Hometown girl Kathy Griffin returned once again to perform two nights at The Chicago Theatre. Gays and girls fought a snowstorm to welcome her back and look for the funny. Luckily, they braved the cold and found it. Oh, sure there was a bit of content for straight people when she promised them blowjobs for attending, but this was definitely an act for friends of Dorothy and Liza.
Seeming more relaxed than in past shows, Griffin was armed and ready to take on the likes of old friends Ryan Seacrest, Gwyneth Paltrow and The View's Elizabeth Hasselbeck. The Kardashians were an easy target, with Khloe described as a scratchy sasquatch and Bruce Jenner as a drag queen. Celebrity dish kept audience mouths watering for more when she described Bravo's Housewives and her recent People's Choice Awards appearance.
Griffin also used Chicago references. This city is still considered to be stomping grounds for Oprah Winfrey, so she spoke of Winfrey growing into messiah status and being bored with her new Next Chapter. Griffin appeared earlier in the day on the OWN Network for The Rosie Show so maybe the big O will be watching her next time.
Anderson Cooper received a lot of attention in her stand-up act. She read his past texts to her and spoke of their New Year's Eve antics, when she stripped to a bra and panties on national television. She revealed even more skin the night before the Chicago show on the Late Show with David Letterman, when she went bare and described him as a "weirdo" to the audience. This was Griffin unfilteredand just the way we like her. Celebrity parties, politics and baby Ivy Blue ( Beyonce and Jay-Z's child ) kept her fans on the edges of their seats and laughing.
Griffin's newest project is a talk show on Bravo beginning in March. She mentioned being worried that booking guests might be difficult after burning a few bridges. If it's just her mother, Maggie, onstage with a box of wine and her then she will be just fine, because after two hours of nonstop talking chatty Kathy was just getting started.
Keep up with Griffin at www.kathygriffin.net . For more shows at The Chicago Theatre, visit www.thechicagotheatre.com . Photos by Jerry Nunn