For the second time in a month, the late night television comics had to pay tribute to another legend. As all of them taped new shows Thursday, David Letterman, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O’Brien and Craig Ferguson all took time out of their shows to remember Joan Rivers.
Letterman remembered Rivers on The Late Show as one of the main trail blazers for women in standup comedy. He noted how she constantly worked, “Funny today as when she first got into show business.”
“Talk about guts,” Letterman continued. “She would come in and sit in this chair and say some things...that were unbelievable.” He later added that, “The force and power of her comedy was overwhelming.”
On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel said that Rivers was not just a pioneer for women in comedy, but a pioneer for everyone. He then showed a clip from her last appearance on the show. He couldn’t believe she was 80-years-old at the time of the interview.
Meyers noted on Late Night that she was a guest on his show just a month ago. He said he’d never sat next to someone who told more jokes faster than Rivers.
Ferguson knew exactly what Rivers would tell the man upstairs.
O’Brien had @midnight host Chris Hardwick remembered Rivers. Hardwick shared stories about his friendship with her.
Fallon brought Rivers on the show in March to break her 26-year ban on The Tonight Show. He was visibly emotional as he remembered her.
"It was really emotional and really nice. I don't want to show a clip because I don't think it will do her justice,” Fallon said, notes E! News. “We loved her. We will definitely miss her.”
Rivers died on Thursday at age 81 following complications from throat surgery.
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