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Kathy Griffin, self-proclaimed queen of the "D-List," has been working her way up the ranks of Hollywood in past years, and now has a successful Bravo TV show among other exploits, with some extra time for touring so that she can catch up with her fans.
Griffin was raised in Chicago, Ill., and started performing in thee 80s as part of the Los Angeles improve comedy troupe The Groundings. She started off with Janeane Garofalo with "Hot Cup of Talk" and eventually became a solo star with several TV roles.
Griffins breakthrough outside of the comedy community came with a supporting spot on the Brooke Shields comedy "Suddenly Susan" in 1996. In 1998, she starred in her first one-hour special, "Kathy Griffin: A Hot Cup of Talk."
In 2005, Griffins reality show premiered on Bravo Network. "Kathy Griffin" My Life on the D-List" began as a show similar to Seinfeld for NBC, but eventually became part of the Bravo channel. When the show began, it included her then-husband Matt Moline, her parents, dog, and personal assistant Jessica. The show was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program, non-competition.
The show has progressed over its past three years, and included Kathys divorce and the death of her father - it has brought in Bravos highest ratings, with viewership increasing 77 percent from season two through season three.
Over her career, Griffin has honed her self-deprecating humor, including the shtick concerning her position at the bottom of the celebrity totem pole, which was solidified with her victory on "Celebrity Mole Hawaii."
In addition to poking fun at herself, Griffin is also known for slaying the personal lives of other celebrities, particularly their sexuality, eating disorders and substance abuse. Frequent victims of Griffins humor include Clay Aiken, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Star Jones, Britney Spears and Oprah Winfrey.
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