when the awful things they say are said by their personae?
That presupposes that everyone agrees that the said things are awful.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
Then let's try that another way. Is everybody exempt from critique if they can claim their words are being spoken by a persona?
Did we forgive Michael Richards for what his persona said on stage?
All jokes aside, she doesn't seem to be doing well. According to TMZ, the family will decide in the next couple of days what to do.
If an Avenue Q puppet says it--does that make it OK?
Is it Dame Eda or Barry Humphries?
Updated On: 8/30/14 at 05:16 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
That tramp Heidi Abromowitz told Melissa how lifelike her mother looks. Melissa reminded her Joan's still alive. Oh! It was just!
Again. I would like clarification on immunity from criticism vis a vis personae.
We could draw a Venn Diagram and in one circle put "negative" and in one circle put "positive" and in a circle overlapping parts of both (knowing there will be quibbles over the degree of overlap) put "funny".
Now, what is it about Joan or Joan's persona that says you can talk about the positive and you talk about the funny but if you talk about the negative it's YOU being negative and that's the end of the discussion? (Yes, the allusion to Joan's recent interview walk-off is intentional.)
Was it alcohol or Mel Gibson? In any case, I hope that if there is no chance of Joan to return, she is allowed to go in the most peaceful manner. To me, it seems when she stopped breathing and her heart stopped was a huge hint that it was this 81 year old's time. She would have been one of the lucky ones who had a peaceful painless death, something we should hope we all have!
I pray to her and her family through this tough time. Here's to Joan's hopeful recovery.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/08
This stage will be the most difficult for the family...whether or not to discontinue life support. Then there is the guilt associated with the fact that you pulled the plug. I'm a huge fan of Joan Rivers and hope she has a recovery. However, it would have been easier, emotionally, for Melissa, had her mother succumbed to the initial heart failure.
Updated On: 8/30/14 at 07:31 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
Any word on when Bravo will re-air this?
Team Namo/PRS
I don't think nano nor Phyllis is funny. Rivers will not come out of life support.most likely she will pass away in a few days. I'm sad about this
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/08
I'm sad, but I still laughed. Is it really either/or?
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
This thread really is fascinating.
I am not finding anything funny here. Just me I guess. Love Joan Rivers. I have always been a fan. I don't want to elicit the wrath of any of the posters here since I really enjoy you all very much. But.. I have enjoyed you all much better in other threads.
I'm in total agreement DAME. I like the way you worded your last sentence.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
I feel no wrath towards people who feel the polar opposite of what i do about Joan's comedy. Why, some of my best friends disagree with me. I mean , PJ says my jokes aren't funny but it's exactly what Joan would want. I laughed when I saw that final special graphic, but I guess I can't speak for what I think Joan would find funny, that's irrelevant. On the other hand, I have gleaned over the years that Joan thought everything was fodder for comedy, including death and abuse.
But what do I know?
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
I worked with Joan Rivers. As a person, she was a lovely woman. Her current persona does not appeal. Maybe she stayed too long at the party, or maybe she just lost perspective - or maybe I just don't appreciate that kind of humor. I do think in the past decade or so, she went well beyond "edgy" and into offensive and unfunny - and yes, hateful.
I don't quite understand why, if, like me, you don't like that brand of humor, why some of you would so relentlessly use it against her, especially at a time like this. Two wrongs and all that.
She's an old woman who will be dead pretty soon, even if she isn't officially already. Do we really need to roast her on the way?
I will say that this has been a very interesting read.
Updated On: 9/4/14 at 09:32 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
Joan's giving us permission to be bad!
No
Namo, stop being so disrespectful! Yes, she had been saying really evil things in these last few months, but to make jokes about her as she's taking on her final days is just as evil.
We faced the same thing with my grandmother in November, who sadly died a couple of days later. I pray for peace to the Rivers family and Joan
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
It's the accidental sociology minor in me.
I'm trying to recall some of my favorite jokes about that tramp Heidi Abromowitz.
"Krazy Glue couldn't keep her legs together!"
Now that's funny!
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