Joan Rivers passed away Aug. 4 at the age of 81. Rivers was a unique voice, at once modern and classic—she was timely in her commentary yet refused to make apologies. Historically, she was one of the first female standup comedians, and 60 years later she was still the best.

Joan Rivers Funniest Moments

To this day Rivers was the first and last woman to ever host a late night talk show on network television. Incisive, shrill, xenomorphic, vicious, honest and brilliant, Rivers was a comedian’s comedian, and this is a list of some of her best moments. Naturally, none of this is safe for work.

#1 Joan Rivers’ Ron Bennington Interviews

Radio personality and brilliant interviewer Ron Bennington had three detailed interviews with Joan Rivers—in May of 2010, and in March and July of 2014. The interviews are masterfully orchestrated by Bennington who essentially lets his subject steer the interview, and carefully inquiring for more detail. Rivers, of course, didn’t need much prodding. She’s very open in these interviews, often funny, and sometimes sad. Mostly, she’s what every good comedian needs to be—honest.

It’s rare for a celebrity to actually come off as human, but Rivers was never one to put on airs. Given the timing of these final two segments the Ron Bennington interviews make a fitting cap to a legendary career.

#2 Joan Rivers Defending Free Speech

It’s no secret Alec Baldwin can be an unpleasant human being, and when Joan Rivers was asked to comment on Baldwin’s latest profanity ridden tirade after being accosted by a parasitic paparazzi, Rivers instead went on a tirade of her own about the PC age we’re living in.

#3 The Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers

Roasts are barbaric forms of paying respect. The Joan Rivers roast was a great addition to the oeuvre because it returned to the format of comedians roasting comedians. This is also a very rare opportunity to see Joan Rivers apparently be offended. Comedian Jesse Joyce wrote for the roast, including some of the most brutal ones that Comedy Central cut from the broadcast (boo), as Joyce and some of the comedians on the dais not only targeted Rivers but her daughter and her late husband. Of course, at the end, Rivers was allowed to say her own peace and it was as brutal as the 50 minutes that preceded it.

#4 Joan Rivers on The Apprentice

These two clips are not so much about Rivers’ comedy career as it is a great example of how vicious Rivers can be to people she doesn’t like, in this case Annie Duke. It’s also a fine example of the love Joan and Melissa have for each other.

“You’re a poker player! That’s worse than white trash!”

#5 Joan Rivers on the Johnny Carson Feud

At the beginning of her career, Joan Rivers had quickly made a name for herself. So much so that she came to the attention of Johnny Carson, the original host of the Tonight Show. Carson was a huge fan of Rivers, and would have Rivers guest host for him when he was on vacation. Her popularity surging, Rivers’ husband Edgar Rosenberg landed her a gig on Fox, where she would host her own late night show.

Carson didn’t take this well. He cut Rivers out of her life and made numerous attempts to sabotage her.

When the Fox show failed, Rosenberg, who was clinically depressed, took his own life. It is believed that the suicide was due in part to believing he destroyed his wife’s career and an adverse effect to medication he had been taking following a heart attack.

Over the years, Rivers had rarely spoken of Carson. In an interview with Henry Bushkin, Rivers breaks that silence.

#6 Joan Rivers Returns to the Tonight Show

After the Carson incident, Rivers would not set foot on the Tonight Show stage (or on the NBC network) for 26 years until Jimmy Fallon took over the chair; Rivers appeared on his first show. The interview is a brief one, though it takes her less than a minute for the audience to gasp uncomfortably.

#7 Various Monologues, Sets, and Appearances

It was 1967, back when people were allowed to smoke on TV, and two years after her first appearance on Carson, Rivers did a set for the Ed Sullivan show.

A pair of monologues from two of her 1984 guest hosting gigs on The Tonight Show.

Joan Rivers on Louie

Joan Rivers destroys a heckler

Joan Rivers tells Oprah to lose weight (1985, on The Joan Rivers Show)

Joan Rivers on politics and wearing fur

#8 An Audience with Joan Rivers (1984)

Rivers goes to England; the English are uncomfortable.

#9 Joan Rivers Live at the Apollo (2011)

This is Joan Rivers’ last standup special, and her second Apollo gig.

The best part of Joan Rivers is the fact that whether or not you agreed with her, she at least had the courage to say what she felt in an age where freedom of speech is constantly under attack.