As a deeply closeted gay child growing up in the 1980s I felt very alone. I was bullied, I was shunned. Both at home and at school.
There were three people who I discovered all around the same time (1982-83) who made me feel less alone. Who made me feel there was more in the world than what was in my town in New Jersey. Who made me feel a sense of belonging.
One of these people was Joan Rivers. Here was a woman who'd had a rough time of it. Not attractive in the Hollywood sense, who was a bit of an outcast. She overcame it by the sheer force of her talent. When you watched her on The Tonight Show it was almost like "Hey, lets go peek behind the celebrity curtain, and make fun of it. Together." I listened to her What Becomes a Semi-Legend Most? cassette until I wore it out. I VCR'd every appearance she ever did on The Tonight Show, and even bought her book about Heidi Abromowitz. Joan helped people like me in ways she likely never knew about.
Ironically, the second of these three people who helped me get though my teen years was Howard Stern. First on WNBC and later WXRK.
I treasure these people and to lose one of them is painful, indeed.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
Wonderful story. Thanks for sharing, lovebwy.
But beware... You've opened yourself up to relentless attacks by Namo. If you show any support for Joan and her career, prepare to feel the virtual iron fist. Good luck.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
Melissa should send her mother's ashes on a national gay bar tour. She could charge big bucks and claim an urned income credit on her tax return.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
$45 dollar t-shirts that say: Does This Urn Make My Ash Look Fat?
I hope somebody's writing this down for Missy.
When panning for gold and getting nothing but silt, it's exhilarating when you finally find two 24k nuggets!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
No one is writing down your jokes.
It's clear to me that you were a poor man's comic in another life, who failed miserably and retreated from the footlights in embarrassment. No wonder you're soooooo fascinated with the world of stand-up comedy. Honey, leave it be. Shed that coat of resentfulness. You didn't make it. Others did. Time to move on...
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
Thank you SonofrobbieJ, I know you know a thing or two about funny.
Three. I know exactly three things about funny. Luckily, they're the right three things.
Debbie Reynolds rehearsing for the June 1983 benefit in San Francisco for the AIDS/Kaposi Sarcoma Foundation. The dancers left-to-right are Randy Val Clupp, Thomas Anthony and Steve Lane. I believe none of the three dancers survived.
Thomas Anthony was in two Broadway shows: Gigi and Woman of the Year.
But after Woman of the Year closed in 1983, there are no more references to him.
So the show closed in March, and he went to San Francisco to perform in the benefit with Debbie.
And then what--?
Which means he's in this clip!
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
Melissa Rivers
presents
Urn In Town: The Inaugural Final Goodbye Joan Rivers Tour
sponsored by ipecac
because what goes down must come back up
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
"It's clear to me that you were a poor man's comic in another life,"
It was also crystal clear to you that I was a professor of yours. At a school you never went to. And that I never taught at.
Wow. Anyone else remember this?
You'll notice there was no event in Los Angeles. It was still verboten in LA.
Also, notice that we in New York were encouraged to wear the black armband with the pink triangle, while in San Francisco, they went with just the black armband.
I've been looking for this picture! This is Shirley MacLaine co-hosting and judging the 1982 "dog show" held by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in San Francisco. You'll notice that the "pup" she is judging is not canine.
A PJ blog. Would read.
lovebway, who was the third?
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
Please say Ron Reagan, Jr., please say Ron Reagan, Jr….
How weird is this? I don't remember this at ALL.
A 1987 People magazine article on Reagan Junior's attempt to make an AIDS PSA.
http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20096714,00.html
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/18/07
>Melissa should send her mother's ashes on a national gay bar tour. She could charge big bucks and claim an urned income credit on her tax return.
Namo - What a brilliant idea! At each stop, the light could be dimmed for a minute. Without her mother, who is going to hire Melissa?
I think a monument should be erected for Joan!
Eric it was David Letterman.
Remember David Letterman in the early '80s was NOT the David Letterman of today. His show was so subversive back then. It was another show that made you feel like you belonged to an exclusive little club. Late Night with David Letterman from 1982 to 1987 was the greatest talk show ever on the air.
I don't like him very much today. Too cranky, and the humor is very lame. But back then he was something else.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
A Director, you have to build tension. So you announce that the lights will NOT be dimmed for the 1 minute moment of silence, which gives the attendees the chance to relive "Stonewall 2: The Dimminging". Eventually, the lights go down and the crowd goes orgasmic in a shower of confetti reminiscent of the ticker tape parade Joan deserved but didn't get.
Joan said she wanted her ashes "thrown in my agent's face".
She thought about everything.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
She'd be stupid to have more than 10% thrown at him.
Maybe Madame Tussaud's can work up a wax replica that could vomit the remaining ashes into a toilet?
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
"Urned income credit" made me laugh so hard.
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