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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2009)
344UStput FEBRUARY 20, 2009 In the Red Celebrating the Body Erotic Kathy Griffin gives us something to smile about Portland March 21-22 503-957-1914 Economy talk got you down? Join us for a 2-day life-affirming workshop to lift your spirits with ! I I I s the economy suffers, 1 really do be- lieve that people need to laugh now more than ever,” Kathy Griffin tells me in a rare moment of seriousness. I I I I I I I Otherwise, the redhead comic drops a nonstop barrage of her infamous shit- talking. Victims include Clay Aiken (“I thought the picture of Clay on the cover of People was very powerful—hut I’m still gonna make fun of him”), octuplet mom Nadya Suleman (“who wants to he Angelina Jolie so had that, while having 14 children, she still has time for a nose job and some cbeportland@msn.com cBodyElectricSchool.com lip plumping”) and celebrity fake friends (“when Madonna had Gwyneth Paltrow as her maid of honor, I’m sure they’d known each other for two weeks—like that wasn’t a photo op”). I She even manages to squeeze in a joke about Portland Mayor Sam Adams. Upon learning about his sex scandal with 18-year-old Beau Breedlove, the quick-witted Griffin says: “Well, at least it wasn’t an 8-year-old, that’s my thing. Usually with Republicans it’s like an 8-year-old. I So, 18-year-old? Not so bad.” JR: Now that you’ve played Madison Square Garden, do you still consider yourself a D-lister? KG: 1 know I’m a D-lister! I was nominated for a Grammy [for the comedy album For Your Consideration) and I couldn’t get into the Clive Davis party. In fact, I couldn’t get into any pre-Grammy party, and I’m a nominee! Now I realize they really just want nothing to do with me. Jim Radosta: Do you still have shows where JR: Did you take a lot of heat for that New you’re just not connecting with the audience? Year’s Eve comment on CNN about “knocking Kathy Griffin: Oh the dicks out of your yeah, I bomb all the time. mouth”? Usually my worst scenar KG: Hell, no. ios are upscale, black-tie They got triple their charity events. I’m not ratings, and I’m a kidding—90 percent of YouTube sensation; the time, everyone is at I’m very excited. these like circular ban They told me quet wedding tables, and that we were in the they’re not even paying commercial break, attention, and they’re and 1 was just trying all talking to each other, to make Anderson and I’m standing there [Cooper] laugh. like in a God damn ball I was like, “What, gown thinking, “Why you never heard that did I bother?” Those line? It’s like the are the times that I say, oldest Borscht Belt “Why didn’t you just call comedian line in LeAnn Rimes?” They the world.” Then a don’t really want to sit minute later this one there and listen to a producer goes, “Oh "I certainly am not afraid to offend anyone comedian. or any group," Kathy Griffin admits. my God, that went JR: Are any celebrities ticking you off lately? KG: If this Chris Brown thing is true—you gotta be kidding me. That this guy would be stu pid enough to risk his whole career and he’s gonna pull over Rihanna on the street and hit her in the face or whatever? That’s just outrageous! That’s what blows my mind about Hollywood and about celebrity: I’m always trying to figure out which came first, the chicken or the egg. I mean, were these celebrities stupid enough to do this stuff before they were famous, or does the culture of celebrity make them think that, you know, if they get out of a car without any pant ies, the camera isn’t going to flash their crotch? Was Britney born crazy, or did celebrity make her crazy? I never know. Going to the Grammys the other night was funny to me. All these rappers like T.I. had the biggest security guards. 1 thought: “You’re already going to prison! What’s the worst thing that could happen to you? Somebody wants an autograph?” out live.” So I turned to Anderson and 1 said, “Are you in trouble?” He said, “No, this is cable.” JR: Why do you think you have such a large gay following? KG: 1 respect the gay community because they have been through such adversity; I call them “my unshockable gays.” As a comedian, that’s a dream audience—an audience that isn’t going to gasp or huff and puff and leave the room. You gave a great example—you’ve got your first gay mayor, and he’s already in a scandal. What the luck am 1 gonna say that’s gonna shock you? © K athy G riffin tapes the Bravo special Inappropriate Touching 6:30 and 9 p.m. March 4 at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 S.W. Broadway. Tickets are $40-$55 at the door or $35-$50 in advance from Ticketmaster. Arts and Culture Editor J im R aixysta needs your feedback. E-mail him at iim@justout.com.
