The show is a mockumentary behind-the-scenes look at the "Chelsea Lately" (2007) show. The show's host and creative leader Chelsea Handler likes to think of her staff, especially the writing staff, as family, albeit a highly dysfunctional family where she is the only bright one amid a bunch of morons. Her writing staff is comprised of stand-up comedians who double as on-air personalities. The two special cases among her staff are her assistant, Chuy Bravo, her "Little Nugget" who basically does nothing around the set but look cute, and the show's chef, her one true family member on set, her brother Roy Handler who she treats equally as bad as her writing staff. Most of the characters, portrayed by their real life selves, are highly exaggerated versions of their real life.
Heather celebrates the release of her book with a dinner party that puts Chelsea face-to-face with the Kardashians; at the same time, the staff go out of their way not to socialize with show announcer Mike Rock; and Jen's refusal to make Sarah her emergency contact creates a rift between the friends.