Kathy Griffin

[Are_grits_groceries]

has been one of the strongest and most outspoken supporters of gay rights over the years. She says it anywhere and to anyone.

She has also been one of the most consistent supporters of the wounded warriors. She visits military hospitals and entertains there regularly. They love her because she is up front and not condescending. She agonized over how to perform for them so that it would help at all when she first started. Griffin realized that she had to be herself to reach them at all. She is her obnoxious self and they love her for it. She doesn't treat them like oddities, children or fine china.

I don't always appreciate her humor. However, she has not done anything that remotely makes me want to leave her by the side of the road and dump on her and everything she does. She is not immune from criticism. Nobody is. However, her comedy pales in relation to her unwavering support. She will have to do a LOT worse than her shenanigans with AC on New Year's Eve.

Kathy Griffin gets in anybody's face about her beliefs and she takes on all comers. That is a rarity when many are cowed into corners for supporting certain groups or backing certain measures. She has been on the front lines for a long time, and she has been there when it was a much lonelier place than it is now.

Kathy Griffin has my support, and I'd want her in my foxhole any time. She would be there until the bitter end and not cut and run. We need more people like her.

[HappyMe]

1. Agreed.

[cali]

2. I think it's all about her.

period. and she's hardly singular in her support for LGBT folks.

[joeybee12]

4. Such a rarity she is...a celebrity who has a huge ego...

Never knew of anyone else like that!

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. I don't think her support for

gay rights has been all about her. In addition, she isn't singular in her support. However, she is a rarity in how outspoken she has been everywhere in years when a lot more people disapproved of anything gays did. She made a bully pulpit for herself and used it to stand by others.

Griffin has had to make her own way in order not to compromise her ability to say what she pleases. She could have toned down and been much more pliable in order to get work. She didn't and wouldn't. As I said, her humor may not always amuse me, but I could care less.

[eShirl]

13. Well said!

I think she's awesome.

[Tagish_Charlie]

48. And Kathy Griffin

Is tough enough to go bear hunting with a switch

[Hosnon]

11. No more than anyone else, as far as I can tell. nt.

[obamanut2012]

46. Definitely not true

[Capt. Obvious]

3. Did I miss something?

[R. P. McMurphy]

7. Obviously you an I both did. (n/t)

[progressoid]

14. Me too...er three.

[Fla Dem]

25. Link

[Maraya1969]

53. Well I don't know where to put the link but I missed it and looked it up.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/media/2013/01/01/new-years-eve-gets-wilder-anderson-cooper-and-kathy-griffin

[rosesaylavee]

69. A bit bawdy

but when did America's Left get so uptight and proper too? It was New Year's Eve for chrissake and she's a comedienne.

Or is it wrong because it's a woman making obscene jokes and gestures to be funny?

[Fla Dem]

24. Link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2158784

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

33. Holy christ, no wonder

That was nine frickin' days ago. CNN must be in the shitter if someone just noticed it.

Seriously, who gives a shit? My brother and I were trying to guess what swear she'd say or if she'd get naked for ratings. I just didn't care enough to watch or find out after.

[BainsBane]

58. it's been talked about for a while

If someone's a prude, they shouldn't watch Kathy Griffin, period. She's never family entertainment. The morals police just like to feign outrage.

[Fla Dem]

23. An earlier post that has been locked. Link inside

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2158784

[SalviaBlue]

6. Totally agree.

She is what she is. I totally expect her to be outrageous and push the limits of acceptability. If you don't like her, don't watch her.

I love her.

[elfin]

8. She's terrific!

My fond fantasy is that some clueless booker hire her to headline a Rethug convention.

[Raffi Ella]

9. co-sign.

well said.

[Hosnon]

10. I agree.

She's great as is.

[rivegauche]

12. I'm with you.

I watched that NYE show, and I was hysterical laughing. She was HUGELY entertaining and hilarious, and Anderson is a perfect stooge for her. Sure she crosses lines, lots of them. So what? Who says she has to be vanilla? I love Kathy and I am 100% in her corner.

[Taverner]

15. I can't figure out what she did that has people all upset

I watched that too, and it seemed like, well, Kathy Griffin

She's hit or miss with me, reminds me a lot of one of my exes from college (who now is a pilot with Southwest)

[Skittles]

17. aw she got a little risque during her NewYear's Eve stint

THE HORROR!!!

[Taverner]

18. You mean where she wanted to ojoblay Cooper?

Seriously?

That's all she did?

[Skittles]

32. well I could be out of the loop but...

that's the latest Ms. Griffin outrage I have heard.

[AlbertCat]

36. her shenanigans with AC on New Year's Eve....

.... show, as all her comedy does.... the shallow superficial nature of entertainment. But she also LOVES the entertainment industry. That's why her stuff works.

[Skittles]

16. you echo my sentiments on Ms. Griffin

exactly!

[southernyankeebelle]

19. Can I ask what brought this up? I agree with you totally. Her new show starts this week. I'll

tune in.

[Are_grits_groceries]

29. See post #24.

Unless her humor takes a real right turn, she has my backing.

[southernyankeebelle]

31. You know every year she comes on NYE with Anderson. She always said that her job was to

make Anderson blush. Everyone knows this. If you don't like it don't watch it.

[Enrique]

20. most important thing about Kathy Griffin

she's from my hometown.

[closeupready]

21. Her humor is both obvious but subtle, at the same time.

She had me in stitches.

As a professional comedian, her repertoire is obviously rich with material.

But a subtle part of her over-the-top routine she does on New Year's Eve seems to be juxtaposing scandalously sexual double entendres with this ever-present wide smile. Somehow, I get the feeling that this is a kind of dig at fake showbiz people who justify all kinds of nonsense with "It's not bad if you say it with a smile." So what does Kathy do? She mimics giving AC a you-know-what, then stands up and smiles at the camera like, "my smile absolves me." Something like that.

It worked, they are perfect together, and she was funny.

[MADem]

22. She has an act, and a persona, and a set bit of schtick. Why are people still surprised by her?

If they've never seen her on cable, uncensored, perhaps they might be surprised, but anyone who has seen her on a premium channel or even basic comedy cable after midnight knows that she can get a bit nasty and outrageous.

It's her thing.

[Jennicut]

26. If people get offended by Kathy Griffin I wonder what they would think of Daniel Tosh?

I am not shocked by Kathy Griffin ever.

[grantcart]

73. Love Kathy hate Tosh. He seems to take joy out of people getting seriously hurt.

[Atman]

79. BWHAHA!

I first read your post as saying "He seems to take THE joy out of people getting seriously hurt."

Tosh goes over the top many times. But that is his schtick. If you expect anything less, you shouldn't be watching. I you ARE watching, and are still offended, you are his "car wreck rubbernecker" audience.

It's funny that people get so outraged over him for showing shit on TV that they could just as easily find on their computers. That's all he does, re-post YouTube videos and make "outrageous" comments about them. Oh, he gets naked at least once every show. He and Kathy Griffin have niche audiences. I hate Justin Beiber and Nicki Minaj, and I know I can't stand them, so I never buy their music or tune into one of their shows. Whew...tough decision.

[grantcart]

84. i absolutely never watch him.

I watched twice and occassionaly pass thru when flipping through the channels but I find him obnoxious, superficial and inhumane.

How he got time on TV is beyond me.

I see Kathy's performances on Netflix.

I currently don't own a TV but watch it when I am on the road.

I don't know what gave you the impression that I wasted any time on scum like Tosh.

[Are_grits_groceries]

28. See post #24

Some people are apparently outraged about New Year's Eve and Kathy herself. I was just pointing out that I could care less about her comedy. To me, she has been a steadfast progressive ally.

[MADem]

30. Little kids don't need to be up at midnight watching drunk people act up on live TV.

If people are offended by her little "stunt" with Cooper, they could have picked up the remote and said "Let's see what's happening on such-n-such a channel." It's not like only one network was doing a New Year's Eve show.

If they kept watching, they were interested in her performance!

[obamanut2012]

50. Her books are terriific

People judging her harshly, need to read them. She is an incredibly good egg.

[JohnnyRingo]

27. Gay or not, I love Griffin.

I recall a routine she was doing where she was discussing talking behind some diva's back. "Manners" she called it, crowning her the reigning queen of cattiness in my eye.

Joan Rivers is getting up there in years, and Griffen is the heir apparent to the comedic genre. Best of all, she doesn't need a scripted act to be funny, she can wing it with the best of them.

[Flatulo]

34. Kathy Griffin is one in a bazillion. I really admire her. nt

[truedelphi]

35. + My household. n/t

[samsingh]

37. i agree. i roll my eyes at her antics but she's fine

i support her

[Bluenorthwest]

38. Wait. A comic did someting risque at a New Year's Eve gig? Is this supposed to outrage people?

Kathy Griffin is many things, first and foremost she is funny which is her job and the second best thing a person can be after courageous which Kathy also is.
Love her, love New Year's Anderson, love their whole NYE act .

[Spitfire of ATJ]

39. I liked it when she took on Ann Coulter...

[lovemydog]

62. 'Still working the 80's cocktail dress

like it's the 80's and she's in a robert palmer video'

[UnrepentantLiberal]

40. I think she's very funny at times.

I couldn't care less what she did on CNN. I rarely watch that channel. It's mindless and insufferable.

[vanlassie]

41. She takes on all comers!!!

[LiberalLovinLug]

45. "I'd want her in my foxhole any time...

...She would be there until the bitter end"

[UnrepentantLiberal]

42. Here she is profusely apologizing on David Letterman.

[Rose Siding]

54. Love her.

Thanks for the clip.

What a silly controversy. She and AC are pals.

[annatee33]

70. What's not to love?

Her comic timing is so spot on, and she knows how to "kiss the sardine" for publicity, hey she had to compete with Dick Clark's 3 hour epitaph. Go on with your bad self!

[ReRe]

43. I would rather watch...

...Kathy and AC on New Year's Eve than all the rest of the New Year's Eve shows put together.

[Joey Liberal]

44. I think she is great!

She has my support! I don't miss her on CNN with Anderson Cooper on New Years eve. She's a hoot!

[obamanut2012]

51. Some posters don't get the NYE gig with Cooper is a regular thing

And, they are friends IRL. She and AC were paid to deliver a certain piece of entertainment, and they did. It was so funny!

[spanone]

47. k&r...

[obamanut2012]

49. She and Anderson Cooper are also friends IRL

[nadine_mn]

67. oh my goodness - she has hilarious pics of when she was at AC's house

I just watched special and she talks about he gave her keys to his house and she took pics of herself in his underwear, a bra and stripper heels and also in his glasses eating pie, then sent them to him while he was doing the news.

so funny! You can tell they are friends and she lives to torment him... which is awesome.

[obamanut2012]

80. Yes!

Her Bravo show and her books are really funny, and the books show how smart and complex she is. Very interesting reads.

[progressoid]

82. That's probably the real reason he couldn't stop giggling on air...

?t=2m26s

[WillyT]

52. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[Flatpicker]

55. I respect her support of liberal issues.

But I don't like her brand of stand up comedy.

Horses for courses.

[DonRedwood]

56. Rec 100 and a KICK to boot

[BainsBane]

57. I love her

and I have no problem with her comedy. I enjoy her.

[Uncle Joe]

59. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, grits.

[spooky3]

60. I think she's consistently hilarious and creative, and admirable in her charitable work.

It would be nice for her to branch out from the gossipy stuff, but comedy is an especially tough business for women and it may be that she's found this is what audiences like best and find least threatening.

I have enjoyed all of her shtick with Anderson through the years, and somehow she strikes me as being a lot more authentic than many people.

[exboyfil]

61. Sorry but I think it is entirely inappropriate for CNN

Comedy Channel perhaps if the cohost goes along with the gag. I don't watch New Year's Eve stuff, but showing such behavior on a "news" channel is shocking, and CNN should be ashamed. I know nothing about this lady (I guess she is some sort of comedian). It would be even further outrageous if she did not clear it with Anderson Cooper before hand. In that case it would be sexual harrassment. I view Anderson Cooper as a semi serious journalist (maybe one of the better out there), and I think going along with such behavior is beneath him.

[JI7]

65. i think what CNN passes off a lot of times as Real News, serious Reporting is inappropriate

[GObamaGO]

63. I think she is hilarious

But I get that her sense of humor is not for everyone. I admire that she is a fearless champion of the GLBT community.

[jdadd]

64. I think She's Funny and smart.....

I saw her perform live, a couple of years ago. I've got tickets to see her again this April, when she comes to Cleveland. I won't drive 75 miles to Cleveland, to see just anybody....

[Kurovski]

66. k&r from a Kathy fan going back to her "my friends say I'm too funny" appearance as an unknown

on some old talk show.

She's aces.

[cecilfirefox]

68. AGREED!!

[valerief]

71. Love her. She should be MORE outrageous, in my book. nt

[thelordofhell]

72. So a woman fake blowing a gay guy on national TV is bad

[WhoIsNumberNone]

74. I don't see why people are so shocked about this New Year's Eve thing

This is the sort of thing Kathy Griffin does. Watch any video of hers.

I saw one where she was doing an interview (I forget with whom) and she climbed over the desk and tried to kiss the guy.
I saw one where she was doing a show for the troops, and she came out in a camo bikini. She then produced a list of things the Army had told her she wasn't allowed to do- which she very pointedly pulled out of her bikini bottoms.

This is her shtick. Deal with it folks. I imagine the people who are losing their minds over NYE are the same ones who thought Western Civilization was going to end because of Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction.

[nolabear]

75. Late to the thread but K&R. She's a comedian, not a nun.

She irritates me a little sometimes but she cracks me up a lot too. Get over yourselves, people. The world is not here for your comfort.

[hollysmom]

76. don't like her, never will - do we have a poll on this?

well, I only said that because people declaring their love of her. I find she is just not funny unless she is talking about her dogs - some times, other times she is too hard on her dogs.

She is someone who can pick on others but can't take it when it is turned on her, she becomes a whiny person then and complains the jokester was not funny (see Leno) - obviously she has never listened to her attack on various children over the years. The kids have the right to be whiny, but generally are not.

[Atman]

77. I like her. I don't go out of my way to see her, but I admire her.

As you so eloquently stated, she is the real deal, unwavering in her support for LGBT issues. I know it is a double standard, but "funny" women often come across as just plain annoying. Many people feel that way about Griffin. But I find her very funny, and face it...she has a smokin' body for an old broad. (It's a joke, calm down!)

[patricia92243]

78. She can dish it, but not take it. She cried when Jay Leno said some little something to her - not

even half as bad as the rude and hateful things she says about others.

Just because she is nice to the gay community does not make her a nice person or her mean and spiteful "jokes" funny!

[Waiting For Everyman]

81. I don't like her comedy

but I'll concede that her advocacy is commendable. She has some moments here and there, but mostly I don't think she's funny; I prefer Eddie Izzard, and some others. My daughter (adult) on the other hand, is a big fan of Kathy's.

[mudstump]

83. Kathy should.....stay on cable...

and stay off of network stations with her sophomoric humor....if you call her New Year's performance humor.

[grantcart]

85. Well CNN is cable.

[Kurovski]

86. You point up an interesting fact...

in the days prior to cable, we had to make due with a very narrow view . Networks were designed in a more streamlined, more generic way. always striving for the LEAST amount of offense to be taken by the GENERAL public. (Or the general public with the most purchasing power)