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« Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List
June 5, 2007: Season 3 — Episode 1 (Season Premiere)
So glad to have my weekly dose of Kathy back! As I expressed last season, I worship the ground Kathy walks on, so you should expect me to say mostly positive things here. Kathy has the guts to say what most people in show business only think about saying. When you see Kathy's stand-up act live or on TV, and when you watch this show, all you do is wait and think: "What is she going to say next?" After watching, laughing and loving her preceding special Kathy Griffin: Everybody Can Suck It, I viewed this episode by myself, but then my roommate came home midway through it and went right to his room (he likes to watch things from the beginning like moi). All he could hear from his bedroom was me laughing my ass off nonstop. The part he missed was in the first half when I wasn't laughing — I was crying. Just a little. Did I ever imagine that Kathy Griffin would make my eyes water (besides the "laughing so hard I cry" type of crying)? I never thought I'd see Kathy captured on video seriously getting teary-eyed about anything. But she couldn't help it, reflecting on "the greatest failure of my life so far": her marriage to Matt. I was wondering if she was going to address her messy divorce (she allegedly discovered Matt was stealing her money) or if she'd just skip over it. Bravo to Kathy for addressing the issue so personally and bravo to Bravo for giving us a third season of seven episodes (one more than last season). Hey, I'll take whatever I can get.
There were highlights galore, but before I go there, I must mention another sad aspect of viewing this season premiere. As many of you know, Kathy's dear father, John Griffin, passed away in February from complications due to congestive heart failure and multiple myeloma. So seeing him in this episode was bittersweet since he and Kathy's mother, Maggie, were/are the highlights of every episode they appeared/appear in. It's like watching my relatives back in Chicago — the ones I always think should have a TV show of their own because they are so dang funny just being themselves. How can you not laugh that Kathy's parents decided to have dinner at the gay dance bar Rage here in West Hollywood because "they have $3 hors d'oeuvres and $4 wine"? And, of course, the bartender and the patrons treated them like the royal reality stars that they are. It will be even sadder when Kathy addresses her father's passing in future episodes. My condolences go out to Kathy, Maggie and the Griffin family. When I found out Mr. Griffin died, it hit me like I had lost one of my own family members. That's reality television for ya — when someone dies, they can't be replaced. I can just hear Kathy saying: "He was irreplaceable, alright."
Now onto more chipper things, the highlights! Here we go:
— Filling the void of her ex-hubby Matt's absence, it made sense that two people had to be hired to assist first assistant extraordinaire Jessica: the second assistant, Tiffany, and the "company whipping boy," Tom, who's into porn and older women. Or maybe women in general since he couldn't stop obsessing about Kellie Pickler.
— It did not surprise me that Kathy misses Being Bobby Brown, as do I, especially since I covered that train wreck for The Artist Formerly Known as Watercooler.
— Further proof that Kathy "ain't no D-Lister" was the fact that she sold out Carnegie Hall. No D-Lister can sell out the historic Carnegie Hall in New York. The title of this show truly needs to be changed to "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the C-List."
— I loved that Kathy initially refused to believe that Trent, the guy from Redken hair products, was straight and that she kept testing him out. One of the funniest parts was when she felt she got her proof of his heterosexuality: He had never heard of Fergie or Jennifer Hudson. "He's for sure straight!"
— It was fun seeing Kathy get advice about playing Carnegie Hall from two pros: Whoopi Goldberg and Joan Rivers. Although Kathy's dinner with Joan was a riot, I thought Whoopi's advice was the best, telling Kathy just to be herself and not tone down her act since people were paying to see Kathy be Kathy. You could tell she enjoyed discussing a specific topic with Whoopi and that would be talkin' 'bout vaginas: "That's what I want in a friend. Period."
— Too bad the third pro didn't come through: Liza Minnelli. Although she did, according to Kathy, "squash my gay dream," at least Liza sent a nice note.
— It was very timely seeing footage of Kathy guesting on The View while Rosie was still there. Kathy's hatred towards Star Jones Reynolds was very obvious. I remember seeing that actual episode of The View thinking, "I bet this will be featured on Kathy's show when it returns in June." I was right.
— Another hilarious line was Kathy being disappointed Barbara Walters wasn't there for her appearance, but rather... Kellie Pickler. You know Kathy digs all her present and former Idols (she had a camera seat at the finale two weeks ago), but Kellie, unlike Babs, has "never interviewed Yasser Arafat or any head of state." Kathy brilliantly had to add that Kellie would probably “confuse a head of state with a head of lettuce."
— Since Kathy said Bravo was "too cheap" to videotape her Carnegie Hall gig (Kathy bit the hand that feeds her — but hey, the hand didn't edit it out), the "frame-by-frame reenactment" via paper cutouts of Kathy's face over classic black & white footage was great.
My favorite lines of Kathy's:
— When Kathy's out in public with her parents, they are the stars: "I'm the sidekick. It's like Suddenly Susan and they're Brooke Shields."
— About Rage: "Rage is a dance club in the heart of West Hollywood. It's called Rage because when you go there, you dance and you get yourself into a gay rage."
— About housemate Tom: "I haven't asked him to fluff my bras yet, but I think he would."
— About Whoopi calling her "precocious": "I didn't think you could say that about someone over 7 years old."
OK, Kathy fans, what did you think? Did you love it as much as I did? Let me know below. And if you missed it, you can watch the episode and more Kathy Griffin videos in our Online Video Guide.
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Jun 6, 2007 3:36 AM
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Loved the episode and Kathy's special before it. I too got teary-eyed as Kathy reflected on her former marriage. That's the thing with her: no matter what, she's being real with all of us, with her audience. Love it and love her.
And I agree, totally C-Listed!
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Jun 6, 2007 9:20 AM
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When Kathy was standing in front of Carnegie Hall, I can't believe how many people still don't know who she is !
But she has a point about the ups and downs of her schedule, play Carnegie Hall and then star in a Shampoo ad, pretty polar opposites.
I'm glad Kathy's back too ! I saw her live in DC and she was hysterical !
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Jun 6, 2007 9:56 AM
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I'm glad the show is back too. I was surprised at her candor about her marriage. I feel for her that she believes it was all a sham on Matt's part. How horrible. I watched her special before the episode, and it was pretty much the same act that I saw her perform live in February, but it was still funny the second time around. It was bittersweet to see her father as you know what's coming. I'm not looking forward to that episode. Kathy, being an atheist, will probably be inconsolable as she doesn't believe there's "anything else." I like that she has 2 new assistants, but I'm throwing in my hat to replace Tom. I think I could do a much better job, he seems kinda clueless. Maybe it's just Kathy's opinion and the editing. Anyway, 6 weeks to go and I'm all in. ~ŠL
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Jun 6, 2007 10:27 AM
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i LOOOVE kathy!!
the special was hilarious! the extreme home makeover flip-off KILLED me!
and i'm glad kathy shared her feelings about her marriage. she's a great gal
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Jun 6, 2007 10:54 AM
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Last night was the first time I watched the show and now I must track down the previous seasons. I've watched Kathy's comedy specials on Bravo and loved them all, but I tended to forget she had an actually show. No more will that happen. Last night I tuned in and fell in love. And the previews for the rest of the season look great. But, really, only seven episodes? Such a shame.
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Jun 6, 2007 11:07 AM
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Kathy is back and all is right with the world. <SIGH>
I don't have much to add after Dave's deliciously comprehensive blog, except to say I wasn't disappointed that we didn't see Kathy's crazy sofa-chewing dogs. I know they're around, but evidently they've been relegated to extra status.
Mostly, I have to simply be glad that there is a television show on the air that featured my three all time favorite comedians: Joan, Kathy, and The Whoop. I love me some Whoopi.
I'm actually a little choked up.
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Jun 6, 2007 11:25 AM
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Not enough Chance and Pom-Pom. But so great to have this show back! Best reality series out there... even though a lot of it is set up.
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Jun 6, 2007 12:11 PM
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Dave,
Great review! ... I too am so glad Kathy's back. I was dying laughing and tivo-ing back throughout the episode... and she made me all teary too. Who knew!
I just wish there would be more than 7 eppys! Kathy rocks!
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Jun 6, 2007 1:05 PM
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I had no idea that Kathy's dad passed away, and I am so sad. That is going to be one hard episode to sit through. Hope Bravo gives us some warning....
As a huge fan of what was supposed to be the Kathy/Matt reconciliation, I was crying with everyone else. What an ass - his loss.
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Jun 6, 2007 1:09 PM
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Great ep! I'm so glad that it's back.
I got teary-eyed over her discussion of her marriage too. How sad that she thinks it was a sham from the start. It makes me rethink my view of him as just a reserved/shy guy...more shady now. Kathy's tears reminded me of how I was struck when she cried in another season after a stint on the Jay Leno show. It makes me like her more to know that she has such a gutsy exterior but is not unshakable.
I didn't know about her father until reading the OP...I could see it coming in this first ep though. How sad. It looks like he lived a long and happy life though, laughing and joking with his family.
Following the parents going to a gay bar for dinner, my most tickled moment was when Rosie broke "the fourth wall" by staring directly at the camera.
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Jun 6, 2007 1:13 PM
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I didn't know Kathy's dad passed away either  I feel so bad for her. Imagining her parents at Rage almost made me pee my pants. Huge condolences to Kathy & family.
Maybe the feedback from the show will cheer Kathy up? Because she is fantastic. I was in tears laughing over the Emmy flip-off. Kathy's lawyer: "Did you really tell the Extreme Home Makeover people they could suck your d*ck? I've got to make a few phonecalls"
also in tears when she was talking about Matt. Hang in there sister! I watched the show with my 91-yr-old grandfather and he thinks Kathy is a real catch. maybe that's not much comfort.
Loved seeing Whoopi, Joan & Rosie. and the nice note from Liza was at least some consolation for a girl's gay dream.
did anyone else notice that when Kathy was in the makeup room at The View, Elisabeth Hasselback was getting her makeup done at the same time but had her face blurred out? I don't know why that makes me think she's an even bigger b*tch, but it does.
I like the new "entourage" and the crazy girl who went nuts over Jessica outside Carnegie Hall. Tom reminds me a little of Ben from Lost.
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Jun 6, 2007 1:52 PM
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Oh yeah, LOVE Tom.
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Jun 6, 2007 2:05 PM
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Okay, I agree with everyone so far, but here is my two cents, I think I love Bravo more now because the whole channel seems to have a sense of humor about its self, as it let Kathy rip into it and didn't edited it out (especially considering I bet ABC was charging them more to show bits of the View than Carnegie Hall was)
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Jun 6, 2007 2:28 PM
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I have to admit, I'm such a huge Kathy fan that I saw this episode 2 weeks ago. Bravo had it online and I just couldn't contain myself once I knew it was there.
The best parts of last nights show:
1 - Her parents going to RAGE, so funny.
2 - Tom and his granny porn. Blow Granny Blow!
3 - Tom's run-away bride eyes.
4 - The dinner with Joan Rivers
I have seen her live several times. I totally love her. I'm so glad Dave will be writing about it every week.
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Jun 6, 2007 2:40 PM
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