Ahoy, mate: Kathy Griffin takes her comedy offshore
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Kathy Griffin is ready to make waves in her first performances on Carnival Cruise Line ships.
"Honey, just because I'm on the high seas doesn't mean I'm going to hold back on the Kardashians or the (presidential) election," Griffin said of her gigs set for February on Carnival ships docked off of Cozumel, Mexico.
Did the brassy, Emmy Award-winning comedian and Carnival discuss how edgy she'll play it?
"I did say to the Carnival people, 'I'm 55 years old and doing 80 cities on my current tour, 'Like a Boss,' within a year. If you think I'm going to change it for the high seas, you are sorely mistaken,'" Griffin said.
But her intent is to perform for an adult audience that knows what it's getting on the Carnival Fantasy ship on Feb. 24 and the Carnival Breeze on Feb. 25.
"I will do a disclaimer on this cruise like you have never heard. I'm going to say I will swear," she said, adding, "if I have to check IDs at the door, I will do it."
The only time she's ever been willing to tone down her comedy is for CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast, and that's because she harbors "a crush on Anderson Cooper," her co-host, Griffin said.
Tickets for Griffin's Carnival shows are $50 for general admission, for passengers only. Her offshore appearances are part of a 2016 Carnival lineup that includes musical acts Journey, Trace Adkins, Gladys Knight and KC & The Sunshine Band.
The cruise line is "delighted to kick off our first-ever Carnival Live comedy performances with two shows by this accomplished comedian, actress and author," said company executive Sarah Beth Reno. Among Griffin's credits are "Fashion Police" and "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List."
Her comedy tour included New York City's Carnegie Hall for her third appearance there - which, she proudly noted, is just two fewer than her friend and mentor, the late Joan Rivers.
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This story has been corrected to show that general admission is $50, not $40.