Joan Rivers celebrated her 80th birthday on Saturday (I’ll avoid the obvious jokes about the age of the majority of her body). When I was a kid and there was no school the next day, my parents would let me stay up to watch The Tonight Show or, as we all called it, Carson. If Joan Rivers happened to be hosting, my parents would race to change the channel. I loved her back then, though. She was hardly the prim and proper companion to the charming, Midwestern Johnny Carson (Betty White, for example). She was outrageous and overtly New York (the standard euphemism for “Jewish”).
This clip is from one of her Tonight Show monologues in 1984. It’s a time capsule of early 1980s Hollywood, which she skewers along with herself.
I haven’t followed her E! network career, but I did enjoy her appearances on Nip/Tuck. Now, that was inspired casting.
serhasacomplaint 
Mary Miraglia
June 10, 2013 at 5:06 pm
It’s too bad she and Carson had a falling out, they had a magical connection. Do you remember the elaborate prank her pulled on her with “Margaret Thatcher?” She was always making jokes about the Queen — so Carson hired an actress to impersonate Margaret Thatcher, and accost Rivers in one of those VIP airport lounges. She got right up in her face and told her how awful it was of her to say those things about the Queen — and of course Carson filmed the whole thing, then had Rivers on his show and played it for her. It was hilarious.
Stephen Robinson
June 11, 2013 at 8:15 am
Mary, thanks for recommending the clip! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BainzD2lKmk
It’s hilarious! Though sad to see considering that their friendship would end so soon after this.
observeratlarge
June 11, 2013 at 8:36 am
I thought you’d like it. There is something magical about late night — the good stuff stays with you. This is an outstanding moment, no doubt about it.