Kathy Griffin is currently the frontrunner to replace Joan Rivers on E!’s mega-successful Fashion Police, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The 53-year-old comedian was a close friend (and former protégé) of Rivers and was heavily influenced by the late presenter, so if she just dyes her hair blonde and tightens up her face a bit, it’ll be like Joan never left.
It’s thought E! producers are keen to maintain a respectful hiatus for Fashion Police following the comic’s death at the start of September, but with daughter Melissa Rivers giving her blessing for the show to continue, the hunt is on for an appropriate replacement in time for the traditional Golden Globes series opener in three months’ time.
It was rumoured that Kathy made a bid for the hosting gig while Joan was still in the week-long coma that eventually led to her death, but she told late night talk show host Larry King the story was patently false. “It’s disgusting. It’s not true. And I know that stuff shouldn’t bother me at this stage of my career—you know, I thought I’d heard it all—but that one hurts, because it’s as far from the truth as you can get.”