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Make Em Laugh

Joan Rivers on her Contemporaries

Rivers and her cohort were the 1st generation of American-born comedians.

01/08/2009 | Rating NR

Make Em Laugh

Joan Rivers on her Contemporaries

Clip: Season 1 | 1m 47s

Rivers and her cohort were the 1st generation of American-born comedians.

Joan Rivers describes her contemporaries and herself as the first generation of American-born comedians. She speaks of their unique voices and inimitable styles, including the likes of George Carlin, Woody Allen, and Bill Cosby. Attributing much of her generation’s inspirations to the work of comedian Lenny Bruce, Rivers also traces back her and her peers’ comedic lineage.

01/08/2009 | Rating NR

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Joan Rivers: Road Comic

Clip: S1 | 1m 21s | Joan Rivers recalls her experience as a young comedian on the road. (1m 21s)

Joan Rivers on Second City

Clip: S1 | 2m 2s | Rivers recalls her experiences as a member of The Second City improvisational comedy team. (2m 2s)

Joan Rivers on her Contemporaries

Clip: S1 | 1m 47s | Rivers and her cohort were the 1st generation of American-born comedians. (1m 47s)

Joan Rivers on Comedic Success

Clip: S1 | 1m 29s | Joan Rivers outlines a guide to success in the entertainment industry in the late 1960’s. (1m 29s)

Joan Rivers on Audience Flops

Clip: S1 | 1m 25s | Joan recounts a tepid audience response to her more taboo material. (1m 25s)

Joan Rivers' "False Starts"

Clip: S1 | 1m 26s | Rivers began her career in a period when female performers were given rigid expectations. (1m 26s)

Joan Rivers' Early Inspiration

Clip: S1 | 55s | Comedian Joan Rivers recalls her early inspirations towards comedy. (55s)

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