Heather McDonald is more than just Chelsea Handler's sidekick. She is a comedian and writer in her own right. She is now a New York Times best-selling author and spins off the Chelsea Lately show with After Lately. Heading to Chicago with a certain famous drunken blonde in tow at The Chicago Theatre, we talked Nunn on One before she arrived.
Windy City Times: Hey, Heather. Are you out touring?
Heather McDonald: Just for the weekend. I am doing the University of Arkansas for stand up and then I am going to Atlantic City and doing one night there.
Windy City Times: Do you like being on the road?
Heather McDonald: I do but I prefer it with Chelsea because it is fun to be with someone, we take a private plane, and she always sells out. I am excited to go on the live tour.
Windy City Times: The times I have been around Chelsea Handler. It is always crazy with people running around.
Heather McDonald: It will be this time, too, because it is more people with me, Josh Wolf and Brad Wollack at every show, but it will be fun. We are going to do a Q&A after each show. The fans are going to go online and ask a question so they will know when they come that they were chosen to ask a question. We won't know what the questions are but it will be fun and spontaneous.
Windy City Times: That will keep you on your toes.
Heather McDonald: Yeah. I will answer any question about the show and working with Chelsea. She is such an open book that I never will get in trouble for saying something.
Windy City Times: I wanted Ross Matthews or some of the gay comedians to come on tour with you.
Heather McDonald: Well, it's because we all wrote chapters in the new book, Lies Chelsea Handler Told Me. It's also a good balance. I love Ross. I did a pilot with Ross for Chelsea's company. We are hoping that E! will pick it up. It's called "Love or Hate" and it's with Ross and me. We are very close.
Windy City Times: He is really good friends with Gwyneth Paltrow, isn't he?
Heather McDonald: Oh, yes he is and he talks about that a lot. She was on the show the other day and he came. They really are good friends.
Windy City Times: That is all over the news what she said about her grandmother on the Chelsea Show.
Heather McDonald: What did she say?
Windy City Times: That her grandmother is the C-word.
Heather McDonald: Oh, that's right. I guess for her to say it is big news. Our show is under the radar and we have bad words being said all the time, no one seems to care.
Windy City Times: When I spoke with Loni Love about Chelsea. She really complimented her about bringing comedy to the E! Channel.
Heather McDonald: Absolutely—I totally agree. First of all, to find someone in comedy who is that generous—the funniest line doesn't have to be them and willing to share a spotlight—is rare. As a woman I find it even more rare because there are less female comedians. Many people find females as more of a competition than a male. She threw that out the window and that makes life so nice.
Windy City Times: How did you get in comedy in the first place?
Heather McDonald: The way I got in comedy was I was one of those people that could imitate teachers and friends. My teachers wanted me to pursue stand up comedy. I never understood how strangers would laugh at me. After college I took a one night class about stand up and learned that if you set it up properly it works. I took more classes and started at The Groundlings program.
Windy City Times: How did you meet Chelsea?
Heather McDonald: I met her 13 years ago at a random open-mic type of place doing stand up. It was at a horrible bar with no one listening. She was talking about her boyfriend, and it was funny. We saw each other at auditions after that and she was so nice.
When she got the Chelsea Handler show I emailed and got the job writing it. I had written for the Wayans Brothers for so many years, I thought, "If I can write for a Black man then it will be easier to write for a cute, white, drunk girl." It was a little more up my alley. I thought it would be just for a summer then she asked me to open for her and we were a good combination together. That is why I have been so fortunate to open for her in so many shows.
Windy City Times: And you have the After Lately Show now, also.
Heather McDonald: It has been super-fun and I love the response to it. People asked why it's scripted but most reality shows are. Ours is actually funny. The reality of it is that it all stems from real things that have happened to us over the years. It is heightened for comedic value, put together and made into a story. We are playing ourselves and the first time there has ever been a show about a show that actually exists and the same people are playing the parts. It is very unique. We haven't gotten official word but it looks like it will be coming back.
Windy City Times: We have to plug your solo book.
Heather McDonald: Yes, You'll Never Blue Ball in This Town Again. It continues to sell, and people discover it and like it. I am very happy I did that. I have Chelsea to thank for that and have the same book agent. Seeing her do it gave me a platform to get a book deal. I am starting to work on another so that is great.
Windy City Times: I interviewed Geri Jewell recently. She felt your impersonation of her was not mean-spirited and [that] it was funny. Have you met her?
Heather McDonald: Yes. I have been doing Geri Jewell behind closed doors for very close friends since her appearance on the Facts of Life. Of course I would never do it on stage because she has cerebral palsy and I wouldn't do that. I was doing it for Chelsea one time and she was peeing in her pants. We were throwing around the idea to play cast members on the show and next thing I know they are making costumes for it. Chelsea breaks down the fourth wall as Blair and they introduced Chuy as Webster. I couldn't believe that it was even on television. So one day I am signing the book in L.A. and Geri shows up. She said, "Many people have done me over the years and you do me the best."
Windy City Times: Awww, she is so sweet.
Heather McDonald: We did a scene with her on After Chelsea recently where I doing my impression of her and she goes, "Fuck you, Heather. That sounds nothing like me." She was totally great. It was uncomfortable for everybody else but I have done Marlee Matlin, too, and she doesn't care. It is how you do it. I making more fun of her character than the fact that she has cerebral palsy. When I do Marlee it's more about her being on the L Word or Celebrity Apprentice. I don't think it's okay to make fun of people with a handicap. The truth is most people like to be impersonated.
Windy City Times: Has there been times where it goes too far?
Heather McDonald: The other day we thought it was the greatest thing or the worst but we had two Asians in our office and one is a producer and one is an editor. We put one in a wig and used my voice. It is so beyond racist that I think we get away with it. It is so ridiculous that you can't be mad. People that watch us all the time are just good fans. They are loyal and they get it. The other people are never going to see it anyway.
Windy City Times: I know Chelsea has a huge gay following. Maybe it's the sarcasm.
Heather McDonald: She is just funny and gays have a great sense of humor. She's witty and clever so there is an element of that. She doesn't give a fuck and doesn't care what people think. If you are gay then you better not care what people think. I think that resonates and obviously she is a huge gay supporter too. Everyone on the show is.
Break out the vodka for Chelsea and Heather at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State, on Wed., May 11, and visit www.chelseahandlertour.com for ticket information.
The whole gang will be signing copies of the new book Lies Chelsea Handler Told Me for the first 500 customers at Macy's, 111 N. State, at 5 p.m. before the show the same day.
