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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, July 27, 2009

Kathy Griffin takes her version of reali-D on road


By Mike Osegueda
McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Kathy Griffin insists we start with a disclaimer.

“You have to warn people not to bring their children or their Bible. Neither one would be appropriate for the show,” says the feisty stand-up comic/reality TV star.
“I just think if you’re the type of person who walks around with your Bible with you, this is not the show for you.”
If you watch her “My Life on the D-List” reality show on cable channel Bravo, you know Griffin as a vocal supporter of gay rights and as someone who made waves when she said “Suck it, Jesus” during an Emmy victory speech. It’s safe to say she’s made some people angry over the years.
But if you watch her show, you also know Griffin is a shameless self-celebrator. So perhaps that disclaimer comes with a bit of ulterior motive.
“By the way,” she adds. “I would love to encourage any kind of protest outside my show — any homophobes or any fundamentalist Christians are always more than welcome to protest.
“I’ve heard about protesters waiting for me,” she says. “This is how D-list I am: They had signs that said negative things about me, but they also were handing out cookies.”
Yes, Griffin loves the attention.
She’s added a new layer to her stand-up career by wearing her “D-List” status as a badge of honor and turning it into a reality show.
Her quest for awards — particularly Emmys — is a favorite topic. She earned two more nominations recently, including another for outstanding reality program for “My Life on the D-List.” The show was won the past two years.
“They define me,” she quips. “I love my Emmys more than I love people. And no, I don’t feel like it’s someone else’s turn.”
Griffin was also recently tapped to host this year’s The Creative Arts Emmys, which air a week before the Primetime Emmys.
It was at the Creative Arts Emmys — which Griffin routinely mocks as the “Schmemmys” — where she made her “Suck it, Jesus” comment in 2007.
After all the hubbub the comment caused, getting asked to host is sweet redemption for Griffin.
“I’m on my road to redemption — not unlike rapper T.I.,” she says. “Although hopefully I won’t have to go to prison.”
While she gets ready for that gig, she also served as roast master for Comedy Central’s roast of Joan Rivers. The show, recorded Sunday, will air Aug. 9.
“I’m trying to walk the line between roasting my pal Joan Rivers, but I don’t want her to actually leave in tears,” Griffin says last week, before the roast. “A lot of celebrities, I don’t mind if they leave in tears, but Joan Rivers is an actual friend.”
Also timely is her Prop-8 episode of “My Life on the D-List,” airing this week.
She’s seen going door-to-door talking to people about gay marriage, participating in rallies in Sacramento and Hollywood and even sending her 89-year-old mother out with protest signs.
Her mom has actually become a favorite on the show. Griffin calls her the real star.
“Basically, my mother is Michael and I’m Joe Jackson,” she says. “I’m riding my mother’s celebrity coattails.”