Bop 'Til You Drop

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I'm a late convert to Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (IFC Films, 6.11), having missed it at Sundance and only just seen it a couple of days ago. I had relegated Rivers in recent years to an "uh-huh, whatever" status, partly because of her irksome red-carpet chatter and partly because of her 21st Century facial work, which suggests she may have been hurt in a terrible car crash (worse than Montgomery Clift) but was lucky enough to find a gifted plastic surgeon who was able to make her look as normal as possible.

Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg's documentary, which will play at the Tribeca Film Festival, has wiped that image away. It shows us what a "never say die" trooper Rivers is -- 76 and combat-ready and slowing down for nothing. I now think of her as a highly admirable paragon of toughness and tenacity. Plus the doc deepens and saddens our understanding of who Rivers is, was and continues to be. Plus it has some excellent jokes (including one about anal sex that I laughed out loud at, and I'm basically a heh-heh type).

What a fighter she is...God! Frank and blunt, nothing off the table, takes no guff, lets hecklers have it in the neck, never stops performing, tough as nails.

One thing Stern and Sundberg don't get into is the condition of Rivers' personal life. I know she's straight, so does she has a boyfriend of any kind? Even a platonic one? If they mentioned this aspect I missed it. I realize Rivers is too egoistically driven and too much of a busy-busy-bee to even think about making room in her life for any normally-proportioned relationship, but everyone needs a little TLC from time to time. Someone to be tender with, go out to dinner with, take walks with, etc.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 8, 2010 at 10:26 AM

comment #1

notmyrealusername says ...

Oooh, I sense a love connection. Go for it, Jeff. She can't be that hard to track down.

Posted by notmyrealusername at April 8, 2010 11:25 AM

comment #2

George Prager says ...

Do they include footage of her season on The Celebrity Apprentice? She and her daughter really made a bad impression. And she has a companion. Wayland Flowers sticks a hand up her ass and makes her talk.

Posted by George Prager at April 8, 2010 11:27 AM

comment #3

MURPHBURGER says ...

Cue Rupert Holmes....

Posted by MURPHBURGER at April 8, 2010 11:31 AM

comment #4

Phreaker says ...

I want to hear the anal sex joke now.

Posted by Phreaker at April 8, 2010 11:38 AM

comment #5

Travis Crabtree says ...

Prager Power!

Posted by Travis Crabtree at April 8, 2010 11:47 AM

comment #6

lazespud says ...

Rivers is a regular on Howard Stern; on her last appearance she talked about having a date with a guy, who I think was in his 80s, who literally DIED during dinner. Wow.

Posted by lazespud at April 8, 2010 11:55 AM

comment #7

Jason says ...

"...everyone needs a little TLC from time to time. Someone to be tender with, go out to dinner with, take walks with, etc."

eHarmony Elsewhere

Posted by Jason at April 8, 2010 12:14 PM

comment #8

George Prager says ...

In 10 years she's going to make the Crypt Keeper look like Jessica Alba.

Posted by George Prager at April 8, 2010 12:19 PM

comment #9

Bob Hightower says ...

Sexual advice for Jeff re Joan Rivers from Benjamin Franklin's letter to a young friend, 1745:

But if you will not take this Counsel, and persist in thinking that Commerce with the Sex is inevitable, then I repeat my former Advice that in your Amours you should prefer old Women to young ones. This you call a Paradox, and demand my reasons. They are these:

1. Because they have more Knowledge of the world, and their Minds are better stored with Observations; their conversation is more improving, and more lastingly agreeable.

2. Because when Women cease to be handsome, they study to be good. To maintain their Influence over Man, they supply the Diminution of Beauty by an Augmentation of Utility. They learn to do a thousand Services, small and great, and are the most tender and useful of Friends when you are sick. Thus they continue amiable. And hence there is hardly such a thing to be found as an Old Woman who is not a good Woman.

3. Because there is no hazard of children, which irregularly produced may be attended with much inconvenience.

4. Because through more Experience they are more prudent and discreet in conducting an Intrigue to prevent Suspicion. The Commerce with them is therefore safer with regard to your reputation; and regard to theirs, if the Affair should happen to be known, considerate People might be inclined to excuse an old Woman, who would kindly take care of a young Man, form his manners by her good Councils, and prevent his ruining his Health and Fortune among mercenary Prostitutes.

5. Because in every Animal that walks upright, the Deficiency of the Fluids that fill the Muscles appears first in the highest Part. The Face first grows lank and Wrinkled; then the Neck; then the Breast and Arms; the lower parts continuing to the last as plump as ever; so that covering all above with a Basket, and regarding only what is below the Girdle, it is impossible of two Women to know an old one from a young one. And as in the Dark all Cats are grey, the Pleasure of Corporal Enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal and frequently superior; every Knack being by Practice capable by improvement.

6. Because the sin is less. The Debauching of a Virgin may be her Ruin, and make her Life unhappy.

7. Because the Compunction is less. The having made a young Girl miserable may give you frequent bitter Reflections; none of which can attend making an old Woman happy.

8. 8th & lastly. They are so grateful!!!

Posted by Bob Hightower at April 8, 2010 12:46 PM

comment #10

Sabina E says ...

Joan Rivers is awesome. that's all.

Posted by Sabina E at April 8, 2010 12:46 PM

comment #11

George Prager says ...

Joan and Melissa on The Celebrity Apprentice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fAevP8aZVs

No class.

Posted by George Prager at April 8, 2010 12:50 PM

comment #12

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

"highly admirable paragon of toughness and tenacity"

Not the Rivers I saw when Johnny Carson punk'd her back in the late 80's, who profusely apologized to a woman she thought was Prime Minister Thatcher over her royal family jokes.

Since that day I've had seen that I've had zero respect for her. Any comedian who apologizes for their act to someone not personally injured by it has no business doing it.

Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie at April 8, 2010 1:13 PM

comment #13

bluefugue says ...

All my life I was indifferent to Joan Rivers bordering on distaste. A couple years ago I saw her play at the Geffen and was, frankly, amazed. Tough, inspiring, unsparing, and above all hilariously funny. Walked out with a new respect for Rivers and felt a connection to the material as someone who was in a low point in his own life.

Posted by bluefugue at April 8, 2010 1:17 PM

comment #14

scooterzz says ...

i thought her play at the geffen was kind of a strange meta-theatrical concoction but agree with bluefugue that it was both touching and pretty damn funny....

Posted by scooterzz at April 8, 2010 1:57 PM

comment #15

MikeSchaeferSF says ...

"I once dated a guy who was so stupid.. he saw a sign that said WET FLOOR... and he DID!"

Posted by MikeSchaeferSF at April 8, 2010 2:13 PM

comment #16

arnold stang says ...

"Liz Taylor is so fat and disgusting. She's the only woman I know who puts food in the microwave and screams hurry!"

Posted by arnold stang at April 8, 2010 2:51 PM

comment #17

Mr. F. says ...

All I can think of when I look at that face:

"Gentlemen, we can rebuild her. We have the technology."

Posted by Mr. F. at April 8, 2010 3:17 PM

comment #18

Noah Cross says ...

Is Phyllis Diller available?

Posted by Noah Cross at April 8, 2010 4:01 PM

comment #19

azmoviegoer says ...

I agree with Prager. She was a diva from beyond on "Celebrity Apprentice" and her daughter was with her every step of the way. The two of them deserve whatever misery life brings them or has brought them (with the exception of her husband's death) based on the behavior I saw on that show. You reap what you sow.

Posted by azmoviegoer at April 8, 2010 7:17 PM

comment #20

scooterzz says ...

if you believe that the behavior on celebrity apprentice wasn't pre ordained you probably shouldn't be watching 'reality' tv......

Posted by scooterzz at April 8, 2010 8:40 PM

comment #21

Circumvrent says ...

She was on SUNDAY MORNING SHOOTOUT a few years ago and was pretty hilarious. It was shocking, as I'd come to associate her with that hacky red-carpet stuff.

Does the doc go into the Carson stuff? By all rights, she should've had The Tonight Show before Leno or even Letterman.

Posted by Circumvrent at April 8, 2010 9:55 PM

comment #22