Kathy Griffin: An 'equal opportunity offender'

Comedian Kathy Griffin is ready to make you laugh so hard this weekend, you'll roll out of your seat.

She's appearing at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center on Sunday.

With a new best-selling book and an Emmy-award winning television show under her belt, Griffin is no stranger to the humor of American media.

The show is filled with commentary on everything from cartoon characters to nonprofits.

"If I may say so, I am your box," says Griffin. "If you don't have cable television or you don't have Internet access, then don't worry, let me be your television! That's what I do. I filter and edit everything, and then I present it to you. And right now in America, we have a full plate. We have much to discuss!"

Originally from Chicago, Griffin came from the kind of family that appreciated wit and culture.

"My family is Irish Catholic," she says. "We had the kind of family where you had to get your s--- together by dinnertime: news, culture, whatever happened that day. Then we'd all discuss it together."

Griffin first won notice on the show "Suddenly Susan." After guest appearances on other shows ("ER" and "Seinfeld"), she started her comic career with her own half-hour show on HBO, followed by a full-hour show called "A Hot Cup of Talk"

Since then, she's been featured on several reality and talk shows, and she's won an Emmy for her own reality show, "My Life on the D-List."

Griffin's new book, "Official Book Club Selection," recently landed on the New York Times Best-seller List. As for the title, she says, "I'm trying to manipulate people into buying it! I want people to think my book is part of a book club, like Oprah's."

She describes her humor as being very inappropriate, and more stories than one-liners.

"It's all stuff that I can't help but say out loud but probably shouldn't have," says Griffin. "I've been banned from several talk shows! Sometimes I make fun of the host. And in my book, I make fun of so many different people that there's an index in the back!"

Griffin believes that anyone can benefit from a good laugh, and says that, in her opinion, nothing is sacred.

"I've performed in some pretty delicate situations, but it doesn't matter" she says. "Cancer patients, for example, have the sickest senses of humor! As long as I can make it funny, it works."

The comedian is excited about bringing her show to Charleston.

"If everyone walks out completely outraged, it's been a good show," she says. "I like to make fun of religious groups, PETA, claymates and stuff like that. I'm an equal opportunity offender," laughs Griffin. "No one is safe!"

If you go

Who: Kathy Griffin.

When: Sunday 8 p.m.

Where: North Charleston Performing Arts Center

Cost: $58.50, $48.50, and $38.50 plus applicable fees at coliseumpac.com.

Info: 529-5050 or www.coliseumpac.com.