Every once in a while, a person comes along and gets a following for saying what everyone else is thinking. For our tabloid-flooded, celebrity-obsessed culture, that person is acid-tongued comedienne Chelsea Handler.

The Jersey-born comic has made a name for herself by tossing out witty barbs at numerous celebrities and has become a bit of a celebrity herself as a best-selling author and host of the E! network’s popular late-night talk show “Chelsea Lately.” She’s currently promoting her latest book, “Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang,” on her stand-up comedy tour, which comes to Kansas City at 8:30 p.m. May 7 at the Starlight Theatre. We talked to Handler about her stand-up material, her love of vodka and hitching a ride with Hasselhoff.

ST. JOE LIVE: Since you talk about celebrities on a regular basis, who was the first celebrity you remember obsessively following?

CHELSEA HANDLER: I hid in David Hasselhoff’s trunk once, but that was because I needed a lift to the liquor store.

SJL: Based on your book title “Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea,” it seems you’re fond of that particular type of alcohol. But no love for gin, bourbon or tequila? What gives?

CH: Belvedere is my drink of choice. I found out it had no sugar in it and that was good news for me and the weird dimple that was forming on my upper arm. I like tequila, too. They just don’t sponsor me.

SJL: Tell me about how the format of the show came about. Having other stand-up comedians and a little-person sidekick share the spotlight with you, whose idea was that?

CH: I love little people. There was no way I was getting my own show and not having one involved. That would have been a deal breaker. I’ve been doing stand-up for a long time, so I know a lot of comics. They just started showing up ... I didn’t even invite them.

SJL: You’ve said that on “Chelsea Lately,” you won’t have people on your show that are trying to be famous for no reason. But doesn’t most if E!’s prime-time programming consist of those types of people, and you have them as guests?

CH: Sure, E! makes me. I just pretend I don’t know who they are so that I don’t think I’m breaking that rule. Sometimes, I’m not even pretending.

SJL: Tell me about some of the material you’ll be performing on your stand-up tour. Does a lot of the subject matter from “Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang” come out on stage?

CH: Some of it does. I think it’s good to tell some of those stories live. It gives it a different life. Other material comes up, too. It just depends on how much I’ve had to drink that night.

SJL: What do you feel stand-up brings out of you that being an author or TV host doesn’t?

CH: It gives me an opportunity to talk about something other than celebrities, like I do on the show. It also gives me a chance to interact with my fans, and I wouldn’t be here without them.

SJL: I’m assuming you’re not going to be making fun of celebrities for the rest of your life, so what do you think is your next step?

CH: Who knows. I have some ideas for a more well-rounded show ... but I could also end up giving paternity tests when Maury Povich retires.

SJL: What do you think your sidekick, Chuy, would be doing if he weren’t working on your show?

CH: Selling tangerines under a freeway ramp.

SJL: Finally, a lot of popular female stand-up comedians seem to have a certain style that’s allowed them to carve out a little niche for themselves. What do you feel yours is?

CH: I can hold my liquor better than most women.