Insider Beat: Kathy Griffin talks to Daily Targum about 'crazy sh*t' in New Jersey, opens up about tour

For the first time in six years, comedian Kathy Griffin is returning to the stage, embarking on her new standup tour, "My Life on the PTSD-List." 

In an interview with The Daily Targum, Griffin offered a glimpse into the personal journey that inspired her latest comedic venture, one encompassing health issues and a standoff with a former U.S. president.

The health issues, which included being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a battle with lung cancer that resulted in her losing half of a lung, forced Griffin to step away from what she described as her personal "hell."

But, she's been able to find solace in the healing power of laughter and sees it as a process of teaching her how to survive hardship.

"You know, that's what's been tough for me about the last six years: I've got all this material percolating in me, and I didn't have anywhere for it to go," she said.

Griffin cites this enduring love and dedication for the craft as an essential trait that all successful comedians need.

"You better love it, 'cause you're gonna bomb more than you kill," she said in reference to young, struggling comedians. "Find your local whatever venue where you can try out your stuff."

Another major life event that drove Griffin away from performing occurred in 2017, when she made headlines for posting a picture to social media that depicted her posing with a Halloween mask covered in ketchup, resembling the severed head of former President Donald J. Trump.

Intended as a provocative joke, the situation escalated when the U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation into the incident and contemplated charging Griffin with conspiracy to assassinate the former president. Griffin felt that she was being made a target — she said no other comedian has faced this charge.

"No comedian has had the federal government literally take away their First Amendment right," she said. "That's the amendment I know the most about. I may not know those other ones really well, but I know that first one back and forth."

During her new tour, Griffin will stop in Red Bank to perform at the Count Basie Center for the Arts on March 21. She last performed there in 2016. Her other 2017 venues, State Theatre in New Brunswick and St. George Theatre in Staten Island were some of the first to cancel her shows.

"The theater got so many threats from people," she said.

Griffin understood the decision at the time, but when she was given another opportunity to perform at the venue and its "notoriously fantastic" crowds, she couldn't pass it up.

New Jersey, in particular, holds a special significance for Griffin — she's performed in the Garden State more than anywhere else in the country.

"Well, here's the good thing about Jersey: I can't shock you people. You're hopeless," she joked. "There's a lot of crazy sh*t that happens in Jersey."

In Griffin's decades-long career, which consists of a record-breaking amount of comedy specials, her secret to longevity lies in her spontaneity.

"I have a very improvisational process," she said. "When I say, 'I don't know what I'm saying 'til I get on the stage,' I'm not kidding. And that's the way I've been doing it all these years."

But, in the wake of the Trump controversy, Griffin also wants to make it a point to use her platform to educate.

"What I want people, especially (the younger) generation to know, elections are not every four years or every two years," she said. "They're every year … Take 20 f*cking minutes and vote down-ballot. It's not just about Trump and Biden … Sometimes, the down-ballot matters more to your personal life even more than the presidential."

It's not lost on Griffin, who didn't attend college, that students pursuing higher education have access to resources that can help them make informed voting decisions.

"I hope all of you college kids are taking it in and learning state capitals!" she said.

So, whether you're a new fan or a long-time enthusiast attending Griffin's show for the first time, she suggests leaving your expectations at the door.

"Keep an open heart and an open mind," she said. "Just come and expect the unexpected."