Joan Rivers: A Journey Of Resilience And Reinvention

1986 was a transformative year for Joan Rivers. During this time, she captivated audiences with sold-out performances across the country and released her notable book, Enter Talking. Rivers also became a household name as the permanent guest host on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show, the leading late-night show of its time. After spending over twenty years climbing the comedy ladder with her bold and fiery humor, she had finally achieved stardom.

In the same year, Fox offered Rivers her own show, which positioned her as a competitor to The Tonight Show. However, accepting this opportunity came with a heavy cost; after the offer, Johnny Carson, who had been her friend and mentor for two decades, stopped speaking to her. By 1987, the ratings for The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers were disappointing, leading to her dismissal from the network. Tragically, that year also saw the suicide of her husband and producer, Edgar Rosenberg.

Despite facing profound personal loss and professional setbacks, Rivers did not falter. Instead, she chose to reinvent herself, emerging in the 2000s as a significant figure in the entertainment industry once again. Her resilience and ability to adapt allowed her to regain her place in the spotlight, proving that she was bigger and better than ever.

Success in Daytime Television

In 1989, just under two years after her husband's passing, Joan Rivers made her comeback with The Joan Rivers Show. This daytime program was a stark contrast to her earlier misfortunes in late-night television; it quickly became a hit. Rivers won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host in 1990, and the show managed to secure several nominations, running successfully for five seasons.

Alongside her talk show achievements, Rivers also began a long-lasting partnership with the QVC shopping channel in 1990. Here she showcased her own line of jewelry and clothing, often adorned with sparkling embellishments. At this time, she attributed her decision to sell products to financial necessity, stating, "In those days only dead celebrities went on [QVC]. My career was over. I had a lot of bills to pay." Interestingly, her collection would later generate over $1 billion in sales, making it one of QVC’s top-selling lines.

Finding Healing Through Creative Expression

In 1994, Rivers collaborated with her daughter, Melissa, to confront the trauma of Edgar's suicide through a made-for-TV movie titled Tears and Laughter: The Joan and Melissa Rivers Story. This film, which premiered in May, featured both women portraying themselves as they navigated their grief. Initially, critics claimed the film exploited their tragedy, but many later recognized it as a significant step in destigmatizing discussions around suicide. Rivers found it to be a therapeutic experience, stating, "It was very therapeutic for Melissa and me. Edgar’s death was so raw. So we bonded tremendously."

That same year, Rivers was invited to host the Golden Globes pre-show red carpet, marking the beginning of her new role in entertainment. In 1995, she and Melissa began hosting the Academy Awards red carpet, interviewing celebrities as they arrived. Rivers recalled the time fondly, explaining how Melissa recommended her for the job, saying, "It is a horrible job and no one was doing it then. And Melissa said, 'My mother.'”

Becoming an Icon on the Red Carpet

The red carpet became another successful endeavor for Rivers. With her sharp wit and playful banter, she and Melissa invigorated the stale pre-show tradition. They even introduced the now-iconic question, "Who are you wearing?" which has become a staple in red carpet interviews.

Rivers viewed fashion as a source of enjoyment, once stating, "Fashion is fun, and that’s the way it should be." She continued to host red carpet events for E! until 2004 and later starred in the popular series Fashion Police from 2010 to 2014, solidifying her reputation as a style authority in Hollywood.

By 2014, Rivers had been featured in a critically acclaimed documentary, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, written nine additional books, and was actively performing across the country. She had successfully climbed back to the top of her profession, showcasing her unwavering spirit and determination.

Reflecting on her tumultuous journey, Rivers once remarked, "People love to build you up, and then they love to destroy you. And then they love to venerate you at the end." This sentiment encapsulates her resilience and the cyclical nature of fame in the entertainment industry.

What You Will Learn