"Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" Review: Shaking Things Up

Ah, summer…

Warm weather, picnics, baseball, and the return of “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.”

I have long called this show my guiltiest pleasure, because I just feel like I shouldn’t think Kathy is funny. But she is funny as she and her staff get into situation after situation trying to get her on the A-List.

But this year, Kathy is shaking things up a little bit. Instead of just getting into situations she thinks will help her cause, she is seeking out advice from some of her favorite people about how to get to the A-List.

In the fifth season premiere, the person is Bette Midler, who puts Kathy in her Las Vegas show—as a hooker. Then the two spend some time together—without her staff—so that Kathy can get some tips from Midler about how to be an A-List star.

One of the things I’ve always loved about this show is that it doesn’t seem as staged as other reality shows. Even though you know that some of the situations are planned, Kathy always seems to make them look spontaneous. But so much of the premiere seems planned and even forced. I’m hoping that as the season rolls on, Kathy’s interviews get worked in a little more seamlessly.

Now, just because it seems planned doesn’t mean it’s not funny, because it is. I just think the show is funnier when it focuses on members of Team Griffin, Kathy’s mom Maggie, her assistant Tiffany and her tour manager Tom (Sadly, Jessica is no longer working for Kathy.). And who doesn’t love watching Kathy make a fool out of herself—and others?

I know I do, no matter how guilty I might feel doing it…

“Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” premieres Monday, June 8th at 10 p.m. on Bravo…

Photo Credit: Marlene Karas/Bravo