Rachel Brosnahan Honors Joan Rivers in Tribute Special

NEW YORK, NY — Actress Rachel Brosnahan celebrated the legacy of Joan Rivers during an NBC tribute special on Tuesday, highlighting Rivers as a significant inspiration for her role in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Brosnahan expressed her admiration saying, “I am so honored to be here tonight to celebrate Joan Rivers. She was one of the pioneering comedians I studied.”n

Melissa Rivers, Joan’s daughter, shared her joy with Page Six, stating, “It was lovely that she finally said it. Her acknowledgment means the world to me.” For years, Melissa felt the show’s producers had overlooked her mother’s influence, noting that both Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino never reached out to her. “I wish I had gotten a note acknowledging my mother’s impact,” she said.n

The special, hosted by Tiffany Haddish and featuring appearances by Nikki Glaser, Chelsea Handler, and Joel McHale, showcases some of Joan’s boldest jokes. Melissa praised Brosnahan for crediting her mother, saying it was a long-awaited recognition. “I wanted to do this for years. She deserved it, and it came together at the right time,” Melissa stated.n

Joan Rivers, who passed away at age 81 in 2014, significantly impacted the comedy scene, being one of the first female comedians on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Melissa reflected on her mother’s lasting relevance, mentioning that even ten years after her last joke, Joan remains influential.n

Melissa Rivers shared her mixed feelings about how comedy has evolved, mentioning how social media’s harshness contrasts with the playful banter she enjoyed with her mother on shows like “Fashion Police.” “Now, you can go online and say these things with no face, and it becomes an attack rather than comedy,” she noted.n

Despite recent challenges, including moving five times in 11 weeks, Melissa feels things are settling down and is optimistic about the future. She humorously stated that her mother’s voice remains with her, adding that her therapist’s new prescription helps too.