Joan’s on a career arc
Joan Rivers is having quite the TV year: She won “Celebrity Apprentice”; she’s got a new show on TV Land, “How’d You Get So Rich?” (Wednesdays, 7 p.m., cable channel 163 in Spokane, and 10 p.m. cable channel 23 in Coeur d’Alene); and tonight she’s being roasted on Comedy Central (10 p.m., cable channel 60 in Spokane, 50 in Coeur d’Alene).
Q: Tell me about “How’d You Get So Rich?”
A: It’s about how people in this day and age with a good idea and a lot of work can still have the American dream. We show how they spend their money and some crazy ways they’ve made it. It’s a lot of fun.
Q: Is there a secret to success?
A: It’s having an idea that you totally believe in and then working at it. Not one person that we interviewed did not have a great work ethic. These people don’t say, “Boohoo, poor me, it’s a recession and I can’t do it.” Absolutely not.
Q: You’re also about to be roasted on Comedy Central.
A: Kathy Griffin is the roast mistress, and we’re very good friends. Some of the roasters will be Robin Quivers from “Howard Stern,” Lily Tomlin, Carl Reiner and Brad Garrett. These are not typical roasters.
Q: Will you have a thick skin for what they say about you?
A: Yes, I say, “Enjoy yourselves,” because when I turn around and give it back to them, I’m going to give it back both barrels.
Q: You recently won “Celebrity Apprentice,” beating poker player Annie Duke. Were you surprised you won?
A: I was very surprised I won. I thought Annie Duke would get it. I thought Donald Trump was going to say I’m too emotional. But with the Bernie Madoff scandal and the recession it’s not just about money. The whole climate changed. I think that’s why I won. I won with heart.
The birthday bunch
Actor Sam Elliott is 65. Actress Melanie Griffith is 52. Actress Amanda Bearse (“Married…With Children”) is 51. Rapper Kurtis Blow is 50. Singer Whitney Houston is 46. “Today” co-host Hoda Kotb is 45. Actress Gillian Anderson is 41. Actor Eric Bana is 41. “Good Morning America” co-anchor Chris Cuomo is 39. Latin singer Juanes is 37.