So Joaquin Phoenix last night? With the weirdness? And the mumbling? It was definitely bizarre and uncomfortable, but it’s far from the first time someone’s put on nine pairs of crazypants for his or her Letterman appearance. If anything, it’s something of a tradition, and Phoenix’s performance isn’t even the mumbliest, grimiest, or just plain strangest of the bunch.
You want weird? Crispin Glover will give you weird.
Hey, don’t worry that Joaquin seemed a little spaced out. Compared how Farrah Fawcet seemed on her ill-fated appearance, he was the world’s most focused, lucid human.
Harmony Korine was definitely less coherent then Phoenix, though Dave’s dad-like irritation at insolence is in full force. Remember, kids, if you’re going on Letterman, put on a suit and dont chew gum.
I don’t think I’d really call that a classic so much as a personal pick. Actual classics, including the It’s-Obvious-But-I-Have-To-Mention-It Madonna Meltdown after the jump….
Andy Kaufman and Jerry Lawler! (Warning: The audio’s NSFW, unless your office loves cursing.) Yes, it was staged, but at the time it seemed real! Or so my ancestors tell me.
Also getting on the What The Hell train: Harvey Pekar. I particularly like this clip because you can see how rattled and argumentative Dave is, compared to how bemused and in control he seems with Joaquin.
Oh yeah, the Great Madonna Craziness of 1994, with additional NSFW potty language:
Man, the 90s were a wild time. Just ask Drew Barrymore. Or her bare breasts:
Whew, that was a lot of David Letterman. When you think late-night meltdown, what comes to your mind?
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ALL OF YOU. JUST LEAVE JOAQUIN ALONE!@??!@?!@#$(*&^!@
Crispin Glover is classic. So funny when he almost kicked Dave in the head.
There are no words.
Note to self: Watch David Letterman
I predict that will be a new catchphrase.. “For $%#@!s sake leave Joaquin alone!” lols. I love the guy and wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise but this is an obvious stunt.
The Oliver Reed interview is quite amazing. You can practically feel the anger and contempt he has with Dave’s questions regarding his drinking binges oozing through your TV screen.
I haven’t seen the Madonna clip in forever, and she’s completely smashed
As you all saw. The guy is looking for attention. If he did not want people talking about him good or bad well then maybe he should not have gone on Letterman. It is like all the dumb A$$ goth kids that get so pi$$ed that you look at them on the subway. You know what if you don’t want people looking and talking and pointing don’t stick a bolt in your nose.
I like Mr. Phoenix, but based on what people are saying about his Letterman appearance, perhaps he’s just discovered that wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing of a drug: Reefer! Seems like a dude who makes his living on the public’s dime would have a little more foresight…..
I haven’t seen these clips in ages. I laughed my a$$ off. Dave is the greatest, even when he loses his temper.
Don’t know if this is a coincidence but Cracked.com just did a post with a bunch of these.
it has always boggled by mind that leno normally scores higher in the ratings than letterman, especially with celebrity weirdo moments like these happening so often on letterman. even without these moments, i much prefer dave’s snarky, self-deprecating, intelligent humor to leno’s anyday, especially knowing that a different “dave” can show up any day. could it be the tempermental, impatient dave? the one who is humbled by the work of his heart surgeons and the hudson river plane flight crew? or the one who rips a new one for modern day celebrity like “the hills” cast?
Phoenix is sick. And the “act”, the “joke”, it’s no longer funny. It’s sad. Maybe every member of the Phoenix family is destined towards unhappy and unfunny endings. But this whole routine is just sad, and it’s really at the point of being a trainwreck, one I’m not interested in anymore.
Joaquin has always been nervous when speaking on any show about his movies. He’s said this in the past. He also doesn’t talk much anyways. I think he’s fed up with Hollywood and who can blame him. I love Joaquin and eff david letterman.