Latest news with #talk show
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joaquin Phoenix apologises for ‘horrible' David Letterman interview: ‘I'll never do it again'
Joaquin Phoenix has apologised and offered an explanation for his infamous appearance on David Letterman's talk show in 2009. On his recent appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, the Oscar-winner brought up the 2009 interview where he appeared in character from Casey Afleck's mockumentary I'm Still Here. The interview, in his shaggy beard, unruly hair, and sunglasses and following an announcement where the Joker star said he was retiring from acting to pursue a career in rap, led many to believe Phoenix was having a mental breakdown. Portions of the interview along with Letterman's befuddled reaction, with his memorable ending ('Joaquin, I'm sorry you couldn't be here tonight'), were even used in I'm Still Here. The Oscar-winner brought up the 2009 interview with David Letterman where he appeared in character from Casey Afleck's mockumentary I'm Still Here. (Magnolia Pictures) 'When I came on this show with Dave, I originally did the pre-interview in character and I realised that it was just a little silly, so I called them back and I said, 'Listen, this is what I'm doing. I'm coming out here and I'm doing this whole thing,' Phoenix told host Colbert. 'And I just want Dave to like, lacerate me. I just want it to be really dangerous. That was the kind of intention…I just always wanted to get this reaction and see how I would respond to that. So it was beneficial for no one to know, except when needed.' Admitting however, that the interview itself was 'horrible,' Phoenix added: 'It was strange because in some ways, it was a success, and it was also just one of the worst nights of my life. 'It was so uncomfortable. I regret it, I'll never do it again. I'm so sorry.' The actor did end up apologising to Letterman in 2010 when appeared on the late-night talk show again. 'I hope I didn't offend you in any way,' he said at the time. 'You've interviewed many, many people and I assumed that you would know the difference between a character and a real person, but I apologise.' Letterman even jokingly brought up the fact that the interview made it to the film and even asked for a million dollars for his role. 'We've made 75 cents on this movie,' Phoenix had responded at the time. In 2017, during an interview with Howard Stern, Letterman clarified that he was in on the joke. 'I knew what he was doing ahead of time,' he said. 'I did enjoy it because it was, you know, like getting your work in on the heavy bag. It was just easy. It was batting practice.' In 2017, during an interview with Howard Stern, Letterman clarified that he was in on the joke (Letterman/YouTube) Phoenix can be seen next in Midsommar director Ari Aster's Eddington, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to a massive standing ovation. The film has been described as a state-of-the-nation comedy that riffs on Covid, cults and the white saviour complex. It stars Pedro Pascal and Emma Stone alongside Phoenix. In a four-star review of Eddington for The Independent, critic Sophie Monks Kaufman wrote: 'This is Aster's funniest film to date, and makes use of an ever expanding and shifting cast to dot the 150-minute runtime with well-observed comic details and visual payoffs. These often riff on the deadpan reactions of the Black and Native American characters to Joe and his meathead deputy. 'Aster's enduring preoccupation with the paranoid universes we build in our minds takes on a less sympathetic, more malign aspect when this self-absorption wears a law enforcement badge and carries a rifle.' Eddington is slated for a US theatrical release on 18 July, with a UK date yet to be confirmed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joaquin Phoenix Regrets 'Uncomfortable' 2009 Letterman Appearance: 'One Of The Worst Nights Of My Life'
More than 15 years ago, Joaquin Phoenix was responsible for one of the internet's earliest viral moments when he appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman in character. The Oscar winner recently recounted his 'horrible' Feb. 11, 2009 appearance on the talk show, which came after he did the pre-interview in character for his Casey Affleck-helmed mockumentary I'm Still Here (2010), which saw Phoenix quitting acting to pursue a hip-hop career. More from Deadline Random House Acquires David Letterman Producer Daniel Kellison Comedy Memoir 'I'm On The Moon' 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman' Renewed For Seasons 6 & 7 At Netflix 'Eddington' Trailer: Joaquin Phoenix Gets Into Standoff With Pedro Pascal In A24's Covid-Era Western From Filmmaker Ari Aster 'I realized that it was just a little silly, so I called them back and I said, 'Listen, this is what I'm doing. I'm coming out here and I'm doing this whole thing,'' he explained on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. ''And I just want Dave to like, lacerate me. I just want it to be really dangerous,'' Phoenix continued. 'That was the kind of intention… I just always wanted to get this reaction and see how I would respond to that. So it was beneficial for no one to know, except when needed.' Although he recalled the interview was 'horrible,' Phoenix noted, 'It was strange because in some ways, it was a success, and it was also just one of the worst nights of my life.' The Eddington actor said the appearance 'was so uncomfortable,' adding: 'I regret it. I'll never do it again. I'm so sorry.' I'm Still Here grossed $626,396 worldwide and holds a 53% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, panned as 'disturbing' and 'painful to watch.' Following the film, Affleck settled lawsuits brought by producer Amanda White and director of photography Magdalena Gorka, alleging sexual harassment, infliction of emotional distress and breach of oral contract. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'Stranger Things' Season 5 So Far 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Joaquin Phoenix reflects on ‘horrible' Letterman interview that the actor calls ‘one of the worst nights of my life'
Joaquin Phoenix on "The Late Show with David Letterman" on February 11, 2009. John Paul Filo/CBS/Getty Images via CNN Newsource Joaquin Phoenix used a talk show appearance to apologize for a past talk show appearance. On Tuesday's episode of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' Phoenix talked about the famous 2009 interview in which he was interviewed by David Letterman while in character from his mockumentary, 'I'm Still Here.' The Letterman appearance went so badly that some wondered if Phoenix was having a breakdown, and it led to Phoenix apologizing later for the incident, which also ended up in his movie. On Tuesday night, the star said that he originally did the pre-interview in character and 'I realized that it was just a little silly, so I called them back and I said, 'Listen, this is what I'm doing. I'm coming out here and I'm doing this whole thing.'' 'And I just want Dave to like, lacerate me. I just want it to be really dangerous,'' Phoenix said. 'That was the kind of intention… I just always wanted to get this reaction and see how I would respond to that. So it was beneficial for no one to know, except when needed.' The interview ended up being 'horrible' he said. 'It was strange because in some ways, it was a success, and it was also just one of the worst nights of my life,' he added. Colbert wondered if Letterman might be watching and Phoenix noted that if he was, he wanted to say 'I'm sorry.' 'It was so uncomfortable,' the 'Joker' star said. 'I regret it. I'll never do it again. I'm so sorry.' Letterman retired from his show in 2015 and was replaced by Colbert. Phoenix is currently starring in the film 'Eddington.'
CNN
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Joaquin Phoenix reflects on ‘horrible' Letterman interview that the actor calls ‘one of the worst nights of my life'
Joaquin Phoenix used a talk show appearance to apologize for a past talk show appearance. On Tuesday's episode of 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,' Phoenix talked about the famous 2009 interview in which he was interviewed by David Letterman while in character from his mockumentary, 'I'm Still Here.' The Letterman appearance went so badly that some wondered if Phoenix was having a breakdown, and it led to Phoenix apologizing later for the incident, which also ended up in his movie. On Tuesday night, the star said that he originally did the pre-interview in character and 'I realized that it was just a little silly, so I called them back and I said, 'Listen, this is what I'm doing. I'm coming out here and I'm doing this whole thing.'' 'And I just want Dave to like, lacerate me. I just want it to be really dangerous,'' Phoenix said. 'That was the kind of intention… I just always wanted to get this reaction and see how I would respond to that. So it was beneficial for no one to know, except when needed.' The interview ended up being 'horrible' he said. 'It was strange because in some ways, it was a success, and it was also just one of the worst nights of my life,' he added. Colbert wondered if Letterman might be watching and Phoenix noted that if he was, he wanted to say 'I'm sorry.' 'It was so uncomfortable,' the 'Joker' star said. 'I regret it. I'll never do it again. I'm so sorry.' Letterman retired from his show in 2015 and was replaced by Colbert. Phoenix is currently starring in the film 'Eddington.'
