We always knew that this day would come. Grace Helbig, one of YouTube’s most enduring stars, is coming to television courtesy of the E! Network. Helbig will host a new show for E! that blends the traditional talk show format with Helbig’s signature brand of sketch comedy. The show is currently in development under the working title “The Grace Helbig Project.” If that title sticks it would be the latest in a string of self-titled projects for Helbig, who started her career as the host of My Damn Channel’s “Daily Grace” and recently moved on to her own channel, “Its Grace,” after terminating her relationship with MDC.
Helbig is best known as a YouTuber, but the 28-year-old comedienne is really a multi-media triple threat. Alongside her YouTube career, Helbig has released a book, “Grace’s Guide,” with Simon and Schuster and scored a handful of small acting and hosting rolls, including a series of commercials for home improvement giant Lowes. Online she maintains her own popular channel and acts as a producer for pal Mamrie Hart’s popular “You Deserve A Drink.” Helbig also recently starred with Hart in the road trip web series “#HeyUSA,” produced by Astronauts Wanted.
The new show will be produced by Embassy Row, the same company responsible for “Walking Dead” aftershow “The Talking Dead” and Andy Cohen’s “Watch What Happens: Live,” where Helbig herself has been a guest. Deadline, who first reported the story, wisely pointed out that E! has a notable gap in its schedule with the departure of Chelsea Handler to Netflix. Grace, who has incidentally also been a guest on Handler’s “Chelsea Lately,” could be perfectly positioned to fill the niche that Chelsea leaves behind.
Grace could certainly benefit from Handler’s audience. The two comedians obviously have a compatible sense of humor based on Helbig’s repeat appearances on the show. More importantly, in the world of late night TV, there are few shows top-lined by female comics. Grace already has a millions-strong audience online, but translating online viewers into TV viewers is deceptively difficult. E! already has experience launching the a brassy female comic with an off-beat wit and it has an audience who shows up nightly to see just that. There could be few better time slots for someone like Grace to occupy.
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