Not unlike Las Vegas, Joan Rivers is flamboyant, glamorous, and over-the-top. The host, commentator, actress, and author will certainly put all those cards on the table November 17 to 19 when she performs her standup act at The Venetian Showroom. Rivers is a Sin City veteran; long before she offered up her opinions on everything from red carpet fashions to celebrity plastic surgery, she started performing on the Strip, in the early ’70s, as the opener for greats like Dionne Warwick. She admits that doing one show a night gives her ample time during the day to live it up at her favorite spots in town such as Lavo (“I sit outside late at night and it’s wonderful”), Eiffel Tower Restaurant, and the Grand Canal gondolas (“It’s all so silly”). Although she’s busy celebrating her 21st year with QVC, the famously blunt Rivers isn’t too busy for some “Can we talk?” treatment: “If a person is bored in Las Vegas, they are a true idiot.”
What can audiences look forward to laughing about at your Venetian shows?
Current events, obviously, and things that annoy me, things in my life, things that happen on Fashion Police and on Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?. Las Vegas audiences are really great because they’re from all over so you get a big cross-section.
What do you love about Las Vegas?
There’s nothing like Vegas energy. It’s a total fantasy world. The only thing I hate about it is the weather, because the summer gets so hot. But then again, you’re either in a gorgeous pool or in an air-conditioned hotel. There’s nothing to hate about Vegas.
Do you have any favorite Vegas jokes?
In the old days you would say, “The showgirl was so dumb, you would ask her to spell MGM backwards and she was stumped.” Those are the old jokes, like Tina Turner said to Ike, “Hit me,” when they were at the blackjack table.
What’s the dish on working on Fashion Police?
We’re good for two more years. It’s just so much fun to do, and we all genuinely like each other, so it’s a pleasure. And my daughter, Melissa, is producing it, so that really makes it terrific.
What do you think about our city’s fashion?
Vegas is the one town, the one city in the world where you want to look like a slut, and it’s great. It’s the one time that you can put on the hot, tight dress and the big shoes, so I think it’s a lot of fun.
Would you ever consider living in Las Vegas and doing a resident show? Yes. I think Rita Rudner is the luckiest woman alive, to have your own little room that you can work in every night. I would love that. Are you kidding me? That would be fabulous. I would go live up in the mountains, and then drive in every day. How gorgeous would that be?
Venetian, are you listening?
Joan Rivers will perform at The Venetian November 17–19 at 9 PM. Call 702-414-9000 for tickets
