Joan Rivers finds humor in being yourself | American Masters | PBS

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On November 16, 2006, Joan Rivers spoke about her experience as a female comic in the early 60s and finding her comedic voice. Interview conducted by director Michael Kantor for the six-hour PBS comedy series, “Make ‘Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America” (2009).

Chapters:
00:00 Working and breaking through the limitations placed on female comics in the early 1960s
02:34 A bit of cheeky irreverence to survive the condescension of the Borscht Belt
03:46 Finding her voice with the infamous smartasses of the Second City improv group
06:40 Johnny Carson and Ed Sullivan lend some helping hands in an uphill battle for establishing a female comic’s legitimacy
08:45 Television launches a New Wave in homegrown American comedy

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Now in its 38th season on PBS, American Masters illuminates the lives and creative journeys of those who have left an indelible impression on our cultural landscape—through compelling, unvarnished stories. Setting the standard for documentary film profiles, the series has earned widespread critical acclaim: 28 Emmy Awards—including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special—two News & Documentary Emmys, 14 Peabodys, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards, an Oscar, and many other honors. To further explore the lives and works of more than 250 masters past and present, the American Masters website offers full episodes, film outtakes, filmmaker interviews, the podcast “American Masters: Creative Spark,” educational resources, digital original series and more. The series is a production of The WNET Group.