Chelsea Devantez

Chelsea Devantez
Born
New Mexico, U.S.
Education
OccupationsAuthor, comedian, director, podcaster
Years active2017–present
Notable work
Spouse
​
(m. 2022)​
Websitewww.chelsearosedevantez.com

Chelsea Devantez is an American author, comedian, director, and podcaster. Devantez was nominated for an Emmy in 2022 for Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction Program for The Problem with Jon Stewart where she was Head Writer.

Her television credits include Not Dead Yet, Girls5Eva, Bless This Mess, The Opposition with Jordan Klepper, and The Gong Show.

Her 2024 memoir, I Shouldn't Be Telling You This (But I'm Going To Anyway), was a New York Times Bestseller. Her podcast, Glamorous Trash has over six million downloads.

Early life and education

Chelsea Devantez was raised by a single mom in New Mexico. She studied at the United World College and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts on scholarships. She spent a semester abroad in Chicago's Comedy Studies program at The Second City.

Career

After college, Devantez moved to Chicago and became a Second City regular, which included doing improv shows on cruise ships, touring companies, and on the main stage.

Her first job as a writer on a television series was for an un-aired Jon Stewart animated project.

In March 2020, her short film Basic, premiered at SXSW. In 2026, Devantez returned to SXSW with Basic, the feature film she directed, starring Leighton Meister and Ashley Park.

Devantez launched the podcast, Glamorous Trash: A Celebrity Memoir Podcast in 2020. It was originally called Celebrity Book Club and the first book covered was Mariah Carey's 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey.

In 2021, Devantez put out a call on social media for blind submissions as they were assembling the writers room for the yet-unnamed Jon Stewart project. They received 2400 writers packets. The show launched on Apple TV+ and was called The Problem With Jon Stewart.

Her 2024 memoir, I Shouldn't Be Telling You This (But I'm Going to Anyway), about her journey as a domestic violence survivor, was heavily redacted.

Personal life

Devantez is married to Yassir Lester. They live with their three dogs in California.

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2017 The Opposition with Jordan Klepper Writer 59 episodes
2018 The Gong Show Writer 10 episodes
2019 Abby's Writer Episode: "The Fish"
2019 Bless This Mess Writer Executive story editor (19 episodes), story editor (5 episodes), written by (3 episodes)
2021 Girls5eva Co-producer 8 episodes; also, written by episode: "Catskills"
2021 The Problem with Jon Stewart Head writer 8 episodes

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2020 Basic Gloria Short film; also director, writer, and executive producer
2026 Basic Feature Film

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2022Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing for a Nonfiction ProgramThe Problem with Jon StewartNominated

References

  1. ↑ "Chelsea Devantez". Television Academy. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  2. ↑ Porter, Rick (February 28, 2022). "'Problem With Jon Stewart' Head Writer Chelsea Devantez Exits for 20th TV Overall Deal". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  3. ↑ Rose, Lacey (September 15, 2021). "How Jon Stewart Assembled a Staff That Looked Nothing Like His Last One". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Crystals, psychics, cleanses, and (finally) courage: "I Shouldn't Be Telling You This" debut memoir by Chelsea Devantez". WAMC. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  5. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (October 9, 2020). "Mother-Daughter Comedy 'This Is Our Year' In Works At CBS From Chelsea Devantez, Barbie Adler & 20th TV". Deadline. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  6. ↑ Grobar, Matt (October 16, 2025). "Ashley Park, Leighton Meester & Taylor John Smith Set For Comedy 'Basic' From Chelsea Devantez". Deadline. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  7. ↑ mpac111 (August 23, 2013). "Q & A with Chelsea Devantez of Second City". Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. Retrieved March 24, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ Politics, Pantsuit. "I Shouldn't Be Telling You This with Chelsea Devantez". www.pantsuitpoliticsshow.com. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Chelsea Devantez - The Second City". www.secondcity.com. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Crystals, psychics, cleanses, and (finally) courage: "I Shouldn't Be Telling You This" debut memoir by Chelsea Devantez". WAMC. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  11. ↑ AOL (June 8, 2024). "Chelsea Devantez has found silver linings in a lost year". www.aol.com. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  12. ↑ Rose, Lacey (September 15, 2021). "How Jon Stewart Assembled a Staff That Looked Nothing Like His Last One". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  13. ↑ Stein, Frankie (March 19, 2020). "Here's why Chelsea Devantez's short film is anything but 'Basic'". Film Daily. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  14. ↑ "SXSW 2020: Chelsea Devantez talks Basic - Solzy at the Movies". solzyatthemovies.com. March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  15. ↑ Han, Angie (March 17, 2026). "'Basic' Review: Ashley Park and Leighton Meester in a Fun, Fizzy Comedy About the Perils of Googling Your Boyfriend's Ex". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  16. ↑ Grobar, Matt (October 16, 2025). "Ashley Park, Leighton Meester & Taylor John Smith Set For Comedy 'Basic' From Chelsea Devantez". Deadline. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  17. ↑ Saito, Stephen (March 22, 2026). "Chelsea Devantez's "Basic" - SXSW 2026 Film Review". The Moveable Fest. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  18. ↑ Grayson, Sydnie. "'Basic' debuts at SXSW with relatable, charming comedy". The Daily Texan. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  19. ↑ DC, 7News (June 3, 2021). "Chelsea Devantez deep dives into the juiciest memoirs with "Celebrity Book Club" podcast". WJLA. Retrieved March 24, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ↑ "Introducing Celebrity Book Club (and the first book we're reading!) - Glamorous Trash: A Celebrity Memoir Podcast on Tapesearch". www.tapesearch.com. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Meet the Women Reading Your Jon Stewart Packets for Apple TV+ – The Comic's Comic". February 23, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Why Jon Stewart's Ex-Head Writer Chelsea Devantez Decided to Tell Him the Truth". Yahoo Entertainment. June 9, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  23. ↑ N; P; R (June 13, 2024). "Chelsea Devantez's memoir finds the humor in dark situations". NPR. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  24. ↑ I SHOULDN'T BE TELLING YOU THIS | Kirkus Reviews.
  25. ↑ "My Story of Domestic Violence Got Redacted, So I Wore It Instead". ELLE. June 6, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  26. ↑ Gajewski, Ryan (March 17, 2026). "How Leighton Meester, Adam Brody's Date Nights Led Her to Star in Social-Stalking Comedy 'Basic'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Dogs Can Sense Racism and Trump is Segregating Schools (with Yassir Lester) - My Momma Told Me". omny.fm. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Chelsea Devantez has found silver linings in a lost year". The Santa Fe New Mexican. June 7, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Basic debuts at SXSW with relatable, charming comedy". The Daily Texan. March 17, 2026. Retrieved May 2, 2026.