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#5Things: Remember Joan Rivers

The 81-year-old comedian passed away Thursday in New York.
Comedian and media personality Joan Rivers attends the opening night after party for \"Dreamgirls\" at Riverside Church on Nov. 22, 2009 in New York City.
Comedian and media personality Joan Rivers attends the opening night after party for \"Dreamgirls\" at Riverside Church on Nov. 22, 2009 in New York City.

We continue to remember 81-year-old comedian Joan Rivers this morning, and the words being used to describe her say it all: Vivacious. Lightening bolt. Enduring. So this morning, we remember Rivers in our own words--five of them, to be exact:

1. "Pioneering" - Breaking barriers as a female comedian, first on Carson, then on her own late night talk show--the first woman ever to host one! Something Carson never quite forgave her for that...

2. "Fearless" - She was never afraid to say whatever she wanted about whomever she wanted and whenever she wanted, from the White House to the red carpet, with no apologies.

3. "Global" - Her loss is being felt around the world this morning, with everyone from Whoopi Goldberg to Prince Charles remembering her.

4. "Outrageous" - Like this moment with my colleague Lawrence O'Donnell back in 2011:

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5. "Funny" - She was just funny. She lived to make us laugh, as her daughter Melissa reminded us yesterday--even until the very end, writing in a 2012 book about her own funeral: