The late-night discuss present is one of many final remnants of a bygone period of tv. A pre-social media platform permits viewers to be taught slightly extra about their favourite performers as they share off-the-cuff anecdotes with trusted late-night hosts. The after-hours broadcast implied something might occur–just like the viewers is invited to a midnight social gathering within the Hollywood Hills.
The truth is, except famous in any other case, episodes of late-night discuss reveals are filmed in the midst of the day with all of the tough edges edited out earlier than broadcast. The off-the-cuff conversations aren’t outright scripted, however normally deliberate and agreed upon. The seemingly spontaneous nature of the late-night format is the results of a tightly calibrated operation, so when the next company determined to go rogue, their appearances have been nothing in need of controversial.
10 Joaquin Phoenix (February 11, 2009)
‘Late Present with David Letterman’
Actor Joaquin Phoenix appeared on Late Present with David Letterman to advertise his new movie, Two Lovers, however didn’t arrive within the temper to speak. Hair raveled, and hiding behind a big beard and sun shades, Phoenix appeared uncomfortable and reluctant to make eye contact. Host David Letterman addresses the announcement that Phoenix could be quitting performing, saying he hopes the actor will rethink after a while off, however Phoenix solely fidgets in his chair and mumbles a reply. Phoenix tells Letterman he’s leaving performing to pursue making hip-hop music, eliciting fun from the group that irritates the Joker actor. Ultimately, Phoenix’s one-word replies trigger Letterman to snort on the awkward interview, and close to the tip, famously quips, “Joaquin, I’m sorry you couldn’t be right here tonight.”
Media hypothesis concerning the psychological well being of Phoenix was in full drive after the interview aired, together with curiosity concerning the new music profession. Later, the entire thing was revealed to be a hoax, and the late-night look was part of director Casey Affleck’s upcoming film, I’m Nonetheless Right here. The movie could be a mockumentary chronicling Phoenix’s transition from performing to music whereas trying to discover the trimmings of celeb tradition. Phoenix would return to Letterman’s present roughly a yr later and apologize to the host, making it clear Letterman was not in on the joke.
Late Present with David Letterman
- Launch Date
- August 30, 1993
- Forged
- Paul Shaffer
- Major Style
- Comedy
- Seasons
- 22
Late Present with David Letterman shouldn’t be presently accessible to stream within the US.
9 Andy Kaufman (July 28, 1982)
‘Late Night time with David Letterman’ 
Nonetheless within the throes of his wrestling profession, Andy Kaufman agreed to be on Late Night time with David Letterman together with his on-screen rival, Jerry “The King” Lawler. Kaufman and King lately “fought” each other, and this might be the primary time they’d be nose to nose because the match. Kaufman seems in a neck brace and initially stays calm whereas King insults him, however as soon as it’s clear King doesn’t intend to offer Kaufman the apology he got here for, the dialog grows heated. King finally stands and slaps Kaufman out of his chair, sending the rest of the phase right into a profanity-laden verbal assault from Kaufman till it nearly turns into violent for a second time.
Letterman didn’t miss a beat throughout their trade, firing one-liners with exactly excellent timing whereas the chaos unfolded. That’s, except the chaos was deliberate. With out delving too far into conspiracy concept territory, skilled wrestling is a pre-determined sport, that means Kaufman and King have been working collectively throughout their wrestling rivalry, and would assumably be doing the identical factor on Letterman as effectively. The combating could have been one other calculated stunt to promote wrestling tickets, however that didn’t cease it from being nice TV.
Late Night time with David Letterman shouldn’t be presently accessible to stream within the US.
8 Abel Ferrara (October 23, 1996)
‘Late Night time with Conan O’Brien’
When Dangerous Lieutenant director Abel Ferrara visited Late Night time with Conan O’Brien, he seemed to be disoriented, blankly trying round on the studio viewers whereas host Conan O’Brien tried to ask softball questions. Ceaselessly speaking over O’Brien or muttering unintelligible responses, Ferrara struggles to remain targeted. At a loss on how one can proceed, O’Brien seems on the studio viewers and jokingly asks, “Is it simply me?”
In 2018, O’Brien would title Ferrara his worst visitor on the podcast Armchair Skilled with Dax Shepard. In keeping with O’Brien, Ferrara really tried to depart the constructing earlier than the interview was to happen, and it took the shepherding of present employees members to get the director again on set. Contemplating the outcome, they may have been higher off letting Ferrara go, however then once more, the cringe-filled phase left an enduring impression on O’Brien and his followers.
Late Night time with Conan O’Brien shouldn’t be presently accessible to stream within the US.
7 Burt Reynolds (October 17, 1994)
‘The Tonight Present with Jay Leno’
All was effectively when Marc Summers, the host of beloved kids’s gameshows like Double Dare begins his phase with The Tonight Present host Jay Leno. The phase had barely began earlier than earlier visitor, actor Burt Reynolds, chimed in with a snarky remark relating to a stunt Summers was concerned in. After a second interruption from Reynolds, Summers–nonetheless smiling– turns to the grumpy actor who was within the midst of a public divorce from actress Loni Anderson. Summers replies to Reynolds politely however finishes with, “I’m nonetheless married, as a matter of reality.” This goes in addition to anticipated. Reynolds throws his mug of water on the Nickelodeon host, and when Summers makes an attempt to do the identical, his mug is knocked away. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed, they usually did the one factor two affordable adults might do: they’d a pie struggle.
Whereas Summers took the brunt of Reynolds’ frustration, it was greater than doubtless Leno’s reference to the late actor’s ongoing divorce in his opening monologue that prompted the foul temper. The pie struggle was a well-intentioned pivot to a phase careening off the tracks into harmful territory, however the introduction of the pies gave the 2 males one other likelihood to make bodily contact, prolonging the altercation. Nobody was banned from future appearances on the present, however it’s nonetheless one of the crucial weird matchups in late-night historical past.
The Tonight Present with Jay Leno shouldn’t be presently accessible to stream within the US.
6 Madonna (March 31, 1994)
‘Late Present with David Letterman’
Madonna got here out swinging when she dropped by The Late Present with David Letterman in 1994. Her first phrases, “I’m solely right here (as a result of) there isn’t a Knicks sport, don’t get excited,” set the tone for a profanity-heavy interview charged with a combative spirit from the singer. Over the course of the interview, Madonna stated f**okay 14 instances, making it probably the most censored late-night program to air. Letterman tried to reign Madonna in, however she continued to push again on cooperating within the deliberate comedy routines she beforehand agreed to.
In keeping with The Late Present phase producer Daniel Kellison, marijuana allegedly performed a job in Madonna’s erratic habits on the present. Making issues worse than what occurred on digicam was the truth that Madonna refused to depart the present after her allotted time was over. This resulted in a single visitor being bumped, and the musical visitor, rock band Counting Crows, able to make their community tv debut, was in peril of the identical. Controversy apart, Madonna’s look ended up being one of many highest-rated reveals of the yr.
5 Howard Stern (November 30, 1995)
‘The Tonight Present with Jay Leno’
On the peak of his media affect, radio discuss present host Howard Stern was all the time going to be a wildcard as a visitor, and his look on The Tonight Present with Jay Leno was no completely different. Stern dropped in to advertise his new e book, Miss America, however the radio host was extra involved with Leno’s rankings. Stern makes an attempt to have the primary lesbian Tonight Present kiss to spice up rankings, however the cameras lower away from any potential exercise on the stage. Later, Stern runs down an inventory of the opposite best-selling books bought alongside his, explaining why they’re all badly written. And that is all earlier than movie critics Gene Siskel and Robert Ebert arrive as the following company.
Leno’s pained face all through the printed serves as a kind of emotional thermometer whereas Stern hijacks the printed. Stern’s presence is so totally disruptive for the complete run of the present that the hooting crowd – clearly there for Stern – solely provides to the chaos. The following day, NBC would subject an apology for the Stern episode and Leno would ban the radio persona from any future visits to The Tonight Present.
4 Dick Cassavetes, Peter Falk, and Ben Gazzara (September 18, 1970)
‘The Dick Cavett Present’
The trio of Dick Cassavetes, Peter Falk, and Ben Gazzara wrestle to get seated, and all of it goes downhill from there on The Dick Cavett Present. The three have been there to advertise their new movie, Husbands, however they allegedly agreed beforehand to not converse to host Dick Cavett. The end result is Cavett’s questions being met with stares or murmured guffawing because the viewers grows extra uncomfortable. Ultimately, the interview devolves right into a literal wrestling match between the three company whereas Cavett briefly exits backstage.
Upon Cavett’s return, he would lastly ask, “Are you guys all smashed?” An article in The New Yorker would affirm sure, the boys have been inebriated on the time of filming, and the movie’s producer was not pleased with the trio’s efficiency on the discuss present. Cavett recollects the producer yelling on the males after the present was over, saying, “I actually must congratulate you. You most likely unsold extra tickets to this film than most films get.”
3 Crispin Glover (July 28, 1987)
‘Late Night time with David Letterman’
Crispin Glover was scheduled to speak about his new film, River’s Edge, however the second he walked onto the stage carrying brightly coloured garments and an apparent wig, a standard interview didn’t appear doubtless. Glover seems in nice misery at the beginning of the phase, turning into agitated when Letterman asks a few earlier tackle the place the younger actor lived. From there, Glover pulls out a crumpled copy of the newspaper, LA Weekly, and reads excerpts from an article that mentions him. Letterman provides up on the interview, however when Glover stands to reveal how sturdy he’s with a kick that lands near the host’s head, Letterman stands up and excuses himself from his personal present.
Though Letterman initially had sturdy phrases when getting back from the break, calling Glover a “goofball” and “some dork from wherever,” Glover would return for future appearances. As for the outfit and wig Glover wore to the interview, the ensemble would completely match what his character Rubin wore within the 1991 indie-comedy Rubin & Ed. When requested concerning the notorious go to to Letterman, Glover has continued to be obscure with the continuously used quote, “I neither affirm nor deny that I used to be ever on the David Letterman present.”
2 Andy Dick (February 2, 2007)
‘Jimmy Kimmel Reside’
Andy Dick managed a number of appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Reside with no issues, however as soon as visitor Ivanka Trump sat down subsequent to the comic, issues arose. Dick begins to the touch Trump alongside the arm earlier than he references glitter on her leg. Dick begins stroking Trump’s leg, inflicting her to uncomfortably however playfully slap his arm, and host Jimmy Kimmel shortly leans over to drag away the comic’s arm. Kimmel then has to depart his seat to extra forcefully transfer Andy away whereas trying to maintain the temper gentle. Sadly, Dick resumes touching Trump, and Kimmel requires the Newsradio star to be escorted from the set. Including to the notoriety is Dick refusing to face, leaving Kimmel to help in carrying the comic off the stage.
After Dick was faraway from the set there have been no additional interruptions. Though Dick was forcibly ejected, he continued to make appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Reside, and safety has (to this point) not been needed on these events. Kimmel acknowledged there have been no laborious emotions between himself and Dick, and chalked the handsy interplay as much as the unpredictable nature of Dick.
jimmy kimmel
- Launch Date
- January 26, 2003
- Major Style
- Comedy
- Seasons
- 14
- Studio
- ABC
1 Bobcat Goldthwait (Could 9, 1994)
‘The Tonight Present with Jay Leno’
Comic Bobcat Goldthwait’s invitation to The Tonight Present with Jay Leno was already below scrutiny earlier than he stepped on the set. Goldthwait lately visited The Arsenio Corridor Present and proceeded to spray paint the set and destroy tools together with furnishings. Initially of Goldthwait’s interview on The Tonight Present, Leno instantly inquired concerning the motive for the comic’s harmful habits. Goldthwait seems to be puzzled, however his actions are a lot clearer when the comic stands, douses his chair with lighter fluid, and units it on fireplace.
Different company could have been impolite or disruptive, however nobody else made a bonfire utilizing workplace furnishings, so Goldthwait stands above the remainder. Goldthwait would years later talk about the notorious interview, admitting he was convicted of arson as fallout from his actions on The Tonight Present. In keeping with Goldthwait, his legal professional suggested him to plead ‘not responsible,’ to which he replied, “Uhh I noticed the footage… You recognize, I’m fairly certain it’s me.”
