It looks like E!'s "Fashion Police" may have found their new co-host. According to TMZ, comedian Kathy Griffin will sit in the seat once occupied by the late Joan Rivers. The 81-year-old comic died at the age of 81 after going into respiratory arrest following a throat procedure at Yorkville Endoscopy Center in New York.
The network has yet to confirm the news but TMZ claims that "it's a done deal." Griffin, 54, will join returning co-hosts Kelly Osbourne, Giuliana Rancic and Melissa Rivers. It's not clear if George Kotsiopoulos will return, TMZ reports.
Sources told the site that "Fashion Police" will not be a weekly show anymore and will only air following award shows and other special occasions. At the end of September, E! announced that it would be bringing back the show at the beginning of next year.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Joan Rivers and, for the last two weeks, have turned our attention to honoring her memory on all four platforms," the network said in a statement. "We have also thought long and hard about what Joan would have wanted as it pertains to the future of 'Fashion Police.' We decided, with Melissa Rivers' blessing, that Joan would have wanted the franchise to continue."
The co-hosts all paid tribute to Rivers on Sept. 19 in a special titled, "Fashion Police: Celebrating Joan." A few months ago, reports surfaced that Griffin was in talks to join the show but she slammed the rumors as "disgusting" during an appearance on "Larry King Now."
"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," she said.
However, earlier this month Griffin was singing a different tune.
"They did offer it to me," she told "Access Hollywood." "I don't know if the situation is correct at this time for me, or right for me at this time."
"Fashion Police" returns Jan. 12.
UPDATE: George Kotsiopoulos' replacement
