What do you think about
when you hear the name Joan Rivers? For me I instantly think of laughing so
hard I have to hold my stomach for fear of bursting into pieces. I think of
someone who is current and keeps up with pop culture and is on practically
every channel. She just might be the hardest working woman in show biz and has
been ever since she started out way back in 1965 on The Tonight Show with
Johnny Carson. This octogenarian has no sign of slowing down and I for one have
to say I am glad to hear it. This world needs some Joan Rivers jokes in it and
there were times in her world where she needed it too.
When I think back to my
earliest memories of Joan Rivers, it is a sad time that comes to mind first. I
do not know how I learned of her exactly, I am sure from T.V. or the media, but
I remember learning of her husband’s suicide. Actually I vividly remember
watching the made for T.V.movie, “Tears and Laughter, The Joan and Melissa
Rivers Story”, that both Joan and her daughter Melissa starred in about their
life, of which this was a main part. At that time in 1994 made for T.V. movies
were all the rage, ala The Amy Fisher Story with Drew Barrymore or Alyssa Milano.
But it was unusual that those in the story were the ones acting it out. The
Rivers’ loss was so fresh and new but together they were getting through. Even
back then I could see the close bond they had. Now they are taking that bond
one step further as they merge family with business on the WE Channel for their
show “Joan Knows Best”. My favorite part of this show is seeing how close Joan
is to her grandson, like when they have their special week long vacations just
the two of them. It is really remarkably clear family comes first.
Joan Rivers was always
ahead of her time. Back in 1965 the world wasn’t ready for her. No one was
willing to accept that of all people, a woman so smart and witty was willing to
say what everyone was thinking. And sometimes not even what you are thinking
but now what you can’t even get out of your head. She has never been defeated.
Life certainly hasn’t dealt her an easy hand, but if anyone could make lemonade
out of lemons she sure did, and then went on to add her on twist of vodka on
the side.
After many, many years of
being blackballed from Hollywood from Mr. Carson and many others, for reason
too numerous to list here, and her husband’s death, Mrs. Rivers simply picked
up the pieces and went on. Of course it wasn’t simple and it has taken her a
lifetime to get where she is, but she is there at her rightful place: ON TOP!!
I have learned a lot
about Joan over the years through many different ways. One of the best was
“Piece of Work” a documentary made five years ago as a camera crew followed her
around for a year discussing her career and examining the life that is Joan
Rivers.
Another great method is
her books. I have not had the pleasure of reading any of her books yet but the
one I want to start with is her latest “I Hate Everyone Starting With Myself”.
Her brand of humor is always on the cusp of enlightening and pee your pants
funny.
A small spin off of her
“Joan Knows Best” series is a web series, “In Bed With Joan” that she films
from her bedroom at Melissa’s house where famous guests Joan is interested in
talking to enter from her closet after having waited in the laundry room/green
room. They quite literally lie in her bed while she is dressed to the nine and
chat for a bit about whatever comes out of Joan’s mouth. It is a riot. It seems as though her fans, what she
likes to call the “Joan Rangers” have unconditional love for anything she does.
As I mentioned
in my previous blog “Springing Ahead to My Busy Season”, I found out about this
show randomly and immediately booked into an already crowded weekend. I was so
excited it didn’t matter. I had never thought I would get to see her perform. I
know she still travels nonstop for her comedy tours and for her many other
businesses but for these tickets to fall into my lap on a date, time, and place
I could go felt like fate. And so it was. I was going to see a living legend in
my lifetime. Check another item off my bucket list. Damn that is a good
feeling.
Joan Rivers was
performing at the St. George Theatre in Staten Island, New York. Not a borough
I travel too much I admit. But when I looked it up online I saw how gorgeous it
was and how many great events are held there. It looks even better in person
and when I saw how big it was and that every single seat would be filled on
that night I was had such a strong feeling of pride and privilege as I held onto
my ticket tightly.
Prior to the show, my
companions and me went to dinner a few doors down. The restaurant, “Enoteca
Maria”, was rated very highly by Zagat and considering the strict time
restraints and long lines to get into this tiny location it seemed to be the
place to be.
When it was finally time
for our reservation and after waiting patiently past that time we were
escorted/pushed into a table past all the others at the back near the kitchen.
It was a good place to be considering we were a party of five and we didn’t
want to be constantly bumped into as the wait staff came past every time. Still
I think with all the business they were doing they could afford to expand.
As for the food we
ordered a few appetizers to share and they were all pretty tasty. We sampled
some Margherita pizza, tomato and mozzarella salad, and something called an
eggplant boat, which was eggplant with the inside scooped out combined with
cheese and baked back in. As for an entrée I got the eggplant boat, as I had
not tasted it earlier. For dessert I shared a gelato dish. Overall the food was
okay but it was pricey (and they only take cash) and the menu varies daily
depending on the season and priority of the chefs, who are grandmothers and
other family members as this is a strictly family run restaurant from the cooks
to servers.
But all and all it was
fine. Glad to have gone and now I know better for next time. All I really cared
about was that now we were off to the
show!
It had been some time since
I had been to a comedy show. The last one was a good one though, when Jerry
Seinfeld performed at the Beacon Theater.
This was a big treat for
me and I was counting down until the time the curtain would open. It would turn
out the curtain was already open, but for dramatic affect my version sounds
better.
Chris Monty opened for
Joan Rivers the evening that I saw her. I am always leery of opening acts
because you never know what you are going to get and they know you aren’t there
to see them so it is awkward especially if they are going to be on for like an
hour and in the first ten seconds its clear this is a bad idea. I was so
delighted this was not the case. Chris was so on this night. He had all local
related humor and with a crowd that was from anywhere in the five boroughs he
hit the nail right on the head. Everyone was laughing so hard the time flew by.
I would gladly see him again, even as an opening act.
When our leading lady came
out she was just like she is on T.V.! I have seen pieces of her act on her
weekly show and from her aforementioned documentary so some of it was familiar.
But boy is there something about seeing her all glammed up and pacing the
stage. Honestly I was tired watching her while I sat. She never lost a beat, or
her breath lord knows how. She is such a good time and you need to lighten up around
her and take a joke. That is the moral of the story. Life is too hard and short
for people to get in a huff over racy humor, especially since you paid to see
her and know what you are in for. I could see her once a week!
Here are a few of my
favorite jokes from that evening:
·
The lesson we learned
from Whitney Houston’s death was that when you do cocaine we should take a
shower not a bath;
·
Dick Clark should
have never been allowed to speak after he had that stroke, it took him until
March to say Happy New Year;
·
Chaz Bono is ugly as
a man, woman, or farm animal, what a waste of his mother’s $25,000;
·
When she went to
visit Auschwitz, she said smells so good in here who is the oven? After she
left the gift shop after thirty minutes half of her family on the tour bus had
died.
If you aren’t following
her on Twitter you need to be, this still makes me laugh:
·
Kris Jenner had a
phone case that says “The Queen of F*cking Everything” (I kid you not)
·
Joan says, Kim has
the same one only the word “Everything” is missing!
Joan has had an incredible
relationship with QVC for many years and now sells a complete line of goods
from fashion to accessories and now to nail polish! I was so happy about the
latter because every time I see her on “Joan Knows Best” she has the most
vibrant colors on that I have never seen before on anyone else. Naturally she
is the creator behind them. I should have known. Now at least I will have them
available to me. She has never taken a break from being an icon of any
generation. We all look up and to her for one thing or another.
I love that Joan’s latest
project is her new perfume called, what else but “Now and Forever”. It is just so fitting. It perfectly
captures her essence as for the smell I don’t know but she is a classy lady I am
sure it is divine.
As I mentioned not more
that a blog or two ago, I am such an admirer of
fierce woman that take control of their lives and make their own dreams come
true. Joan proves that this is true at any age and that we should never give
up. The fact that she is hysterical and doesn’t take herself or anyone else too
seriously doesn’t hurt either.
This is just inkling of
how far she has come. It is truly an American dream story but better yet
because it is real. It gives me chills.
It is refreshing, hopeful,
and triumph to know that hard work and talent really do pay off in the end,
especially when you outlive everyone else. Maybe karma really does exist.
In the spirit of Joan, I
too would like to say that for all those haters and naysayers I hope they choke
on her success!
Happy 80th
Joan, and to many, many, many more laughs!!
For All Things Joan:
For Chris Monty:
For Enoteca Maria:
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