Comedians Honor Joan Rivers in NBC Tribute Special

Comedians and actors gathered to honor the legacy of Joan Rivers in the NBC special "Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute," which aired on May 13, 2025, featuring notable performers like Tiffany Haddish, Chelsea Handler, and Melissa Rivers. The tribute, taped at the Apollo Theater during the New York Comedy Festival, showcased Rivers' influential career spanning over 50 years and highlighted her bold, unfiltered interview style. Joan Rivers died in 2014 at age 81 due to complications from a vocal cord procedure, which led to a medically induced coma and her subsequent passing. Melissa Rivers, Joan's daughter and producer of the tribute, emphasized the special was a celebration rather than a roast, reflecting the comedy community's deep respect for Joan's trailblazing work. Despite the use of a gold urn for comedic effect during the tribute, Joan's actual ashes were infamously lost after the taping. The special serves as both a remembrance and a reflection on Joan's impact on comedy and television, including her pioneering role as the first female late-night talk show host.