Eric Urbanowicz – Special to The Southern News
In 1971, Don McLean released a song called American Pie. The song was based upon the tragic loss of an American icon, Buddy Holly. Forty three years later, another American icon tragically passed away, this time, in the form of Joan Rivers.
While her death shocked many, as of Friday, Sept. 19, Melissa Rivers, as well as Rivers’ co-hosts on the show Fashion Police, announced the show would continue on. Other than the rumored addition of Kathy Griffin to the cast, according to CBS News, there are rumors of Rivers joining the cast.
Cristina D’Almeida, a Southern student as well as a fan of Rivers, feels her daughter may not be the right choice.
“I think Melissa has that funny vibe and personality that her mother had,” said D’Almeida. “So I think she might do a good job. It might be refreshing to see her daughter fill her shoes. But I think Joan has left her own legacy and it would be hard to live up to her standards completely.”
The Fashion Police has been on air since Sept. 2010, and since it’s inception has been lead by the legendary comic.
“She’ll be remembered for her humor,” said D’Almeida. “She was able to make fun of people in a loving way and get away with it so I think she’ll be remembered in a good way although people have their opinions.”
Melissa Centopanti, a Southern student, also believes that Rivers was one of a kind.
“I believe that there can only be one Joan Rivers,” said Centopanti. “Nobody could ever replace the impact she had on everybody’s lives.”
According to IMDB, the Internet Movie Database, Joan Rivers is the second funniest female comedian of all time, behind Lucille Ball.
“I was sad when I heard she died,” said Centopanti, “because she was a big icon in the comedy world but I was happy because she gave us so much to smile about.”
Jon Reynolds is a senior at Southern and expressed his feelings of River’s death.
“It is no longer revolutionary for a woman to want to do stand up and be good at it,” said Reynolds. “Her style was her own, and no one else’s.”
Reynolds, like many, believe that Melissa Rivers just won’t make the cut for the show.
“Melissa Rivers isn’t like her mom,” said Reynolds. “Without her mom, the show will be much different. She’s got big shoes to fill and I doubt she could fill them honestly.”
In a poll conducted by Sodahead.com, fans chimed in about whether the E! Network should cancel Fashion Police due to Joan Rivers’ death. As a result, 325 people, roughly 51 percent believe the show should not be cancelled, while 316 people, about 49 percent believe that E! should pull the plug.
With mixed reactions about the show, and the “Joan Rangers,” Joan Rivers’ fans, torn between whether the show should go on without her, the new season is scheduled to start Jan. 12. To her fans, Rivers is an icon, a legend, and one of a kind.
While Rivers is a far cry from Miss American Pie, she is still an American icon, and the day she passed, Don McLean’s lyric fits perfectly.
“And in the streets, the children screamed, the lovers cried and the poets dreamed, but not a word was spoken, the church bells all were broken.”
Photo Credit: Bob Jagendorf
