Joan Rivers: 'You Never Dwell on the Success'

It's touching when you reflect upon your late husband Edgar, who you say ended his life because he wasn't suited for show business. Is it impossible to think about his life without also rethinking how insane show business is?

Yeah. It's all tied up. He should not have been in the business. He was very creative, very smart, but you've got to be a killer. He didn't have a killer extinct. Any time you meet any of these heads of studios, or any of these great directors, or any of these amazing people -- these amazing performers, television stars -- they've all got the killer instinct. And that's good, it's not a bad thing. It's just part of the tools you need.

But would your relationship with Edgar have thrived when it did without the business?

Oh, I think it would've been much better without the business. If he had been Bernie Madoff, I would've been so much happier.

You credit Donald Trump and Celebrity Apprentice for helping boost your career in its newest comeback. Donald strikes me as someone you would've mocked in your act at some point. Is it bizarre that he's the one to give you this assist?

It's not only bizarre, I went it very... I didn't know what to think of Donald. I walked out such a fan. He's so smart, he knows everything, he's such a professional. I am crazy about Donald.

And you're a great friend of Rosie O'Donnell's too, right?

Yeah, I love Rosie. I keep out of other people's fights!

I would like it if you were in them. You'd be good at them.

I would be good in them. But those are two killers. If I go down on Rosie's side, Donald will kill me. If I go down on Donald's side, Rosie will kill me. I just walk away and get a sandwich.

I think your annoyance at being discussed as someone who "paved the way" -- past tense -- is justified. Do you think people treat fellow comic legend Betty White in her newest comeback with similar condescension?

I think it's so great for her at 88 to have this happening instead of sitting in a rocking chair and having her agent calling and saying, "You're too old, you're too old, you're too old." She must be having such a good time. We weren't good friends, but I used to see her in dinner parties in California. I used to like her very much.

You are also responsible for the way red carpet coverage is done on TV. Do you ever watch Ryan Seacrest and think, 'I invented your shtick'?

Truly, if I ain't in it, I ain't watching. It's that simple. Not involved, not watching.

Really? You're not like Kathy Griffin in that way, a devout voyeur of celebrity culture who can't stop watching?

No. Well, yes. Celebrity culture voyeur, absolutely. Us and People, where you read about how tragic Lindsay Lohan's stomach tuck, or whatever, you know. But a show I am no longer on? I'm going to sit and watch it? Are you out of your mind? I call my friends and say, "Have you seen what's going on on Showtime?" I direct them to other shows.

Your Twitter is always a good time. Do you take a special pleasure in that format?

Twittering for me is great because I can think of a stupid joke and I can throw it out immediately. You don't have to get someone's permission or hear someone say (whispering), "You can't say that." In the documentary there's one scene where I have this Mrs. Obama joke, and the whole table goes, "You can't say that!" On Twitter, you can say what you want and it's wonderful.

Who are the unfiltered comics you adore most right now?

I don't really know. You go back to the same ones like Kathy Griffin. I love Sarah Silverman. I love Little Britain. Ah! Beyond brilliant. How they came over here and wanted huge success, I'll never know. It was lost on HBO. So bright, so brilliant. Graham Norton? I mean there are so many around that are so good. And they're outrageous, and they all push the envelope.

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