About this episode
Comedian Helen Lederer discusses the life and impact of Joan Rivers.
Born Joan Molinsky in 1933, Joan Rivers shot to fame on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, who she later infuriated by hosting a late night chat show of her own. Comedian and writer Helen Lederer, author of Not That I Am Bitter, picks Joan for her fearless ability to take on the men, particularly those who interviewed her. "In 1984 I went to see an Audience with Joan Rivers, and she was like this angel with blonde hair and glitter ... with gags, with content, ferocious, aggressive, intelligent." Joining the discussion from New York is the critic Joe Queenan, twice a guest on Joan Rivers' show. "She told the audience in no uncertain terms, you better laugh at everything he says. She radiated this affection, she was great." Presented by Kirsty Lang and produced in Bristol by Miles Warde for BBC Studios.
People in this episode
Host: Kirsty Lang
Guests: Helen Lederer, Joe Queenan
Topics covered
- comedy
- interviews
- celebrity culture
- women in entertainment
- Joan Rivers
Keywords
- Joan Rivers
- Helen Lederer
- comedy
- The Tonight Show
- interviews
- women in comedy
- celebrity
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BBC Radio 4, BBC Studios
More episodes of Great Lives
- Cartoonist Naji al-Ali · June 2, 2026 · 28 min
- Cleopatra picked by Kate Williams · June 1, 2026 · 28 min
- Ade Edmondson on singer Sandy Denny · May 19, 2026 · 27 min
- Tony Garnett picked by Harry Bradbeer · May 19, 2026 · 28 min
- Peter Cook picked by Jon Harvey aka Count Binface · May 19, 2026 · 28 min
- Coco Khan picks Edith Garrud, the jujitsu fighting suffragette · May 19, 2026 · 28 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Great Lives podcast page.