Kathy Griffin won’t be allowed back on CNN’s New Year’s Eve show after two consecutive years of profanity-laced jokes, AOL.com’s PopEater blog reported Tuesday, citing executives at the news network.
A year after ringing in 2009 by trading barbs with a heckler on live television the comedian one-upped herself with a series of adult-themed jokes while standing next to straight-laced anchor Anderson Cooper.
“She was a total embarrassment to the network that calls themselves ‘The Most Trusted Name in News.’ Even Anderson thinks it’s time to say goodbye to Kathy,” a CNN insider told PopEater.
A CNN spokeswoman said no decisions have been made yet for next year’s show.
In a comedy bit with Cooper approximately 40 minutes before the ball dropped in New York’s Times Square, Griffin mispronounced the name of six-year old “balloon boy” Falcon Heene, replacing his first name with a profanity that begins with the same letter. Cooper averted his eyes and mumbled “You’re terrible,” before quickly switching to a new topic.
Later, she asked Cooper “How do you not just stare in the mirror all day,” adding another adult reference. He responded tersely that he’d be jobless by the morning.
But she got the last laugh.
“I’m hiring a new receptionist. Good luck.”