The Late Joan Rivers: 'Does this urn make my ash look fat?'- Page 27
The Late Joan Rivers: 'Does this urn make my ash look fat?'
#650Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 2:04pm
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.
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#651Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 2:14pm
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.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#652Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 2:37pmMelissa 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.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#653Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 2:39pm
$45 dollar t-shirts that say: Does This Urn Make My Ash Look Fat?
I hope somebody's writing this down for Missy.
#654Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 2:43pmWhen panning for gold and getting nothing but silt, it's exhilarating when you finally find two 24k nuggets!
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#655Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 2:45pm
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...
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#656Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 2:46pmThank you SonofrobbieJ, I know you know a thing or two about funny.
#657Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 2:52pm
Three. I know exactly three things about funny. Luckily, they're the right three things.
#658Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 2:58pm
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.
#659Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 3:10pm
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--?
#660Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 3:11pm
Which means he's in this clip!
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#661Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 3:17pm
Melissa Rivers
presents
Urn In Town: The Inaugural Final Goodbye Joan Rivers Tour
sponsored by ipecac
because what goes down must come back up
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#662Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 3:43pm
"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.
#663Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 4:04pm
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.
#664Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 4:38pm
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.
#665Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 7:01pmA PJ blog. Would read.
#666Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 8:51pmlovebway, who was the third?
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#667Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 9:50pmPlease say Ron Reagan, Jr., please say Ron Reagan, Jr….
#668Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 10:37pm
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
A Director
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/18/07
#669Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 11:17pm
>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!
#670Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 11:24pm
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.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#671Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 11:25pm
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.
#672Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 11:27pm
Joan said she wanted her ashes "thrown in my agent's face".
She thought about everything.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#673Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 11:35pm
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?
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#674Joan Rivers, in mahogany head-to-toe, then an urn
Posted: 9/10/14 at 11:37pm"Urned income credit" made me laugh so hard.
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