Kathy Griffin: D-List Finale

So why does Kathy Griffith fail to make me smile as much as she used to? I still laugh, but not as loud. Is it that her shtick is getting old? Could it be that she has played the D-List card too long? How many times can we watch her try to out do Oprah? Or charm gays from another country? Or date celebrities who are almost recognizable? Or try to get the paparazzi to take photos of her? When is a joke worn and old? Like, right now.

The final scenes of the final show when Kathy and her assistants tossed her father's ashes in the Irish wind were touching, and (unlike Paula) there is true camaraderie between her and her three assistants. The affection is obvious. ("All the love and friendship money can buy."Hah!)

But how D-List is Kathy these days? She’s recognized by all the gays of America and quite a few straight folks; she lives in a fabulous hillside house; and she earns enough to pay a contingent of people – assistants and agent I presume, and a cut of the take with her booking people, not to mention a percentage to the clubs and venues she’s appeared in. If the flight, hotel room, limo, and meals are included on top of Kathy's appearance fee, she must be doing quite well. Witness her lovely and exclusive hilltop home.

Does all the activity I just described sound like those of a D-lister to you? Former child actress Maureen McCormick (Marcia Brady) is a D-Lister. Kathy is not.

So, my suggestion to Bravo for the next Kathy Griffin go round is to take Kathy off the D List and change the direction of the show. Otherwise there will be a lot more viewers like me the next season – tired of the same old shtick.

Posted by Ms. Place

Kathy vs Paula

We've had an opportunity for quite a few weeks to watch Kathy Griffin and Paula Abdul star in their very own Bravo shows. Kathy is with us for the third time. This season we have seen her reaction towards her divorce, the death of her father, and the incarcerated. The lady is funny, complex, straight forward, and a consummate professional (although frequently late.)

People either like Kathy or they don't, but when they do they love her. Jim, a coworker, can quote her funniest lines. He and I review each show with a fine tooth comb, laughing hysterically all over again. Only Kathy can get away with saying 'fisting' in front of a bunch of hardened criminals and get them to howl with laughter. Her friendship with her gays is wonderful to witness, and, even though she purports to dislike children, her performance for her nephew's classmates was designed to make him proud. And it did. One knows with an aunt like Kathy he will always get the girl.
Paula, who is joining the Bravo stable for the first time in the hope of boosting her popular American Idol image, enjoys no such adoration among my office companions. While an entire group of people discussed Idol when it aired, no one discusses Paula without making a face. 'Hey Paula' points out the reasons why: The woman is totally self-absorbed, lacks a sense of humor, is always late and moaning about lack of sleep, and she's downright surly at times. In fact, there are moments when Paula seems scarily certifiable. In telling my friend Jim that I watch 'Hey Paula', I had to clarify, 'For Bravissimo, of course.'

To point out the differences between the two women, I've created a little chart.

I think my comparison points out why Kathy is liked so much. She's confident of her talent but not her looks, which adds a sense of vulnerability. Her sense of humor saves her over and over again, and she has genuine empathy for others. Paula's show is one long series of whining, moaning, and me, myself, and I. Oh, Paula. How could you willingly have placed yourself in a bad light like this? I'm sure you are the fine, talented, and compassionate person you claim to be, but don't you see how you are coming across?

Posted by Ms. Place

Kathy Griffin: The Gay Porn Awards

Watch a preview of the next show of Kathy Griffin's Life on the D-List at 10 PM EST, Tuesday July 10th.

Click here to watch the clip.

Posted by Ms. Place

Tonight is D-List Time

To whet your appetites, click here for a preview of her date with Ron Jeremy. The show starts tonight at 10 PM EST and 9 PM central time.

Then click on the post below for some previews of Hey Paula, Bravo's new show about Paula Abdul.

Kathy Griffin’s Most D-Listable Moments

Watching Kathy's parents it's clear where she got her sense of humor. As a team, few could beat them in sheer fun and outrageousness. To me the highlights of the show were when Kathy visited her parents or talked about them in her show.

And now one half of the team is gone. Although there were quite a few memorable D-Listable moments, I'm describing only a few this week. This post, along with Damselfly's below, is meant to be a tribute to John Patrick Griffin, whose death in February of congestive heart failure was the theme of the third episode.

1. Kathy's last talk with her father. Both sensed an urgency in the situation, and when he told her he loved her and was proud of her, Kathy knew that he was trying to get important things said and that this might be one of the last times she would be able to speak to him. Her emotions were raw and genuine, and a bit painful to watch because we knew her instincts were right.

2. Kathy's description of her father's last moments after he asked that the breathing tube be removed. He died swiftly and peacefully watching golf, his favorite sport.

3. Kathy's first comic performance after her father's death illustrated her strength. Unsure of whether to mention his passing to the crowd, she started the show off with a tribute. The crowd was with her all the way, and she emerged feeling a little better.

Kathy wrote on her blog, "I asked my Mom if it was difficult for her to watch the show, and she said in her inimitable way, “Oh for Christ’s sake, no Kathleen. I love watching it, because I get to see Johnny again.”"

Oh, Johnny, you might have lived until 90 years of age, but we hardly knew ye.

Getting off the D-List Step by Step

Previews for tomorrow's show are available. Click below to watch them. As you know, Kathy's dad is truly ill, and we are all dreading the inevitable moment when she hears the bad news.

Preview One: Calling Dad

Preview Two: Corporate Vegas Gig

In Episode Two, Kathy's most D-Listable moments are few and far between. Let's just say that Mom and Dad head the list once again.

1. Have You Thought of a Gay Guy?

Mom and Dad are giving their darling daughter dating advice whilst clinking their glasses of wine. Dad is 90 years young. What a hoot. The man is in and out of the hospital, but he hasn't given up LIVING. So who do they think is perfect for our intrepid Kathy?

Sean Hannity.

I pee in my pants laughing. Kathy replies, "Oh, put a gun to my head: I would commit suicide."

Then they ask, "Have you thought of a gay guy?"

"Yes," says Kathy, "I could be Mrs. Aiken. I’m just going to f-ck around. I'm banging a new guy every night."

To which Mom replies ever so sweetly, "I'm glad our friends don't have cable."

ROFL! If I talked to my parents the way Kathy does, they would effin' kill me.

2. The False Back Street Boys Date

Nick Carter is a cute guy in a hefty sort of way. I don't know why he and his publicist agreed to this ridiculous date. Like Damselfly I think that the set up seems stiff and hokie. BUT. There was a genuine moment.
When Kathy refused to slip Nicky her tongue at the end of the evening, our Lothario's feelings seemed genuinely hurt. That was not an artificial moment. He looked into the camera bewildered.

"I was going for the kiss and then she gave me the cheek. That totally sucks man."

I feel for you, boyfriend. But I think you will find solace in the millions you made off those tepid recordings.

And sadly, folks, those were the only D-Listable moments I found in this week's show. It was funny and meh at the same time. Tom, the Whipping Boy's turn as a waiter in the Texas Coral, just wasn't funny enough to describe in detail. Let's hope Episode Three is better. But we think we know what is coming, and I dread having to sit with Kathy in the hospital waiting for a verdict on her dad.

Posted by Ms. Place

My Life on the D-List: Check it Out

Tomorrow night is a brand new episode with our intrepid Kathy. Will she find a cool man to go out with? Stay tuned and find out!

Can't wait? Here are some deliciously funny sneak previews!

Parental Advise

Tom Does Drag

Keep your eyes open for her most D-Listable moments. Click here to read last week's list.

In choosing Kathy’s most D-Listable moments I used the following criteria: they had to be delicious, delightful, outrageous, and unforgettable ... not necessarily in that order. Ms. Place

1. Mom and Dad at Rage

Kathy’s mother and father are the true stars of this show. Not only are they funny as hell; they openly love to drink. When Dad revealed that the wine at Rage cost only four bucks, Kathy’s ears pricked up. "Rage? "she asks. "The gay bar?" "Well, yes," Mom answers matter of factly. "Their hors d’oeuvres are only 3 bucks." God bless these people for being so spontaneously funny. Sadly we learn that Dad has not been feeling well and that he’s been in and out of the hospital. We already know that he died and this knowledge makes these scenes all the more precious.


2. Outing Trent, the Hetero Hair Hunk

Trent is good looking in a Johnny Carson sort of way and so unflappable that he became Kathy’s perfect foil. When Kathy announced, “Trent, you should know, I’m your Bitch,” he barely flinched. Then she followed up with, “94% of guys are secretly gay. How many guys have you blown?” Trent simply sat upright. He did not react when she demanded “F-ck me right now!” which confirmed her suspicions. But when he admitted he didn’t know who Fergie and Jennifer Hudson were, Kathy reluctantly concluded, "He's straight!"

Click here to continue.

Conversation With a D-Lister

(Brriiinnngggg!)

Kathy G: Hallo?

Ms. Place: Hey, Kathy. Ms. Place, here. You don’t know me from atom, but the Bravo Brass asked me to ring you up and have a frank discussion before your third season airs. I’m an image consultant.

Kathy G: Say what, BITCH?

Ms. Place: I’ve been brought in to help tamp down your brash mouth. You have a huge audience, but Bravo thinks they can up the numbers.

Kathy G: Ouch!

Ms. Place: Don't get me wrong, dahling. Bravo loves your honesty. The brass ROFL whenever you dis the famous, but they’ve got their own future to consider. Lots of mouths to feed, and all.

Kathy G: I AM their future, you cow pucky! They think Paula will draw bigger numbers? Hah! What a joke.

Click here to read more.

Posted by Ms. Place

Disclaimer: This conversation came purely from Ms. Place's fertile imagination. Although she is convinced that she and Kathy are soulmates, they have never spoken. In other words, don't get your knickers in a twist, dahlings. This post is all about fun and sport.

Love her? Hate her? Who cares? She's entertaining

My Life on The D-List, Season 3 with Kathy Griffin Begins Tuesday, June 5th at 10/9 c. Don't miss this cheeky show, dahlings. Click on the following links for!

Season 3 Preview! Click here to view the preview.

Kathy's dinner with Joan Rivers. Click here to see the video.

A chance to vote for who you think Kathy should date to get off the D-list, visit the official website here!

My Life on the D-List: Check it Out

Honestly, dahlings, I think Kathy speaks best for herself when she says: "Hey everybody! I didn't even know BRAVO was going to put episode 1 on their website before June 5th, but hey, as long as they did ... CHECK IT OUT BITCHES!!!"

Ms. Place will be dissin' our fabulous Kath and recapping Season 3 when it starts on June 5th. So stay tuned to Bravissimo after Shear Genius is over, BITCHES, and enjoy the comedic ride. Your first assignment? To choose the partner that will help Kathy off the D-list. Click here.