Transcripts For WPVI Nightline 20140905 : vimarsana.com

Business. And this is where you end up. Joans last years were some of her busiest. From celebrity apprentice. Youre a piece of [ bleep ] and youre a stupid blonde. To fashion police. As i press, i hated it. Its something to wash the bird [ bleep ] off my car. One of hollywoods hardest workers proved that the only thing she didnt have time for was retirement. I will not retire, do you understand me . Announcer this special edition of nightline will be right back. Down. Lower. Thats more like it petsmarts prices on your favorite food brands just got lower shop a wide assortment of food and save up to 8 on your favorite dog cat food brands. At petsmart®. Good evening. Tonight, tributes pouring in for a comic legend. Joan rivers died in new york today at the age of 81. Now, as the investigation begins into the exact cause of her death, we remember a comedienne who shattered the Glass Ceiling in a decadeslong career, filled with equal parts comedy, controversy and cosmetic surgery. Joan promised she would never retire. And tonight, she left us wanting more. Tonights show is like a pair of panties that is shared by Christina Hendrix and lindsay lohan. Reporter this was joan rivers on tv just nine days ago. So full of life. Full of jokes. Ambers outfit is almost as tacky as ambers seat was when she got up at the end of the show. Reporter still making people laugh. The iconic, groundbreaking and often controversial comic. Oh, its the nexttolast show. Who gives a [ bleep ] . Reporter who managed to remain relevant for a halfcentury, died today. Less than a week after being rushed by ambulance to mt. Sinai hospital in new york city. She suffered cardiac arrest, during throat surgery at an outpatient clinic. Daughter, melissa, broke the news of her mothers passing to the world in a heartfelt statement. My mothers greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now. The world reacted to rivers death. In hollywood, with tributes on the walk of fame. To the twittersphere. Katy perry tweeting, whats the point in wearing these costumes if joans not here to rip them apart. And Sarah Silverman said, my heart is ripped apart. For decades, she entertained us with that signature line. Can we talk . Reporter she was a woman who spent a lifetime performing. From her start in standup. 30 years old, youre not married, youre an old made. A man, hes 90 years old, hes not married. Hes a catch. Reporter to drawing blood on the red carpet as the fashion police. Thats a communion press for shuts. She just reminds me of the girl in high school that spent four years in the bathroom smoking. Reporter to her own reality show, costarring her daughter. Why am i the last to know. Reporter it was this performance on the tonight show with Johnny Carson in 1965, that rivers got her first big break. Our own david muir sat down with her in 2009 and took us back to the racy joke that changed her life forever. A man doesnt want to come home after a hard day in the office and find some sexy wife lying on the coffee table saying, tiger, tiger. Yes, he does. Right then, changed my life. Werent you the first and only permanent host . I was the First Permanent guest host, man, woman or child. Reporter ms. Rivers broke into an allmale fraternity, at a time when many thought women werent funny. She took the stage and was just as harsh and raunchy as the men. The only way i get heavy breathing from my husband is when hes having an asthma attack. Reporter she also made herself the punch line, that gave her a uniquely female voice. This is all rubber. Let me tell you. Its very good because if i fall down, bounce right back up. Reporter years later, she thanked Johnny Carson for putting her in the spotlight. Edgar, your husband, who made this book happen. And to Johnny Carson, who made it all happen. Thats very sweet of you. Thats nice. Of course, i didnt make it all happen. Oh, yes, you did. I can only take credit for putting you on the show. But i did say one thing that night which i have seldom said on the night over the years. You finished the routine. And you were devastating. And the audience was falling apart. And i said, youre going to be a big star. Thats something you dont say. It sounds like and i looked behind me. I couldnt believe you were talking to me. Its the late show, starring joan rivers. Reporter but her success was about to drive a wedge between them. As soon as i got the fox show i called johnny. He hung up on me. Never, never spoke to me again. Joan rivers. Reporter her show was canceled after just seven months. But carson would ban her for life from his show, for daring to compete with him. And the cancellation was followed by personal tragedy. Her husband and longtime manager, edgar rosenberg, would kill himself three months later. A tragedy that rivers, in classic style, turned into comedy. He left me all of the money on the condition, i have to visit him every, single day. So, i had him cremated and had him sprinkled in neiman marcus. I go there twice a day. You never saw him so much. Never saw him so much. Weekends, holidays. Im banging on the door. I got to see edgar. Hes near the gucci counter. He would go through great pain and great anger. And with my husband, i had both barrels. Im still not over his suicide. Im still furious with him. Son of a bitch. Ill kill him. You left me with no money, a child that was no career. And you checked out . Go [ bleep ] yourself. Reporter she would soon turn the depths of her pain into the height of success. Her daytime talk show beat out Oprah Winfrey in 1990 for the emmy. And the winner is im shaking. Joan rivers. Two years ago, i couldnt get a job in this business. I could not get a job. Ids good hes not here, my husband, edgar rosenberg, said you can turn things around. Reporter she used that throughout her life. Today, her life long friend, larry king, paid tribute to her. She was consistently funny. And we ought to thank people who make us laugh. They add a lot to our lives. We could appreciate those who give us the gift of laughter. Reporter she managed to defy her critics and nature itself. Becoming an early aficionado of Plastic Surgery. No one did your eyes in those days. People were saying, what happened to you . I said, the baby punched me in the eyes. And they bought it. People were so stupid in those days. Poor melissa. Reporter she allowed cameras into the process, on her show, joan melissa. Do you think i need a facelift . You could make a purse. Reporter Barbara Walters talked to her about it. You were very courageous on your reality show. No makeup, you show yourself. No makeup. Bandages. Lets go. You didnt have to do that. Why did you do it . I think i want people to see what it really was about. Reporter before another Plastic Surgery procedure on her reality show, joan and melissa, she faced her own mortality headon. If anything happens, melissa, im no chicken. Ive had a great life. An amazing life. If i die this morning, nobody would say, so young. Youre a terrific person. Coopers fine. Youre all fine. Ive had an amazing life. If it ended right now, amazing. Reporter always eager to laugh through her pain. It didnt stop her from doing what she loved most. Somebody told me, every laugh is like a small vacation for someone. Reporter a fitting Mission Statement from a woman who led a truly extraordinary american life. Next, the final act. How joan rivers reinvented herself. Time and time again. woman the constipation and belly pain feel tight like a vise. How can i ease this pain . man when i cant go, its like rocks piling up. I wish i could find some relief. announcer ask your doctor about linzess a oncedaily capsule for adults with ibs with constipation or chronic idiopathic constipation. Linzess is thought to help calm painsensing nerves and accelerate bowel movements. It helps you proactively manage your symptoms. Do not give linzess to children under 6, and it should not be given to children 6 to 17. It may harm them. Dont take linzess if you have a bowel blockage. Get immediate help if you develop unusual or severe stomach pain especially with bloody or black stools. The most common side effect is diarrhea, sometimes severe. If its severe, stop taking linzess and call your doctor right away. Other side effects include, gas, stomacharea pain and swelling. Bottom line, ask your doctor about linzess today. Who would have thought masterthree cheese lasagna would go with chocolate cake and ceviche . The same guy who thought that small caps and bond funds would go with a merging markets. Its a masterpiece. Thanks. Clearly you are type e. You made it phil. Welcome home. Now whats our strategy with the fondue . Diversifying your portfolio . E trade gives you the tools and resources to get it right. Are you type e . Turning, now, to what will forever be joan rivers, the final chapter. Even for one of the hardest working women in hollywood, it was arguably one of her most successful and productive periods. So, how does she do it . Tonight, we look at a pioneer who never shroud down. Constantly in motion. Joan reinvented herself creatively and often physically. A fresh face, getting even fresher. At 75 you are a piece of [ bleep ]. And youre a stupid blonde. Reporter an age when most are already retired. I dont want to hear reporter joan rivers rereignited her career, on celebrity apprentice. You really are a role model for so many people. Joan, congratulations. Reporter it launched the final chapter of a storied career. And made her a star for a new generation, who never heard of the pioneering comedienne. Im back, you bastards. Reporter we talked to donald trump a short time ago. She beat out a lot of powerful people. And strong physically people. She considered that one of the most important things she had ever done. 40 years in the [ bleep ] business and this is where you end up. Reporter once back in the spotlight, she wasnt going to give it up again. Tony nominations. Reporter she beared her private life in an awardwinning documentary called joan rivers a piece of work. About her lifelong ambition. This is not a full book. Reporter she was painfully honest about the insecurities that drove her to fame. Ill show you fear. Thats fear. If my book ever looked like this, it would mean that nobody wants me. Everything i ever tried to do in life didnt work. Reporter on display, every, single joke, for over 30 years. Categorized and filed for future use. Why should a woman cook, so a husband can say, my wife makes a delicious cake to some hooker. Rivers helped change the perception of women in comedy, setting the stage for a generation of female comics. Im an artist. Im doing it for the art, like you are. Reporter rivers was constantly in motion. At 81, she showed no science of slowing down. Look at what was her upcoming schedule. 25 appearances between now and november 22nd. Living up to her promise that she would never retire. America needs joan rivers. I will not retire, do you understand me . I plan to be around for the next 100 years. And god bless america. These two on the red carpet, back at the trailer park, making the next one. Reporter she turned out a weekly show for e fashion police, ever ruthless to the starlets she deemed fashion offenders. As a dress, i hate it. Its something to wash the bird [ bleep ] off my car. Reporter her celebrity takedowns garnered the most attention. Like on the Graham Norton show when she tore into angelina jolie. Oh, joan, we dont know which children are adopted and we dont know which are ours personally. Theyre all the same. Isnt that right, billy and sally and jimmy and little magumba. Isnt that right . Anyone that has to stop me and say, why did you say that . Then you know, we wouldnt be friends. You didnt respond to me. Reporter but the stars got one recent chang at revenge, with the a. L. S. Ice bucket challenge. Just do it. Just do it. Lets get the whole damn thing overwith. Do it. Reporter the stars of the internet are usually youngsters. But joan rivers was able to harness 2. 1 million twitter followers. Tweeting just weeks ago, im definitely going to watch the emmys this year. My makeup team is nominated for special effects. With joan, there was nothing offlimits. At 79, she invited cameras to show private moments with her daugt and grandson on her reality show. Im bored. You know, cooper, theres a thing called the will. Will. I know how to spell. And you know what it means, too. Reporter she brought cameras into her bedroom, with her online show, in bed with joan. I was told you died like ten years ago and youre animatronic. I dont know how youre working this. Its amazing. Reporter offstage, joan had a devotion to the needy of new york city. The cause she championed on celebrity apprentice, in god we deliver. The amount of volunteers. How did you start . I started at 8. Reporter the organization was initially devoted to helping aids patients, for joan, a personal cause. We put tiles up with names of friends who have died of aids. And i think i bought the fourth tile for the wall. Theres my first friend who died of aids. Thats why i work for gods love. Reporter the hallmark of rivers career, taking the hardships of life and turn them into celebrating, something worth laughing about. I was called socalled retirement. Yes. And there may be somebody who wants to know about yours. I cannot retire. Okay. I have two new faces on layaway. And i reporter and for that, she remains unforgettable. Joining us now are Barbara Walters, a longtime friend of joan rivers. Barbara, thanks for being with us. She was joking in that clip about never retiring. That wasnt really a joke. She never planned to retire. She would rather work than do anything. If there were three people in a room, she would perform for them. And you know, its funny. But she would be thrilled to know that she was getting this worldwide outpouring of love these past few days. And a lot because of fashion police. She had a whole, new generation of people who fell in love with her. Im going to miss her humor. Im going to miss her gossip. Im going to miss our dinners together. Thanks, barbara, for sharing your memories and adding to the tributes coming out today. My pleasure. And when we come back, joan rivers knew exactly how she wanted to say farewell, in signature show business style. Ohoh, oh, oh, la, lala, lala, lala nanana, nanananana some things just go together, like auto and home insurance. Bundle them together at progressive, and you save big on both. Oh, ohoh, oh, oh hey, its me [ whistles ] and theres my dog [gasps] theres my steps i should stop talking. Perfectly paired savings. Now, thats progressive. Fill their bowl with the meaty tastes theyre looking for, with friskies grillers. Tender meaty pieces and crunchy bites. In delicious chicken, beef, turkey, and garden veggie flavors. Friskies grillers. We want to share with you a final memory tonight. Joan rivers, in her own words. Using her razorsharp humor in her memoirs. She even jokes about her final wish, to go out with plenty of panache. When i die, and, yes, melissa, the day will come, and, yes, melissa, everything is still in your name, i want my funeral to be a huge showbiz affair with lights and cameras and action. I want kraft services. I want paparazzi. I want publicists making a scene. I want it to be hollywood all the way. Dont give me some rabbi rambling on. I want meryl streep crying in five different accents. I want to look gorgeous. Better dead than i do alive. I want to be buried in a valentino gown. I want harry wizard to make me a toe tag. I want a wind machine so strong, that even in the casket, my hair will be blowing more than beyonces on stage. Laughing through tears. Joan rivers. As andy cohen tweeted tonight, heaven just got a whole lot funnier. Thanks for watching abc news. World news now is coming up soon. Tune into Good Morning America tomorrow. And as always, were online at abcnews. Com. Good night, america. [ engine revving ] wheel. Of. Fortune ladies and gentlemen, here are the stars of americas game pat sajak and vanna white hey how are ya . Theyre here. Thank you. Thank you, jim. Appreciate it. Have a good show. Okay. Hi, guys. How you doing . Get ready. [ cheers and applause ] its toss up time. Everybody have one of those . There you go. Uh, fun games is the category. Here we go. Fun games. Yes, thats right. Fun games. Here we go. That is correct. Fun games. [ bell chimes ] ryan. Road tripping. You got it. You showoff, you. How you doing, ryan . Good. Ryan friese is from madison, wisconsin. Yes. A financial analyst there, huh . Yes, for a custom blind manufacturer. Uh, yeah, and, uh. University of wisconsin alum. Yes, proud alum. Big sports fan, so go, badgers. Yeah. What do you like to do when youre not, uh. Uh, im a game player, you know, board games, going to casino, whatever. Okay. I hope you win a lot more money. Nice to have you here. Thank you. Hi, gail. Gail valinoti is from las vegas, and talk about your family a little bit. [ new york accent ] well, im really a brooklyn girl. Oh. Born and raised in brooklyn, and i have a