I just want to thank Joan….my mother passed away almost 3 years ago and she was such a huge fan of hers. Mom bought Joan’s line from QVC and it always gave her pleasure toward the end of her life when she and I would watch Joan on QVC together. I will always cherish the pieces from Joan’s collection my mother bought and will never sell them….thanks for the special memories Joan….

Here’s a Joan Rivers memory/reference. A few years ago in “Mothering” magazine, I read a reader comment that brought Joan Rivers together with a hilarious mother/chid moment. I can only paraphrase as best as I can remember it.

A four-year-old girl, still breastfeeding, heard her mother say she might be old enough now to stop nursing. The daughter stared at her mother with a “Joan Rivers you have got to be kidding look” and said: “If I am too old to be nursing, then why are you still wearing breasts?!”

Joan Rivers: She’s just not that interesting. She’sself-absorbed without sufficient insight to merit this kind of time for an OnPoint audience.

I have a question for Joan Rivers and it is difficult to get through.
I recently purchased an old hotel in Tupper Lake, NY. It used to be called “The Wheel Inn” I have been told that Joan celebrated her birthday here a number of times. I would love to authenticate this story. I have always appreciated her humor and originality. I would appreciate if you could even ask her for me and just e-mail yes or no. Of course, you could give her my number. I would love to here it in her own voice. My cell is 813-362-8760
Thank you,
J D King

Hi Joan,
How about a joke from the 80’s.Speaking of the current starlet of choice”She has breasts,boobs,that could nurse all of Angola.I have been living off that since.I love you always have.Can a 50 year old get a nose job?

I suppose I meant I would love to “hear” It.

I love Joan. I remember in one of her books she said that when she was at her husbands funeral she loved it when people made her laugh. She said that always try and make those who are grieving laugh. I took her advice and when I attend the funerals of close friends and relatives I try and make them laugh. This year I lost both my parents within a month. At the funeral those who made me laugh those terrible days helped me get through it.

Love

Peg

I love Joan’s honsety about plastic surgery! I’m from Brazil and everyone gets plastic surgery and it’s not taboo. I think here in the states there is an unfortunate belief that the perfect look of celebrities is due solely to a healthy diet and excercise regime and it’s not just that. Women in the real world then begin to believe that there is something wrong with them because they can’t look like the rich and famous. In Brazil we all know that gravity will eventually take its toll and there is nothing wrong with a little nip and tuck to put things back in place. It does not make you a bad or shallow person.

Joan Rivers , thank you for speaking out about Gaza….

boring, and not very funny, if sarah s. got her stuff from her i feel bad for both,

OMG, Joan, tell us what you REALLY think. I’m holding my sides.

Regardless of what anyone may think about Joan Rivers, I thought the entire interview was (as she would say) TERRIFIC. Tom’s questions were to the point and brought out so many aspects of JR that I didn’t know about. She has a lot to say that is worth hearing and this interview was a credit to both participants.

Mr Ashbrook I have been a dedicated listener for years.I would just like to say i totally disagree with Joan Rivers perspective on Israel and Palestine.How could a person of her character be so biased and ignorant.Who is she to pass judgement on some of the worlds best actors as well as Justifying a massacre on innocent Palestinian civilians with her display of heartless words its very misfortunate that she has any popularity and her hateful adolescent views is a good example of the wrong influence.Do to her ethnicity she seems to outcast anyone who doesent suppourt the injustices and oppresion that her precious Israel has bestowed upon this world.

Self Absorbed Self Loathing Joan Rivers please dont invite her back i get quivers just listening to her scratchy voice..

What a hypocrite! She doesn’t like it when celebrities yell at waiters and others who are in no position to answer them back. How about Rivers, herself, attacking the character of Johnny Carson, who, being dead, is surely not in a position to answer her base charges?

In regard to her impatience with those who think that the Israeli response in Gaza is excessive, I wonder what she thinks about the decades-long Occupation that has resulted in thousands of Palestinian deaths, as well as well as the destruction of Palestine and the endless collective punishment of its people.

Make ‘em laugh, Joan.

I missed part of today’s interview, apparently the part where Tom got thought it would be enlightening to get a celebrity’s perspective on one of the most polarizing issues of our time. I find it hard to take the perspective of most Jewish Americans seriously on this issue. Most have such blind devotion to Israel that they cannot be seen as enlightened.

I apparently also missed the questions about how she would solve the current economic crisis, where she stands on global warming and the troubles in the Congo.

Aside from this, I find it interesting that her interview attracted more interest than yesterday’s 1st hour lovefest. I think Joan would agree that if Hillary had stroked Bill as much as she did Lugar and Kerry yesterday, Bill would have gotten into a lot less trouble.

I’ve seldom watched Joan Rivers and what I’ve seen of her I don’t like. She is mean spirited and a horrible role model for young women. She is all about denying herself and denying her true identy. All the plastic surgery is sad and freakish.

She spoke of loving the classic English gentleman because they never speak down to the less powerful but she behaves in the exact opposite manner. She is rude and cruel to everyone and her humor now has sparked another generation of comics who don’t know how to make a joke without an insult.

Give me Ellen DeGeneres anyday over Joan Rivers. Her humor isn’t at the expense of others.

Thank you for speak out your mind, very interesting.
Freedon to speak in that way… only in America!
Love to you!!!!

Mr. Ashbrook apparently has a history of giving has-been Jewish comics the opportunity to take potshots at the Palestinians.

When he hosted an evening show in March of 2004,he let Jackie Mason go off on a rabid, racist rant against all Palestinians without demur.

I don’t understand how he could allow these so-called comics a public platform to spew their anti-Palestinian venom.

Ms Rivers comes across as vitriolic about ordinary human processes, dressed as crusty, narcissistic humor barely masking fear and loathing. Whew! sounds exhausting.

Hopefully better guests and dialogues upcoming, Tom.

It’s just sad. She’s very funny and strong.

Why hold out for someone who likes you just the way you are when you can acquire phenotypic features of the dominant culture?

If fact, as a public figure, JR is just making it worse for women (and men) by surrendering to a culture of ‘monkey brain,’ impulses and worshiping one’s insecurities.

I am a devoted On Point listener, but this was just about the worst hour of radio I have ever heard.

Joan Rivers is deplorable — small-minded, mean-spirited, ignorant, and not even funny! I hate to stoop to her level of judging people based superficially on their appearances, but she’s not even beautiful — her one claim to greatness — she looks like a glossed up robot!

Her characterizations of feminism, both those who advannced it in the past and its aims and achievements today, are totally distorted and do women no favors.

Her official bio says she epitomizes class — and yet she wastes an hour of public broadcasting trashing other people with baseless claims.

And THEN her ignorant rant on the crisis in Gaza: “I’m so tired of hearing those ‘poor Palestinians’… this is madness, and I don’t get it.” The only accurate thing she said the whole: admitting she doesn’t “get it”!! She obviously doesn’t know a damn thing about the Middle East, the geopolitics of the Israel-Palestine conflict, or the realities on the ground in Gaza, where nearly 1,000 Palestinians have been killed, while 13 Israelis have die — several of whom by their own weapons! How can she be allowed to drone on without a single clarification of the facts?

Tom, you’re brilliant, you consistently bring us timely, engaging, insightful, balanced, and truly entertaining shows; please stop wasting our time with such foolish filth!

Always controversial, always funny (yes!) and always brilliant. Joan is a strong woman with a brilliant mind, which doesn’t always sit well with everyone. I happen to adore Joan and her wonderful humor and her down-to-earth demeanor. I met her briefly once and she was the most gracious and kind celebrity anyone could hope to meet. Love her!!!!

This woman should be in jail. Saying the 9/11 wifes are better off with the 5million than with their husband is no better than the terorrists who killed them. How come we prosecute anyone who is a threat to our security, but we allow monsters like her disgrace these victim’s memories. Tom Ashbrook, you played accomplice to this, don’t you feel it was a big mistake to put her on the show?

One more thing: I have long been supporting WBUR with my hard earned dollars. I don’t feel it’s appropriate any longer to give money to a radio station that’s moral standard has swayed so far from mine. I like widely conflicting and diverse views but I personally know 9/11 victim families and I feel ashamed that public media had aired this “joke” or “view”.

Joan Rivers on On Point?

Bizarre.

Who’s next, Sarah Silverman?

They are both have brains but no hearts.

“Freedon to speak in that way… only in America!”

I guess from this perspective, from a previous comment, which I agree with, she is free to say anything she wants. I just wish someone had given her insight on issues she had judged.

Wow. Gaza? Too bad you can’t buy a heart and something for that sagging spirit.

While I find Ms. Rivers’ real attitude towards the conflict in Gaza totally offensive (the post by “ecco” couldn’t state it better), I don’t believe such voices should be censored from public radio. *That* would be the big mistake. As for her comedy, I think it must be critiqued separately, just like the actor versus the person. Many comedians (funny to me or not) choose controversial topics to “joke” about in part to simply make absurd humor and in part to truly rattle people (think Dennis Leary or Bill Maher for example). Ms. Rivers definitely manages it, and I admit to laughing at some of her material on the show.

Sandy, it would be a shame to stop supporting this generally wonderful program. I hope you dont mean it!

Help the aged.

I forgot my most important point; (elective)plastic surgery does not make most people look ‘better,’ Joan Rivers included. Just look at the picture above. She just does not look right.

Sure, isolated sections of the face may be made more taught, but my overall impression of someone receiving plastic surgery for racial reasons (to look more Nordic &c.) is that they are disfigured.

I never said censored. Look what happened to Don Imus for one silly and very inappropriate comment. Was he fired for what he said? Joking about jews and blond germans in leather? 9/11 victims and their families? How is that any more excusable?
If my father died on the plane, how would I feel to hear this: my daddy died the most terrifying death, but we are better off without him because we got money???? This is the story told in public media. It makes me cry.

I’m not sure I agree with Joan on the amount of plastic surgery that’s required to make somebody look good, but she is a darling on the radio – a pleasure to listen to. And thank you for speaking out about the current conflict in Gaza – NPR desperately needs some common sense on this!

As a Jewish woman, Joan Rivers has always made me cringe. Her humor represents the worst type of stereotype that hopefully is falling out of fashion. As for her support of plastic surgery, I see nothing wrong with a nip or tuck when it is warranted, but Joan, honey, you look like a house cat.

Dear Joan Rivers,

I would argue the “misery” you speak about your mother is not a result of gravity, rather, from a lifetime of lack of opportunity, choices, and options because of her gender.

I know this show was two weeks ago, but this is the first chance I’ve had to comment. (I hope Tom Ashbrook still reads these things.)
A day or two before Joan Rivers was on pushing plastic surgery, Nora Ephron was a guest and also spoke positively about it.
I am bothered on two counts: first most people I know cannot afford such surgery, so using that method to appear younger is only viable to a small percentage of people. Second I think we are all better served by someone who can speak to the challenges of and value in “growing old graciously,” rather than focusing on denial. Growing old is not for the faint of heart; it takes courage!

Reading the comment from Scott who said he met Joan once briefly and she was the most gracious and kind celebrity one could ever meet is refreshing. I think Joan has a delightfully warped sense of humor that comes across as very bitter and mean spirited. But beneath it there is this nurturing side to her that always makes it sound like she’s talking directly to you like you’re the only person in the world and she’s giving you her undivided attention. I think a lot of people don’t like her because she’s been around forever like Regis Philbin and longevity breeds getting fed up with celebrities, especially the ones who are very public like her and talk incessantly. Her scratchy voice has never endeared people to her either…. Johnny Carson was a creep and she’s right about him. How could he get so angry over her getting her own talk show on Fox? What did he think, he owned her? Instead of wishing her well and showing some class for a supposed icon of his stature, he never spoke to her again.

This interview was very awkward. It was because of Tom not Joan. Tom you were off on this interview. I heart Joan Rivers.

Even now, months later, I still remember Rivers’ sarcastic dismissal of Palestinian suffering during the recent Israeli assault on Gaza: “Those poor Palestinians,” she said, her tone clearly indicating she had no sympathy at all. What an awful woman.

PS: Before anyone says it, What Hamas does or doesn’t do isn’t relevant here; I’m not a Hamas supporter in any case. I just feel profound sadness for the 1000+ Palestinians killed and the thousands more wounded during the Israeli assault.