Joaquin Phoenix, his face covered with beard and sunglasses, made one of the all-time weird, ranks-with-Crispin-Glover appearances on David Letterman last night. The audience started giggling as soon as Phoenix declined to acknowledge that he wasn’t behaving very sociably — monosyllabic answers, no smiles, avoiding Dave’s gaze. Finally Dave had to break the ice with a joke: "What can you tell us about your days with the Unabomber?" Check it out:
When Dave asked about the actor’s recently-announced move to become a rap-music performer, Phoenix said, "I’d love to be on the show and perform." Dave, by now happily irritated at this disastrous interview, said, "You know, that seems unlikely." By way of farewell, Letterman said, "Joaquin, I’m sorry you couldn’t be here tonight."
What do you think about Phoenix’s appearance (in every way) last night?
For more Letterman/Phoenix: Joaquin Phoenix on Letterman: Real or hoax, that was good TV
I truly think this has to be a prank of some sort. Joaquin is smart and talented, and I find it hard to believe he’s this drugged out. I’m a big fan, so choose to be optimistic.
I must say that I am confused. I think he is a great talent, in movies that is. If this is a prank of sorts, as people say, then I’ve lost all respect for him. If it is a mental or chemical problem, I hope his friends and familt step in soon. This would be an odd prank for a man in his thirties to play – very irrational and immature.
I also believe it must have been a prank. You could see Joachim smiling at the comments. It is too scary to contemplate it not being a joke.
If the host (David) is so disgusted that he had to ask for a commercial break to get rid of you, there was something serious going on.
If Joaquin was trying to win new fans, that didn’t work. If he was trying to lose fence-sitters, that’s a winner!
It was a pathetic showing by, admittedly, a talent. He ruined any respect I had for him, though.
I think Dave was in on it.
If it was for real then, shame on Dave. Looked to me like the man is in the midlle of a breakdown or something like it, Dave justs takes the piss because he’s not getting good interview. Actors are people too and cant always be ‘on’. Good looking out Dave!
All those heavy sighs from Joaquin – I think he must have been horribly nervous and just trying to hold it together – ’cause he also seemed to be f’d up on something. Poor guy….
Your face is covered with glasses and baldness.
wow, sadly I don’t think that was a joke at all, it’s like watching a train wreck. I think was incredibly high on something that didn’t agree with him or we’re going to be reading he had a breakdown of some kind, how sad, what a great actor, something very wrong going on there
Why loose respect if it was a prank?? He had the audience laughing more than most guests I have seen on letterman, exept maybe Robin Williams & other comedians!
And it seemed to me Dave was onto it after a while…
That was just sad. I feel sorry for him, whether it’s a mental breakdown, or drugs, or an attempt at humor, that was just sad.
If you have ever seen him in previous interviews he’s always odd. You can tell it is not his favorite part of the job.
On the one hand, I think it has to be a joke. There were times when it seemed like Dave was kinda in on it. On the other hand, this was an actor who said frogs were coming out of his head during a red carpet interview (remember that?) I wouldn’t be surprised if it were real, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if it were a joke. In any case, I was never a huge fan and I am certainly not one now.
good for him. he’s dismantling the hollywood circus freakshow in one fell swoop by being a normal person and not a monkey. look at it again. he’s just being himself and not pretending to be all excited and into the senseless banter we are all accustomed to paying money to see. Palease! You go, man.
i am huge fan and i really dont know what to think. On one hand I`d love to see him in another movie, i really love this guy, on the other hand, its his life and nobody has right to judge him. He just does what does he want…as I do:), but i`m so lucky i am famous person being in spotlights 24 hours per day. just leave him alone. Being a star is not above fulfill expections of other people