The Guardian

Jen Kirkman: ‘Joan Rivers was my comedy mother’

The US comic on her acid-tongued mentor, her British roots, not dating for a year and being caught up in the Louis CK scandal
Jen Kirkman: ‘Seriously. One-third of Americans are completely brainwashed, like they’re in a cult.’

Massachusetts-born, Los Angeles-based Jen Kirkman, 43, is a comedian, podcaster and bestselling author. On TV, she’s known for being a panellist on Chelsea Lately and narrator of Drunk History, while her podcast I Seem Fun gets 50,000 downloads per month. Her standup special Just Keep Livin’? recently arrived on Netflix and she brings her current tour to the UK in late January.

I’m so excited. I’ve got some British heritage, actually. My uncle looked us up and the Kirkmans originated from Bury, outside of Manchester, before coming to America in the 19th century. I haven’t visited Bury yet but I’ve been to Manchester and loved it. They were a great audience. No offence but they seemed a little more

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