Top 10 Memorable Talkshow Appearances
Published on November 4, 2007 - 44 Comments
With the talk show occupying so much time on our TV screens, it also occupies an important place in contemporary popular culture. Perhaps its most notable function is the opportunity it provides for famous faces to show off a different persona from what we’re used to used to seeing (be it serious, playful, or totally off-the-wall). It’s also a great way to get celebrities to feel like they’re in a safe zone, allowing the host to coax out new, interesting or embarrassing information. Talk shows allow us to feel a little bit closer to celebrities, and that is why they will always exist: because we will always keep watching.
The following appearances are in chronological order.
1955: Marilyn Monroe on ‘Person to Person’
Edward R. Murrow’s ‘Person to Person’ set the standard for TV celebrity interviews, practically inventing the format in the days of network TV’s infancy. Here his cameras go into the home of Marilyn Monroe and her producing partner Milton Greene, showing a sweet, seemingly very innocent young woman who is excited about her career and perhaps a little bit nervous in front of live cameras. Murrow’s 60+ a day habit is evidenced here by the trademark cigarette locked between his fingers.
1957: Salvador Dali on ‘What’s My Line’
I’m stretching the definition of ‘talk show’ to include panel quiz shows just so this excellent Dali appearance can be included. The legendary surrealist painter, writer and filmmaker walks into the particularly controlled environment of a 1950s television studio, armed with only the words ‘yes’ and ‘no’ at his disposal; very soon the audience is captivated and the panelists - for a time - are completely befuddled.
1974: Peter Sellers on ‘Parkinson’
“There is no me. I do not exist,” said Peter Sellers, when told to ‘be himself’ on ‘The Muppet Show’. Somehow, Michael Parkinson managed to get him to ‘be himself’ for at least some of this interview. Many parts are hilarious, such as the ‘That’s What You Are’ and Lawrence of Arabia stories, while other parts offer a melancholy glimpse into his inner workings, such as when he talks about his past wives. (Probably my favorite of all the clips on this list.)
1987: Crispin Glover on ‘Late Night with David Letterman’
Was Glover high on LSD? Or was he just acting? Either way, he unsettled David Letterman on his own show, an incredible feat in itself. I’d like to think he knew what he was doing, with that wig, those pants, and those shoes…
1991: Members of Queer Nation on ‘The Arsenio Hall Show’
This was actually an appearance by Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee), but a few members of Queer Nation stole the show with their heckling from the audience. They’re not the star of the clip, though - it’s Hall, who starts off with considered retorts, and gradually builds himself into a rage so violent that he practically forgets to interview Hogan. “You don’t see Dan Quayle here! You don’t see Milli Vanilli here!”
1993: Marilyn Manson on ‘The Phil Donahue Show’
Manson appeared on Donahue with bandmates Twiggy Ramirez and Madonna Wayne Gacy to respond to claims that their music was having a negative influence on young people. It appears to be a setup: Donahue and members of the audience hit Manson with tough questions, expecting him to trip up, but his intelligent (and disdainful) replies make him a force to be reckoned with. I don’t particularly like his music, but he’s a very smart guy.
1996: Bee Gees on ‘Clive Anderson All Talk’
The Bee Gees, especially Barry Gibb, don’t take kindly to Anderson’s patented put-downs and storm off the show. Compared to the next clip this seems rather tame, but the witticisms were enough for Barry to get up out of his seat, say “You’re the tosser, pal,” and march off the set with his brothers in tow.
2001: David and Victoria Beckham on ‘Comic Relief: Say Pants to Poverty’
For a segment of the BBC’s 2001 Red Nose Day extravaganza, Ali G conducted this hilarious interview with the Beckhams. It’s basically a roast, a showcase for Sacha Baron Cohen’s quick wit, but both Victoria and David are very good sports about it, and even come up with a few jokes of their own.
2007: Paula Abdul Drunk
I know this is not a talk show - but I couldn’t resist adding this one to the list. Here we see Paula Abdul being interviewed on television regarding the most recent American Idol series. This is serious cringe material. [jfrater]
2005: Tom Cruise on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’
Everybody knows about it, and has seen parodies of it, but the actual appearance is more bizarre and hysterical than a hundred of those parodies combined. This is genuinely odd behavior. A new popular phrase - ‘jump the couch’ - entered the lexicon, and one superstar was never taken seriously again.
Contributor: Barns
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1. Hobolad - November 4th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I was expecting Frank Zappa and the Heather Mills one from a few days ago (Thought that was the reason for this list now).
Good list though!
2. NestorV - November 4th, 2007 at 10:37 am
I’m surprise that the Andy Kaufman/Jerry Lawler confrontaion on David Lettermans show wasn’t on here.
3. goregina - November 4th, 2007 at 11:08 am
What about that odd interview with David Blaine and his eye-hand…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RujsX8bxFWQ
thats a link to watch it
4. Hobolad - November 4th, 2007 at 11:10 am
goregina: Oh yeah! Remember that, ’twas kinda creepy.
5. Safira - November 4th, 2007 at 11:51 am
I was expecting the Tom Cruise one with Oprah when I saw this.
6. StewWriter - November 4th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Though recent (I believe early October) and really only memorable for the fact the David Letterman (my personal favorite) is easily the most calmingly condescending host I can remember, the show where he interviewed Paris Hilton (gag) was as hysterical as it was uncomfortable. All Letterman wanted to talk about was her jail stint and what she learned, and so on, but Hilton consistently avoided much of the questions by looking dour and basically lost and only wanting to promote her newest wastes of time. Letterman, ever persistent, plodded on unabated and at one point even asked Hilton if she was going to cry to which she nodded forlornly. Man, it was just fall down funny to see her squirm. Finally, Letterman conceded and asked her a quick few questions about whatever she wanted and cut to commercial. Best interview of that useless waste of carbon ever!
7. Kelsi - November 4th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Wooow. That one with Tom Cruise was nuts. What do you think he was on? I loved the Salvador Dali one!
8. jfrater - November 4th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Kelsi: I think he was on Scientology
9. jadedink - November 4th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
the one I will never forget is Johnny Carson’s last show. Bette Midler sang to him and he cried.
10. DiscHuker - November 4th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
i gotta agree with nestor that the fight between kaufman and lawler was the only one that i expected.
tom cruise is outta his friggin mind. how creepy/wierd/wtf was that interview?
11. trebek - November 4th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Chuck Liddell of the UFC on Good Morning Texas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huKeNWggSPA
I’m sure anyone who knows who he is has already seen it, but man, Chuck is so out of it. Any grown man should know better than to take ambien at 4 am when you’re going to be on morning television.
12. Barns - November 4th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
NestorV/DiscHuker: the Kaufman/Lawler confrontation is a good catch - totally forgot about that one. Maybe we could add it as a bonus?
StewWriter: that Hilton interview was good stuff, but I figured it was too recent to be really memorable.
Kelsi: that Dali clip is one of the best things I’ve seen on YouTube - if you search for his name, you can see a lot of other good stuff too.
13. Dana - November 4th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Interesting one from Marilyn Manson. I don’t care for his music myself either, but he seems to be fairly intelligent.
14. flaminio - November 4th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
No John Lennon and Yoko Ono on the Mike Douglas Show? You’re slipping, jfrater…
15. Ravyn - November 4th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Salvador Dali has been my favorite artist for as long as I can remember even being into art. Just seeing him on What’s My Line…that just adds so much for me. That is awesome.
16. Barns - November 4th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
flaminio: I couldn’t find a decent clip for Lennon/Ono on Douglas. Certainly memorable, though, especially the random ‘I love you’ phone calling.
17. Denashi - November 4th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Letterman has had many odd and/or funny guests, I think my favorite was when Drew Barrymore danced for and flashed him on his birthday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LYV9AZNlFU
18. pete - November 4th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Hugh Grant on Leno- after the whole… whore thing…
It changed the ratings of late night TV for a decade- it was after this that Leno took over the lead from David… for good.
19. Mary - November 4th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
(The) Late Night(/Show) With David Letterman has had too many crazy interviews - Madonna, Andy Dick, Courtney Love, Drew Barrymore, Richard Simmons, Jerry Lawler/Andy Kaufman, Farrah Fawcett, Paris Hilton, Cher, Harvey Pekar. That could be a list in itself.
20. WearShades - November 4th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
What about the tomahawk incident years back on Johnny Carson? Easily should have been number one.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gD0DV2vPNEQ
21. AnotherEngine - November 5th, 2007 at 6:24 am
I would also add the Sex Pistols on the Bill Grundy Show which led to the “Filth And The Fury” headlines in all the British papers. The Pistols were basically provoked into cursing up a storm.
22. Funny - November 5th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Also, Heather Mills’ outburst on a chat-show the other day was hilarious!
23. JOE ROSSON - November 5th, 2007 at 9:10 am
How about the fight with the skin heads on Geraldo and his nose getting broke from a flying chair.
24. AmazingThor - November 5th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
The Lennons on Dick Cavett
25. AmazingThor - November 5th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
pete- I always heard that the event that pushed Leno to the top was when JFK Jr. appeared
26. teacherman - November 5th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Skinheads on Geraldo must be on this list. I remember rushing home from 8th grade to watch it.
27. Shane S. - November 5th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Hulk Hogan on the Richard Belzer show was memorable too. Hogan put Belzer in a chin lock, and knocked him out cold! Hogan got sued too! lol
28. jfrater - November 5th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Shane: haha brilliant - got a youtube clip?
I am blown away by how many people have extras for the list - well done guys - bring them on!
29. pete - November 5th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Thor-
http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=455
Yeah it was after the Hugh Grant thing that Leno took over the ratings. Also- on a side note- anyone ever see the movie ‘The Late Shift’ ?
30. iain - November 7th, 2007 at 8:34 am
old one where oliver reid appeared on ,think it was parkinson, blazing, was hillarious
31. Barns - November 8th, 2007 at 4:34 am
iain: that would’ve been Aspel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZMXIxIQmPw) - I strongly considered it, but decided the available online clips weren’t good enough to sustain a place on the list. If there was a longer clip out there, it would’ve made it in easily.
That’s a new list idea: tales of Oliver Reed drunkenness. What a man.
32. swampsnake - December 1st, 2007 at 10:40 pm
agreeing sortof with mary above …..when dave letterman had cher on and he asked her why she had refused to come on the show for so long .and she replied because she thought he was an ass…i almost pissed my pants laughing.
33. Tyree - December 9th, 2007 at 2:23 am
Honestly, I don’t understand what the big deal is about Cruise’s couch-jumping. It really doesn’t strike me as that weird. I mean, my impression was just a really hyper guy, talking his new girlfriend up as much as possible, trying to make the biggest statement he could. I didn’t really think it was weird, or freaky, or anything–after all, the man’s an actor.
As for the scientology stuff, I really don’t think it’s that serious. I mean, scientology sucks hairy butt, but I have trouble believing that it’s anything other than a publicity stunt with Cruise.
34. Slammerworm - January 4th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Tyree: It’s weird because he’s trying so hard. Methinks he doth rejoice too much. If a buddy did that in my lounge, I’d be deeply suspicious regarding the veracity of his claims. Also, any publicity stunt which seriously affects one’s career is invariably dumped with all haste and disowned during the subsequent damage control period (Janet Jackson’s ‘wardrobe malfunction’, etc.). Tom seems to be clinging even closer to his religion. Anyways, sod silly old Tom Cruise (heh-heh-heh. He wishes), how about GG Allin’s appearance on Gerraldo, circa early 1990s. There’s bits of it on the ‘Hated’ DVD and YouTube.
35. davo - January 7th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Tom Cruise is one odd little fellow…
how pathetic are all the women in the crowd!! haha
you should put the John Stamos interview that was on Aussie morning TV, he was quite soused.
36. Sargelegg - January 19th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I saw the crispin Glover interview when it a first on. It was the first thing that entered my mind when I saw the title of this list. I haven’t been able to watch Back to the Future the same way since.
37. KKing - January 26th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Marylin Manson is extremely intelligent…I had realized that his style of music and imagery is a direct mockery of the media in the nineties. And his and his bandmates’ names explain his cause directly.
38. F Roden - January 28th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
What happened to the Tom Cruise clip on Oprat??? I clicked and it said “no longer available”. I guess him and his scientology croonies got it wiped.
39. Polly Odyssey - February 8th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Nooo! The Tom Cruise video! It doesn’t work!
40. Phreznipuf - February 10th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Really good list. I’m actually surprised (although maybe it wasn’t as big as I thought) that Jon Stewart’s ‘interview’ on Crossfire wasn’t included. But seriously, great list
41. Vera Lynn - June 25th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Johnny Carson had on the rat pack. Some one was telling a story and the audience was laughing. What the guy didn’t know was Dean Martin kept flicking his cigarette in the guy’s drink. SOOOO Funny!!!!!!!!
I also liked the tomahawk. One of the longest live audience laugh.
Will never forget Drew Barrymore. The look on Letterman’s face was priceless!