JOAN RIVERS: Can We Gossip?

She’s a comedian, best-selling author, screenwriter, film director, Broadway playwright, mother and the host of her own Emmy-winning daytime series.

Joan Rivers should add survivor to her resume. She has overcome personal and professional tragedies that would have destroyed many. Five years ago, her career was considered over when her much ballyhooed late-night talk show for the fledgling Fox network was canceled. Not long after, her husband of more than 20 years, Edgar Rosenberg, committed suicide.

But the Larchmont, N.Y., native, who got her big break when she did a guest spot in February, 1965, on “The Tonight Show,” has bounded back in a big way. Not only is “The Joan Rivers Show” going into its fourth season, Rivers’ new USA weekly series, “Joan Rivers’ Gossip! Gossip! Gossip!,” has just premiered on the cable network. She also has a successful jewelry line on the home shopping network QVC. And on Saturday, Showtime airs her new comedy special, “Joan Rivers: Abroad in London.”

Times Staff Writer Susan King caught up with Rivers between projects over the phone from the dressing room of “The Joan Rivers Show.”

So, what type of dirt are you dishing on your new series, “Joan Rivers’ Gossip! Gossip! Gossip!”?

It is a straight gossip show. It is going to be half an hour of gossip, which will be very similar to what we have been doing on my (talk) show, but extended because it has worked so well. We are doing the latest gossip from the whole world and a little bit of the week in review. What I want to do is a little segment on what happened 25 years ago today. I think that is always fun. I love that when you say 25 years ago, Hedy Lamarr ran off with so-and-so. That is always great to see how stupid gossip is.

Why are people so interested in gossip?

Everybody loves it. Everybody loves Fergie’s bare boobs, Di on the phone saying, “What I did for that damn family.” Nothing has changed (over the years). It is all wonderful.

Will you be having guests on the USA show?

We are going to have all of my favorite gossip columnists bring me their gossip. I am not Louella Parsons. I am still the hostess narrating. We are going to have two or three gossips every week (talking about) what is going on, throwing out names and them telling me names. (Woody Allen and Mia Farrow) will be very big. A few weeks ago it was the Bobby Brown-Whitney Huston wedding. (Recently, we had on the talk show) that Paula Abdul has gained 10 pounds. It is all the shake in the gossip world. If (Abdul and Emilio Estevez) got married this weekend, he would have to lug her over the threshold, roll her over the threshold, push this big piece of lard over the threshold. (She laughs hysterically.)

Your daughter, Melissa, also is reporting on the latest gossip for MTV.

She is doing gossip, too, and it’s wonderful. The whole family ... Enough of these private phone calls--America should know what we talk about.

You are beginning your fourth season as the hostess of “The Joan Rivers Show.” What are your strengths as an interviewer?

I think my humor. Even at its most serious, the humor comes through. It is lighter and more entertaining than the others. I think that sets us apart.

Do you feel your humor puts the interviewee at ease?

I think tremendously.

Is there any difference between doing a talk show for daytime and late night?

Do you want to know the truth? People are going to get nauseous, but nothing (is different). There is no difference. You’re either a good interviewer or, in my case, you are a bad interviewer. Maybe people don’t want to hear about three-headed babies in the evening. But with me, as I said, sometimes the topics are more serious, but (my success) is being interested in people and having wonderful people (on the show).

When I was starting the show, they would say, “How is it going to be different?” I almost didn’t get on the air because I said, “I don’t think it is.” What they were buying was me doing a talk show.

What will you be doing on your new Showtime comedy special “Joan Rivers: Abroad in London”?

That’s really my act in concert. I did that in London, which is great fun to do. I think that it is going to be wonderful. Dame Edna stars with me.

I love England. I love the English people. They have great humor.

You now live and work in New York after living in Los Angeles for numerous years. Why did you return to the Big Apple?

It goes back to after all of that horror with Fox. I just said, if I ever do another show I will not do it in (Los Angeles). I wanted to go to New York for the energy. I was right. I love New York. I love living in New York. I just truly am very happy that you can make a living where you want to be. It is wonderful.

Fourteen years ago, you directed the feature film “Rabbit Test” with Billy Crystal. Would you ever consider directing another film?

I would do everything. Everythin g. I love the business so much. Directing, love to do it. Act in another film, love to do it. I would love to (write) another Broadway show.

I don’t want to jinx it, but I am working on a one-woman off-Broadway show. I always love to have a lot of projects.

“Joan Rivers’ Gossip! Gossip! Gossip!” airs Saturday at 4 p.m. and repeats Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on USA.

“The Joan Rivers Show” airs weekdays at 8 a.m. on WGN , 9 a.m. on KTLA , 10 a.m. on KUSI and 6 p.m. on KADY .

“Joan Rivers: Abroad in London” airs Saturday at 10 p.m. on Showtime.