She’s a vodka enthusiast. She’s obsessed with little people. And she’s the bad-girl host of the “Chelsea Lately” show on E!

Comedian Chelsea Handler recently called from her Los Angeles office to talk about her TV show, the stand-up act she’ll perform tonight at Tacoma’s Pantages Theater and her new book, “Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea.”

The book title reveals an appreciation for both spirits and Judy Blume (who penned the classic young adult novel, “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.”) So the conversation started with …

Quick! Your favorite Judy Blume books and your favorite brand of vodka?

My Blume book is, obviously, “Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Margaret.” I mean, “Are you There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.” I’m getting confused. Hopefully, she won’t have the same problem.

That would send a bad message to the kids.

I’ve gotta send her a book and see what she says. And then “The Cat Ate My Jumpsuit” I loved. And then “Forever,” of course, ’cause that’s about, you know, bendin’ your bean.

And what about vodka?

Grey Goose. I love my Grey Goose.

So what is the most regrettable thing you’ve done under the influence of either?

Um, probably I hooked up with a little person. (Editor’s note: We’re assuming this incident wasn’t fueled by Judy Blume.) But that was in my first book (“My Horizontal Life”).

What’s the most embarrassing story in this book? Probably going away with my father to Costa Rica, who’s 250 pounds and bald, and people thinking we were on our honeymoon. That was pretty humiliating.

You tell some pretty outrageous stories in both books. Is there any aspect of your life that’s off limits?

No, that went out the window in my first book when I wrote a chapter called “Skid Marks.” So I pretty much put it all out there, because at this point I can’t pretend to be shy or demure.

Are all of the stories 100 percent true?

You always change a few details. You change names, and you change places so that nobody can sue you. You try and change little things. For the most part, they’re true. Sometimes I’ll combine two stories into one.

Has anyone called ticked off that you told a story about hooking up with them?

No, I’ve gotten more calls from people – after the first book (about one-night stands) – who were pissed off that they weren’t in it.

Has anyone tried to date you to get into a book?

Yeah, I’m sure. Well, I live with my boyfriend now. … If anything, he’s begging me to stop talking about him and his sexual prowess. But I tell him, ‘Listen, you’re dating me. That’s the bed you made.’

Have you been arrested since the whole DUI incident you write about? And have you heard from Lucille?

Lucille? What chapter is that? Oh, the lesbian (cell mate). No, I haven’t heard from her. Hopefully, she doesn’t know that I’m on TV now, ’cause that could get dangerous.

Recently, E! renewed “Chelsea Lately.” What do you like most/least about doing your show?

Well, obviously, I don’t like to work so much. So that’s probably the thing I don’t love, is I have to be here every day. But the thing I love best, I think, is it’s so fast. If you have a (bad) show, you have a new show the next day. … And it’s a really light, silly, stupid show. So I get to have a lot of fun when I’m doing it.

What did you have the most fun doing?

I think the trapeze (segment) was really fun. … We just did a bit that’s called ‘To Catch a Little Person Predator’ – a takeoff on the Chris Hansen show ‘To Catch a Predator.’ People are trying to hook up with Chuy (her midget sidekick), and then I come out like Chris Hansen, and then our bodyguard Ricky tackles them. So that’s pretty funny. … That’s gonna air in a couple of weeks.

What is your stand-up like vs. what people see on the show?

I make fun of my friends that are having babies and how ridiculous they are about it; people who are having one baby and go buy a minivan. It’s like, “How big is your big, fat baby gonna be?” I talk about my friends who are getting married and are obnoxious about it – and register for $500 pillow shams and then act surprised when they get it. ‘Like, oh my god. How did you know?’ Because you picked it out. … That’s how I knew. I talk about dating redheads and why it’s dangerous. I talk about little people. It’s a lot less celebrity-centric.

Based on what you’re saying, it doesn’t sound like you’re settling into domestic life any time soon.

We just got three fish. So that’s pretty much the biggest commitment I’m ready to make for the next couple of years. If these guys make it through the fall … then we’ll probably step it up and get, like, a ferret or something – or maybe get a baby from another country.

Ernest Jasmin: 253-274-7389

What: Chelsea Handler in concert

When: 9 p.m. today

Where: Pantages Theater, Ninth and Broadway, Tacoma

Tickets: $29.50

Information: 253-591-5894 or www.broadwaycenter.org

You can also get your copy of Chelsea Handler’s new book, “Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea” signed at 7 p.m. today at University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle; 1-800-335-7323.