TELEVISION REVIEW | Jesus flap was 'heaven', now it's 'Straight to Hell'

November 29, 2007
BY DOUG ELFMAN Television Critic

It's shocking that actors haven't hired goons to drag Kathy Griffin out of Hollywood by the roots of her screaming-red hair. She's like a spy for the rest of us, sneaking around L.A., then reporting back to us on how celebrities really are in private: egotistical, vapid and disconnected from reality.

Yet, stars keep hanging out with her. Griffin told Howard Stern this year about a juvenile toga party she went to in honor of Drew Barrymore: "Well, she didn't have a childhood, and now we all have to pay."

If Griffin held a bigger media megaphone, she could become a national treasure, like Stern. But at least we get her special reports on Bravo.

The newest is "Kathy Griffin: Straight to Hell." Filmed at the Chicago Theatre, this is the Oak Park native's best stand-up routine in a while. It's a tight hour of excellent jokes wrapped in true-adventure storytelling.

Here's one bit: Griffin ran into idiot Paris Hilton and realized she's "all limbs, kind of like a tarantula, crossed with a horse. Like a horse-tantula. Like, if a horse [mated with] a tarantula. You know, in a good way."

Griffin's best stuff this time is a dissection of Paula Abdul's craziness. ("I don't know what she's on. I'm not a pharmacist.")

But the "D-Lister" also dishes funny dirt on events she was involved in: appearing on "The View" the week Rosie O'Donnell split, and getting politically crucified for telling a Jesus joke after winning an Emmy. But you know, Griffin craves attention.

"It has been heaven for me," she says of the Emmy aftermath. "I mean, I was in Time and Newsweek and CNN. ... You can't buy this publicity!"

Spoken like a true comedian: Not even Jesus can be spared for the sake of a good joke and a showbiz minute of fame.

delfman@suntimes.com