Fortune Feimster is quick to give fellow comedian Chelsea Handler plenty of credit when it comes to her career.
Feimster got her big break on "Chelsea Lately," which ran from 2007-2014, first as a writer and then as one of the many roundtable guests that included people like Josh Wolf, Bill Bellamy, Kevin Hart and Jo Koy. One of the things audiences and people like Feimster appreciated about Handler and the format was that the star allowed her guests to get the laughs.
"Oh, absolutely," Feimster said during a telephone interview.
"She loved surrounding herself with other comedians and taking people that she saw that had talent but didn't have a platform. We made each other laugh a lot. We'd have fun.
"She was always gracious about letting other people get the laugh and was never intimidated."
Feimster said that maybe isn't always the case with some stars whose names are in the show title.
Feimster will headline a show Sunday night at Memorial Auditorium. Since Handler, who will headline her own show at the same venue on May 21, opened the door for her, Feimster has taken full advantage of her opportunities.
The North Carolina native starred as a series regular on "The Mindy Project" for Hulu and on "Champions" and "Kenan" for NBC. She has done a number of guest appearances on television shows, including "Claws," "Nora From Queens," "2 Broke Girls," "The L Word: Generation Q," "Workaholics," "Glee" and "Tales of the City."
Film credits include appearances in "Office Christmas Party," "Yes Day," "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar," and "Father of the Year." And she's a voice actor, recently voicing the role of Evelyn on "The Simpsons" and Counselor Jerry in Pixar's "Soul" along with recurring characters Brenda on "Bless the Harts" for Fox, Ava on "Summer Camp Island" for Cartoon Network and Olive in the upcoming "Velma" on HBO Max.
She tours regularly and hosts her own podcast, "Sincerely Fortune." Her mother is a frequent guest of the show, and Feimster said the different platforms allow her to show off different parts of who she is.
"I do some acting and a radio show and a podcast," she said. "It's cool because I'm never stagnant or bored."
Her comedy routines are all about "trying to live my life and share a piece of my life," she said. "It's me sharing my life and my stories. Here is me."
She said she loves the road and performing because it allows her to meet people and to make them laugh.
"I'm doing something I really love, and as cliche as it sounds, it doesn't feel like work."
IF YOU GO
— What: Fortune Feimster: Live Laugh Love Tour
— When: 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5
— Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave.
— Admission: $29-$65
— Phone: 423-757-5580
— Online: tivolichattanooga.com
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.