Let me get a few things out of the way, right off the top here.

1. I've never been much of a fan of David Letterman.  He laughs too much at his own jokes, fails to make funny ones often enough, and does that weird thing where he licks his teeth.  So yeah, never a huge fan.
2. Also not a huge Joaquin Phoenix fan.  I've enjoyed him in what I've seen him in, but I doubt I'd go out of my way to see a flick he was in.
3. I didn't get to see this interview live, but in only a few days after it took place, several different people brought it to my attention.

So, please, watch this interview if only out of sheer morbid curiosity. 

Could that have been any stranger?  Any more awkward?  Has Joaquin Phoenix gone completely, utterly off the deep end?  Is he serious about this rap career?  Why are he and Casey Affleck making a movie about his transition into rapping?  How is P. Diddy involved, and why would he ever, ever, ever produce an album for Joaquin Phoenix?

Phew....

OK, more questions.  Is this real?  Is this a hoax?  Basically, what in the Crispin Glover is going on?  

After doing some research, this has to be one of the strangest interviews I've ever seen.  Past Madonna's curse-laced interview, and Farrah Fawcet's rambling, incoherent game of charades or Crispin Glover's multiple appearances where he made absolutely no sense and shivered like a freak.  This was easily stranger than all of those.

Why?

I'd say because it's hard to believe.  First, Fawcet's a model, nothing more.  Madonna's always been a bit off center, and who the hell is Crispin Glover anyways?  But, wasn't it just yesterday Phoenix was seemingly normal?  He was in movies, and was a heartthrob and was an Oscar nominated actor.  And now, all of the sudden, he wants to be an rapper.  He's barely making sense in interviews and seems to have a bit of difficulty coming to grips with why everyone besides he and Casey Affleck find this whole bit f---ing insane.

Do I think it's a hoax?  Maybe.  It seems too elaborate, and to be honest, it's not that odd to see celebrities lose their minds, possibly get into alcohol or drugs, and just start acting really strange.  Then again, Phoenix seems to have trouble staying in character (check the laughter at the end of the interview above), and to have a movie deal in line already for this career move seems a bit sudden.

Who the hell knows.

(if this picture doesn't scare the absolute hell out of you, I don't know what will)