Funny? Car crash? Both?! MADONNA - LETTERMAN INTERVIEW 1994 (Full interview reaction) 

Former Late Show producer Daniel Kellison wrote about Madonna’s infamous interview in a piece called ‘My Letterman Years’ for ESPN’s (now defunct) Sports and Pop Culture Blog ‘GRANTLAND’ originally published on May 18 2015….here it is: In 1994, if Julia Roberts was the biggest female movie star in the world, Madonna was arguably the biggest female star. At the same time, due to her pioneering promiscuity and her seemingly insatiable interest in surly actors, athletes, and rappers, she was also endless fodder for the tabloids - and late-night hosts. Dave loved her; she was the gift that kept giving. (As he was fond to repeat back then, “I have a theory about Madonna. I think she likes to shock us.”) So we were very surprised when she agreed to come on the show. I spoke with her longtime rep, Liz Rosenberg, and she said Madonna was interested in coming on and basically giving it back to Dave - a little reciprocal ball-breaking, as it were. This was, hypothetically, a problematic plan. Not that he couldn’t handle her, but Dave was a professional comedian. Madonna was a professional singer. This could go south quickly if un-reined. (Maybe you saw Madonna’s painful recent attempt at stand-up on Jimmy Fallon?) After discussing it with Dave, I proposed a plan I thought was pretty bulletproof, that would make her look good, be “funny,” and satisfy her larger goal of making Dave squirm. I got on the phone with Madonna, who was surprisingly and truly lovely, and pitched my idea: How about you go on and complain that he’s been taking shots? He will say it’s exaggerated, he loves you, etc. - and then you say, “Oh yeah? I actually brought some tape from the show.” And then you show, in succession, three of the most horrible jokes he has told - and ask him to explain each one. That ensured his awkwardness - and the laugh. She signed off on the plan without hesitation. I then went and told Letterman I’d had a great talk with her and that she was super-engaged and receptive to the idea - and unless something went terribly wrong, I thought we were in good shape. The day of the show, she arrived to much fanfare and press anticipation, but with no entourage. Her only accompaniment was her makeup person, Kevyn Aucoin. I walked up to her dressing room, knocked on the door, put out my hand, and said, “Hi, I’m Daniel.” She didn’t get up or offer her hand. Instead she said, “Suckmadick.” I took a beat. “Sorry?” She looked at Kevyn, smiled, and said it again, slower, like a petulant 8-year-old child challenging a parent: “Suck-ma-dick.” She and Kevyn began laughing hysterically. Immediately, I thought: We’re screwed. I smiled wanly and powered on: “Ha … OK, so this will pretty much go as we discussed. We’ve loaded up three pieces of video, each one worse than the other, and after each one …” She stopped me. “That’s too much to remember.” Hmmm. I paused, now more annoyed than anything. “Uh, not really. It’s actually pretty simple - you show a tape. Get his reaction. Show another. Get his reaction. There are three …” “Yeah, I’m not going to remember all that.” Me, trying not to let my voice break and betray my now very urgent concerns: “Why not?” She started giggling again. “We smoked a little endo before we came here …”Fuccccckkkkkkk!!!! I went down to Dave’s dressing room, which I tried not to do before the show. “We’re in trouble.” Very graciously, he didn’t tell me “I told you so,” instead, knotting his tie with a slight grimace, seemingly bracing himself for the storm. The intro I wrote probably didn’t help matters: “Our first guest tonight is one of the biggest stars in the world, and in the past 10 years she has sold over 80 million albums, starred in countless films, and slept with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry.” But there was no way we could have anticipated what followed. It was the most censored late-night broadcast in television history, with Madonna saying “fuck” 14 times. She took off her underpants and complained when Letterman wouldn’t smell them. And if you think Letterman was happy about all the subsequent attention and newspaper coverage the interview brought, you’d have guessed wrong. He always understood the privilege that came with the ability to broadcast, and the responsibility that accompanied it. Ratings and press were less a consideration. Compounding matters was the fact that Madonna would not leave the stage. We bumped the next guest (a grocery bagger - an annual human interest competition winner that Dave, a former bagger himself, genuinely always enjoyed). Dave tried to say goodbye again. She wouldn’t leave. Counting Crows was just about to make its network television debut - and we were going to have to bump the band if Madonna didn’t budge. Sheila Rogers, the talent executive who has possibly given more bands their first breaks than anyone in the history of TV, went to Morty to ask what was happening. Morty then turned to me and said, “Get rid of her.” I said, “How am I supposed to get rid of her?” But the implication was clear: This was a problem I’d created, and now it was up to me to salvage the rest of the show. As Paul and the band blasted their mid-break song, I walked onstage and said loudly, “Say hi to the audience.” Madonna waved. As she waved, I took her hand, as if I was helping her up - and I did, in fact, lightly pull her up. And over the band I said loudly again, “Say goodbye …” Confused, she waved. Still holding her hand I led her offstage. SOURCE: GRANTLAND • TV • MY LETTERMAN YEARS • BY DANIEL KELLISON • MAY 18, 2015

She had an axe to grind because he had been making a lot of jokes about her personal/sex life so she came on to piss him off and just be generally difficult intentionally and that's part of why i love her lol

The interview was also unexpected in the sense that she was at a phase in her career when she was apparently trying to soften down her image. After erótica/body of evidence/sex ... After seeing this I was an even bigger fan of hers. From the point of view that despite the backlash during the 1992/1993 era, she still did this. Yes, many also turned away from her. Which is why she will never be universally accepted. But no other artist is more exciting, diverse and challenging.

To be fair, she did reveal later in an interview that she came in with agenda of addressing the issue of him always slutshaming her in his show, in a way confronting the whole society that did and she wanted to be unapologetic about it, but then - and that was cut out of the beggining of this video - he introduced her as someone who slept with most of people in business. She said it pushed her to go much further than just one honest confrontation. I agree it was a bit much, but i remember what she was going through and absolutely emphatize. She's a badass.

Yea she was high. She admitted to smoking a joint before going on this show. Years later she went on the show, and they were talking about Britney Spears not wearing any underwear, and Madonna suggested he give Britney the pair that she gave to him that she mentions in this interview.

She had an axe to grind. At this point she was so fed up with years of abuse from tv and tabloids, where she was attacked left and right, or made fun of. You have to remember the release of SEX book, Erotica, erotic thriller Body of Evidence were just barely behind her, this happened when the backlash was still going strong (as clearly demonstrated by how easily the audience turned against her, they didn't even need to be turned, they were against her from the get go). While I'll Remember turned out to be a hit, the tide only started to turn with Bedtime Stories album... there is a second clip from the MTV Awards, with Steven Tyler making a truly tasteless, rude and sexually explicit joke while she stood right there on stage... so even in 1994 the backlash was still going strong. The appearance on Letterman got backlash too, obviously, at the time she was still referred to as The Queen of Sleaze.

Her laugh at 23:05 is too friggin cute. Gotta love our Queen!

she said years later, she had been smoking a joint with Tupac before the show

Hello. In a promotional interview for the album Something to Remember, she is asked why she did it Maybe you will see her later

The audience were not annoyed with her. It's just that they are there to support Letterman. That's how it works in TV audiences. They tell you to clap at specific times and play recordings because TV is staged like that in 90's.

At that time Madonna had come out with the single Iil Remember, she had a story with 2 PAC and would later come out with Dennis Rodman. Although it was 94 the memory of erotica of the book of the tour provocateurs was very vivid figured who still ask him about the book Sex. In America she was very targeted, books with titles I hate Madonna were also released. After this interview, the press was unleashed with unflattering headlines

In the second video her grand entrance with her million selling beautiful song "I'll Remember" (1994) was amazing, how the crowd went crazy and stood up and clapped her while she entered, how she is deeply loved, and respected, she really is one of a kind. Her appearance in the Letterman Show (1994) was really irritating, I can't say anything more. Something must have happened to piss her off, otherwise a woman who could write and sing "Live To Tell", "Oh Father", "Promise To Try", "I'll Remember", "Take A Bow" and so on cannot be that irritating at all, but especially when she was young, in her public appearances she usually behaved like this, for security and distance may be. As one of her best friends Rosie O'Donnel mentioned, actually approved in an interview she was invited with Madonna in 1992, the interviewer told about Madonna that "She is one of the sweetest girl you can ever see, but in public she behaves as if she's not", and Rosie told "Very True". And Madonna said "Not apologizing". She is a woman who is still crying after the death of her best friend after almost 40 years when the subject is mentioned, she is far more than that irritating person I am sure. So in conclusion, there must be something more.

It was later revealed by Madonna’s publicist Liz, that It was Dave’s team who encouraged Madonna to swear that much as they thought it would be funny, yet she took all the heat for it. It should also be noted, that Madonna does not suffer fools lightly and is very out spoken, that is what people don’t like about her, they think celebrities should take all the shit given, because they are rich and privileged.But no other female celebrity has been ruthlessly crucified by the media like she has, for 40 straight years, and during this period she was prickly. That is one reason I have always respected her, she’s never not been honest or stood her ground.

Originally posted on patreon in April this year. 22:27 Award show entrance. 23:44 Valentines day

She was with Tupac and said she was feeling ultra-rebelious, he was in the green room and rumour has it they were a bit high when they arrived…who knows!

She was so gonna come out about her girlfriends on the side she even hinted to him to ask her. He didnt go there... In those days nobody would dream of swearing or going near the topics she was open to or swear. She was stoned and was bored of his jokes and wanted him to break the rules of boring tv. So funny. (Obviously it was live) but they mightve shown it at different times in different states. 'Fuck' was out of bounds back then. If you do a google youll probably find her top 10 list she wrote someone mustve stole it on the set. Overall I thought it was outrageously hilarious back when it happened. 😅 The bag shopper man never came on. 😅

The clip you reacted to has been edited and David’s original Madonna introduction has been removed…. Below is the transcript of Mr. Letterman’s full unedited Madonna intro from The Late Show on March 31 1994 : DAVID LETTERMAN: Our first guest tonight is one of the biggest stars in the world, and in the past ten years she has sold over 80 million albums, starred in countless films and slept with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. PAUL SHAFFER (Late Show Musical Director - shouting off camera): She's your guest! Come on! DAVID LETTERMAN: It’s right there on her bio for heavens sake! PAUL SHAFFER: Come on, she's your guest! DAVID LETTERMAN: That’s what it says… PAUL SHAFFER: She's your guest tonight! DAVID LETTERMAN Everything is fine, just relax will you…. [APPLAUSE] DAVID LETTERMAN: We’re just trying to have fun…. PAUL SHAFFER: Okay. DAVID LETTERMAN: Okay. DAVID LETTERMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, here she is - MADONNA! [APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] I meant to post this on your Patreon a while ago….hopefully it’s still somewhat illuminating. I remember Dave’s intro was missing from your reaction to her 2000 Late Show appearance as well.

Madonna has a very funny laugh and my kind of humor;-)

she ended up saying fuck 13 times on the show..

Every single time she appeared on Letterman, it was awesome. They are good friends and have great chemistry. Her appearance after her divorce from Guy Ritchie, when she's wearing a black dress is my fav. She's gorgeous there and so so funny.

I think the same VMA show opened with Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson appearing on stage together. And MJ said "and they thought we'd never last". So it's rather cheeky of M to repeat that. ❤

This was planned from the start and Dave knew what she was going to do.... probably just not to the extent she went. I love this interview... she was subversive and hilarious, and Dave took it (and gave) fairly well. The live audience reaction clearly shows his show's demographic steers towards conservative, stuffy America. She did not give a shit and I admired her more for it after watching this for the first time.

Since I watched the interview in 1995, I do most of the time, pee in the shower. And I am not joking when I say, that my athlete's foot did disappear and had never reappeared.

You should watch the Janet Jackson 2001 interview on the Letterman show. Despite her persona Janet is pretty shy and it got a bit akward 😂I dont know if you can find the whole interview though but its more of the beginning where the akwardness happened

her brother revealed In his book that she was actually terrified of live TV so she put up this defensive shield and provocation which Is why she seems a mess

Dave was mean about her even just minutes before the interview. It was n't rehearsed word to word but staged. Madonna dealt with his arsey comments in a super way. She was dating Tupac at the time and Tupac was getting her annoyed about this publicity prior and why not. I think she dealt with it very well. I would like to see Letterman interview Madonna now. Charles said in an interview later that Madonna just said it for show in this interview. Madonna was just pushing boundaries as she did that decade and laughing along with it.

Can you do Have Mercy by Chloe?

React ashlee simpson outta my head ❤

All I can see if Dave dying to put his hands on her. He’s known for being a creep to his female guests. Bleh 🤮

First

ugh, car crash. the ONE & ONLY time during her entire career I was thoroughly embarrassed to be a fan. she started out amusing. it wore off really quickly & went way off the rails. NOT because she cursed 13 times. caz she was unfunny, downright rude & really nasty at times (like, youre on HIS show.. you dont tell him to "Shut up!"). also kinda desperate in the attention seeking. the insults werent funny or charming. they were downright nasty. it was rally bad. THIS after she was FINALLY coming off the intense backlash of SEX. it was a HUGE steep backwards. & yes btw... she was stoned off her ass... 2Pac was waiting for her in her dressing room.. they had smoked a blunt before the taping. bad idea. add Pac's militant attitude obvi rubbed off on her, and this is what we got. theres a few amusing parts but i cant even watch this thru. but im giving you some engagement here :)