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Joan Rivers: the best of her comedy career in clips Joan Rivers: the best of her career in clips and quotes
(about 5 hours later)
Over the course of her career, the great Joan Rivers mastered the art of the one-liner. The pioneering comedian knew better than anyone how to craft a delayed laugh, forcing the audience into discomfort, and then release. As she said herself, “I succeeded by saying what everyone else is thinking.” She’d been hosting an online weekly talk show, In Bed with Joan, and had been working on E!’s Fashion Police before being taken ill. Here’s a look back at Rivers’ finest moments.Over the course of her career, the great Joan Rivers mastered the art of the one-liner. The pioneering comedian knew better than anyone how to craft a delayed laugh, forcing the audience into discomfort, and then release. As she said herself, “I succeeded by saying what everyone else is thinking.” She’d been hosting an online weekly talk show, In Bed with Joan, and had been working on E!’s Fashion Police before being taken ill. Here’s a look back at Rivers’ finest moments.
Joan on Ed Sullivan – 1967Joan on Ed Sullivan – 1967
Rivers began her career as a stand-up comedian and frequent guest on variety, comedy and talk shows – from Hollywood Squares to Candid Camera to The Carol Burnett Show. Here she is doing stand-up on Ed Sullivan in 1967, at a sprightly 34.Rivers began her career as a stand-up comedian and frequent guest on variety, comedy and talk shows – from Hollywood Squares to Candid Camera to The Carol Burnett Show. Here she is doing stand-up on Ed Sullivan in 1967, at a sprightly 34.
Joan and JohnnyJoan and Johnny
Rivers was a close friend of Johnny Carson’s, a regular guest on his show and often his replacement host. Here she is in 1986 – wearing the outfit she wore on her first appearance in 1965 – telling shameless jokes about Britain’s Royal family.Rivers was a close friend of Johnny Carson’s, a regular guest on his show and often his replacement host. Here she is in 1986 – wearing the outfit she wore on her first appearance in 1965 – telling shameless jokes about Britain’s Royal family.
And here we see Rivers guest-hosting for Carson, interviewing Mister Rogers in 1983 – while wearing one of his sweaters. “For me, it’s like talking to a teacher,” she tells him. “Like I can’t say, ‘Have you ever fooled around?’” Fast forward to the six-minute mark to see Mister Rogers serenade Rivers.And here we see Rivers guest-hosting for Carson, interviewing Mister Rogers in 1983 – while wearing one of his sweaters. “For me, it’s like talking to a teacher,” she tells him. “Like I can’t say, ‘Have you ever fooled around?’” Fast forward to the six-minute mark to see Mister Rogers serenade Rivers.
The Joan Rivers ShowThe Joan Rivers Show
In 1986, after Fox offered Rivers her own rival late-night show, Carson cut ties completely, and her career took a massive hit. What pulled her out was the Joan Rivers show, which won her a Daytime Emmy in 1990 for outstanding talk show Host. Here she is hosting a soap opera star fashion show in 1991 alongside Tommy Hilfiger and Mimi Torchin – perhaps the skit that spurred the first inklings of a future of policing fashion.In 1986, after Fox offered Rivers her own rival late-night show, Carson cut ties completely, and her career took a massive hit. What pulled her out was the Joan Rivers show, which won her a Daytime Emmy in 1990 for outstanding talk show Host. Here she is hosting a soap opera star fashion show in 1991 alongside Tommy Hilfiger and Mimi Torchin – perhaps the skit that spurred the first inklings of a future of policing fashion.
The queen of one-linersThe queen of one-liners
Rivers, crowned the Queen of Mean, was a master at the biting put-down, which she directed just as easily at herself as she did at others. Here are some of her best, followed by her cutting Comedy Central roast speech in 2009.Rivers, crowned the Queen of Mean, was a master at the biting put-down, which she directed just as easily at herself as she did at others. Here are some of her best, followed by her cutting Comedy Central roast speech in 2009.
I wish I had a twin, so I could know what I’d look like without plastic surgery.I wish I had a twin, so I could know what I’d look like without plastic surgery.
My love life is like a piece of Swiss cheese. Most of it’s missing, and what’s there stinks.My love life is like a piece of Swiss cheese. Most of it’s missing, and what’s there stinks.
All babies look like Renée Zellweger pushed against a glass window.All babies look like Renée Zellweger pushed against a glass window.
The people voting for the Oscars are so old. I haven’t seen one Academy award voter with a tampon in her purse.The people voting for the Oscars are so old. I haven’t seen one Academy award voter with a tampon in her purse.
I like colonic irrigation because sometimes you find old jewelry.I like colonic irrigation because sometimes you find old jewelry.
My husband wanted to be cremated. I told him I’d scatter his ashes at Neiman Marcus – that way, I’d visit him every day.My husband wanted to be cremated. I told him I’d scatter his ashes at Neiman Marcus – that way, I’d visit him every day.
Fashion PoliceFashion Police
From September 2010 to her last days, Rivers co-hosted the successful E! show Fashion Police, where she, Kelly Osborne, Giuliana Rancic and George Kotsiopoulos commented on celebrity style dos and don’ts. In this clip, Rivers rips into Rihanna. “I have not seen lips this green since Miss Piggy got out of the back seat of Kermit’s car.”From September 2010 to her last days, Rivers co-hosted the successful E! show Fashion Police, where she, Kelly Osborne, Giuliana Rancic and George Kotsiopoulos commented on celebrity style dos and don’ts. In this clip, Rivers rips into Rihanna. “I have not seen lips this green since Miss Piggy got out of the back seat of Kermit’s car.”
In 2013, she launched a YouTube web series called In Bed with Joan, where she invites different celebrities to literally come out of her closet and chat in bed. Here’s her first episode with Sarah Silverman.In 2013, she launched a YouTube web series called In Bed with Joan, where she invites different celebrities to literally come out of her closet and chat in bed. Here’s her first episode with Sarah Silverman.
Joan Rivers Returns to the Tonight ShowJoan Rivers Returns to the Tonight Show
Jimmy Fallon lifted the Tonight Show ban on Joan Rivers after 28 years, inviting her as a guest on the 49th anniversary of her first-ever appearance on the Tonight Show in 1965. In this interview, Fallon asked Rivers if she was worried about death. “On my bucket list, my No1 is: wake up,” she said with her usual flippancy on painful topics. “I’m not afraid of death. My father was a doctor, so I was around death all my life, I was very used to it ... because he was a shitty doctor.”Jimmy Fallon lifted the Tonight Show ban on Joan Rivers after 28 years, inviting her as a guest on the 49th anniversary of her first-ever appearance on the Tonight Show in 1965. In this interview, Fallon asked Rivers if she was worried about death. “On my bucket list, my No1 is: wake up,” she said with her usual flippancy on painful topics. “I’m not afraid of death. My father was a doctor, so I was around death all my life, I was very used to it ... because he was a shitty doctor.”