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© Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.Joaquin Phoenix's Letterman appearance is instant classic
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noirgaijin
I saw the clip on Yahoo, it was hilarious!
soldave
Is it possible to see this in Japan on TV? Was wondering if it was available on one of the satellite channels.
yabits
The Farrah Fawcett interview that Letterman references at the end was hilarious too.
Frankly, I think Phoenix is putting everyone on, and is proving what a great actor he is.
Dennis Bauer
I think he should stay off the LSD, looked like a bad trip to me
PuffinMuffin
hard to believe it's the same person who did Gladiator and Walk the line. Into hip-hop now? I thought it was rap, but I can't tell the difference.
spudman
It was an act that Letterman was in on. Great way to get publicity and great laughs.
PuffinMuffin
I just saw it on youtube, Phoenix reminded me of John Belushi on SNL
presto345
I don't believe for one second Phoenix is going hip hop and the whole interview was a hoax :->>
ultradodgy
Lettermen used to be on MSNBC in Japan (I think one show a week, on Saturday?) but that was years ago on Minato cable, which I don't have anymore.
Anyone else know if if Letterman is available in Japan?
Nessie
Two words: Andy Kaufman.
Suzu1
Nessie - You are way too generous in your comparison.
Sarge
Two words: ZZ Top
yabits
It is interesting that Andy Kaufman is mentioned. I think it is very possible that Joaquin Phoenix is conning everyone, and is just acting.
This has certainly given Letterman a ton of press, so David can't be too disappointed about the appearance.
Leopalace
I didn't think it was very funny, one word answers seldom are. I do like him as an actor though, hope he does do more movies in the future.
helloklitty
Save your time. Not worth watching. Not funny at all.
space_monkey
It was sad. If he has mental problems then I don't understand why Letterman makes fun of him to his face rather than show some sympathy or empathy.
I can't wait until he becomes senile and people make fun of him to his face on national TV.
buddha4brains
Instant Classic? Just add whatever Pheonix took I suppose.
It could be a Kaufman, Marx Bros, or a Dada-Surrealist gag, but if he was hopped up, then it is just sad.
Nessie
Crispin Glover did something similar. I don't think drugs for Phoenix, because it's a sustained thing, for Phoenix, not a lark.
xpompey8
Hoax or not, it was hilarious. Classic Letterman
helloklitty
Exactly.
Although I used to be the hugest of Letterman fans, making fun of Phoenix's beard set the tone for the interview and Joaquin just decided he wasn't going to give him anything after that.
Altria
Man, that was crap. Letterman was a unfunny jerk in front of the obligatory whooping American studio audience. Phoenix just looked drugged out.
Sarge
"Letterman was an unfunny jerk"
That's him, all right.
LFRAgain
I dunno. I certainly laughed. And not because I enjoy laughing at people with mental deficiencies. Rather, because Phoenix was very clearly stoned out of his gourd (or at the very least, doing a fine job of acting it out).
Making fun of famous people with mental health issues: Not funny.
Making fun of famous people who are inebriated on national television: Funny.
Letterman didn’t do anything that he isn’t already known for. He’s sarcastic, he pokes fun, and he doesn’t spend an inordinate amount of time blowing sunshine up the behinds of the celebrities he interviews. Everyone knows that going in, and despite that (or perhaps because of that) he’s still the top rated late night host on American television.
Setting the tone with the beard comment? What did he say that was off-color? He commented, “You look different than I remember you,” referring to a prior interview. Nothing wrong with that. What set the tone was Phoenix’s mumbled reply. What continued the tone was Phoenix’s continued incoherence.
For those here who have personal experience with someone suffering from serious behavioral mental health issues, you’re certainly correct in that mocking someone suffering from such is way out of line. However, you should rest assured since Phoenix’s buddy Casey Affleck was following Phoenix around the day of taping, filming his antics with a portable video camera. There’s no mental health issue here. It’s a stunt that went off as well or better than its perpetrators could have predicted.