Can you imagine an awards show red carpet show void of the off-the-cuff remarks made by the ever-present Joan Rivers? Unless she gets hired by another network (which I’m sure she will), the tell-it-like-it-is comedian’s red carpet days are over. The TV Guide Channel just announced that they have decided to end Rivers’ reign as their leading red-carpet hostess.
That’s right; the 73-year-old is once again having to look for a new network’s microphone to tote around come awards show season. And that goes for her daughter Melissa too. You’ll recall the mother-daughter team had previously been employed as the red-carpet hosts on E! before they were sent packing to the TV Guide Channel in 2005.
At both networks Rivers’ performance on the red-carpet drew pans from TV critics who called her “ill-informed,” “an embarrassment,” and “down-right rude.” If you ever watched a red-carpet show she hosted, you know that the elder Rivers had difficulty remembering names, titles and… well, to be honest, at 73, she simply had a problem remembering any pertinent information. But, more importantly, some say her biggest downfall was remembering how NOT to put her foot in her mouth. Then again, that’s what made her memorable to me.
In any event, The TV Guide Channel wasted no time announcing Rivers’ replacement. Lisa Rinna (yes, the same Lisa Rinna who almost made it to the “Dancing with the Stars” finals last season… she also appeared on “Days of our Lives” and “Melrose Place”) will make her hosting debut at the Emmy Awards in September.
“Lisa has the perfect mix of charisma, poise and experience to lead our live red- carpet coverage at the major industry award shows,” TV Guide Channel executives told news reporters yesterday. “In addition to being an established TV star, she also has fashion expertise as both a business person and commentator, so she is a great fit for this role and for our brand.”
Hmm… “Charisma” and “charm,” hardly words that would be used to describe Rivers.
But, don’t count the comedian out just yet. Joan Rivers has this phoenix-rising-from-the-ashes trait about her, so I’m sure it will just be a matter of time before we see her back on the red carpet flinging one-liners at stars who look at her with a mixture of contempt and pity.
In fact, shortly after the TV Guide Channel made its announcement Rivers released this statement: “I will tell you my true feelings and experiences as soon as we finalize our new deal.”
There you have it… Rivers may be down, but she is certainly not out.
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