More than a decade after her death, Joan Rivers‘ influence is still strong in the comedy world and pop culture at large.
Following the comedian’s death at age 81 in 2014, NBC will air the star-studded special Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute on May 13 at 10pm ET/PT, with an extended and uncensored version available the next day on Peacock, featuring today’s comedians putting their own topical spin on Rivers’ legendary cabinet of jokes.
Filmed in November during the opening night of the 2024 New York Comedy Festival at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem, the special features appearances, musical bits and stand-up comedy from the likes of Rachel Brosnahan, Margaret Cho, Nikki Glaser, Tiffany Haddish, Chelsea Handler, Neil Patrick Harris, Bill Maher, Howie Mandel, Joel McHale, Tracy Morgan, Patton Oswalt, Aubrey Plaza, Sarah Silverman, Melissa Rivers, Jean Smart and Rita Wilson.
“Given that I’m dead, I assume someone will finally decide to honor me. Well, it’s about time,” said the late Joan in a letter she left for daughter Melissa Rivers.
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“This tribute is everything my mother would have wanted — hilarious, unfiltered and filled with people she respected (and roasted). And as usual, she was still the funniest person in the room,” added Melissa in her own statement. “It’s incredibly moving to see so many iconic comedians come together to celebrate her legacy, especially the women whose careers she helped make possible by breaking down so many doors. I know she’d be thrilled to see how far things have come, and she’d still have notes. This is more than a tribute. It’s a reminder of the trail she blazed and the joy she brought to so many.”
Benefitting the charity God’s Love We Deliver, for which Rivers served on the Board of Directors, the special is executive produced by Melissa Rivers, Chris Convy, Erich Bergen and David Jammy on behalf of Done + Dusted. Michael Matuza is co-executive producer.