Photos

Shop on ChicagoPride.com

Share

by Windy City Times
Filed under: Comedy, Television
Wed. October 15, 2008

Kathy Griffin’s stand-up act has sold out several shows at The Chicago Theatre and added new ones to keep up with the demand. Her Emmy Award-winning reality show is a huge hit, and it was a nice to find out she is just as funny on the phone as on television.

WCT: Hi, Kathy. Thanks for taking a few minutes to talk. First off, is Life on the D-List going to be on for a fifth season?

KG: The Bravo people have said that I have signed up but I have not. I am trying to extract tens more dollars from Bravo. Those cheap bastards—you would think after four years and two Emmys that they could come up with it. I am in bitter negotiations, because you know they are very busy with shows like The Break Up with Jo & Slade.

WCT: I heard that you might be moving to Lifetime—any truth to that?

KG: Lifetime is not one of them, but I have been talking to one of the other major cable networks. Honestly, I would like to stay at NBC since I have worked there since Suddenly Susan, so we will see how it all works out.

WCT: How was the second Emmy win compared to the first?

KG: It was glorious. I wanted to win more than I am supposed to say. I am supposed to say that it’s an honor to be nominated. But it’s much better to win. I wanted to win like I was in a f*cking Jacqueline Susan novel. I wanted to win like Neely O’Hara in Valley of the Dolls. I would have ripped the wig of Ty Pennington if I could!

WCT: What was the behind-the-scenes experience during the Emmys with Don Rickles like?

KG: I talk about all of that in the shows for sure. Let me just say that Don Rickles is so funny and so sweet and delightful, and he really is my idol. At 82, he has a license to kill with him. He gets away with saying anything. Nobody messes with Rickles. It’s hysterical. I don’t even think Oprah has the nerve to mess with him. He’s that much of a comedic icon.

WCT: That was a great moment of the show.

KG: It was fun. I was so glad because the producers wanted Don to stay on script. And I thought he was obviously such a breath of fresh air. I thought it was one of the best moments of the show also.

Click Here for more of this interview, including Clay Aiken comments

Kathy Griffin is performing to sold out crowds in Chicago Oct. 15-16 at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State. For more information, visit www.thechicagotheatre.com or www.kathygriffin.net.

Written by: Jerry Nunn Article provided in partnership with Windy City Media Group.