DAMNING UP RIVERS’ MOUTH

Give Joan Rivers credit for gall. Not only does she unload on Shirley MacLaine, Johnny Carson, Bette Midler and Brigitte Nielsen Stallone and (gasp!) Ron Jr.’s dad in her notorious interview in Playboy, Rivers also slams at least two celebrities whom her staff’s been trying to book as guests--Cybill Shepherd and Don Johnson.

Rivers claims in Playboy that Shepherd is “not a major talent by any means, washed up in the business.” Shepherd told Outtakes through her publicist: “Obviously Ms. Rivers is not aware of my work, and that broad expects me to do her show!”

Rivers felt “nothing radiated” from Johnson when she hosted him on “The Tonight Show” (she claimed that Carson had told her that, as a guest, Johnson compares to Erik Estrada).

Johnson’s riposte, through his publicist: “Apparently there is some senility here or all those nips and tucks she’s had have put some pressure on the memory bank, because I’ve never done ‘The Tonight Show’ with either Carson or Rivers.” NBC confirmed that Johnson’s only “Tonight Show” appearance was with guest host David Brenner on Nov. 2, 1984.

Burt Reynolds also got ripped by Rivers. Responding to Playboy interviewer Nancy Collins’ remark that Reynolds had said some “pretty uncomplimentary things” about her, Rivers questioned the actor’s virility in terms not appropriate for family reading.

Reynolds initial response to us was likewise unprintable. We asked him if he could temper his language. He did: “I have never said anything negative about Rivers publicly. Maybe it’s time I started.”

Collins confessed (after consulting with a Playboy editor) that in the interview, Rivers had been responding to questions about private conversations that Collins was reporting secondhand. “But Joan had heard them also and wanted to comment,” Collins said.

A White House spokeswoman wouldn’t comment on Rivers’ remark that President Reagan was “too old” and “a turkey neck.” But she did venture, “I doubt you will ever see the President guest on her show.”