One of the most interesting interviews about a very interesting person; both Steve Martin and David Geffen, the subject, seem to be the type of person you could easily chat with for 1/2 an hour and think only 5 minutes had gone by.
Steve is the one big celebrity who has such a normal and sensible take on the cultural world around him, almost as if he hasn’t been a huge figure in that world, himself.
From the comments, it seem people don't understand what these clips are, even after reading the description. This is not a "Steve Martin" interview; he's not performing. It is a production interview with Steve Martin about David Geffen. When a production staff makes a documentary like American Masters, they do 20-30 minute interviews with a variety of people who know the subject (in this case, Geffen). They prompt the interviewee to speak at length about the subject to capture content. Then, they pull quotes from these longer interviews to edit into the final episode. PBS is uploading a number of these "raw" interviews, unedited. Typically, only a couple minutes of an interview like this appears in the final episode.
It was generous of Steve to sit for this long and discuss David Geffen. His description of Geffen admitting to giving Joni Mitchell bad advice about Woodstock feels like it could be the seed for a character in LA STORY or something -- the manager who brags nonstop about all of these terrible pieces of advice he gave famous people -- "I told Steven Spielberg to pass on JAWS -- I said Steven, nobody wants to spend two hours watching a FISH!" / "I told Henry Ford to get out of cars, I said Hank, people don't want their own automobiles. They like their bikes!" -- and then asks the main character if he wants to sign with him.
I met him once, (ok I didn't meet him formally but we were in the same room of people and everybody was conversing--so I observed him) He was such an absolute gem, polite, a "real man", attentive of others in the room, I was in overjoyed tears when he left the building! And a fan since! (And, before anyone asks, I did not speak to him, I was too scared to be a blimey idiot and ruin the perfect atmosphere of comfort and well-being in the room at that wonderful moment!)
I’d make the argument that it would not have been a good idea for Joni Mitchell to go to Woodstock. I saw her at the Newport Folk Festival in (I recall) 1967, just as her career was taking off. It was a big event at the time and I could hardly see her on stage and didn’t hear sing at all. Her music was not conducive to that kind of big music festival venue.
Steve is one wild and crazy guy!, Working with Martin Short was a bad move, But you are a great Man and a Legendary Comedian and I am Proud you are Canadian and one hell of a Musician. I have watched you with my parents and my kids loved you to your comedy is timeless and I Thank You fine Sir for making me smile when I could not and laugh when I was down. It takes a Talented Great Artist to do that. Keep Smiling :)
Working with Martin Short was a bad move..? Looking at the responses I’d say putting that negative comment in your text was a bad move..they’re long time friends and the constant ribbing reflects that..
Yes, and Steve’s not Canadian, either. Martin Short, who this gentleman apparently despises, IS Canadian, but not in the right way, I guess. Other than that…
yeah, he had an eye for talent, that's it....talent sure had to have an eye for him too...the one you sit on....and I guess there was drugs, but I was too busy not sitting on my one little eye
I'd rather hear what Steve and David think of what's going on in Israel today. Sorry if this is preoccupying my mind. I think it should however.... yes focus should be on that
@dhulbert855 thank you for pointing that out. Back to my point. I was not pointing this to Mr Martin, or to Mr Geffen. That is to say I'm not sure there's anything unfair here
