Kathy Griffin will reportedly attempt to fill the late Joan Rivers’ giant comedic shoes come winter as the new host of E!’s scathing hit Fashion Police.
The Daily Mail has learned that Joan’s daughter Melissa has given her blessing for Griffin to succeed her mother’s star role, and that E! is “already negotiating” the deal for the show’s premiere in January:
‘Kathy has been told if she wants the gig she can have it because Melissa wanted someone who her mother would have approved of,’ says the show source. ‘Kathy will probably take the position but they are still working out the deal.’
The legendary Joan has received glowing tributes since her too-soon death on September 4. She was universally hailed by the stars as a legend, a trailblazer, and the owner of a very dry vagina. Her legacy was covered flawlessly by CNN, who was first to interview Griffin in the wake of Joan’s death.
Below, Melissa Rivers introduces an official Fashion Police recap featuring some of Joan’s most brilliant moments on air:
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http://youtu.be/VC0H3fsGoz0
No word yet on how Joan’s death will affect the ongoing and seemingly never-ending writers strike that has plagued the show since April 2013.
Merv
That would be a great choice. I can’t think of anyone else who would come as close to filling Joan’s shoes.
Xzamilio
I think this is actually fitting… and it’s obvious that when it comes to crass and an overdone face, no one comes as close and Miss Kathy Griffin… I just hope she’s Hop Cup of Talk Funny and not Kennedy Center On Hers funny… she’s fallen off in the recent years.
Lvng1tor
@Xzamilio: agreed. I love Griffin but River’s is not replaceable. Plus, Joan WAS Fashion Police. It’s her gig always has been. It’s never been Griffin’s. All that said she is the only person I can think of that could possibly do it. possibly…..
stranded
I saw Griffin host a Oscars red carpet special on TV Guide channel last year. She was really funny, but the whole show was pretty low rent with bad commentators. The only way to do this right would be to totally revamp the show. New set, varying up the format. Steal Lawrence Washington from Fashion Queens or Ms. Jay from ANTM. Even though i liked Fashion Police, it’s just a bit too milk toast
Cam
You know, I couldn’t think of who they would get if anybody to replace Joan, but this actually makes sense. I think this might just work.
Gothrykke
Not happening. Kathy is not funny anymore. She was a story comedian, her jokes took a long setup with a kickass finish. The problem is, the more famous she became, the less she remembered her schtick. Now, it’s like watching her be the same snob she used to make fun of, doing the same clueless stunts for publicity she used to mock them for.
What they needed to do is reformat the show. You can’t simply switch out Joan with a different model. It’s insulting and won’t work.
orcanyc
Great Choice!! I will miss Joan terribly, Kathy is the only other one, except maybe Lisa Lampanelli who could make the show work again.
Cam
@Gothrykke:
I do agree that she used to poke fun at celebs, and as she got more famous she seemed afraid to do that anymore.
Merv
Another possibility would be Ross “The Intern” Matthews. His talk show was surprisingly OK, while Kathy Griffin’s was disappointing. He lacks the star power, comedic experience, and some of the venom, but he has the requisite celebrity obsession. He wouldn’t exactly be a drop-in replacement like Kathy Griffin, so they’d have to take the show in a somewhat different direction.
Xzamilio
@Merv: Ugh… hell no. Ross would be filler like maybe Guilianna and that guy, but not as the ringleader. In all honesty, they need to end the show since it was pretty much Joan who made it… but Kathy is a the best choice on a list of mediocrity.
JennyFromdabloc
It’s hard to follow a legend like Joan but Kathy is a good fit. Or Wendy Williams.
MarionPaige
why not the queer eye guys? “Fashion Police” seems to scream pushy gay guys, a better fit than Rivers