Kathy Griffin – From D-List Reality Show to A-List Standup
It’s been a long time since Kathy Griffin was a “D-list celebrity”–an expression she embraced for her one-woman reality show “My Life on the D-List.” Now, Griffin is a New York Times bestselling author (Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin) and a Grammy-Award nominated standup comedian (comedy). Of course, most TV viewers remember this outspoken redhead as a supporting player on hit sitcoms like Seinfeld and Suddenly Susan. However, real fans know Griffin started to shine with her 2005-2010 reality show, for which she won two Emmy Awards as a producer.
It’s easy to imagine Kathy playing “wacko” Sally, an annoyance of Jerry and the gang, or a backup for Brooke Shields. However, one must watch her in person to truly appreciate her own unique comic sensibilities. Her style of comedy is observational, but with a distinctive gossipy and critical eye. She puts on a deceptively friendly fan-girl act, even while name-calling and mocking stupid celebrity behavior.
Kathy states that she learned this style of crackup comedy from her large family, who were always commenting about the latest happenings in Hollywood, as well as the newest trends in pop culture. She also mentions Rhoda Morgenstern from The Mary Tyler Moore Show as a major influence. In her act, she mentions dating, everyday life and of course, the eagerly anticipated celebrity encounter.
Kathy says that she doesn’t genuinely dislike any of the people she mocks, and is actually “a fan of most of the people I trash in the act.” Indeed, she eschews poking fun of people’s looks or disadvantages in life. Still, she loves picking on her peers for their bad plastic surgery, crazy affiliations and snobby attitudes. She just loves turning her red painted claws on big names such as Paris Hilton, Whitney Houston, Jerry Seinfeld and Michele Bachmann.
When you see a Kathy Griffin show live, you not only get this wacky commentator’s outlook on life–you also get plenty of dirt about the rich and famous. Of course, Kathy’s doing so well for herself lately that eventually she’s going to be one of the rich and famous people she mocks. She welcomes that opportunity however, as evidenced by her latest Broadway turn, Kathy Griffin Wants a Tony.
Categorized in: Comedy