RIP Joan Rivers

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by geeker2

It's funny because in later years (ok yes on Howard Stern) she said she hated Johnny with a passion.

But god she was funny ...rip...maybe not a bad way to go at 81.

Well, he totally cut her dead after she, god forbid, left to go do her own show. More recently, though, she talked about owing her whole career to him. She also had this to say about Neil Simon:

"“Do you want to hear something awful?” Joan asks. “When Edgar had just killed himself, I couldn't get work and they were looking for someone for Broadway Bound. Neil Simon said ‘don't bring her in.' But I came in on my own money, read for it and they gave the part to me right on the spot. That turned my life around. From that, I got my talk show and on and on. My whole life I said “'Neil Simon changed my life.' But when I saw him again years later he said, ‘You were a Kate?'”

There are comedians who have a real talent for sounding like they're just rambling through this and that until they land on a punchline, but in fact every stutter is practiced. She was brilliant at it. (Tommy Smothers is another) Barbara Walters said she was the only guest on The View who gave them questions to ask her ahead of time, so she could land a joke.

She did a really interesting interview a few years ago, talking about being a female comedian early on:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...-carson-398088