A GoPride Interview
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers interview with ChicagoPride.com
Mon. March 26, 2012 by Jerry Nunn
The queen of comedy took time out recently to talk with GoPride.com about her upcoming shows, stand-up comedy and more
The legendary comedian Joan Rivers, who got her first big break at Chicago's Second City, returns to her Illinois roots for two shows at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, which will be taped for an upcoming Showtime special.
One of the hardest working women in showbiz Rivers keeps up fashion lines on QVC and two television shows, "Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?" on WeTV and "Fashion Police" on the E! Network.
She took time out recently to chat with GoPride.com about her upcoming shows, her stand-up comedy and more.
JN: (Jerry Nunn) Hello, Joan, always good to talk to you. I heard you are coming back to town.
JR: (Joan Rivers) I am to St. Charles. The reason I chose Chicago is because I love it there. Then someone said, "It is not really in Chicago but outside of it." I said, "Oh please!"
JN: We can drive. Many of us Chicagoans have cars.
JR: Well, let's hope.
JN: Do you want people to dress up, maybe have t-shirts made?
JR: No, just come and enjoy the show.
JN: So no feather boas?
JR: No, that is me that wears the boa. Don't steal my thunder when I am onstage.
JN: Oh, I forgot you wore a feather boa in Skokie last time you were here! You have been busy recently.
JR: This has been a very good year thank god. "Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?" is getting great ratings on WeTV. That is on Tuesday nights and then "Fashion Police" is going to an hour on E! TV.
JN: I just talked to George Kotsiopoulos from the show.
JR: Isn't he wonderful?
JN: Yes he was and from Illinois.
JR: He is just darling. The whole group all likes each other. Melissa is the producer. It is a joy to go to work. You know what I am saying? I think that comes across.
JN: It definitely does. I didn't realize how bad the break up was until I saw it on "Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?".
JR: Yes but it is part of life.
JN: It is in the past.
JR: It is in the past and thank god she is going out with someone else now. That break up was tough.
JN: You did an interview with Barbara Walters recently.
JR: For 20/20, Barbara called me since we have known each other forever. She said, "I want you to be serious. This is a serious interview on 20/20!" I said, "Okay."
When I got there she said, "You are not being funny." I said, "Okay, I will be funny now!"
JN: You left her speechless I noticed.
JR: Well, when she asks a question you answer it.
JN: You can't mess with Barbara. She's tough.
JR: You can't mess with the Big B!
JN: You have been twittering about Snooki being pregnant.
JR: The fetus came up on the sonogram orange!
JN: These jokes just write themselves.
JR: She is such an obvious one. Even as I said on my Twitter, even Rick Santorum would have an abortion here! Do we really need another Snooki?
JN: What do you think about the new "Celebrity Apprentice"?
JR: I haven't seen it yet. I have been TiVoing it. So I will sit down and watch it all together. What do you think? It is not as good as our year!
JN: No, but I have interviewed Lisa Lampanelli a few times so good to see her on there.
JR: I imagine she would be good. All comedians are good because you have got to have humor. If things happen you can still laugh about it.
JN: Adam Carolla is funny on there and Arsenio Hall too.
JR: Where did he come back from?
JN: I don't know (laughs)!
JR: He's been away forever, for like twenty odd years.
JN: He took a break.
JR: That's a break. "I'm taking a break, hold my place!"
JN: People like you never stop. You are in Cleveland right now correct?
JR: Yes for tonight and tomorrow in Indianapolis then I go home.
JN: People can keep up with you on Twitter and your website?
JR: I love my Twitter and everyone has a website. It is a different world.
JN: I wanted to tell you that you were write about Meryl Streep winning from our last chat about her.
JR: See? I am so glad. The others were wonderful. I am not knocking anybody else. Did you see Iron Lady?
JN: I didn't see it yet.
JR: The most boring movie in America! She is so brilliant in it your jaw just drops. The minute I saw her I knew I was watching something incredible. Go back and look at her in Sophie's Choice or Kramer vs. Kramer or The French Lieutenant's Woman. She is just unbelievable.
JN: I gave Lily Tomlin your best the other day when we were chatting.
JR: Oh, I love her! What is she doing? Is she out doing her show?
JN: Yes, she did two shows just like you back to back.
JR: What is the show exactly?
JN: It is her take on life and her different characters. It is very different than yours.
JR: Mine is lashing out at the world! Hers is so brilliant. Oh my god is she good.
JN: You are too. You really run around onstage a lot.
JR: That is my work out. I love being onstage because I get to perform and work out at the same time. I like multitasking!
Come be a part of the act! Shows are at 7 and 9 pm on Saturday, March 31 at the Arcada Theatre, 105 East Main Street, St. Charles, IL. Tickets are ranging from $39 to $125 with purchasing and details at www.oshows.com or call 630-962-7000.
One of the hardest working women in showbiz Rivers keeps up fashion lines on QVC and two television shows, "Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?" on WeTV and "Fashion Police" on the E! Network.
She took time out recently to chat with GoPride.com about her upcoming shows, her stand-up comedy and more.
JN: (Jerry Nunn) Hello, Joan, always good to talk to you. I heard you are coming back to town.
JR: (Joan Rivers) I am to St. Charles. The reason I chose Chicago is because I love it there. Then someone said, "It is not really in Chicago but outside of it." I said, "Oh please!"
JN: We can drive. Many of us Chicagoans have cars.
JR: Well, let's hope.
JN: Do you want people to dress up, maybe have t-shirts made?
JR: No, just come and enjoy the show.
JN: So no feather boas?
JR: No, that is me that wears the boa. Don't steal my thunder when I am onstage.
JN: Oh, I forgot you wore a feather boa in Skokie last time you were here! You have been busy recently.
JR: This has been a very good year thank god. "Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?" is getting great ratings on WeTV. That is on Tuesday nights and then "Fashion Police" is going to an hour on E! TV.
JN: I just talked to George Kotsiopoulos from the show.
JR: Isn't he wonderful?
JN: Yes he was and from Illinois.
JR: He is just darling. The whole group all likes each other. Melissa is the producer. It is a joy to go to work. You know what I am saying? I think that comes across.
JN: It definitely does. I didn't realize how bad the break up was until I saw it on "Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?".
JR: Yes but it is part of life.
JN: It is in the past.
JR: It is in the past and thank god she is going out with someone else now. That break up was tough.
JN: You did an interview with Barbara Walters recently.
JR: For 20/20, Barbara called me since we have known each other forever. She said, "I want you to be serious. This is a serious interview on 20/20!" I said, "Okay."
When I got there she said, "You are not being funny." I said, "Okay, I will be funny now!"
JN: You left her speechless I noticed.
JR: Well, when she asks a question you answer it.
JN: You can't mess with Barbara. She's tough.
JR: You can't mess with the Big B!
JN: You have been twittering about Snooki being pregnant.
JR: The fetus came up on the sonogram orange!
JN: These jokes just write themselves.
JR: She is such an obvious one. Even as I said on my Twitter, even Rick Santorum would have an abortion here! Do we really need another Snooki?
JN: What do you think about the new "Celebrity Apprentice"?
JR: I haven't seen it yet. I have been TiVoing it. So I will sit down and watch it all together. What do you think? It is not as good as our year!
JN: No, but I have interviewed Lisa Lampanelli a few times so good to see her on there.
JR: I imagine she would be good. All comedians are good because you have got to have humor. If things happen you can still laugh about it.
JN: Adam Carolla is funny on there and Arsenio Hall too.
JR: Where did he come back from?
JN: I don't know (laughs)!
JR: He's been away forever, for like twenty odd years.
JN: He took a break.
JR: That's a break. "I'm taking a break, hold my place!"
JN: People like you never stop. You are in Cleveland right now correct?
JR: Yes for tonight and tomorrow in Indianapolis then I go home.
JN: People can keep up with you on Twitter and your website?
JR: I love my Twitter and everyone has a website. It is a different world.
JN: I wanted to tell you that you were write about Meryl Streep winning from our last chat about her.
JR: See? I am so glad. The others were wonderful. I am not knocking anybody else. Did you see Iron Lady?
JN: I didn't see it yet.
JR: The most boring movie in America! She is so brilliant in it your jaw just drops. The minute I saw her I knew I was watching something incredible. Go back and look at her in Sophie's Choice or Kramer vs. Kramer or The French Lieutenant's Woman. She is just unbelievable.
JN: I gave Lily Tomlin your best the other day when we were chatting.
JR: Oh, I love her! What is she doing? Is she out doing her show?
JN: Yes, she did two shows just like you back to back.
JR: What is the show exactly?
JN: It is her take on life and her different characters. It is very different than yours.
JR: Mine is lashing out at the world! Hers is so brilliant. Oh my god is she good.
JN: You are too. You really run around onstage a lot.
JR: That is my work out. I love being onstage because I get to perform and work out at the same time. I like multitasking!
Come be a part of the act! Shows are at 7 and 9 pm on Saturday, March 31 at the Arcada Theatre, 105 East Main Street, St. Charles, IL. Tickets are ranging from $39 to $125 with purchasing and details at www.oshows.com or call 630-962-7000.
Interviewed by Jerry Nunn. Jerry Nunn is a contributing writer to the GoPride Network. His work is also featured in Windy City Times, Nightspots Magazine and syndicated nationally. Follow @jerrynunn