Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Video: Joan Rivers Returns To 'Tonight Show' After Decades Long Ban
By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 28, 2014
Modified Mar 28, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 28, 2014
Modified Mar 28, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Joan Rivers, who made her debut on The Tonight Show 49 years ago, returned last night as a guest after a 26 year ban. (Though as new host Jimmy Fallon notes, she did make a quick appearance on his first night with a $100 bill.)
To back up a little: Rivers was banned by Johnny Carson in the 1980s when she got her own late night talk show on Fox. Prior to that she had been made permanent guest host by Carson, and reportedly she did not let him know she was leaving—he heard about it during a press conference. When Jay Leno took over hosting duties he honored Carson's ban, and... Conan O'Brien probably just wasn't there long enough to even think about old grudges.
Fallon, however, is changing everything—he's brought the show back to NYC, and has now lifted the ban—below, watch Rivers talk about dry vaginas, breaking in to porn, and the Holocaust.
Tagged
jimmy fallon
joan rivers
the tonight show
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
Gothamist went behind the scenes to learn how the NYC landmark keeps its majestic waters flowing.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 23, 2026
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
By
Hannah Frishberg
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
By
Sonia Rao
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .