I (heart) Chelsea Handler

I'm a total night owl, not always by choice. Sometimes I just can't sleep. So over the years, programs like The Tonight Show, The Late Show -- and on really sleepless nights, The Late Late Show -- have become my friends. And perhaps not for the reason you'd think. Much of the time, I could successfully nod off while watching, save for the occasional stupid pet trick or off-the-beaten-path celebrity interview.

But ever since E! launched Chelsea Lately, my nighttime routine has changed. I actually make an effort to stay awake until midnight (even when I'm actually tired enough to fall asleep early), just so I can check out host Chelsea Handler and her antics. I can tell you right now, it's worth losing sleep over.

Here are the top reasons Handler (who coincidentally used to be a correspondent for The Tonight Show) gets my vote for best late-night talk show host:

1. The show format is fresh.

Handler spends the first part of her show conducting a roundtable discussion with special guests, usually composed of pop culture experts and comedians. It feels like you're in on a comfortable, after-work happy hour discussion with friends, instead of being spoken to for several minutes. A brief comedy sketch, celebrity interview, and sometimes, a musical guest round out the program.

2. She's a spot of pink in a sea of blue.

Late-night television has long been dominated by men, so I love seeing a woman's sense of humor and point of view at the forefront. You'd never see David Letterman commiserating with Melissa Joan Hart about how much of a chore it is to squeeze into Spanx.

3. She's funny. And a little vulgar.
No doubt, Letterman and Jay Leno are funny, too. But I always let loose gut-busting laughs during Chelsea Lately. Her delivery is always spot-on, and because she's on E!, she can be a little bit freer with what she says. She speaks her mind -- and sometimes it's pretty dirty, but in a creative way. (For example, she often refers to lady parts as Peekachoos or Hot Pockets.) I can't help it, I always wonder what she's going to say next. Speaking of that...

4. She conducts great, no-holds-barred interviews.

While many late-night hosts are content to let stars prattle on and on about their upcoming movie or something their toddler did last week (Zzzzz), Handler has admitted that's not how she rolls. Instead, she asks her guests things that people really want to know.

Right after Brooke Hogan's mother started dating a 19-year-old, Handler asked Brooke pointed questions and really got her to open up about how she was handling it. Handler called out Michael Lohan out on his too-tight jeans ("You have camel balls!"). And she joked with Tate Donovan that he was still sexy in spite of his red hair: "But (because of that), you'll never be a full throttle sex pot."

Often, Handler's breezy interview style brings out the carefree jokester in her subjects as well.

5. She interviews musicians.

Music artists never get interviewed by hosts; they're always being relegated to the musical performance portion of late night talk shows (unless they are big ticket names like Jay-Z or Beyonce). But Handler has actual conversations with folks like Fat Joe and Natasha Bedingfield and lets them perform.

6. She's got good style.

Sorry, but if you've seen one guy in a dark suit, you've seen them all. Handler is always wearing an outfit that seems classic and current at the same time – and she's got great, great shoes. I love checking out her ensembles.

7. Chuy!

Having a flamboyantly gay sidekick is so 2001. Handler's assistant is Chuy, a quick-witted, Mexican, little person who is always delivers the best one-liners. He's also a frequent star in the show's sketches.

8. She's an edgy alternative to years of sameness.

After having her own (somewhat inconsistent) self-titled comedy sketch show for a while, Handler seems more comfortable in her new role. She's found her niche and I'm on board. Except for the "Headlines" portion of The Tonight Show, I'm pretty much committed to Chelsea Lately. Which means my snooze bar gets a mean workout every morning.