Joan was a lifelong New Yorker. She really wasn't all that Hollywood and that was kind of the point of her shtick. She thumbed her nose at movie stars and was never afraid to turn that same criticism loose on herself. In fact, she was her own worst critic! Here's one of my favorite jokes:
Joan was outrageous, authentic and (from almost every report of those who met her) a very classy lady. Not every joke landed. Such is the life of a comedian. Not every choice she made was ideal. Such is the life if a trailblazer. Her life was full of tragedy and triumph and she never stopped working until the day she left us. I wish we'd have had more time with her, but I'm glad she got to go out on top.