Joan Rivers is known for her brash manner and loud gruff voice with a heavy New York accent.

In the 1970s, Joan Rivers appeared often as a guest on various television comedy and variety shows. Rivers became a headliner in the 70's to standing room crowds continuing into the 1980s. Rivers also recorded an album of her live standup act entitled Can We Talk?

In 1986 Rivers hosted her own talk show, The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers, the show lasted a year. She returned to television with a daytime talk show, The Joan Rivers Show, which ran from 1989 until 1993.