On the eve of February's 50th birthday, Chelsea Handler discovered a nice groove personally and professionally. In addition to hosting the third Critics Choice Award (7pm on E! and Peacock on February 7), the comic has just begun her first Las Vegas residence and will be published soon Her seventh book, I'll have her. When we spoke in December, covering bad interviews and what she wanted to stay in 2024, Handler was with her dog Doug for three months at Whistler, British Columbia In three months. “I’m looking at everything through a brand new lens,” Handler said. "How do I stretch my legs and get out of my comfort zone? I feel like 50 is a rebirth. It's a reset."

(Editor's Note: The following conversation took place before LA Wildfires and delayed the Critics Choice Award.)

This year, the critic's choice has shifted to e! , where you worked for eight years. I think you can have more than you can broadcast on CW. Are you thinking?

not necessarily. No matter where I am, I am very good at getting rid of what I need to get rid of. It's especially fun because I'm going to go back to the former enthusiast who broke up with me many years ago.

Over the past decade, you have immersed yourself in different themes – racism, drugs, white privilege – specials. What is your curiosity now?

Whatever my job requires me to be obsessed with. I'm watching monologues of all the nominated movies and shows. For my podcast, I'm reading for all my guests - Brooke Shields and Mel Robbins are here. I like to be prepared.

Is there a personal obsession?

Life gets better. Do my best. Performing in front of thousands of people still brings me joy, but I’m getting better and better at being me – rather than comparing myself to others. I don't spend hours on Instagram like I did 10 or even five years ago. Oh my god, I think this is a big part of it.

Only 32 years old when it started Chelsea recentlyand some comics - John Mulaney, Taylor Tomlinson - are also fun to talk show format now. Will you make another one?

I'm not interested in being tied to the studio five nights a week. I have too much freedom in my life to get back to this point. But I like interviewing people. I'm a great listener and that's what you really need to be a great interviewer. So many talk show hosts are a terrible audience. They asked, "Chelsea, how is your summer good?" Looking at the shoulders and reading the blue card. Like, "What? Hello? I'm here!" I'm never curious though, so it has to be a perfect set of situations, either once a week or a special offer like Oprah.

What are the biggest benefits of your Las Vegas residence in addition to money?

Take a bunch of friends every time and hook them up. I can give them room and tickets. Then we all gambled and had partying. I performed once a month for the next two years. That's a timeline where I can definitely fall behind. I don't like spending more than 24 hours in Las Vegas.

What do you want to stop hearing in 2025?

Matt Gaetz. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jim Jordan, all I hope will go into some kind of Republican healing retreat. Beyond politics and religion? People's pets. I don't need to hear your pet.

The first thing you mentioned when we call is your dog.

I include it! I talk about my dog. He is my husband. It's ridiculous, I need to stop, but so are other people.

The story appears in the January 9 issue of Hollywood Reporter. Click here to subscribe.