After 50-plus years in showbiz, Joan Rivers still can draw attention.

In 2009 alone, she won Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice" television series, hosted the TV Land cable series "How'd You Get So Rich?" was the target of a roast on cable's Comedy Central and published two books: the comic "Men Are Stupid ... And They Like Big Boobs: A Woman's Guide to Beauty Through Plastic Surgery" and the novel "Murder at the Academy Awards."

The 76-year-old still keeps a healthy touring schedule, with about 100 stops per year, including two dates Friday at the Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque, Iowa.

In a telephone interview from her New York home, Rivers talked about her career and need to stay current:

Q: You've had quite a year, how does it feel to be top of mind like this?

A: Yeah so far, so good. ... I'm so busy working I never stop to think about anything. I can tell you there's been a lot of excitement this year.

Q: With all of these projects, do they come looking for you or do you find them?

A: Usually somebody gets sick at the last minute and they call me. (Laughs.) But that's all right, that's been my whole career from the beginning.

Q: What's the thrill for you in doing stand-up these days?

A: The connection with the audience. There's nothing, nothing, nothing like it. When you and an audience are connecting together, it's your party.

Q: What's different for you doing stand-up now versus the '60s, '70s or '80s?

A: Oh, the relevancy. You can talk about everything. Mackenzie Phillips slept with her father? Let's go! Michael Jackson? Let's discuss that. Nothing's off-limits, and that's what makes it so great. It's like sitting with a friend and talking at the dinner table.

Q: I just saw a clip of you the other night from an "Ed Sullivan Show" ...

A: Oh, you couldn't even say "pregnant" in those days.

Q: ... and you were more self-effacing back then, not even talking about current events.

A: It was Sullivan. There were all these rules, and his were very strict rules, and that was fine for those days. It was a very different time.

Q: But you enjoy talking more about current events?

A: Oh, I couldn't give two figs about Pakistan. But I'm not going to bring it up unless something funny goes on. ... But I talk about everything: I hate children on airplanes and that will be discussed. I hate old people - I'm so bored with old people. Get with it or shut up. It goes on and on.

Q: What do you think about reality TV?

A: I like reality TV when it's real reality TV. Most of it's a waste of time. Don't tell me you don't know the camera's there. Of course you know the camera's there.

Q: Did your perspective change after "Apprentice"?

A: "Apprentice" was amazing. As my daughter Melissa said, it was a master class on how to produce a show. The cameras were going nonstop, and after a while you forgot they were on, you were so exhausted. ... I like being challenged. I've run my own jewelry company for 20 years, so I love the entrepreneurial aspect of it. And I love that they gave us different tasks.

Q: How involved are you with the jewelry?

A: Totally. We're going into our 20th anniversary and there's not a piece that goes out that hasn't been designed by me or semi-designed by me or at least approved by me.

Q: How do you design jewelry?

A: All different ways. If I find a wonderful bead or see a woman with chunks around her neck, I'll say, "Let's do it in lucite."

Q: You have "Murder at the Emmys" out next year. How do you like being an author?

A: It was so much fun because they paired me with a mystery writer. She claims she doesn't know how it turns out when she writes, but I don't believe her. I have a friend, Donald Westlake, who's a great mystery writer and works backwards. They have strange ways of doing things.

Q: Is there something else you feel like you want to do or have you done it all?

A: I want to go back to Broadway, I want to do another late-night talk show. I think the Internet is ripe for something great right now. I don't think we'll be watching TV in 30 years. It'll all be individual units.

Q: What do you think of what's happened with Jay Leno and David Letterman?

A: Leno should have stayed at 11:30 (p.m. Eastern time). He's boring at 10 o'clock (9 p.m. in the Quad-Cities) and too soft. I could have told you that five years ago. When's the last time you've quoted something Leno's said that's hysterical? ... (On Letterman) Oh, for God's sake, if girls of 21 sleep with a man who's 60, it's their life, but go ahead. You wanna sleep with your grandpa? Good luck to you.

Q: Do you look back on your life with any regrets, how any decisions would have made your life different?

A: Oh, no. I've done everything and tried everything. Absolutely not.

Q: Do you have any watchwords as you start the day?

A: Just move forward, never look back, what's done is done. Move on. That's really what I live by - move on and try everything.