Burger with Relish

Kathy Griffin, the comic behind "My Life on the D-List," is the devil.

Some might consider her Satan after the redheaded 49-year-old performer accepted the first of her two Emmys in September 2007 with an unusual podium speech. "A lot of people come up here and they thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus. He didn't help me a bit ... So all I can say is, 'Suck it, Jesus, this award is my God now.'"

Griffin, who had already gained notoriety with her infamous "Jerry Seinfeld is the Devil" stand-up routine featured on "Seinfeld," is not the devil but is poised to graduate from the D-List.

The foul-mouthed comic won her Emmys for her outrageously funny (and sometimes humiliating) Bravo TV show, "D-List." She has parlayed the success this year into a New York Times best-selling book titled Official Book Club Selection , a comedy CD called "Suckin' It for the Holidays" and a new Bravo stand-up special, "Balls of Steel." In the near future, she will host an ABC series called "Let's Dance" where celebrities will re-create iconic dances from films and other media.

One thing the Queen of All Media hasn't done is perform in Salt Lake City.

Until now. Griffin will perform Nov. 21 at Abravanel Hall. And in interview, the firebrand who skewers A-listers expressed her excitement about the upcoming concert.

Here is Griffin on:

Her first time in Salt Lake City » " I've gotten so many e-mails over the past several years telling me, 'You've got to play Salt Lake. We need to be shocked. We need a campaign of shock 'n' awe' and I've actually heard people say, 'Well, you don't want to play Salt Lake, it's just a bunch of uptight Mormons.' So, I don't think that's true. I think I am going to find loose Mormons and I'm going to find non-Mormons and gay people and people that can stand to be shocked a little. I am happy to take any Mormons who are in disguise or who are ashamed to be there. I take everybody, I welcome everybody. Can you believe it? I've never even visited there, much less played there. I thought I had played everywhere."

On her stand-up material » "I am an angel of negativity. I feel that positivity is overrated, and I am here to spread cussing and negativity. That's why I have to be very clear in my disclaimer. I really don't want anyone wandering in thinking they're seeing the symphony. This is not a performance of 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.' This is going to be something different for the symphony hall. Sometimes I need very good acoustics for all of my inappropriate jokes. My theme for Salt Lake is: 'Make your life a little less classy today. Class is going out the window.' "

On how she comes up with so much new material » " Luckily, the Gosselins. Luckily, the Jackson family seems to be a little bit insane. And luckily, politicians keep on having affairs in Argentina. Pop culture never stops."

On her joke that the entire Osmond family had never seen a black person before appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" » That was clearly the look on their faces. They kept on saying it in a way that was basically dancing around it. It was a lot of verbiage like, 'We don't know anyone quite like you,' or' We don't see people like you every day.' I believe Oprah will be coming up in my act as well. Everyday she has a little gift for me called 'The Oprah Winfrey Show.' One of out every five Oprahs are crazy enough to end up in my act."

On life on the D-list » " I ain't going anywhere. I'm a cockroach. I certainly consider myself a D-lister who likes to work. I love anything where I can be funny. I'm not snobby about it, like some people [say] 'Oh, I won't do television, or I only work with this person of that person or I only work on this network. I will go anywhere where they will let me be funny. The other night -- this is a D-list moment -- I realized that the Bravo 'Balls of Steel' special was premiering the same night as the CD was coming out. I thought I should have a party or something. So I got dressed up as a naughty Santa to celebrate and I went to the biggest gay bar in West Hollywood and just waited for the paparazzi to come. And you can look up and see those pictures. And I just stood there in a ridiculous naughty Santa outfit giving out CDs in a gay bar. You would never see Angelina Jolie doing that, or see an A-lister doing that. Just me."

When » Nov. 21 at 8 p.m.
Where » Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City
Tickets » $35 to $50 at ArtTix.org or by calling 801-355-ARTS
Disclaimer » For mature audiences only, by her own admission