Kathy Griffin: D-List Celebrity

American actress and stand-up comedian Kathy Griffin is a self-proclaimed D-list celebrity, despite a successful career in the industry.


The 48-year old comedian has already won two Emmy Awards for her reality show on Bravo, "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List." She has also won a Grammy nomination for 2008 comedy album, "For Your Consideration."

As opposite to A-list stars in Hollywood - those major movie stars who are also most bankable in the Hollywood movie industry - a celebrity which falls under the "D-list" (C-list is actually the official lowest rank on the scale) are those who are hardly remembered by their names and are only known for appearances like those on game shows and reality TV.

But the comedian insists she's still a wannabe celebrity who's on the outside looking in:

"I have proof although I'm flattered at the suggestion that I could even be a C-minus. Recently, I was on tour and they delivered me a sandwich and it said Taffy Griffin. Now, I'd like to think that's maybe what they thought my stripper name was, but no. My name was on the marquee. Sold-out show. Taffy Griffin. I'm on the D-list where I belong."

As a "wannabe comedian on the lookout," Kathy Griffin's style of humor consists of her candid observations about everyday life and dating experiences, as well as mocking celebrities:

Q: Who's celebrity are you most afraid of running into?
Kathy Griffin: "Whitney Houston, because she'll just cut you. ... I'm afraid of many, many celebrities. Most of them really."

Q:What do you think of Angelina Jolie making it on top of Forbes' Celebrity 100 power list, ahead of Oprah Winfrey?
Kathy Griffin: "It's clearly something that Oprah just had Gail (King, Winfrey's longtime friend) write because she must be having security issues or something. There's no one more powerful than Oprah male or female in any country. Or on any planet."

Q: What do you think of Jon and Kate Gosselin (TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8")?
Kathy Griffin: "You have to admit, Jon doesn't seem to do much but whine. There's a lot of eye rolling and whining. I think the two of them have taken fame very well."

Q:How about Speidi also known as Heidi Montag Pratt and Spencer Pratt?
Kathy Griffin: "What is tough for me as a D-list celebrity is that kind of puts Speidi and me in the same category and that hurts. That's a bitter pill for me to swallow."

Ironically, Kathy Griffin's status on the D-list has made her widely known and award-winning. Her "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" television show is currently on its 5th season. Her popularity on Bravo has made her the host of the 2009 Bravo A-List Awards on April 15, 2009. She also has a memoir coming out in September 29.

"Official Book Club Selection' is the title of my book because I'm trying to fool you into thinking it's part of the Oprah book club. It's not. Anyway, it comes out Sept. 29. And I believe it's going to be what you call a barn-burner. So we'll see who's talking to me after the book comes out. We'll see if you're even talking to me when the book comes out. Because some people, you know, they go down pretty hard. Including myself."

With success in her career pursuits, it is apt to say that Kathy Griffin is the A-list of all D-list celebrities. She surely has lots of D-list advice and tips for everyone.