Las Vegas Weekly

February 12, 2009 · 8:58 AM

Phoenix takes Las Vegas-launched act to unimpressed Letterman

By John Katsilometes

Joaquin Phoenix on the stage at Lavo.

Photo: Michael Muller

Joaquin Phoenix hasn’t quite spruced up his look since his appearance at Lavo last month, when he hip-hopped off the stage during his debut as a rap artist. His brother-in-law, Casey Affleck, was filming the late-night misfortune for a documentary he’s working on, we guess, about fatal career choices.

Phoenix was on “The Late Show With David Letterman" last night in one of the more bizarre appearances ever on Letterman’s program. It rivaled the addled Farrah Fawcett interview from 1997, and (going way back) the Natasja Kinski guest spot, the latter on Letterman’s NBC show in the mid-’80s when Kinski spent the better part of five minutes gazing at her own visage on an off-stage monitor.

Phoenix didn’t name-drop Lavo, so good for them, because he was not the ideal spokesman for the club or even himself last night.

Letterman pointed out that Phoenix was scratching at his beard. Phoenix’s explanation: “It’s a nervous tick.”

Letterman asked about Phoenix’s decision to leave acting and move on to music. “After taking some time off -- and I think you’re taking some time off tonight – I hope you’ll reconsider,” Letterman said. Phoenix answered, “I don’t know. I don’t know. It’s not an easy thing to explain. A big part of my life for a long time. … I don’t know what’ll happen.”

When Phoenix explained that, “I do hip-hop music,” the crowd laughed. “Is that a joke?” Phoenix asked, then questioned Letterman about the audience. “What do you have them on? What do you gas them up with?”

Letterman went on a long, laudatory question about Isabella Rossellini (one of the co-stars in the film “Two Lovers,” which Phoenix was ostensibly promoting) and ended with, “It must have been fun working with her.” (Silence.) “Got any fun stories to tell us?” Said Phoenix: “No. I’m certain something fun happened.”

Phoenix did suggest to Letterman that he’d like to come back to the show and perform. Letterman’s rejoinder: “You know, that seems unlikely … but we’ll keep you in our Rolodex.”

Letterman also chided Phoenix for chewing gum: “I’ll come over to YOUR house and chew gum,” he said, at which Phoenix plucked the gum from his mouth and stuck it under Letterman’s desk.

Letterman ended by saying Phoenix “owes an apology to Farrah Fawcett” and said, “Joaquin, I’m sorry you couldn’t be here tonight.”

Phoenix laughed at that. “That’s funny. You’re a funny dude.” But not as funny as you, Joaquin.

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