Celebrity Jobber with Jeff Zito - Kathy Griffin

Summary

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Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Zito

Episode: Kathy Griffin
Date: November 1, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode features comedian and television star Kathy Griffin. Host Jeff Zito dives into Griffin's journey from her very first job to her rise in comedy, her struggles during public controversies, and her resilience in the face of adversity. The central questions: Who was Kathy before fame? What might she have been without her break? Griffin discusses the setbacks she’s encountered over the last seven years—including being “canceled,” health issues, and personal struggles—and the ways comedy and touring remain her anchors.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Kathy’s Career Resilience and Recent Comeback

• Surviving “Cancellation” and Returning to Comedy
  • Kathy shares her excitement about being “back” after years of being “canceled" due to the Trump controversy.
  • She’s currently touring with her "New Face, New Tour" (referencing her recent facelift) and promoting her free YouTube special, My Life on the PTSD List.

    "I'm so excited to be back. Jeff, you have no idea. I was canceled for years because I got in a lot of trouble with the government." – Kathy Griffin (02:04)

  • Sets the record straight assertively about her career:

    "I'm a giant star. I'm a legend. I have $50 million. I own my house outright. I'm back on tour. I played Carnegie Hall six times… I’m in the Guinness Book of World Records for more stand up comedy specials than any comedian, living or dead." – Kathy Griffin (02:48)

The Fallout: Public Scrutiny and Personal Hardships

• Recap of high-profile challenges: government investigation, inclusion on the “no-fly list,” lung cancer, painkiller addiction, divorce.

  “Anyway, I have a new special on YouTube that's free… and I have a tour. I'm starting my tour called New Face, New Tour because I got a new facelift and I'm showing it off to the world now.” – Kathy Griffin (02:11)

• Addressed how the media and personal setbacks didn’t break her. Emphasizes resilience and “rising from the ashes.”
  • Features in People Magazine: “Risen from the Ashes.”

    "I'm back. I have a YouTube show, I have a YouTube special, and I have a tour." – Kathy Griffin (03:28)

Early Aspirations and “D-List” Identity

• Childhood dream: Not stardom, but to be a sitcom’s best friend (“Rhoda to Mary Tyler Moore, Ethel to Lucy”).

  "I always thought it would be fun to be the sidekick to the pretty girl." – Kathy Griffin (04:17)

• Breakthroughs: Guest roles on sitcoms, recurring role on Suddenly Susan, and landing HBO and other specials.
• “D-list” self-awareness as comedic persona, despite significant mainstream achievements (Emmys, Grammy, Guinness World Record).

First Job & Entry Into Show Business

• Did not attend college; leapt directly into acting and commercials.
• First “job”: As a teen, a commercial for the Chicago White Sox—playing their theme on a kazoo. That’s how she got her SAG-AFTRA card.

  “My first commercial was in Chicago… and it's hilarious because… I'm a teenager and I'm in the stands of a White Sox game and I'm playing their theme song on a kazoo.” (06:52) "That's how I got my SAG AFTRA union card. So go union." (17:35)

Struggles and the Survival Instinct

• Comedy is her “tool for survival” through cancer, painkiller addiction, divorce.

  "Comedy has been my survival tool. So if I'm not making comedy of my own because I'm dealing with one of my own issues, then I, I'm out there watching comedy." – Kathy Griffin (12:26)

• Continues to draw strength from friendships in comedy (Margaret Cho, Wanda Sykes) and constantly develops new material.

The Digital Age: Navigating Modern Showbiz

• Transition from TV-centric fame to the necessity of constant online engagement—YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, etc.

  "I've accepted it. And so the days of, you know, television making or breaking you in one guest spot are over. And now you have to be everywhere." (13:57)

Family Roots & Influence

• Grew up lower middle class in Illinois; parents not in show business but supportive and interested in showbiz.
• Parents appeared on My Life on the D List; their charm and authenticity became part of her brand.

  “I'm just gonna say I think they were the stars of my life on the D list. I felt like I was their supporting player. They were so real. And now they were drunk. I'm gonna lie. They were tipsy many of the time… But I embraced it.” – Kathy Griffin (15:23)

Kathy’s Politics and Fearlessness

• Vocal opposition to Trump, support for LGBTQ+ rights; promises her comedy will not shy away from controversial topics.

  "I'm going to stay and fight because I have my issues with Trump and they still continue as well as many cabinet members… We can't afford to be afraid. Gay rights are going away daily… We have a lot to do with the community and civil rights." – Kathy Griffin (08:26)

• On leaving the U.S.: "I'm going to stay and fight" (08:26).

“Jobber” Reflection: Could Kathy Griffin Have Been a “Jobber”?

• For Griffin, the concept of being a “jobber” is fodder for humor. She still “feels like an outsider looking in,” which keeps her comedy sharp.

  “In my mind... I still feel like an outsider looking in… that's, I find, my comedy.” – Kathy Griffin (11:35)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Surviving Public Backlash:
  “I was in People magazine this week and the article is called Risen from the Ashes. I'm back.” (03:28)
• On Her First Union Gig:
  “That was my first, like, union paying commercial… I'm a teenager and I'm in the stands of a White Sox game and I'm playing their theme song on a kazoo.” (06:52)
• On Ellen:
  "[Ellen]'s a pill. She's a pill. She's a pill. ... She doesn't get joy. She's joyless, right? But she's talented. ... She's a good house flipper." – Kathy Griffin (07:51)
• On Her Parents:
  "I think they were the stars of my life on the D list... they were drunk. I'm gonna lie. They were tipsy many of the time." (15:23)
• On Comedy as Survival:
  "Comedy has been my survival tool." (12:26)
• On Politics:
  "I'll be going for Trump on my new show. I'll be going for him hard. He deserves it." (08:32)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Discussion | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 02:04 | Kathy discusses being "canceled," comeback, new tour | | 02:48 | Griffin lists her successes and rebuffs criticism | | 04:17 | Childhood dreams: sitcom sidekick aspirations | | 06:52 | Kathy's first job: Chicago White Sox commercial | | 07:51 | Disappointing experience guest-starring on Ellen | | 08:26 | On staying in the U.S. and fighting for civil rights | | 09:20 | Breakthrough moments in her career | | 12:26 | Using comedy to survive personal struggles | | 13:57 | Adapting to the digital age as a performer | | 15:23 | Parents' influence and appearances on D List | | 17:35 | Recap of first job and union card | | 18:41 | Thoughts on dating, single life, wanting to be "Golden Bachelorette" |

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Closing Thoughts

Kathy Griffin’s journey, as profiled in this episode, weaves together tenacity, irreverent humor, and survival. Despite controversies and personal challenges, she insists on boldly owning her narrative—and her punchlines. Griffin’s comeback underscores her refusal to be relegated to the “Jobber” status the show explores, and her willingness to keep evolving in both content and platform.

Listeners learn not only about Griffin’s early jobs and aspirations, but also get honest behind-the-scenes reflections from a veteran comic who sees everything—including setbacks—as future stand-up material.

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Transcript

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[Kathy Griffin]

Foreign.

[Jeff Zito]

Hey, it's Jeff Zito and thank you so much for checking out another episode of the Celebrity Jobber podcast streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Iheart or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please subscribe. Would love a five star rating and please leave a review. You can also check out past guests and and episodes [e-mail] who were these people before they were famous? I believe my guest today's life mission was to be famous. She's had guest roles on shows like Mad about yout, Ellen, Caroline in the City, Seinfeld, Suddenly Susan and more. Probably know her best from her show on E called My Life on the D List. And now she's back with her new YouTube show which is called My Life on the PTSD List. And she's been through a lot in the last seven or eight years, so.

[Interviewer]

We'Re gonna find out all about that.

[Jeff Zito]

As Kathy Griffin is my guest this.

[Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer]

Week on Celebrity Jobber, the Celebrity Jobber podcast with Jeff Zito. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, give a five star rating and leave a review. Check out all our past episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you pod. What if these celebr weren't famous? What would they have become? What was their first job? We're about to find out.

[Interviewer]

Hello, Kathy.

[Kathy Griffin]

I'm so excited to be back. Jeff, you have no idea. I was canceled for years because I got in a lot of trouble with the government.

[Jeff Zito]

I know.

[Kathy Griffin]

Anyway, I have a new special on YouTube that's free. It's called Kathy Griffin, My Life on the PTSD list.

[Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer]

Get it?

[Kathy Griffin]

And then I have a tour. I'm starting my tour called New Face, New Tour because I got a new facelift and I'm showing it off to the world now.

[Interviewer]

Kathy yeah, I'm just so, like mesmerized because you've gone through so much here in the last I don't know how many years. You just mentioned you were on the no Fly List.

[Kathy Griffin]

Helen High water. Helen High water.

[Interviewer]

Jeff so can you tell Me. Where did it all go wrong?

[Kathy Griffin]

Kathy, what are you talking about? I'm a giant star. I'm alleged. I have $50 million. I own my house outright. I'm back on tour. I played Carnegie hall six times. I broke the record. I'm in the Guinness Book of World Records for more stand up comedy specials than any comedian living or dead. What kind of question is that? Where did it go wrong?

[Jeff Zito]

Your publicist just sent me a whole.

[Interviewer]

Thing saying you had lung cancer, you.

[Jeff Zito]

Went through another divorce, you had an.

[Interviewer]

Addiction to pain pills, and you were being investigated by the US Government for putting out that.

[Jeff Zito]

That suggested you cut off the president's head.

[Interviewer]

What am I talking about?

[Jeff Zito]

I mean, I know what you've been through.

[Kathy Griffin]

I didn't go wrong. I just. I was in People magazine this week and the article is called Risen from the Ashes. I'm back. I have a YouTube show, I have a YouTube special, and I have a tour.

[Interviewer]

I watched the YouTube. I watched the YouTube show. I was watching it the other day. All right, let's just back up for a minute. I have a feeling. I have a feeling we didn't get off on the right foot here for whatever reason.

[Kathy Griffin]

I'm coming to Tampa and Lauderdale.

[Interviewer]

When are you coming to Tampa?

[Kathy Griffin]

I'm coming to Tampa February 13th at Ferguson hall, and I'll be in Lauderdale at the Parker Playhouse February 14th.

[Interviewer]

So that's the straz. That's a great. That's a great venue. You're going to love it here.

[Kathy Griffin]

So Florida's been good to me.

[Interviewer]

When you were growing up was stand up comedy your main thing? Was that what you always wanted to do?

[Kathy Griffin]

No. You know what I wanted? I wanted to be the best friend on a sitcom. Like when I was growing up, the Mary Tyler Moore show was the big sitcom. And I wanted to be Rhoda or if I lose I Love Lucy, I wanted to be Ethel. I always thought it would be fun to be the sidekick to the pretty girl. So then I did. Later on, I got on a show with Brooke Shields and I was on that show for four seasons on NBC. And I got to be the funny sidekick. And then I got my very first standup comedy special on hbo. Remember back when HBO was like a big deal?

[Interviewer]

I do.

[Kathy Griffin]

It's now hbo, Max. And then my stand up career took off. And then after Suddenly Susan, I got on my own. I got my own show. I had one show on MTV called Kathy's so Called Reality. Then after my MTV show, I got a show on Bravo called Kathy Griffin. My life on the PTSD list, and that ran six seasons. Emmy nominated every year and I won two Emmys.

[Grainger Commercial Narrator]

Wow.

[Kathy Griffin]

And then I kept doing specials and so I won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album. And I'm one of only four women to win Grammy for Best Comedy Album in the history of the Grammys.

[Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer]

The Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Szeto Hey, Mrs. Sarah.

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[Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer]

The Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Zito.

[Interviewer]

Now, when you grew up in Illinois, you said you wanted to be the best friend on a sitcom. When you were in college, what was your major? Did you major in theater? Did you major in show business?

[Kathy Griffin]

I didn't go to college. I graduated high school and started doing commercials. I had a worker's permit. I wasn't even 16. My first commercial was in Chicago, which is where I'm from, and it was for the Chicago White Sox. You can. Somebody found it and they put it on YouTube. Jeff. It's hilarious because I don't have it right, but somebody found it. And I'm. I'm a teenager and I'm in the stands of a White Sox game and I'm playing their theme song on a kazoo. And that was my first, like, union paying commercial.

[Interviewer]

Wow.

[Kathy Griffin]

Gig. And so I did. I did commercials for years and then I finally got on a sitcom. But before I got on a sitcom, I did guest spots on like, Seinfeld, Mad about you, er, Ellen, which that one wasn't fun. Like, of all the sitcoms I've been on, when I was on Ellen, it was like, oh, that one.

[Interviewer]

How come.

[Kathy Griffin]

But the other ones were fun.

[Interviewer]

How comes Ellen was, you know her.

[Kathy Griffin]

She's a pill. She's a pill. She's a pill. You know that expression appeal? Yeah, my mom used to use that expression, like, just, you know, she doesn't get joy. She's joyless, right? Joyless, right. But she's talented. She's very talented. So good for her. She's a good house flipper. You know, there's that.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, she, I guess. And she moved, so you don't hear much from her anymore.

[Kathy Griffin]

He's flipping houses in England.

[Interviewer]

Were you almost at that level, Kathy? Were you always. Were you almost so fed up with what was going on here in the United States, you considered leaving or no?

[Kathy Griffin]

Well, I must. I'm going to stay and fight because I have my, my issues with Trump and they still continue as well as many cabinet members. But I'm not holding back. I'll be going for Trump on my new show. I'll be going for him hard. He deserves it.

[Interviewer]

You're not afraid? You're not afraid to do that after the.

[Kathy Griffin]

Are you kidding? I can't be. We can't afford to be afraid. Gay rights are going away daily. They're trying to bring back gay conversion therapy, kiss gay marriage goodbye. They're going to rid of that with the stroke of a pen. We have a lot to do with the community and civil rights we should be having no Kings Day marches every day.

[Interviewer]

Kathy, you were, you know, you went through your entire background as far as the shows that you've been on, but can you tell me, was there a moment, was there an instant, a big break, if you will, or a moment in time where everything changed for you? Was it an appearance on a show? What was that moment in your life?

[Kathy Griffin]

Probably there have been several, and there are different sizes. Like when I finally got guest spot on a show like Seinfeld, which everybody saw.

[Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer]

Yep.

[Kathy Griffin]

Then all of a sudden people were like, okay, I've seen her. Then when I got a series regular on a show that ran for four years, then I was able to do a lot more things and I got a lot more offers. Then when I started getting my own shows, like my MTV show, my Bravo show, you know, where my name is in the title, then that was amazing because I got to be the producer and I got to be the wr and, you know, I got to really spread my wings, especially on my life on the pt. I mean, my life on the D list. I inspired the special title. Now My Life on the PTSD list. But you can still watch My Life on the D list on Peacock. So if you feel like catching up with that one. It ran six seasons, and that was really fun. And then having done all these specials and touring all these years is the best. So nothing is better than doing stand up. It's my favorite out of all the things I do.

[Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer]

The Celebrity Jobber podcast with Jeff Szeto.

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[Jeff Zito]

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[Jeff Zito]

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[Jeff Zito]

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[Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer]

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[Interviewer]

So it's been like a gradual ride. Like, the Seinfeld was a big pop, but you say you've had a gradual rise throughout your entire career. Yeah.

[Kathy Griffin]

And then when you get to do a show with your own name and the title, sure, that's probably as good as it gets. And that's the best.

[Interviewer]

You've hit the big time. You know, it's kind of funny. You're on the D list, but you're not really. You weren't really on the D list. That was probably the biggest Kathy Griffin was ever. Was. Was with that show.

[Kathy Griffin]

Well, I still have many D list moments, but I also have, you know, I won a Grammy for best comedy album. And so, like, that was an A list moment, but, you know, I still have D list moments, and I make fun of those to this day because in my mind, I'm still. I'm lucky enough to do what I do, but I still feel like an outsider looking in, and that's. I find my comedy and Kathy, you.

[Interviewer]

Know, you've gone through a lot of stuff here in the last few years is, you know, kind of where I was going.

[Grainger Commercial Narrator]

Oh, yeah.

[Interviewer]

In the beginning, this is where I was kind of going. And then we went off target here. But I'm. I'm just saying things didn't go well for you in the last five years. You've had problems with cancer. Cancer, a marriage. Tell me.

[Kathy Griffin]

Divorce, all that stuff. And so it's just stuff you just have to go through. I mean, cancer is cancer. It's not like, it's gonna go the way you want it to go, or you're not gonna just go to one doctor visit and it's over. And, you know, divorce, everybody knows breakup or divorce is just miserable. So you try to find the comedy in all of it. And I can just say, comedy has been my survival tool. So if I'm not making comedy of my own because I'm dealing with one of my own issues, then I, I'm out there watching comedy. I have so many friends that are funny that some of them are comedians. You know, I'm good friends with all the comics. You would think Margaret Cho and Wanda Sykes and all those great legends.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Kathy Griffin]

But I also, I also am always working on new material. So that's why I'm glad to be back on the road with New Face, new tour.

[Interviewer]

And you're coming to Tampa once again. You said February 13th, correct?

[Kathy Griffin]

February 13th at Ferguson Hall.

[Interviewer]

February 13th at Ferguson hall in Tampa.

[Jeff Zito]

The straz.

[Interviewer]

You can also catch Kathy on My Life on the PTSD list, which I was watching the other day. And, and Kathy, I'm, I was, I, I am telling you, it's a new world today. Do you find it like, you know, being online, the new world that we're living in? It's, it's a trip. It's. It's weird, isn't it? Are you afraid of the Internet? A little bit.

[Kathy Griffin]

I'm not af, because I've accepted it. And so the days of, you know, television making or breaking you in one guest spot are over. And now you have to be everywhere. I mean, I'm all over my, you know, TikTok and Instagram and Blue sky and threads and YouTube and live and specials and a weekly show on YouTube. And that's where the people are. So I go wherever the people are.

[Interviewer]

You mentioned earlier you were in commercials. Did your mom push you into commercials or were you always. You just wanted to be on TV because your parents didn't do show business, right?

[Kathy Griffin]

No, my parents were just normal. My mom works at the administration office of a hospital and my dad worked in hi Fi. Remember hi Fi? It was like selling turntables.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, yeah.

[Kathy Griffin]

I mean, talk about. I talk about a business that's gone. Bye bye. But anyway, I was, you know, just raised in a lower middle class family, but my family was always very interested in showbiz. And so one thing that I really enjoyed about my own career until my, you know, my parents passed away. Although, let me tell you, my mom lived to be 99 and my dad lived to be 90. So they were on the show, but.

[Interviewer]

They were on the show, right?

[Kathy Griffin]

They were on. They were on my Life on the D list.

[Jeff Zito]

Yeah.

[Kathy Griffin]

And I'm just gonna say I think they were the stars of my life on the D list. I felt like I was their supporting player. They were so real. And now they were drunk. I'm gonna lie. They were tipsy many of the time.

[Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer]

Right.

[Kathy Griffin]

But I embraced it. And they, you know, weren't driving or hurting anybody. But I would bring them to sets of whatever show I was on. Like, if I was on er, the medical show, they would come and they would watch George Clooney act all day, and they would let me bring my parents, even if I only had a day part. It was really fun bringing them everywhere with me.

[Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer]

The Celebrity Jobber podcast with Jeff Zito.

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[Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer]

Celebrity Jobber.

[Interviewer]

You said your very first job, first job ever in the world, was a commercial for the Chicago White Sox.

[Kathy Griffin]

The Chicago White Sox, which in Chicago is such a big deal. And so they hired me to just be a fan in the stands. And I was wearing a Sox captain and I was playing their theme song. Nana. Hey. Hey.

[Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer]

Right?

[Kathy Griffin]

Remember Nana?

[Interviewer]

Sure I do.

[Jeff Zito]

Yeah.

[Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer]

Hey.

[Kathy Griffin]

But playing it on a kazoo. And then they zoomed in on me, and that's how I got my SAG AFTRA union card. So go union.

[Interviewer]

Unbelievable. February 13th, Ferguson Hall. That's the Straz center in Tampa. But you can also go to kathy griffin.com tour. She'll be not only in Tampa, but also in Orlando. Orlando. She'll be in Fort Lauderdale. I tell you what, you're. You're pretty busy, and I wish you nothing but the best. Even though in the beginning, you know, things. I didn't think things were gonna end like this. I'm really happy we made it this far. I'm. I'm really happy things turned out the way they did. And listen, I know you've been through a lot, and I know the comedy is great. It's great therapy, but keep doing what you're doing, and I think you've got a lot of people behind you.

[Kathy Griffin]

Well, I appreciate it, Jeff, and thank you for being so sweet and come see me in any one of the shows, But I have to warn you, I'm probably not gonna be kind to Ron DeSantis.

[Interviewer]

Okay. Are you looking at all to get a man in your life?

[Kathy Griffin]

Well, not Ron DeSantis, I can tell you that much. But, no, I'm a swinging single gal.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kathy Griffin]

I want to be the Golden Bachelorette. I'll be the Golden Bachelorette.

[Interviewer]

Okay, Kathy, have a great day. Thanks again.

[Kathy Griffin]

Thanks, Jeff.

[Jeff Zito]

Man, she was obviously a little defensive there when I asked the question, you know, like, where.

[Interviewer]

Where did it all go wrong?

[Jeff Zito]

And I was just. I was getting at the famous picture of her jokingly, quote, unquote, suggesting that she beheaded the President of the United States, which, you have to know is going to get you in a lot of trouble. And it did. And that's what I was kind of.

[Interviewer]

Getting at, like, where did it all go wrong?

[Jeff Zito]

I wanted her to talk about that, but she took it differently. She took offense to it and said, I'm got $50 million in the bank and I'm a legend and this and that. So, anyway, not what. I was not trying to belittle her or say that her career was nothing. I was simply trying to get to the Donald Trump, quote, unquote, beheading picture. I mean, she grew up in Chicago. She did not go to college, got right into the union, sag, AFTRA right out of high school. And it was all because of that commercial. Her first job was that commercial for the Chicago White Sox. And you can see her for about a split second blowing the kazoo. I checked it out, but, you know, that's where it all started. I think her. Her parents, as she mentioned, were kind of interested, you know, in showbiz, so they were supportive, but they had, you know, regular jobs. Her mother worked in a. Her dad worked for hi Fi, a company that made, you know, stereo equipment and that kind of stuff. Kathy mentioned they were drunk Most of the time, which I did remember on that show My Life on the D List, which was a pretty huge show and I must say, probably the pinnacle of Kathy Griffin's career. You know, she credits her appearances on Seinfeld and Suddenly Susan as, you know, small little breaks in her life. I definitely think that show, My Life, the D List, made her an A lister. And, you know, like she said, not only the Trump thing, but she's gone through lung cancer, addiction to pain medicine. She went through a divorce. You know, she's been through a lot in the last seven years. So on her way back, come back, her YouTube show, which is called My Life on the PTSD List. And again, she's got tour dates all over the country, which you can check out more on kathy griffin.com oh, man, that almost went south real quick. There was another incident and I'm trying to think who it was with. It was Gina Gershon. I asked her something about showgirls and being naked and etc. Off. But as I remember, that was. That was a pretty good turnaround as well. I had her eaten out of the palm of my hand by the end of that interview. Anyway, thank you so much for checking out another episode of the Celebrity Jobber podcast. Follow on Instagram, celebrityjobberpodcast and our YouTube channel, which is YouTube.com theatsigncelebrity jobber streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart. Wherever you listen to podcasts, please subscribe. Would love a five star rating. And of course, please leave a review. And FYI, past guests and episodes you can find [e-mail] thank you so much for listening once again to the Celebrity Jobber Podcast. And until next week, I'll see you then. I'm Jeff Zito.

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