Comedian Joan Rivers was known for her fearless, acerbic wit, but she could rein it in when the occasion demanded — like in July 1983, when she was guest-hosting The Tonight Show and the guest was Fred Rogers. "For me, it's like talking to a teacher," she told Mr. Rogers. "I can't say, you know, 'Have you ever fooled around?'" Rogers was promoting a book, and he disarmed Rivers as much as she needled him. The interview is interesting as a showcase of Rivers' softer side, but you also learn a lot about Mr. Rogers. Like, his mother knitted every one of his famous sweaters, giving them out every Christmas. (Rivers: "That's wonderful, in a way — and in a way it's very boring, because you knew what you were getting.") Tip-toeing up to the line, but never quite crossing it. --Peter Weber
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The UK’s ‘wallaby boom’Under the Radar The Australian marsupial has ‘colonised’ the Isle of Man and is now making regular appearances on the UK mainland
-
Fast food is no longer affordable to low-income AmericansThe explainer Cheap meals are getting farther out of reach
-
‘The money to fix this problem already exists’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
