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Chelsea Handler's After Lately picked up for another season

By April MacIntyre May 5, 2011, 18:22 GMT

Chelsea Handler - Belvedere Pink Grapefruit Launch Party - The Belvedere Pink Grapefruit Pop-Up - New York City, NY, USA © Wild1 / PR Photos

E!’s "After Lately" is headed back into production as the network announces a second season-pick up for its hit first-ever mocku-series. 

A blend of reality and improv, truth and fiction, “After Lately” gives viewers a peek at the unpredictable people and events behind the making of late night television's most unconventional talk show, "Chelsea Lately." 

The series also features popular guest stars like Justin Bieber and Tori Spelling who made appearances during season one.  The show wrapped its first season on Sunday, April 24 at 11pm and exceeded the network’s primetime delivery by over +50% with an average of nearly one million total viewers each week.

"This series is comedic to its core and showcases Chelsea and her hilarious team in a fun and innovative way,” said Lisa Berger, President, Entertainment Programming for E! “It’s exciting for us to announce that we’re going back into production on additional episodes.  From the outrageous situations to the always unpredictable cast of characters, we are looking forward to what season two will bring."

Getting “Chelsea Lately” on the air nightly takes a phalanx of comedians, led by Handler, along with the show's team of writers, producers, editors and other staffers.  Each night, after the studio audience goes home and the lights are turned out, the dedicated staff is still hard at work coming up with the topics, the jokes and the skits to be featured on the following night's show.  “After Lately” introduces viewers to the people behind the woman who has changed the face of late night TV and exploits the personas and general chicanery existing in and around the TV phenomenon that is “Chelsea Lately.”

In addition to Handler, the cast of characters includes Chuy Bravo, Sarah Colonna, Brad Wollack, Chris Franjola, Heather McDonald, Jeff Wild, Johnny Kansas, Steve Marmalstein and Chelsea’s brother Roy.  In addition to the regular cast, After Lately storylines will involve other popular roundtable mainstays, Chelsea’s celebrity friends and additional staff members ... whether they like it or not.