Kathy Griffin arrived at the Chateau Marmont the other day in a good mood "because the lunch is free." She was one of the celeb guests at a More Magazine-Women in Film luncheon and was there a bit early - flanked by her two assistants.

As we stood in the lobby, I asked if she was in the mood for a little on-the-record chat. She said, "Sure! Let's go find a place to sit." We briefly considered sharing the piano bench in the lounge but settled on a couple of chairs at a little table instead. She told me that she has just signed on for season four of "My Life on the D-List" and "we start filming New Year's Eve and will be back on the air in June. This year, we're doing 10 episodes instead of six. We have a lot of stuff planned for the season. It is going to be action packed."

Here is the first part of our conversation:

Greg: Are they filming right now? Am I going to be on it?
Kathy: [laughs] Not yet. But otherwise believe me, you'd be on it. If you've even slightly ever met me, you're on the show."
Greg: People are saying that you're A-list now.
Kathy: (laughs) I know I'm still D-list. Like for this event, they told me I could only bring one person. You know Annette Benning could bring 10 people if she wanted to. So, I'm reminded on a daily basis of how D-list I still am.
Greg: It must be very humbling.
Kathy: Yeah.
Greg: I remember when you started your show and you were at events trying to get phone numbers from stars for your charity? Is it still that hard for you?
Kathy: Yes. It's that hard. In fact, most celebrities won't give me their home number. And they shouldn't, I don't blame them. I'm actually trying not to beg, borrow and steal so much. I'm not even having my Toys for Tots party this year because I can't take it anymore, the begging the celebrities to come. This is how D-list I am. For the last two years, "Entertainment Tonight" covered my Toys for Tots Annual Christmas Gala and not aired it, because there weren't enough celebrities. So that's D-list. They come to your house, wear the mic pack and they're like, 'Yeah, we're not even gonna air this.' And People magazine came
last year and took pictures then just went, 'No, we're not gonna put any of them in."
Greg: Not even on People.com?
Kathy: No. Not big enough stars.

Greg: Well, you did win an Emmy. Then you said "Suck it Jesus" and caused a big scandal. Kathy: The only thing that makes you feel A-List, is being involved in some sort of a scandal which I've dreamed of my whole career. I've tried to be scandalous and now people finally noticed and it's been a fantastic thing. I was in Time, I was in Newsweek, Entertainment Weekly. And the best part is, all with pictures of me holding the Emmy. So whatever you think of anything I do, the point is, you saw a picture of me holding an Emmy. Greg: When you lost the year before, you kinda caused a scene. This year, did you think about what you'd do if you won? Kathy: Oh, I planned it. Of course. Because when I watch those shows, I always want to see who the person is who's going to get in trouble and say something. I thought, 'I could be that person.'

TOMORROW: Kathy talks about her new boyfriend, her plans for New Year's Eve and why she likes being on "Larry King Live" and "The View."