5 Feet of Fury

Roger Simon: My Joan Rivers story

Roger Simon writes:

After some rather pointless chitter-chatter in which I gathered she wanted the script rewritten entirely from page one and retooled for her, Joan turned to the producer and asked to speak to him alone.

I knew the end was nigh.  I sat in the car until Trabulis joined me.  ”It’s over,” I said.  He nodded.  ”What did she say?” I asked.  ”She said you’re a depressed Jew,” said Trabulis.

Joan, as we know, was ever direct and, in this case, she was probably right.  At that point in my life, I was fairly depressed.  I’m not now.  Part of the reason is that I’m more like Joan Rivers these days.  I’m more honest, with myself and others. I mean — what’s to lose?  That’s what Joan taught us, not to mention life itself.  It was also the root of her humor.