Story producer and longtime comedian Heather McDonald of the top rated evening comedy show Chelsea Lately gabs about career growth, balancing family and what's next...

As usual, I'm often knee deep in 20 million things when out of nowhere, I get my regular "Ali Vonal, Editor" email with a new writing assignment for I Am Modern Magazine. I love the "please-write-thisarticle- for-us-Mayra" emails from Ali. Th ey are always a very welcome interruption from the crazy, hectic nature of my work days.

The last such email from Ali was quite intriguing; it was asking me to interview someone from outside of our area. Okay, no problem. But two sentences in, I realized this wasn't just “anyone”…it was actually a “Hollywood celeb!” Wait, could that be right? Perhaps Ali had a typo? Hmmm…I re-read the email: “We want you to interview Heather McDonald from the Chelsea Lately cable show on E!” Ummm, okay.

I confess I had a mini-moment. “OMG! how fun would this interview be?...or maybe not?” I asked myself. Would Heather be one of those super, down-to-earth Hollywood celebs who was gracious and giving with her time, or would she be an uppity diva with only ten quick minutes to chat before dashing out for lunch with J.Lo and Halle Berry on some private catamaran?

Well I am pleased to report that Heather McDonald—a talented comedian, full-time writer, and story producer on E!'s top rated evening comedy show Chelsea Lately—was an easy-going, affable, and charming interview subject. Oh, and did I mention she had me cracking up in between interview questions? Yeah, I should have anticipated some definite chuckles. How could I help it? Th e woman is just witty and naturally funny. And I guess she would be since that is what she does, right? We are talking about a woman who's line of work is centered on making people laugh and finding humor in their everyday experiences.

As our interview began, one thing became immediately clear:
Heather has always been destined to a career in comedy. Th is momof- three and University of Southern California graduate did not get to be where she is today by accident. "I did some stand-up during my college years," shares Heather nostalgically. But not long aft er marrying her husband, Peter, her stand up days soon came to a halt. "My stand-up work ended because staying out late at clubs wasn't compatible with married life. And neither were my stints about my life as a dating, single woman. My stand-up just didn't seem as 'appropriate' Despite becoming a busy wife and suburban mom, Heather did what she could to keep up with her comedy work. “I still had my agent and I would pursue small gigs here and there,” she shares. But life happened, as it typically does, and Heather's career focus became real estate for several years. Then, without much warning, 'it' happened. You know…that 'Aha!' moment that makes you kind of wake up and realize you haven't been smelling the coffee.

Well, that moment happened to Heather one day when she bumped into a friend who, in passing, casually said, "Hey, it's too bad you quit your stand-up."

“Quit my stand-up?” Heather rhetorically asked in slight disbelief and even denial. “I never quit my stand-up,” she stead fastedly told her friend. Not long after that exchange, however, Heather realized it had been more than seven years since she had last done a routine. “I immediately decided, 'You know what? I'm going to make this happen.'” And just like that, Heather began to get herself back on the comedy track full force. In fact, her mission in life would be to create a specific career path where she would be surrounded by creative people daily. “I knew it was time. I had to carve out the time and make it happen,” Heather proclaimed.

Soon thereafter, Heather began seeking new stand-up opportunities. She also became more aggressive about auditioning for various parts, roles, and pilots. And somewhere along the way, she became acquainted with Chelsea Handler, talk show host of Chelsea Lately. “One thing led to another and here we are today,” Heather says of her present collaboration with Handler, who is by her own right an equally accomplished author, comedian, and late night talk show host, but that's another article for another day.

In fact, I'd like to pause here for a moment to highlight Heather's “somewhere along the way” journey because her accomplishments and contributions in the comedic Hollywood arena are not insignificant.

As Heather's biography on her official site indicates, she:

• co-wrote White Chicks with the Wayans brothers and had a supporting role in the movie
• played a part in the Wayans brothers and Paramount Pictures Dance Flick in May 2009
• was a series regular and writer on MTV's Lyricist Lounge
• has been a guest star on the hit television shows Frasier, Malcolm in the Middle, Drake and Josh, Quintupulets and Watching Ellie
• has been writing for US Weekly's Fashion Police for eight years

In addition to her comedy and producing, Heather is also author of You'll Never Blue Ball in Th is Town Again: One Woman's Painfully Funny Quest to Give It Up, a book chronicling her life and rise in comedy. She's already working on her second book amidst what must be an extremely demanding and dynamic work schedule. So how does she do it? How does Heather balance an exciting, unique career and challenging, long-day schedules? "It's called 'having a stay-at-home dad," Heather humorously chides. "My husband provides an incredible source of support to me and our kids. He's transitioned from his own career to be a stay-at-home dad which allows him to take the kids to and from their activities, help them out with schoolwork, and overall take charge of their care while holding down the home front."

With a voice heavy in appreciation, Heather admits she's incredibly fortunate to have her husband's full support. "One of the best things about my husband is that he never makes me feel guilty for missing a school activity or sports game. He never makes me feel badly for being a busy working mom."

And while it's obvious Heather's husband is the McDonald family rock, Heather admits there are some kinks in the whole stay-at-home dad deal. "First and foremost, I totally know that when I'm gone for three days, my kids more than likely will not get baths, have their hair washed or have their nails cut. It's just a fact that dads will not do some of the things or details as we moms would do or think to do in a certain way. It was something I had to learn to accept; I realized I couldn't ‘control’ or ‘dictate’ how my husband would manage the kids while I was out. I had to let go and keep in mind I could always ‘restore’ order and re-implement my momway of doing things upon my return."

In addition to a doting, devoted husband, Heather also benefits immensely from living right next door to her parents. "My parents have lived in their home for many years. It's the very home where I grew up! And so when the house next door to my parent's home was up for sale, we bought it. It's worked out so well to have my parents be our next door neighbors. The kids love having their grandparents just a few steps away."

Despite having an excellent support system, there are moments Heather does struggle with her own guilt about being away from home and working long hours away from her kids. "My husband works so hard to not make me feel guilty, but the fact is I do feel guilty from time to time. I also think a lot about my own mom and how I used to make her feel guilty for not being there for me during this or that school event. Now I realize my mom didn't really have much of a choice; she had to work to help sustain our family. I think about that sometimes and there are days it definitely weighs heavily on my conscience."

On a much lighter note, Heather does see a very bright future ahead. In addition to working on her second book, she's also collaborating with Chelsea Handler on a number of joint projects. The possibility of an upcoming pilot based on Heather's own life may also be in the works.

As we began to close our call, Heather acknowledged she's been very fortunate. "I'm blessed. I know I'm truly blessed," she shared good-naturedly. Hmmm...I'm thinking it's more like beyond blessed, don't you?

To learn more about Chelsea Lately and Aft er Lately writer and on-camera accomplice Heather McDonald and all her comedic antics, please visit her official web site http://heathermcdonald.net, on Twitter at @HeatherMc- Donald or on Facebook at facebook.com/heathermcdonaldcomedy.

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MAYRA RUIZ MCPHERSON
Mayra Ruiz MCPHERSON is the founder of Ruiz McPherson Communications, a marketing ingenuity and digital PR company based in Dulles, Virginia. You can follow her on Twitter at @mayraruiz, via her practice’s Twitter handle @ruizmcpherson or on Facebook at facebook.com/ruizmcpherson.