In Seattle, Kathy Griffin is an A-Lister

Kathy Griffin's status as a D-Lister is slipping away. The controversial and often hilarious comic-actress, who is the star of the Bravo reality show "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List," possesses an Emmy Award and is selling out 3,000-capacity venues, such as the Paramount Theatre, where she will deliver three shows Saturday and Sunday in front of SRO crowds.

Despite Griffin's increased visibility, the caustic wit refuses to believe that she has emerged from Hollywood's subterranean zone.

"I'm still a D-Lister," Griffin said, calling from the Oakland airport. "When I check in for a flight, they still say, 'Ms. Gifford.' When people see me they say, 'Hey, I just saw Frank Gifford's wife on the plane.' They think I'm Kathie Lee Gifford, but Frank is not my type."

Regardless, Griffin's audience has tripled over the last year. Prior to 2007, she would deliver her visceral rants in small theaters. Her recent success can be attributed to her reality show and the fact that she revels in being a lightning rod.

"I know my show is the reason I'm playing bigger places," said Griffin, 47. "I'm excited and flattered that all this is happening now. But it could be even bigger. Could my show get a little support from Bravo? Their idea of a promotion for my show is an e-mail blast. My idea for a promotion is a commercial on another network."

Griffin believes that she'll be back for a fourth season of "D-List." "We're talking about it," Griffin said. "I would love it if they would just give me a few more episodes, no less than 10 in a season. I hate it when someone finds out about the show after episode five and there is just one episode left."

Bravo would be wise to acquiesce to Griffin's demands, since she single-handedly raised her profile to at least sea level, er, C-level, thanks to her outrageous Emmy Award acceptance speech in September. It was a shocker.

"A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award," Griffin said then. "I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus. He didn't help me a bit. Suck it, Jesus. This award is my God now."

Was Griffin hoping to set off a firestorm? "Absolutely," she admitted. "Once in a blue moon something like this can happen, and I took full advantage of it. So many people think I stepped over the line. Well, I didn't. Anytime anyone wins anything, they thank Jesus. It's a bit much."

Griffin, a lapsed Catholic, infuriated Catholic League president Bill Donahue, who called her remarks "vulgar, in-your-face brand of hate speech."

Not surprisingly, the comedian laughs at Donahue. "I always thought the Catholic league was a group, but it's just one guy on a computer in his parents' basement. I don't care if he hates me."

Donahue is one of many peeved at Griffin, who can't begin to count her detractors. "There are so many people who have problems with me, and that's just fine," Griffin said. "Bill O'Reilly calls me a pinhead, which I'll accept as a badge of honor. Patricia Heaton finds me upsetting. One time she sent me a long e-mail berating my liberal ideals. I had no idea that she was such a nut until I received that e-mail."

Griffin says her too-hot-to-handle reputation has made it difficult to get booked on the big talk shows. However, "Ellen [DeGeneres] had me on so she could convince me not to be mean anymore," Griffin said. "That didn't take. One talk show down and three, which apparently I'm not allowed on, to go."

The quick, topical and cerebral Griffin would appear perfect to host a nighttime talk show, which she wouldn't mind trying — but she doubts there will be such an opportunity for her or any other female anytime soon.

"Remember when Joan Rivers got her talk show on Fox 20 years ago?" Griffin said. "I really thought things would change. I thought women and men were going to split [late-night] TV positions down the middle. That didn't happen."

But Griffin was part of the female-centric sitcom run of the '90s. "I was lucky to be in that mix since I was on 'Suddenly Susan,' " Griffin said. "It was a great time for women with 'Roseanne,' 'Caroline in the City' and 'Grace Under Fire.' Who knew that the early to mid-'90s would be the golden age for women in comedy? Now, aside from 'The Sarah Silverman Program,' which is great, there's little out there featuring women. The networks aren't into women, but don't worry; another Lucille Ball will arrive."

Griffin will appear in a hit sitcom, "Hannah Montana," which features tween heroine Miley Cyrus, next year. "It's not exactly my demographic, but I'm thrilled to be on the show," Griffin said. "The writers from 'Suddenly Susan' write the show, and they told me that they'll write me something fun."

In January, Griffin is slated to headline three shows in Manhattan's Theatre at Madison Square Garden. "That's a huge honor," Griffin said. "It just shows you things have been good for me lately."

But not good enough for Griffin to exit the D-List, she said.

"I'm still an outsider in Hollywood," Griffin said. "I'm not invited to the Hollywood game nights. But does anything sound worse than game night at Hilary Swank's? When I hear about how precious these game nights are for celebrities, I just want to puke. Game night at Ashton and Demi's — oh, can anything be more horrible? How about game night at Ryan Seacrest's house? Everyone will have to laugh at his lame jokes. No thank you. I don't have game night. I have gay night, in which we gossip. I don't care about their game nights."

Spoken like a true outsider and, alas, a bona fide D-lister.