Joan Rivers Interview 2007 for Folio Magazine

I had the great pleasure of interviewing Joan Rivers back in 2007 for Folio, the weekly paper in Jacksonville. At the time they didn't post content online, so I have taken my original text and re-posted it here. Enjoy.

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. Do you ever talk with these people and think “I dunno, is that the best way to spend all that money?”

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 Post. People love gossip and people love negative gossip, you know that. That’s the way of the world.

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’s a big town isn’t it?

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 show people saw you. Somebody can do 26 shots on Letterman, and no one knows who the hell they are.  Of course the Internet is changing everything. People come up with a viral video and they’re a star.

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 turns out to be a pole dancer? Thank you God. Ten minutes of jokes came into my head right away.

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.