Joan Rivers
By P.F. Wilson
Joan
Rivers talks about life lessons, dealing with the paparazzi, and how she felt
about having her Red Carpet gig handed to Star Jones.
Folio:
Your latest vehicle is How’d You Get so Rich? on TV Land. How did that come together?
JR: They came to me while I was doing Celebrity Apprentice, and said “we’d think you’d be the ideal
choice because you’re a good interviewer, you’re a lucky Lou, you’re a big
mouth and you’re funny. The show is a combination of all three. We meet the
people, find out how they got rich, which is always fascinating, then we get a
chance to go into their houses, see how they spend their money, and what their
toys are.
Folio:
You’ve probably seen many a fortune gained and lost
in Hollywood
JR: They all have one thing in common. They all have great energy and
great belief in their product and worked very hard for it. No body is a sloth.
Folio:
What about the gal that won the lottery?
JR: I spoke to her afterwards, and she’s already investing, she’s got a
business going. [People that are smart], once they get money, they know the
value of it, and they have great time with it. And they are all also very charitable.
Folio:
There’s a documentary about you, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, coming out
June 11. Did a film crew follow you around constantly?
JR: Yes, for a year and a half. The deal was I gave them total access,
and they just followed me. I absolutely forgot they were there. After a year
and half you get up in the morning and they’re they are.
Folio:
Were there things you didn’t want in it?
JR: No, the deal was---and I
was very glad to make that kind of deal---it was their choice. I hate (documentaries)
where (the subject) has the final choice. Then it’s not an honest look. It’s
the way the person wants to be perceived.
Folio:
Speaking of people following you around, are you
tired of TMZ?
JR: Let me tell you, we are so lucky to have the paparazzi want to take
our picture, and anyone who doesn’t get that should go back to being a pizza
waitress. “Oh, the paparazzi won’t leave me alone!” You know what? Go sell hats
at Macy’s, then they’ll leave you alone. Never bothers me, seriously delighted
to do it.
Folio:
But trying to pick on Phil Donahue because he looks
old, isn’t that a little mean?
JR: Isn’t everything? Let’s open up US
Magazine and OK Magazine, or The New
York
Folio:
A lot of folks think you got a raw deal with E! and
your Red Carpet coverage. Were you secretly happy when Star Jones bombed?
JR:
Oh no, no, no. I was not secretly happy. I was
obviously happy! Of course Everyone thinks it’s so easy. Geena Davis, they had
her do it one year, and she gave out a statement to the press saying “I won’t
ask ‘who are you wearing?’” Melissa and I were laughing. “Wait until she finds
out how tough it is.” It took her two interviews to say “who are you wearing?”
We were delighted to see her just fall on her face!
Folio:
Why are people so surprised when you don’t know who
they are? Hollywood
JR: There are a 1000 channels if you have cable. We don’t know who
everybody is. And we don’t know what everybody is doing. I think everyone should
be polite and say “hello, I’m so and so.”
Folio:
Or wear nametags.
JR: Wouldn’t that be nice? No, I don’t know who you are, I don’t watch Jersey Shore
Folio:
In college you studied anthropology. Did that help
you in any way in Hollywood
JR: (Laughs) No, but I just loved it. I always liked to think I could go
back and do it. But it’s great when you travel as much as I do, as we all do in
our business, (you say) “oh my gosh, I want to go see this, and I’m lucky
enough to be able to go see (those things). I played Turkey
and I got to see (the ancient city of) Ephesus ,
the ruins of Delphi ---if I’d become an
anthropologist, I might never have had a chance to see them. My other
profession has brought me to places where I want to always go and look.
Folio:
Is it easier
to be in comedy now because of all the outlets, or harder because there is more
competition?
JR: I think in the old days it was much better because when you did land
on the Carson
Folio:
Do you have any energy for the Internet?
JR: I’m dying to do a late night talk show on the Internet, dying to.
Folio:
You seem to fit so easily into different jobs, why
is that?
JR: I just figure try everything. No one remembers the failures. All you need each year is one success. Try
everything, what’s the worst that could happen? I found out that I don’t like
to direct by directing a movie (Rabbit
Test). If I hadn’t tried that, I would have been all my life saying “I want
to direct a movie.” Life is very fast, you go around once. Try.
Folio:
How do you feel about the state of stand-up comedy
today?
JR: I think it’s wonderful, you can talk about anything. Audiences are
willing to hear hilarious things, they’re wide open.
Folio:
And you have tons to talk about?
JR: Yes. Miss USA
Folio:
What’s your favorite topic these days?
JR: All these cheating husbands! Tiger Woods, Jesse James, what’s his
name, from the Today Show.
Folio: You mentioned wanting to do an Internet talk show. Anything else
on your showbiz bucket list?
JR: I’d love to go back to Broadway. I’ve never been in a real movie. Muppets Take Manhattan doesn’t count. Spaceballs doesn’t count.
