he was on drugs.

Hi Brandon, I think you are going to be in the majority on this one, but....Z

That's why Letterman so much better than Leno. Jay would have freaked out and had the segment edited out before the show was broadcast. Letterman takes it as an opportunity for good TV. It's the best thing since Andy Kaufman appeared on Late Night.

Hi, I agree on Letterman. You can just see him get the drift of where Phoenix is going, and start licking his chops in anticipation of the fun he is going to have. He really is a like a great jazz musician in his ability to go where the music takes him. Thanks.

A better comparison would be Crispin Glover's 1987 Letterman appearance, following on the heels of Glover's turn in Back to the Future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALapHYNSmoA

Hi, Wisco, Thanks. Excellent point, and thanks for thr link. Z

www.thedumbingofamerica.wordpress.com has this video and also a bunch of videos of older, "crazy" appearances by guests on Letterman. Funny stuff.

I was wondering with my psychiatrist friend which drugs he was on. We suspected painkillers, benzodiazapenes, marijuana and horse tranquilizers.

Hi, My wife and I had the same discussion. Not sure of the answer, but I think it safe to conclude it was not an upper.The ones you and your friend described sound like they could make for some scary combinations. Let's hope he isn't involved at that level with them. Thanks. Z

I was wondering a couple of things as I watched in disbelief last night. If Phoenix is truly out of movies and becoming anti-establishment, this could be an act of protest. Often times a contract with a studio requires an actor to make appearances and promote a movie. If Joaquin was forced to appear, after having nothing to do with Hollywood, couldn't this have been him saying to his producers, "You want me to promote this thing? Then watch how bad a decision that will be on your part."

Also, Phoenix's transition from movies to hip-hop is being documented for a film by Casey Afflec. Was this just acting?

Finally, after Phoenix got up to leave, he turned around, took off his glasses and said something to Letterman at the very end. I would love to know what that was. Maybe, "Thanks for playing along."

Hi Fred, Terrific points -- especially the one about protesting a contract that forces him to do such promotional events. The documentary of his transition from actor to hip-hop performer is also an important factor to consider as to whether it was real or artificial. Thanks so much. Z

Phoenix actually did deliver a similar performance on Leno a couple of years ago. At the end of the interview with the obviously-on-drugs actor, Leno said something along the lines of "Well Joaquin, we hope that next time you can actually be here with us..."

Fascinating that Letterman used almost the exact same line. I wonder if Leno will be talking about that tonight. Z

As an educator and a therapist, there are numerous explanations for the behavior of Phoenix. The most logical is that he is simply uncomfortable being interviewed. Celebrities such as Brando, Pacino and DeNiro have done similar interviews.
I also believe that Letterman was extremely rude and "got the cheap laughs" at another's expense.

Hi, thank you for this insight. My wife was offended by Letterman's mockery in much the same way you describe. But let me counter by saying you do not wind up on these shows by accident. Your "people" -- managers, publicists, handlers -- have to push to get you on in many cases, and you are expected to "perform." If what you say about Phoenix is correct, he should not be going on the shows. And that means he should be willing to forgo the money that goes with the movie contract that includes such appearances. Thanks for expressing this point of view so well. I think it is a great comment on the tendency to enjoying being mean in our culture. Z

Well there are 3 possible explanations for this: 1.) He's acting and doing a damn good job of it, 2.) first psychotic break which could end up being schizophrenia (age 34 it's a possibility)... 3.) drug-induced psychosis. I am thinking it's either 1 or 3 b/c that appearance took a long time to cultivate (beard, hair, suit etc.) which wouldn't just happen by doing drugs for the last 24 hours.

If another actor had taken on this "role", it would have been both more believable and funny. The fact that Joaquin's brother River died in front of him with a drugstore in his system makes the out-of-my-mind angle more uncomfortable than funny. And if you saw the film Walk the Line, you know that Joaquin can sing, which disproves the entire bad rapper angle. Either way, people should stop paying attention to this poorly developed sideshow.

Hey- I think some of you folks have no sense of humor. I am a fan of some his work. However, Joaquin is an adult who can make "grown up" decisions. If he chooses to go on a show and act like a fool, then he should expect to be made fun of. If, he is attempting to look "out of touch" in order to attract a new audience, then I suppose he got what he wanted. I am sick of this attitude that actors are so delicate that they can not handle the decisions that most working people deal with everyday.

Of course, there's always that age-old PR philosophy that "there's no such thing as BAD publicity." My guess is that Joaquin's performance on Letterman will have viewers flocking to the theaters. And he'll be laughing all the way to the bank.

i'd say it's #1 and i'd extend that to say 'playing people to be a bunch of fools' to think any more of it.

he's a good actor, but nobody is that good. that guy was one notch above catatonic. he suffered a breakdown of some kind, you can book it. and did you notice his lips under that fur as he mumbled? very dry and cracked. i have no idea what that means. just an observation.

It's a act and not a very good one. You can see Joaquin crack a smile or two at Dave's comments.

The "documentary" mentioned above has also been likened to a "Borat"-esque mockumentary.

I'm sure the Late Show staff made Dave aware of this. Still, a great job by Dave.

I think it was all an act. Isn't he making some sort of mockumentary on being a rapper? Maybe this was part of that whole thing?

I think that he is just bored with the sanitised, repressed and uncultured situation of American television and the media per se - Letterman set the philistine tone with an opening joke about Pheonix's beard, for god's sake. We should remember the censorship of Bill Hick's on Letterman - not to mention the destruction of anyone who had an authentic voice - think of Lenny Bruce. I think Phoenix seemed incredibly bored and went through the motions to fulfill the contract... but he did not play Letterman's game. I hope he gets his lawyer to sue every news source who confused his obvious authenticity with madness.

My opinion is that he's pulling a "Tony Clifton" and having his cousin Casey Affleck tape it for art's sake.

Sad, but true. He is a tweeker. I know people who know him.
Even after what happened to his brother. The lesson is once a person does addictive drugs, it then owns the person.

Oh Joaquin- the consumate actor. He was playing a part- that of I'm nervous and hate being interviewed but it's part of my contract- he may have been on some downers to help with the anxiety but I doubt he was really stoned. I love him, always have and always will, no matter what he does for his living. I'm glad he made Dave squirm a little.

Dr. L. -

"Letterman set the philistine tone with an opening joke about Pheonix's beard, for god's sake."

It is a comedy show (and Mr. Letterman's act/persona is a known quantity) and if you didn't see my comment before your post was published, Mr. Phoenix's appearance and behavior is all an act.

"We should remember the censorship of Bill Hick's on Letterman"

You can't throw out that comment without stating that 1) it happened in 1993 2) Letterman aired the entire previously unseen Hick's segment last week and 3) apologized to Mr. Hick's mother in person and on the air.

"I hope he gets his lawyer to sue every news source who confused his obvious authenticity with madness."

It is unfortunate we live in such a litigious society that you'd think of such a thing.

Again, it's all an act.

The digital transition has been moved to june.

That is correct. But the two channels we wrote about are changing over on Tuesday anyway. That is the point of the story -- even though the switchover has been moved to June, that is not the case on these two stations and 498 across the country. Z

Letterman should have simply thrown the bum off the stage. There was a time when performers, be they young or elder, were pros. They respected the audience, who after all, do pay to see these so called "performers" in their shows or movies.

This must be a PR stunt.

He is a big star and therefor properly managed. His people would have never let him appear like this.

It all ties into something.

What? TBD

The joke will be on us.

I have watched this segment online and am starting to have flash backs of when Leo Pluradon had a melt down at the opening of our local hall/shhoting gallery. I am reminded of this after seeing the interview as I thought Leo was putting it on, but weeks later he was 2 fingers short of a high five (whatever that means) and the guy was off the reso. This really makes me re-think my goal to get into the movie business.... I mean I dont want to look like grizzly adams on smack! Its the truth! Oh Yeah!! Candy Mountain loves Letterman - Believe it!!

Hi Z,

Personally I cannot tell whether or not Joaquin is doing this "rap career" as a publicity stunt. And why does he look like Charles Manson?

Hey Alex, Good to hear from you again. Thanks. Z

Instead of berating the guy we should be hoping he gets some help...a close friend who was never really a "tweaker" developed schizophrenia shortly after shortly after finishing his postgraduate work...very sad case, but his demeanor was much the same, he choose to self medicate with alcohol, I would not be surprised if its the same case here...drugs will do this too though..either way the poor guy needs help, not to be made fun of..if he wasnt a talented actor he may be one of the people some of you scurry past on your way to Starbucks...laying in the ground mumbling to himself...sad very sad

I think Letterman is a jackass for making a total mockery out of him in public...fully knowing something is very wrong! How very sad! Joaquin is one of the most talented people I have seen in the past 10 years. Give HIM a break people! He is...human.

You can have this kind of fun every day on the Howard Stern show. Babbabooey!!

I first heard about Phoenix wanting to get into rap music from a website called i-mockery.com. It was talked about there for about a month ago. That piece is still up if you wanted to see it. So I knew he was beginning the long slide to ruin since then. Too bad.

Don't they warm up guests - or at least get some sense of where they're at and where they're going - ahead of time in the Green Room? It makes me wonder whether this was a put-up job. My initial impression - from a layman's perspective, but aware that he does not come from the most stable of environments - was that this guy appeared seriously depressed; possibly naturally, possibly pharmaceutically. Was an answer ever turned up to a prior post asking what JP said to DL as he was departing the stage?

No answer to last question yet...and I have been trying. As to Green Room, producers usually do try to get a reading, but with a big enough star, they can demand privacy through their handlers. Good questions. I will stay on the last question about departing words. Thanks Z

i feel kind of sorry for Joaquin Phoenix because he does seem genuinely disoriented and Letterman gave him a hard time about it

I think Letterman came off as a jerk.

Why do people REALLY care about whether or not it was a stunt or reality? Are there investors in a secret Joaquin Phoenix stock who stand to benefit or lose from his display. All I know is, a friend told me to take a look...I looked...and thought it was rather HILARIOUS!

Are there any lip readers out there that can read JP's lips to see what he said as he retreated from the "Hot Seat" ? I am a huge fan of JP and think he is a remarkable actor.
Enjoyed reading all of your comments!

Hi Deb, Thanks for the comment. I don't think anyone got a good enough look behind all that beard. Z