Just weeks after announcing that actress Kathrine Hahn would star as the late comedienne and gay icon Joan Rivers, parent network Showtime has scrapped the much-anticipated series.
Variety reports that the show, written by Cosmo Carlson and produced & directed by Greg Berlanti, ran into legal issues with the Rivers estate. Specifically, the producers of the show had purchased Carlson’s script on spec without securing the rights to Rivers’ life. Those rights rest with Rivers’ daughter Melissa, who had not been approached or consulted to give her blessing to the series.
Related: Kathy Griffin Crapped All Over Joan Rivers’ Legacy, Says Melissa Rivers
Technically, the show still could have moved forward without the involvement of Melissa Rivers, though it could not have legally used any of Rivers’ signature jokes or catchphrases.
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The trade newspaper further reports that “The limited series was set during a precarious time in Joan Rivers’ life: primarily in the aftermath of the cancellation of her late-night talk show on Fox, “The Late Show.” That period coincided with the death by suicide of Rivers’ husband (and “Late Show” producer) Edgar Rosenberg — Melissa Rivers’ father.”
No word on if Melissa Rivers is currently planning her own biopic of her mother.
Joan Rivers died at age 81 in 2014 after a sprawling career in standup comedy, television, and films. Throughout her career, she attracted gay audiences for her mix of campy and self-effacing humor. She won an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show host in 1992 for The Joan Rivers Show and was nominated for Best Actress in a Play at the Tony Awards in 1994 for her one-woman show, Sally Marr…and her Escorts.
Cam
Melissa Rivers is a producer and Joan always seemed to bring her in on ANYTHING that she did. Seems like an easy fix would be to just bring her on as another producer.
Kangol2
Exactly. I wonder if they approached her about this. They could even incorporate some of her thoughts into the script. I mean, why not work with her if possible?
BaltoSteve
That’s always assuming she would say yes.
Essie
I remember that Katherine Hahn was criticized by someone (can’t remember) about playing a Jewish icon and not being Jewish. I imagine that, along with not getting permission from Melissa might be the reason Showtime has baled. It at least has given them an out that sounds better than the star “not being Jewish.”
Man About Town
That someone was none other than the misguided meshuggeneh moron Sarah Silverman, doing her bit for the ludicrous “Only blank people should play blank characters” nonsense.
dhmonarch89
Joan was always trying to get a TV or movie deal and no one but E would touch her- she’d probably be the first to tell Berlanti and Hahn to go to hell… I hate when people just think they can take a person’s life and interpret it any way they want- like Ryan Murphy does all the time- then proceeds to make outrageous assumptions that never happened- clouding the person’s reputation forever after.
Gouly Julie Annie
Her talk show was cancelled because Johnny Carson permanently banned anyone who appeared on it. He could not get over the fact that HIS show did better when Joan guest hosted.
mikolish
In the 80’s, the only time I would watch “The Tonight Show” was when Joan was hosting. I thought Johnny Carson was an ass, but Joan was hillarious! I LOVE YOU JOAN!
THAT Steve
I liked Carson but I stayed with my grandmother a lot when I was a kid and if Joan was guest hosting, one o f our things was staying up to watch her. I miss both great ladies.
lykeitiz
Isn’t The Marvelous Mrs Maisel supposedly based on Rivers?
Aaron
Yes
cuteguy
Melissa notoriously rode the coat tails of her mother. She had no talent and this will be her last opportunity to finally have a project since her mother’s death.
Fahd
Whoever does it, I think now is the time to maximize accuracy and audience. Melissa doesn’t seem easily swayed (by anyone, except that husband she had). I wonder how the hologram technology has come along. I recall that Joan was involved in creating her own hologram performance- it would be great to incorporate and build on that.