Melissa Rivers gave her blessing for E! to continue "Fashion Police" after the passing of her mother and the show's host Joan Rivers. The network needs to find someone to fill her place, and one name appears to stand above the rest.
"Kathy [Griffin] has been told if she wants the gig she can have it because Melissa wanted someone who her mother would have approved of," a "Fashion Police" insider told the Daily Mail. "Kathy will probably take the position but they are still working out the deal."
Griffin, who attended Rivers' funeral on Sept. 7, credits her fellow comedian as a mentor. She made one appearance on the E! show last June, but recently denied rumors she had pitched herself to replace Rivers on the show, while the host was still in a coma.
"It's disgusting. It's not true. And I know that stuff shouldn't even bother me at this stage in my career. I thought I heard it all, but that one hurts because it's as far from the truth as you can get. I would never take Joan's job," Griffin told "Larry King Now."
She also talked about her friendship with Rivers, the advice she received from her mentor, and the legacy Rivers left behind.
"Her true legacy of being a woman who made history over and over and over, and in my opinion, didn't really get that credit. I think she's getting it now," Griffin said.
"Fashion Police" has drawn up a shortlist with both male and female comedians on it, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The new host will join Giuliana Rancic, Kelly Osbourne and George Kotsiopoulos.
The E! series will return on January 12, in time for Golden Globes coverage.
