Whitney Houston and Serge Gainsbourg on Champs-Élysées
Recommended by: Seathron and Otto Ikn
Whitney Houston and Serge Gainsbourg’s tête-à-tête on French chatshow Champs-Élysées in 1986 was by far the most popular suggestion. In “possibly the funniest unscripted TV moment of all,” according to Seathron, a clearly inebriated Gainsbourg (theme alert) made a less than subtle pass at the singer, to her obvious horror. Otto Ikn said that the awkward moment was “impossible not to include”.
David Icke on Wogan
Recommended by: Cynic1975 and Splutterer
Who could forget former footballer David Icke’s astonishing turn on Wogan in 1991. Kitted out in an eye-watering turquoise shell-suit, the BBC sports presenter proceeded to declare himself the son of God, much to the amusement of a sceptical audience. The interview is “highly recommended” by cynic1975, who said the clip “eclipses all of the others” on our list. Icke was mercilessly mocked by the media.
Sex Pistols on Today
Recommended by: David O’Brien and bobbysixty
“Go on, say something outrageous…” An atmosphere as hostile as their music pervaded the Pistols’ rendezvous with Thames TV anchorman Bill Grundy on the Today show in 1976. Goaded by an increasingly nervous Grundy, John Lydon and his surly bandmates swore repeatedly and prompted tabloid outrage. The fiasco resulted in the presenter being suspended for two weeks, although commenter David O’Brien called the interview “a cracker”, and bobbysixty reminded us Lydon means business. “He never takes prisoners!” he said.
Crispin Glover on Late Night With Letterman
Recommended by SscottJ
When actor Crispin Glover stumbled on to the set of Late Night with David Letterman in 1987 wearing a wig and platform shoes, nobody had a clue what was going on. Unbeknown to a confused audience, the Back to the Future star was in character as geeky Rubin from his upcoming film Rubin and Ed. After several minutes of karate kicks and faked emotional breakdowns Letterman had had enough and walked off. SscottJ called the prank “an absolute classic... Long Live George McFly!”
Norman Mailer on The Dick Cavett Show
Recommended by: SteveParadis and Phil Porter
Celebrated novelist Norman Mailer gave a lesson in narcissism to fellow writers Gore Vidal and Janet Flanner on The Dick Cavett Show in 1971. An increasingly irate Mailer waxed lyrical on his own intellectual prowess until Flanner gave him a proper dressing down and Dick Cavett offered him his questions sheet, telling him, “fold it five ways and put it where the moon don’t shine”. SteveParadis sang Cavett’s praises: “Dick Cavett deserves his own 10 best. He set up his own trainwrecks, with more than willing engines.” Phil Porter pointed out: “There were some incredibly narcissistic and pompous intellectuals on US TV back then.”
Sir Les Patterson (Barry Humphries) on Parkinson
Recommended by: Cocoda and TheThirdMan
Dubbed a piece of “absolutely priceless TV” by Cocoda, Sir Les Patterson, the yellow-toothed eccentric alter ego of Barry Humphries, drank and dribbled his way through a positively riotous interview with Parky in 1982. He had the audience in stitches as he babbled on about the fortunes of his native Australia.
Frank Sinatra on the Tonight Show
Recommended by Bigzot
Ol’ Blue Eyes was in for a bit of a shock when he appeared on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show back in 1976. Not only was he asked some pretty personal questions to do with his choice of mood music in the bedroom, but he was also accosted by in-house funny man Don Rickles. The hilarious conversation ended with the comedian planting a pair of big sloppy kisses right on the mouth of the sultan of swoon. Bigzot enjoyed the scene “best of all”. He said, “Sinatra scared everyone and made everyone nervous but crazy Don Rickles goes at him.”
George Best on Wogan
Recommended by Tricky_Disco and pintooo
Another of Terry’s guests from hell, former footballer George Best was drunk as a skunk by the time he toddled on stage in 1990. After a short interview in which the ex-Manchester United man described his love of “screwing”, Wogan terminated proceedings with a quick “Ladies and gentlemen, George Best”, and that was that. Pintooo remembers the night well, “Best was so damn drunk!” he said.
Joan Rivers on Loose Women
Recommended by AdrianBrett
A “personal favourite” for AdrianBrett is this outrageous performance from controversial comedian Joan Rivers on Loose Women in 2008. Veteran of several awkward interviews, the outspoken New Yorker swore live on air thinking the producers would bleep the words out. She failed to realise that the studio wasn’t even equipped with a bleeper, let alone quick enough to use one.
Iggy Pop on Countdown
Recommended by: TheCedarRoom and obures
Iggy Pop is well known for his excitable personality, but when he appeared on Australian music programme Countdown in 1979 he took it to another level. Visibly intoxicated and clothed only in a pair of luminous orange pantaloons, Iggy poked and prodded the tired looking presenter into a state of frenzy. He then leaped on stage to give a wild rendition of I’m Bored. According to TheCedarRoom, Iggy’s performance is “fairly infamous” in Australia, “and quite amusing!”
