Joan Rivers Returns to The Tonight Show After 26-Year Ban

Legendary comedian was a guest on the program for the first time since the 1980s

By Peter Gicas Mar 28, 2014 3:49 PMTags

Welcome back, Joan Rivers!

After 26 years, the legendary comedian finally returned to The Tonight Show on Thursday.

While she did pop in briefly during Jimmy Fallon's opening night last month, this marked her first time as a guest on the show since the 1980s.

If you recall, Johnny Carson had banned his onetime permanent guest host from the show after she decided to launch her own competing late-night program on Fox.

And the Fashion Police cohost certainly made her return a memorable one by immediately kicking things off with a Holocaust joke.

From there, Rivers offered up several more cracks that made Fallon blush, in particular the ones involving her private parts.

"My girlfriend and I decided to get matching vagina rings," Rivers shared. "Mine is killing me, but I spoke to Bruce Jenner and her's is fine."

But the night also had a few heartfelt moments as well, like when Rivers told Fallon, "I love you so much. From the moment I first saw you start, I thought you were great."

"We love you here," replied Fallon.

(E! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)