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| lshap |
 Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:33 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 4248
Location: Montreal
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Joe Vitus wrote: Gotta disageee, Lorne.
I loved it. I loved that he didn't play the typical PR game and made Letterman struggle to fill airtime. Did he disrespect the audience? I didn't feel disrespected, but then I'm not a regular viewer.
You can't schedule an appearance on a major talk show, show up backstage and walk on at the appointed time, and then claim to be above the PR game. Had he made his own clip, had he paid for his own weird advertising, had he been an asshole on his own time and on his own dime, I would've defended his right to be a nutcase. Co-opting someone else's show on someone else's time is just ill-mannered and self-absorbed.
The fact that it's a top hit on Youtube only proves we love watching traffic accidents. |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:47 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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| Joe--I'm genuinely appalled that you support Phoenix's rudeness, which was not only uncivil but also repulsively childish. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:56 pm |
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Lorne, I agree with what you said about Defiance, but I don't share your opinion of it. It could have been a great picture. It is a great, interesting and virtually unknown story. Unlike you I had learned about the story when the film came out so I knew how it ended up. I thought the picture delved into some almost kitchy hollywood type turns that really took the edge of it for me. I'm glad I saw it, but it disappointed me.
Quote: Saw Defiance last night and broke my moratorium of Holocaust films. Yes, I thought The Reader was one of the best films of last year, but though the Holocaust looms in the background of the story, it's an anchor you know is there but never actually see. I usually avoid Holocaust films because, first of all, I've seen plenty of 'em. I know the particulars; really don't need to see more evil Nazis. I also think it's too easy to mine drama from this same well; The Holocaust was a source of unlimited suffering, it doesn't then follow that it has to be a source of unlimited films.
You and I are of one mind when it comes to holocaust movies. I don't go to any and haven't for quite some time.I knew this wasn't a holocaust movie, it was people trying to get away from the holocaust. With some editing i think it may improve a lot. |
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| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:01 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 14498
Location: Houston
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billyweeds wrote: Joe--I'm genuinely appalled that you support Phoenix's rudeness, which was not only uncivil but also repulsively childish.
How dare one be uncivil and childish...on David Letterman! |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:01 pm |
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| As far as the Letterman discussion, I don't think he was thrown off at all, or very much, with Joaquin's antics (if they were). It gave him an opening for a number of very funny jibes. |
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| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:04 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
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Location: Houston
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Letterman's part of the Plastic Media Complex. Wathing Phoenix was like watching Abie Hoffmann on Phil Donahue. Or Colbert on O'Reilly. It was great. The chewing gum thing, particularly.
Letterman saying "I'll come over to your house some night and not talk" was pretty weak, and showed Letterman losing his cool. Which was also fun. |
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| mo_flixx |
| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:14 pm |
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Joined: 30 May 2004
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As far as I know, shows like Letterman and Leno do have rehearsals and run-throughs, so I can't imagine Phoenix's antics were totally unexpected.
I still haven't watched the footage.
As to its relation to the movie "Two Lovers" and Phoenix's part as a disturbed young man, the film was made around the 2007-2008 holiday season. So that's another thing to take into consideration. |
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| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:21 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
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Location: Houston
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Letterman has made a career out of being obnoxious and/or condescending to his guests. Why anyone would be bothered that Phoenix gave him the same in return is beyond me.
And my guess is that Letterman's ratings have probably gone up since then, so it's win-win for everyone. |
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| Nancy |
| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:33 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 4607
Location: Norman, OK
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| I did like it when Letterman said to Phoenix, "I wish you could have been here tonight." |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:49 pm |
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| Joe, your comments about Letterman are telling. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:05 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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mo_flixx wrote: As far as I know, shows like Letterman and Leno do have rehearsals and run-throughs, so I can't imagine Phoenix's antics were totally unexpected.
Having worked on shows like these, I know they don't. They have rehearsals for the band and musical guests but that's all. In the days when skits were done, those were rehearsed as well. But the so-called couch guests show up right before the taping. And they are taped live with a seven second delay. So what you see is exactly what happens.
Letterman makes it a habit not to meet the guests prior to their entrances. He does this to keep the spontaneity alive. What he does do is visit with his audience prior to taping. Sometimes you can tell that by some in-jokes with them once the show has begun.
I don't know what Leno's habit's are. But generally speaking rehearsals are the same as they are for Letterman. That said, I don't think -- and this is just my opinion, that he wouldn't have been able to handle Phoenix with the aplomb that Letterman did. It's what makes Letterman a genius and Leno just another comedian with a talk show. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:10 pm |
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| You've got good taste in talent, Marj. No wonder they liked you so much when you paged (is that the term) the Carson show. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:11 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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| Thanks Gary. And yes, that's the term, all right. |
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| mo_flixx |
| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:55 pm |
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Joined: 30 May 2004
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Marj wrote: mo_flixx wrote: As far as I know, shows like Letterman and Leno do have rehearsals and run-throughs, so I can't imagine Phoenix's antics were totally unexpected.
Having worked on shows like these, I know they don't. They have rehearsals for the band and musical guests but that's all. In the days when skits were done, those were rehearsed as well. But the so-called couch guests show up right before the taping. And they are taped live with a seven second delay. So what you see is exactly what happens.
Letterman makes it a habit not to meet the guests prior to their entrances. He does this to keep the spontaneity alive. What he does do is visit with his audience prior to taping. Sometimes you can tell that by some in-jokes with them once the show has begun.
I don't know what Leno's habit's are. But generally speaking rehearsals are the same as they are for Letterman. That said, I don't think -- and this is just my opinion, that he wouldn't have been able to handle Phoenix with the aplomb that Letterman did. It's what makes Letterman a genius and Leno just another comedian with a talk show.
Thanks, Marj.
However, I would still think that Dave would have rough outline he follows with the guests. Most guests are there to plug their latest projects. Wouldn't the guests (or their reps.) say to Dave or the writers, "OK, here's the stuff to cover. These topics are what we want to emphasize. These are the topics (a personal relationship for example) we don't." Don't the writers & Dave come up with stuff for him to ask the guests? Doesn't he go over this at some point beforehand?
Say for example he has 25 possible scripted quips for a guest...and is able to get in 5 of them on the show.
And wouldn't he have gotten the word in advance from an assistant director that Joaquin Phoenix was in makeup or in the green room and acting kind of weird?
Frankly I'm surprised there isn't some kind of rehearsal just for the sake of timing the show and the camera people & TD (tech. director). But at the same time, I can understand that the tech. people have been doing the shows for so many years that they probably don't need a run-through.
I can remember shows, with Kate Beckinsale for example, where I felt that they were following definite outline. Not a script per se; but jumping from topic to topic that had been decided in advance.
Can you fill me in on this? |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:12 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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Sure Mo.
Most guests meet ahead of time with a producer. Or their rep does. If they have a film or show to plug that goes onto a blue card that's handed to Dave with a note about a clip. Same with a particular story or funny anecdote. But and this is a big BUT guests who go on the Letterman show do so at their own peril. And I say with with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Dave likes to go off topic. Of course he always shows the aformentioned clip but he prefers to just chat. Occasionally he'll discuss a pre discussed anecdote but only if he's very bored. And usually you won't see that guest again. And there are those who hate him. A good guest knows that and can go with the flow. Leno sticks with the cards. And he gets a lot of guests Letterman can't. Of course, I much prefer Letterman. And I've never seen him bring up a messy divorce or anything like that. Maybe others have. I haven't. I think he knows the score and just how far to go. I understand back in the day, he was far more irreverent.
Regarding tech rehearsals: They just don't need them. These are pros who have been doing the same show for how many years? And the only reason for band and musical guest rehearsals are for the director and the AD. It let's them know where they want their camera shots to be. And the floor manager, let's Dave know when to roll up an interview. He stand's right in front of him and receives directions via earphones from the director in the booth. He also has a producer sitting near him on the set.
Of course no one really knows what happened with Joaquin Phoenix. I doubt we ever will for sure. But you can bet, you'd never see that on Leno. I didn't see the interview with Kate Beckinsale. I personally find her boring. Maybe Letterman did too.
One last point. Letterman is a terrific listener! If he hears something that he knows a guest wants to discuss, he'll go with it. Or how loose he can be. He does show proper and sometimes not such proper deference to politicos, news people, and certain important people. If you saw Katie Couric the other night, you'll know what I mean. [There was no deference in that interview!] |
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