Joan Rivers talk show premiered October 9, 1986

I remember those early late night wars from my high school days. A lot of my classmates loved Joan Rivers when she filled in for Carson but turned on her when she got her own show. As a budding gayling I was team Joan but had to admit her show wasn't the best. It could have grown into something but the fledgling Fox wasn't fully behind her and Carson used his power to blackball anyone who appeared on her show so the guests usually weren't that great.

She was hilarious.

R1 everyone wants to blame Carson, Fox or whomever but the reality was Joan's show was terrible. In an ironic twist, she proved NBC executives correct that she was not suited to be the permanent host of the Tonight show. As for being on Fox, Arsenio Hall turned the entire industry around by appealing to younger and blacker audiences. I think it's funny to hear that Carson blackballed anyone who appeared on her show. Like whom?

I remember watching her show that first night. It was great, and I felt so happy for her (I was 22) - what a triumph. The first female to host a late night show. I remember the ratings were great the first few weeks, but then dropped before November sweeps - which really was the beginning of the end.

Does anyone know where I can watch her daytime show "The Joan Rivers Show" ? Is it streaming anywhere ? I keep getting clips on 'reels' and the guests were pretty good - I'd like to see the full interviews.

[quote]I think it's funny to hear that Carson blackballed anyone who appeared on her show. Like whom?

I guess it was more a threat of blackballing - anyone who appeared on her show wouldn't be welcome on his. The big agencies didn't want to piss off Carson or NBC so Joan was left with mid-tier or past-their-prime actors and public personalities like Orville Redenbacher, Miss Manners and Dr. Ruth. She did manage to book some admittedly decent musical acts.

I'd love to know any behind the scenes gossip from the Nancy Reagan-Lucille Ball episode

Who booked the guests on that show?

I think Joan’s late show on fox and the Tonight Show really can’t be compared.

One was a well oiled machine and o w was a brand new show that had to get the kinks out

Joan substituting on the tonight show was always a treat because you knew the energy was going to be more high-octane, I think she put or the bookers put thought into the pairing of guests

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Richard Simmons were on with Joan one night and they played off each other very well. Johnny was great because he brought a laid back style to his hosting.

Maybe Joan shouldn’t been the permanent host, but I certainly would’ve liked to of seen her there a lot , good on Jimmy Fallon for having her back on in New York before she died

Missy is selling everything but Joan's used Poise.

Melissa Rivers has maintained that Chris Rock was 'discovered by her mother' and Joan is the one who gave him his big break by having him on her late night show when he was just starting out - yet Rock has never acknowledged Rivers' involvement, nor ever sent condolences to Melissa when Joan died in 2014. I remember around six months after Joan's death, Melissa said Rock's behavior was 'unforgiveable'.

Chris Rock is a well-known asshole, so I totally believe Melissa. He has a well-documented history of shitting on successful women because he clearly feels inferior to them.

I liked her later daytime-syndicated talk show, and I wonder if she had continued being okay with stints as the “TS” guest host if things between Carson and her wouldn’t have been at odds. I don’t think he’d have got his panties all twisted if she’d gone the talk show host route just later that way.