Joan Rivers Was A Feminist Piece of Work

Few women have made as big (or as loud) a splash in Hollywood as Joan Rivers. From the red carpet, to multiple memoirs, to her daytime talk show, she took no prisoners; she was quick-witted, sharp-tongued, and had jabs for every celebrity going, including herself. The young, ambitious Rivers got her degree from Barnard, laced up her gloves, and climbed into a ring full of men; she landed some incredible shots that still pack a punch today.

Joan the Stand-Up was a feminist who wore a full face of make-up, talked frankly about her body, and was ruthless about the double standards of society. The last line of her original act shocked audiences in the 1960s: “This business, it’s all about casting couches, so I just want you to know, my name is Joan Rivers, and I put out.” (It caused Jack Lemmon to walk out, she remembers in the excellent 2010 documentary Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work.) When she added abortion jokes into her routine, her manager told her women shouldn’t talk about such things. “I remember thinking, ‘You are so wrong, this is exactly what we should be talking about.'”

She talked about a lot of things people thought she shouldn’t, but at heart, her combativeness was that of a woman who knew she wouldn’t get anywhere by playing nice. Here are threeearly appearances that showcase her brilliance.

1. The Ed Sullivan Show (1967)

2. The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show — with guest host Johnny Carson (1966)

3. The Carol Burnett Show (1974)