NBC Shelves 'Community,' Announces Chelsea Handler Sitcom

NBC is planning on giving its primetime lineup a makeover this midseason amid sinking ratings. Not only will they table Thursday night's Community to slot-shift the new Will Arnett / Christina Applegate comedy Up All Night and make room for the Thursday return of 30 Rock, but the network will also premiere a new show, Are You There, Chelsea, on Wednesday nights at 8:30 p.m., right after the new timeslot they give Whitney.

Are You There, Chelsea? is a show loosely based on the similarly titled book, Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, about the 20-something antics of comedian and late-night talk show hostess with the mostess, Chelsea Handler. Though Handler will have a role on the show and appear in the pilot airing on Juanuary 11, she will not play herself in the new adaptation. Those sky-high stilettos will be filled by That 70s Show's Laura Prepon.

Instead Handler will portray her own older sister, Sloane Handler, whom she often refers to as "the Mormon sister" in her books and routines. Prepon is excited about the chance to portray Handler's alter ego. "Chelsea and I are similar, so it's perfect we play sisters," she told Zap2it. "It's funny, because her vodka is my favorite vodka too; we both drink the same thing!"