Readers React: Joan Rivers: ‘Always had a one-liner ... but her life wasn’t a joke’

Joan Rivers -- the comedian, TV host and entertainer extraordinaire who died Thursday at 81 -- said so much during her groundbreaking, decades-long career, that it’s difficult to say anything that would do justice to her life and legacy. In The Times, comedian Kathy Griffin penned a touching appreciation of Rivers’ work and personal friendship, and reporter Amy Kaufman relayed Rivers’ acerbic reply to a plea for her not to die: “That’s very sweet. But it’s just part of the game.”

Readers who have consumed and enjoyed decades of Rivers’ work have also put their appreciation into words. Here is what some of them have said so far.

Isadora Johnson of Seal Beach collects some of Rivers’ wisdom:

I was both touched and amused by Kathy Griffin’s tribute to the late, great Joan Rivers.

As a performer, I could relate to what Griffin mentioned as the final yet humble words of wisdom given by Rivers: In terms of all the “crazy” places where you may end up performing, in order to find a favorable audience as well as your own place of solace prior to performing, “Go to Thackerville, collect the check, make sure people laugh, and get a private bathroom.”

Laguna Beach resident Denny Freidenrich says Rivers is responsible for so much more than just her own comedy:

Comedienne Joan Rivers always had a one-liner ready to go, but her life wasn’t a joke. In the 1960s, she picked up the gauntlet from TV legends Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance. Over time, she went on to inspire today’s stars like Amy Poehler and Tina Fey.

I have a theory about what killed Rivers. Personally, I think she had a heart attack after hearing the news that Brad and Angelina got married in France without inviting her.

Hey, like she always said, “Just kidding.”

Paul Bacon of Hallandale Beach, Fla., lists some of his favorite work by Rivers:

Joan Rivers was not only my favorite comedienne of all, but she was also one of my favorite talk show hostesses. She was very sweet, pretty, and sexy, and she had a gorgeous smile. She was not only very talented, but she was also very funny. Her famous catchphrase, “Can we talk?,” helped define both comedy and pop culture.

Some of my favorite moments of hers include her co-hostessing red-carpet shows with her daughter and being the “center square” on the John Davidson version of “Hollywood Squares” in the late 1980s.

Joan Rivers is not only one of the greatest talk-show hostesses of all time, but also the greatest comedienne of all time.

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