Joan Rivers remains hospitalized in serious condition following complications during throat surgery

Melissa Rivers released this statement today about her mother, 81-year-old comedy legend Joan Rivers, who was rushed to Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City Thursday when she went into cardiac arrest during throat surgery at an Upper East Side clinic.

“My mother would be so touched by the tributes and prayers that we have received from around the world. Her condition remains serious but she is receiving the best treatment and care possible. We ask that you continue to keep her in your thoughts as we pray for her recovery.”

Would be so touched, conditional tense, as in she’s not conscious to understand what’s going on.

On Thursday night, Melissa Rivers said her mother was “resting comfortably,” while other sources told the media that Joan was in a medically-induced coma. That’s not exactly the same thing.

Rivers appeared on our TVs as recently as Tuesday night with a special edition of her E! series, Fashion Police, that targeted celebrity styles at both Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards and Monday’s Primetime Emmy Awards.

And last week, Rivers participated in the peer-pressure viral sensation ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

Rivers was supposed to perform tonight at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, N.J., but that gig obviously has been postponed. The theatre’s website reads: “We ask that customers hold on to their tickets, as they will be honored for the new date. Stay tuned to countbasietheatre.org and our social media channels for information on this new date. Everyone at the Count Basie Theatre is relieved to hear that Ms. Rivers’ condition has stabilized, and we look forward to hosting the iconic comedienne in the near future.”

Her next appearance dates aren’t for a couple of weeks — Sept. 13-14, 2014, selling items from Joan’s Classics Collection on QVC — before performing at a Sept. 20, 2014, Canine Heroes Auction benefiting Guide Dogs for the Blind at Raymond Vineyards in St. Helena, Calif.

Joan Rivers fall tour of the U.K. scheduled to begin Oct. 8 is titled, now a bit more ominously: “BEFORE THEY CLOSE THE LID”

She also has several American club, casino and theater dates scheduled in November.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Joan Rivers for a full recovery.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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