Are You There, Chelsea?


Are You There, Chelsea? is an American television sitcom created by Dottie Zicklin and Julie Ann Larson for NBC. It is based on Chelsea Handler's 2008 best-selling book Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea and aired from January 11 to March 28, 2012. The title is a take on Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
On May 11, 2012, NBC cancelled the series after one season.

Synopsis

The sitcom is based on a book written by Chelsea Handler, a book containing comical stories from Handler's early twenties.

Cast and characters

Main cast

The pilot first appeared on NBC's development slate in November 2010. On January 26, 2011, NBC placed a pilot order. Dottie Zicklin and Julie Ann Larson wrote the pilot with Gail Mancuso set to direct. Chelsea Handler serves as executive producer, along with Tom Werner, Mike Clements and Tom Brunelle.
Casting announcements began in January 2011. First to be cast was Laura Prepon, who plays the lead Chelsea Newman. Next to join the series was Angel Laketa Moore, who was cast as Shoniqua, the assistant manager of the sports bar where Chelsea works. Lauren Lapkus and Natalie Morales followed, with Lauren Lapkus playing Dee Dee, the bubbly woman whom Chelsea and Ivory live with, and Morales playing Ivory, Chelsea's long-time Cuban-American friend. Jo Koy later joined the series as Mark, a bartender where Chelsea works. Mark Povinelli then joined the show as Todd, a bar back at the sports bar where Chelsea works. Lenny Clarke was the last actor to be cast in the series, he plays Melvin, Chelsea's father, who is a big man with a big personality.
NBC ordered the pilot to series on May 13, 2011, as a midseason entry in the 2011–12 United States network television schedule. The half-hour series was produced by Warner Bros. Television.
On July 3, 2011, it was announced that Morales, Moore, and Koy were dropped from the series due to creative reasons. On August 9, 2011, Jake McDorman was revealed to have upgraded to a series regular replacing Jo Koy's character as the Bartender. In the original pilot he played Jonathan, one of Chelsea's love interests. Another change was the show's setting from Los Angeles to New Jersey.
On August 25, 2011, Ali Wong joined the cast as Olivia, Chelsea’s best friend since grade school and a fellow cocktail waitress where Chelsea works.
On November 14, 2011, NBC announced Are You There, Chelsea? would premiere on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 8:30/7:30c, following Whitney.

Episodes

International broadcasts