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Trying to remember an awkward guest from the old "Late Night" days

posted 10 years ago by pgaule
15 replies | jump to latest

I know this isn't the "Late Night" board, but I figure this board is more likely to know the answer (assuming I'm not crazy).

A long time ago (late 90's or early 2000's), I remember watching an episode of Late Night where Conan interviewed this insanely awkward independent film director. I tuned in during the middle of it, and it was such a train wreck, that I thought Conan was doing some kind of skit. I remember looking up the director in question and being shocked that he was a real person.

I don't remember anything in particular about the interview. It was just a painful exchange where the person would barely answer any questions. He seemed extremely introverted, shy and indifferent to the entire experience. From what I recall, Conan took it pretty easy on the guy in spite of the awkwardness.

I don't know why, but this interview popped into my mind recently and I've been trying to identify who it was. It sticks out in my mind as one of the most bizarre interviews I've ever seen on a talk show. However, I can't find any other mention of this interview on the web.

Did this actually happen, or is my mind playing tricks on me? Anybody else remember this?

And no...I am not thinking of Joaquin Phoenix on Letterman...although it approached that level of weird.

[–] cold_sky 10 years ago

Spitting image of Kristen Stewart. 

(But no, I don't know, I didn't watch Late Nite.)

Could it be this guy? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_de_Cordova

[–] lucreti5 10 years ago

It was Abel Ferrara.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr2RIzgr8GY

(Denis Leary, Abel Ferrara, Crash Test Dummies - 10-23-1996)

[–] JuniorMints 10 years ago

It was Abel Ferrara.

Excellent memory lucreti5!!!

I never heard of the guy until you mentioned his name and I looked him up just now.

It seems I've seen a couple of his movies. "Bad Lieutenant" and "King of New York".

It's been many years since I've seen them, but as far as I can remember they were both pretty weird, dark movies......now I see why!!!! 

[–] pgaule 10 years ago

I don't think Abel was who I had in mind...whomever this was, he was a lot more like Woody Allen...a total lanky, nerd.

At this point, I am almost convinced that I am mis-remembering what I saw or this happened on another talk show.

[–] pgaule 10 years ago

I finally figured this out by going through episode guides - It was Todd Solondz - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001754/. According to imdb, he appeared on Late Nite with Conan O'Brien twice...once in 1998 and the second time in 2002. Unfortunately, I can't find video of either interview, but I can assure you that it would have been legendary if youtube existed 16 years ago.

If you look up any interviews with this guy you can probably get an idea of how bad the interview was. As I recall, Conan was his usual giddy self, and this dude just seemed depressed, paranoid and uncomfortable for the duration of it. I would give my left nut to find a clip of this train wreck.

[–] JuniorMints 10 years ago

I've seen a few of Solondz's movies. They are very different but quite good. I don't know that they would appeal to everyone but I liked them. And yes, Solondz is an extremely strange guy. I'd be interested to see that interview.

The Solondz movies that I recommend:

Happiness
Life During Wartime
Dark Horse
Storytelling

Conan is actually in 2001's Storytelling for a brief cameo scene.

[–] cold_sky 10 years ago

It really does sound like an interesting interview to watch. Either really funny or really awkward but I hope Conan keeps it entertaining.

[–] the_moolag 10 years ago

Checked out his imdb. Now I'm interested.

[–] jhandy83 10 years ago

This is a great thread, it reminded me of an another awkward interview from the old late night days. I remember they had on a beer expert, i think in the late 90's or early 00's, where the guy seemed to be completely piss drunk. He was slurring his words and could barely form a whole cohesive sentence, and halfway through the conversation Conan noticed the man's fly was down, and the guy struggled with the zipper but couldn't quite get it up all the way. I don't remember what Conan said, but he had a field day with the guy,I just remember it being one of the most hilarious, and painfully awkward things I've ever seen on TV. I miss those late night days when you would get these crazy interviews once in awhile, just because of the variety of different type of people he would have on the show.

[–] the_moolag 10 years ago

Oh wow I actually remember this! He kind of looked like Col. Sanders am I right? I didn't think it was awkward at all. It was very hilarious though and the guy likes like he was enjoying what he was doing. I can imagine though, that he has an alcohol problem. I would help look for it next week when I have access to my laptop.

[–] jhandy83 10 years ago

Yes your right, he did look kind of like an overweight Col. Sanders, lol! I'm glad someone else remembers that, it was one crazy interview. Maybe awkward was the wrong word, i just meant it was kind of painful to watch, i had never seen someone so drunk and completely unprepared for an interview. Also Conan was a bit merciless making fun of the guy, which was hilarious, but i felt kinda bad for him at the same time. It was well deserved though he went on TV sloppy drunk, it was comedy canon fodder. If you could find that it would be amazing, i looked around a bit but could not find anything.

[–] the_moolag 10 years ago

Okay so I have a lead. I found out his name is Michael Jackson. He's also known as the beer hunter. Apparently he had already passed(RIP). We're kind of wrong about looking like Col. Sanders. He looked more like Donald Sutherland's character in Beer fest.

[–] pgaule 10 years ago

LOL, well I found a clip of the drunken beer taster at least -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqK12BJlfpE

[–] JuniorMints 10 years ago

Ha Ha!!!

That's a good clip. Never saw that one.

I'm not sure where you would even get beers like that. Golden Shower? 

It was also funny (for some reason) that he was serving the beer in brandy snifters.

Having Lovitz there certainly helped too!!!

[–] thgl619 10 years ago

The guy actually had Parkinson's so watching that interview now is a little bit cringe worthy with all the "how many beers you've had today" thing.

Having said that...I still laughed.

But my favorite of these is the one with the bread guy. Just priceless.