Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Joan Rivers, the trail-blazing stand-up comic, late-night talk show host, and fashion enthusiast, died this afternoon in New York. She was 81 years old.
She started her career in the 1960s, most prominently as a guest on The Tonight Show; she considered its host, Johnny Carson, her mentor. Decades later, after several stints as filling in for Carson on The Tonight Show, she had a much-publicized falling out with the host after she nabbed her own late-night talk show in a rival time slot.
Following her brief stint as a late-night host, Rivers went on to host a daytime talk show, for which she won an Emmy. In the last few decades, Rivers has been known best for her fashion commentary. She brought her brand of no-holds-barred comedy to her red carpet coverage, often causing controversy for her jokes about celebrities’ appearances. She would, of course, be the butt of plenty of jokes (including her own) for her extensive plastic surgery.
In the last decade, Rivers has been known as a reality TV star, starring in (and winning) a season of Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice and her series with her daughter, Melissa Rivers, Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best. Always controversial, always envelope-pushing, but never apologetic or shy to speak her mind, Joan Rivers had an extensive and broad career and paved the way for numerous female entertainers after her.
Below, find out where to stream Rivers’ most iconic films and TV appearances.
'Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work' (2010)
Years after Joan Rivers blazed a trail for female comedians in stand up comedy, she herself became a joke. The 2010 documentary, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, put her life into new focus for a new generation and proved why she was a comedy legend worthy of respect. [GoWatchIt]
'Spaceballs' (1987)
In 1987, Joan Rivers lent her trademark rasp to Dot Matrix in Spaceballs. The character was a warm spoof of Anthony Daniels’s much fussier work as C-3PO in the Star Wars films. [GoWatchIt]
'Louie': "Joan" (2011)
Louis CK has a knack for not only excavating his own soul in his comedy, but the souls of the people he meets in comedy. In this episode of Louie, the comic has a disastrous set in a casino and then gets a bit of tough love (and, well, actual sexual loving) from the older and wiser comedienne. [Netflix]
'Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers' (2009)
In 2009, Comedy Central hosted a roast of the famed comic. Roasters included Gilbert Goffried, Whitney Cummings, Tom Arnold, Brad Garrett, and surprisingly, her daughter, Melissa. Needless to say, it was one for the books.
'The Muppets Take Manhattan' (1983)
I mean, come on! Here Joan is at the peak of her “Can we tawwwwk?” era fame, trading makeup tips with Miss Piggy. A hilarious scene in one of Team Decider’s all-time favorite films. [GoWatchIt]
'That Show With Joan Rivers' (1968)
Joan Rivers starred in a 1968 talk show called That Show, a program in which you can see her beginning to shape the comedic tone that would one day turn her into a talk show superstar. [Watch on Amazon Instant Video]
'Nip/Tuck': "Joan Rivers"
'Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?' (2011-2014)
Spanning three seasons, We TV’s Joan & Melissa was a hilarious celebrity reality show featuring the mother-daughter duo, made famous for the episode in which Joan takes a few rips from a bong. [Amazon Instant Video]
'Joan Rivers: Don't Start With Me' (2012)
