this is exactly what I'm built for,” you know just kind of like real commentary you know, about being able to comment on things in real time on a platform is a great, you know, advantage to have, and it's a great -- it's something we're definitely missing for -- you know, there's a dearth of women doing this, and it's not cool anymore so I'm definitely going to get back in the mix and do it again.
MEYERS: That's great. It does -- I always say -- and I'm sure you feel the same way, like, it's the-- having a platform saves me from just muttering to myself in the street like you have-- obviously stand-up saves you in the same way. But I know what you mean like I would imagine that you step away and you have more time, and that's great but then you get it back, and it must just be like right into your veins –
HANDLER: Absolutely. It's like you guys are all great and woke and liberal and you're all for women's rights but we need women up there, like standing up for us, commenting on this, you know? It's so -- it's just -- it's crazy in this day and age that we don't have more females on TV doing the same thing so it just needs to happen so I'm going to make it happen.
MEYERS: All right well, you're the perfect person to make it happen.
