Top 10 Awkward Celebrity Chat Show Interviews
Top 10, Top 5, List, TV, Interview, Chat show, Talk show, Awkward, Cringe, funny, hilarious, Richard Ayoade, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Channel 4, Helen Mirren, Stephen Colbert, Late Show, Mark Wahlberg, Graham Norton, Meg Ryan, Michael Parkinson, David Blaine, Eamonn Holmes, GMTV, Bruce Willis, The One Show, Grace Jones, Russell Harty, Hugh Grant, Jay Leno, Tonight Show, David Cameron, Jonathan Ross, Nicolas Cage, Terry Wogan, Awkward interview, Awkward guest, drink guest, drunk TV, Controversial, BBC, ITV, Prime time,Top 10 Awkward Celebrity Chat Show Interviews
From the unexpected to the unintelligible. Welcome to WatchMojo UK, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 most awkward celebrity chat show interviews.
For this list, we’ve taken a peek at some of TV’s most toe-curling interviews, including chat show spots, variety show features and segments on major news programmes. All of today’s entries involve either a British interviewer or a British interviewee (or both), but we’re not including standalone investigative documentaries - those are for another day.
#10: Richard Ayoade and Krishnan Guru-Murthy
“Channel 4 News” (1982-)
Leave it to Richard Ayoade to completely deconstruct what an interview should be. An actor and director best known for playing the socially awkward IT technician Maurice Moss in “The IT Crowd”, here he proves how his real-life persona is comically close to his on-screen character. Sat down with Krishnan Guru-Murthy to promote his book in 2014, he continually turns the tables on Krishnan, leaving everyone bewildered by what they’re hearing. But it’s sheer brilliance to watch.
#9: Helen Mirren and Stephen Colbert
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (2015-)
Helen Mirren is notorious for staging the occasional slip up during live interviews, but she really caused a stir when she walked onto “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, in 2016. The then-70-year old Dame waltzed out in front of a live studio audience and showed everyone exactly how much she admires her host. An truly unexpected turn of events, it completely threw Colbert for a few flustered moments.
#8: Mark Wahlberg and Graham Norton
“The Graham Norton Show” (2007-)
Movie tough guy Mark Wahlberg appeared on “The Graham Norton Show” in 2013, on the promo trail for his film “Broken City”. Not unlike many guests on the show, it seemed that Mark had taken advantage of the free booze backstage - but Wahlberg might’ve had one whiskey more than most. We just feel for poor Sarah Silverman, who tries to get through her anecdote, while the audience is clearly focused on Mark’s antics with the host.
#7: Meg Ryan and Michael Parkinson
“Parkinson” (1971-2007)
Meg Ryan captured hearts with her eponymous role in “When Harry Met Sally…”, playing one half of the funny and enigmatic leading couple. But when she sat with Parky in 2003, the on-screen chemistry was in no way comparable. Appearing to take an unusually intimidating stance, Parkinson seemed to be baiting Ryan, while she grew angrier and angrier. Despite famously faking an orgasm, she couldn’t fake her feelings about this conversation.
#6: David Blaine and Eamonn Holmes
“GMTV” (1993-2010)
Back in the early 2000s, David Blaine made his name as a mysterious and enigmatic showman. From being buried alive for 7 days to spending 63 hours in a block of ice, his stunts were unique. And so were his interviews, the most famous of which saw Eamonn Holmes ask the questions. Blaine stopped by GMTV in 2001, to give a series of nonsensical ramblings - rounded off with an all-seeing eye. Eamonn seemed confused, as was everyone else.
#5: Bruce Willis and The One Show
“The One Show” (2006-)
“The One Show” has become quite infamous for its disjointed interviews, often squeezing A-list stars between unrelated investigative features on the state of our recycling bins or off-the-wall local initiatives. But when Hollywood hard man Bruce Willis stopped by, he seemed especially uncomfortable with the set-up. Willis appeared listless and disinterested while promoting “Die Hard 5” - with hilarious results. Charlie Brooker sure went to town with his critique of the clip.
#4: Grace Jones and Russell Harty
“The Russell Harty Show” (1974-82)
Known for her distinctive, androgynous look and unique style, Grace Jones has demanded attention throughout her career - but never more so than here. Appearing as one of three guests on Russell Harty’s talk show in 1981, she reacted rather badly whenever the camera wasn’t aimed at her. With Harty trying - and mostly failing - to maintain order, Jones made sure that all eyes were firmly focussed in her direction. And heaven help anyone who turned their back on her.
#3: Hugh Grant and Jay Leno
“The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (1992-2014)
Back in 1995, Hugh Grant was a global star after fronting “Four Weddings and a Funeral” - and he and Liz Hurley were quite the golden couple. But then Grant was caught with a prostitute on Sunset Boulevard, and the fairytale fell apart. Jay Leno hooked Hugh for his first interview after the incident, and wasted no time in testing Grant’s gall. But the actor affably accepted all blame. The interview marked the first time Leno beat David Letterman’s ratings, such was the global interest in the scandal.
#2: David Cameron and Jonathan Ross
“Friday Night with Jonathan Ross” (2001-10)
Jonathan Ross is no stranger to controversy. The presenter was still on the BBC when David Cameron dared to drop in, but Ross wasn’t all that interested in politics. Instead, he takes a risque route for questioning, and refuses to let up. Following the Thatcher-centric interview, some Tories called for Ross to be sacked and Ofcom received hundreds of complaints. TV repeats of the episode were banned, but you can thank the internet for keeping this clip alive.
#1: Nicolas Cage and Terry Wogan
“Wogan” (1982-93)
Nic Cage has always been one of Hollywood’s most unpredictable personalities. He eats animals based on how they have sex, he once did magic mushrooms with his cat, and he named his youngest son Kal-El, a la Superman. And then there’s this interview with Wogan. Somersaulting onto the set and stripping off midway through the sitdown, Cage cuts a man on a mission - it’s just no one’s quite sure what that mission is. Most of his jokes fall flat, but does it really matter? He’s clearly having the time of his life.
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