Joan Rivers is widely considered an icon of comedy, breaking boundaries for others in the entertainment industry. She was known for her iconoclastic delivery and forward-thinking remarks. Ahead of her time and full of wit and wisdom, Rivers remained active until her death in 2014. While Rivers had many friends, she was also involved in a number of feuds and feuds with d other prominent personalities. More specifically, she would have been prohibited from The show tonight for decades – until Jimmy Fallon took him in.
Joan Rivers was banned from ‘The Tonight Show’ for years
Rivers was a rising comedian in the 60s when she started making appearances in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. She quickly won over the host and made numerous appearances on the program. Johnny Carson, who was notoriously hard to impress, thought Rivers had what it took to be a big star. He even hired her as a screenwriter for the series.
However, by the mid-1980s, Rivers was growing increasingly dissatisfied with her role at NBC. According to People, Rivers feared the network had no intention of continuing her career and opted to enter negotiations with Fox, a rival network. Carson found out about the negotiations and, it seems, saw in them a betrayal on the part of Rivers. He never invited her back The show tonight Again. As BuzzFeed reported, this ban would continue even after Carson retired, with new host Jay Leno opting to keep the ban in place out of “respect for Johnny.”
Jimmy Fallon welcomed Joan Rivers during the first episode of his host stint
In 2014, Saturday Night Live veteran Jimmy Fallon took over hosting The show tonight. And one of the first things he did was lift Rivers’ decades-long guest ban. In fact, Rivers made an appearance in Fallon’s very first animated episode, much to the delight of fans following his career.
Although her appearance on the show was brief, she had an impact — and it was especially meaningful for Rivers. “It was a double thrill for me to help greet Jimmy on his first night,” she said (via Variety). “The program has brought me luck and I know it will do the same for him. He’s the consummate entertainer whose reign as host, I predict, will surpass all of his predecessors.
Rivers also reflected on her own history with The show tonight. “Being in the studio brought back the most wonderful and wonderful memories of the night that launched my career,” she added. “So when people ask me, ‘why was last night different from all the other nights?’ I’ll tell them it definitely beats Passover!
Joan Rivers was a regular guest on Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show”
Over the following months, Rivers would make several appearances on The show tonight. Laconic and hilarious, Rivers warmed to Fallon and he seemed to respect her prowess and talent immensely. Sadly, the iconic comedian passed away at the end of 2014.
Fallon paid a special tribute to Rivers after his passing. As reported by People Magazine, he recalled their first meeting. “We had her on our very first Tonight’s show, when I took over,” Fallon explained. “She came out, and she came over to me, and she started crying, and gave me a kiss. It was really emotional and really nice.
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