# Disappointing talk show interviews **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 30, 2018, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345 "2018-04-30T13:20:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/1 "2018-04-30T13:20:31Z")
I watched an episode of “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction” where Letterman interviewed rapper-businessman Jay Z. It wasn’t a terrible interview, but it definitely felt more than a little awkward. Letterman freely admitted he previously knew next to nothing about hip hop music or culture, and it felt like much of the interview consisted of Jay Z and Letterman lurching towards trying to find some kind – _any kind_- of common ground with meagre results. Jay Z revealed a few interesting things that might not be general knowledge (e.g. his mother is gay) but otherwise spoke largely in platitudes and I think at some point Letterman could see the interview wasn’t going to go far beyond that level and just let things run their course and mailed in the latter half of the interview. David Letterman is one of the best and most experienced talk show interviewers around. It may simply be that Jay Z is not a great interviewee but I can’t help wondering, though, had he been interviewed by someone sharing more cultural overlap if it might have been a more engaging interview. I’m wondering if other Dopers saw that interview and got a similar impression? More generally, can you think of any other interviews on any tv talk show where you thought there was a guest who should have had something potentially interesting or important to say but instead came off like flat ginger ale? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/2 "2018-04-30T13:37:58Z")
Peter Dinklage rarely lives up to my expectations when he is interviewed. He seems very uncomfortable and gives mostly short unenlightening answers. I think he is just shy. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/3 "2018-04-30T13:44:54Z")
I watched the Jay Z interview with Letterman last weekend, and frankly I was more interested in the recording studio segments with Rick Rubin than I was with Jay Z. ---
**Author:** ![Batano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@Batano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batano)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/4 "2018-04-30T13:58:05Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Peter Dinklage rarely lives up to my expectations when he is interviewed. He seems very uncomfortable and gives mostly short unenlightening answers. I think he is just shy. I see what you did there ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/5 "2018-04-30T14:02:08Z")
Really? I don’t. ETA: Oh, you saw a little people joke that wasn’t there. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/6 "2018-04-30T14:03:17Z")
> [@Batano](#): > > I see what you did there I really didn’t. Substitute “brief” for “short” if you wish. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/7 "2018-04-30T15:01:51Z")
Johnny Carson on ‘60 Minutes’. Carson was notoriously private, and about the only thing that came out of the interview was he liked to play drums, and he was a mean drunk. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ecks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ecks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ecks)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/8 "2018-04-30T15:18:01Z")
I thought Terry Gross would give a great interview, because of her experience and thoughtful nature. I was extremely disappointed- she was terrible when on the other side of the table, awkward, superficial, and flat out refusing to answer some questions. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/9 "2018-04-30T15:37:48Z")
I always thought Harrison Ford would give good interviews since he’s been such iconic characters (Han Solo, Indian Jones, Blade Runner). But I don’t ever bother watching him anymore in interviews since he comes off a total bore. Short nothing answers that are a labor to pull out of him. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/10 "2018-04-30T15:43:59Z")
Robert De Niro has the reputation of being bad on TV talk shows and he rarely does them. I saw him once and he was boring so the reputation is deserved. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/11 "2018-04-30T15:46:09Z")
Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, KISS was on Tom Snyder’s “Tomorrow” and, IIRC, it was three of the biggest idiots to ever appear on TV. And Gene Simmons, who was trying awfully hard to actually talk with Snyder. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/12 "2018-04-30T15:57:43Z")
David Letterman, on his previous show in years past, seems to have had the most ‘car crashes’ - Madonna, Crispin Glover, Andy Kaufman, Richard Simmons, Joaquin Phoenix - though some of those I think were rehearsed ‘schtick’. But I think for dull and disappointing interviews, he mentioned Harrison Ford and someone old-school who gave one-word answers, maybe Robert Mitchum. Oprah interviewed Elizabeth Taylor in the 90’s and that was a real disappointment due to ‘no questions about marriages’ and Liz being grouchy because of ‘back pain’. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/13 "2018-04-30T16:08:30Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I always thought Harrison Ford would give good interviews since he’s been such iconic characters (Han Solo, Indian Jones, Blade Runner). But I don’t ever bother watching him anymore in interviews since he comes off a total bore. Short nothing answers that are a labor to pull out of him. Yes. Ford is the worst interviewee ever. I have no expectations of him, and he always delivers. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/14 "2018-04-30T16:45:49Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Robert De Niro has the reputation of being bad on TV talk shows and he rarely does them. I saw him once and he was boring so the reputation is deserved. He’s a bit better on Graham Norton, where all the guests are on at the same time. That seems to relax him a bit, but even then he’s hardly hogging the limelight. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/15 "2018-04-30T16:59:58Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I always thought Harrison Ford would give good interviews since he’s been such iconic characters (Han Solo, Indian Jones, Blade Runner). But I don’t ever bother watching him anymore in interviews since he comes off a total bore. Short nothing answers that are a labor to pull out of him. I’ve seen it suggested that Ford is usually high on pot when he appears on interviews. I have no idea if this is true or not, but it could explain a lot. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/16 "2018-04-30T17:16:00Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > He’s a bit better on Graham Norton, where all the guests are on at the same time. That seems to relax him a bit, but even then he’s hardly hogging the limelight. Same applies to Harrison Ford. A little looser with Norton, but still a wet blanket. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/17 "2018-04-30T17:21:38Z")
Warren Beatty has given some pretty forgettable interviews over the years ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/18 "2018-04-30T21:05:30Z")
Meryl Streep does very few talk shows. I saw her on one where she was trying to plug her latest film, and she was so stiff and uncomfortable it was almost painful to watch her. Her attempt to deliver a charming and humorous anecdote was so obviously scripted they should have put a countdown clock on the screen: “Meryl’s funny story in :30…20…15…10…” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/19 "2018-04-30T21:18:40Z")
I remember Peter O’Toole giving one of the worst interviews ever. I think it was with Leno. He barely spoke. A week or so later he was charming and hilarious ok Letterman. I’m pretty sure his bad performance on Leno was due to his level of intoxication but I’m not sure if it was too high or too low. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345/20 "2018-04-30T21:24:55Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I remember Peter O’Toole giving one of the worst interviews ever. I think it was with Leno. He barely spoke. A week or so later he was charming and hilarious ok Letterman. I’m pretty sure his bad performance on Leno was due to his level of intoxication but I’m not sure if it was too high or too low. Or it could’ve been he liked Letterman a lot more than Leno and saved his best stuff for him. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointing-talk-show-interviews/813345.md?page=2)