Inside TV and Pop Culture with Liane Bonin Starr

Press Tour: Kathy Griffin promises Cher in her bathroom and more on 'Kathy'

The second season will 'mix real people and celebrities'

By Liane Bonin Starr Thursday, Jan 10, 2013 5:36 AM

"Kathy"

Credit: Bravo

Last year one of the most unexpected TV talk shows on the circuit was "Kathy," and it speaks to Kathy Griffin's engaging presence that the unusual formula worked. Instead of featuring the usual spate of celebrities plugging their latest projects, Griffin instead found real people (and her own celebrity friends like Anderson Cooper and Lance Bass) to sit on the couch to discuss what she found most interesting in the news (or in the reality TV programming) of the day, sometimes finishing the show with a group of sexy firefighters, strippers or cops.

This year the show, which returns for its second season Jan. 10 at 10:00 p.m., will have some big changes -- more celebrities and a live format, which will be an interesting challenge for the potty-mouthed performer. I spoke to Griffin one-on-one at press tour about the changes, why she's "hungry and bitter," and what she's watching when she's not watching "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo."

So, is CNN just lying when they threaten to ban you every year?

I know they've gotten the highest ratings [for New Year's Even] since 2008, so I think they're happy about that. I think that's why they advertise, they're baaack, and Anderson holding up the "No Nudity" sign. I think they're pretty smart.

And every year you push it a little further.

I try to. I try to. If you're going to cut away to Gary in Eastport, Maine kissing a sardine, then darn it, I want to do it in Times Square. Anderson just happened to be the lucky gentleman to my left. He didn't appreciate it, let's put it that way.

How is "Kathy" going to be different this year?

Live, Live. And we're combining celebrities and real people. So last year it was only civilians. And then celebrities started calling me, my hand to God, and I was like, are you sure? And now we've decided the winning combo is having the guests out there the whole time, and mixing real people and celebrities.

Are they going to be together on the couch?

Yes! I like that Graham Norton/Rove, let's all be in this together. So for our first episode Thursday, we have no civilians, we have only Jane Lynch, Lisa Kudrow and Liza Minnelli.

I knew you were friends with Liza, but I'm surprised you got her to commit to a talk show.

I was, too. By the way, we're live. She's not there yet. Let's see. Hold off on those congratulations.

How long until we see Cher?

Cher wants to do an episode in her bathroom.

That sounds fun!

Thank you! I think so, too! When I told the Bravo people, I told them, Cher may want to do a whole episode in her bathroom. And the executive said, could she at least give us a tour of the rest of the house? I go honestly, once you have Cher in the bathroom, you're good. I don't even need to see the rec room or the den.

I'm sure Cher's bathroom is very comfortable.

It's so huge. It's like an apartment. And then she sits there and we order food from Nobu and it's a whole thing.

With celebrities volunteering, was there any thought to scrapping civilians altogether?

I'm still having civilians. For example, I'm having a show with Megan Mullally and her husband Nick Offerman, but with a real person in the middle, so maybe my dog walker or my assistant's roommate. I love mixing celebrities with the real people. it creates a different kind of conversation. Real people are good. Put a real person next to Anderson Cooper, and sparks fly. My mom will, of course, still be part of the show. And my assistant Tiffany was in People magazine this week because she lost 81 pounds, so she's a celebrity herself. She won't do bikini yet, but she looks super foxy.

On your show "My Life on the D-List," you complained about working out, but you look great.

Because I'm starving and I work out all the time. I'm hungry and bitter. I do everything from the treadmill to I'm a crazy walker. And when I say crazy walker, I mean like Forrest Gump. After New Year's Eve, I actually had my boyfriend take me on a walk at 4:30 in the morning. So after the broadcast with Anderson, I was like, we're not going to bed yet, went back to the hotel, put on sneakers, 33 degrees if even, we walked all around the city. I love people watching, so when I'm on tour, I go walking all the time. I kind of like it. I also do it not to be insane. If I don't work out, I go a little super cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.

Since you're back from New Year's Eve in New York, what do you like about Los Angeles?

I love the weather, hate the people. People don't read, and if they did I wouldn't have an act, so I'm so grateful.

You use so much of what you watch in your act, what are you watching now?

I never know what I'm putting in my act, because truly I often write it up to the minute. But tonight my DVR has "Downton Abbey," "Housewives," "Meet the Press," "Oprah's Next Chapter" with David Letterman, "Honey Boo Boo." I love it. My problem is here, at the NBC event, I don't know so many of the scripted people. I say with all due respect, I don't really have time to watch good television. I'm watching the trash for my audiences. So I can barely keep up with "Homeland." So people are talking about all these great new shows, and I think I'll get to them, but I've got to get through a lot of "Housewives" first.

So, what do you think of Kenya on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta"?

I think she's "Gone with the Wind" fabulous, She's everything fabulous. She's any adjective and then fabulous. But I don't understand. Because what I'm fascinated by is you see the shows and they're living a certain lifestyle, and then you read them online and half of them are getting foreclosed on or DUIs or jail time, which is fascinating to me. I don't really understand that lifestyle. I've never had a Birkin bag.

Liane Bonin Starr
Sr. Editor

Liane Bonin Starr is an author, screenwriter and former writer for EW.com. Her byline has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Variety and a lot of other places. Her last book was called "a scandalously catty, guilty pleasure" by Jane magazine. Expect the same from Starr Raving.

Related Searches: Kathy Griffin, Kathy, Cher

Trending Now on HitFix Boards

Topic	Started By	Latest Post	Replies
Which "Real Housewives" star do you like? Or loathe?	LianeBonin	28 days ago	2
Big Brother is back -- but do we care?	LianeBonin	10 months ago	3
Discuss Reality TV on HitFix Message Boards »

HundleyFan

She's a riot. Looking forward to the Season 2 premiere tonight.
January 10, 2013 at 5:26PM EST Reply to Comment
- Kathy Griffin live is going to be good stuff -- the censors had better be ready!
  January 10, 2013 at 5:45PM EST

News From Our Partners

Follow HitFix:

Follow @HitFix

Get Instant Alerts on Breaking News

Latest Posts

Listen: CulturePop No. 14 - 'Hangover 3,' 'Nashville,' 'Bates Motel,' Steve Silverman

We welcome our first guest and talk Ray Manzarek and more

Friday, May 24, 2013
'Does Someone Have to Go?' need to stay or go?

Fox gives you a new workplace nightmare to worry about

Friday, May 24, 2013
AMC's 'Showville' finds small-town talent but lacks a bigger picture

It's not quite 'Waiting for Guffman' but not exactly 'Idol,' either

Thursday, May 23, 2013
'Intervention' to sign off after eight years of rehab help

The final five episodes begin airing June 13

Thursday, May 23, 2013

HitFix.com

Event Calendar

Movies

TV

Music

Videos

Photos

Awards

Riot

In Theaters

New to DVD

On Demand

New Music

Inside TV and Pop Culture with Liane Bonin Starr

Press Tour: Kathy Griffin promises Cher in her bathroom and more on 'Kathy'