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From: scribe576
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  • At the start he's being Macho Man Randy Savage i believe.

  • Dickhead - Letterman deserved all he got. I think this illustrates how very shallow the US Media System is. Good on Oliver for taking the piss out of this jumped up piece of jism.

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  • Ollie should have clocked him...Letterman comes off as a turd here,

  • Hahaha trees and boats

  • I think this interview is hilarious. It follows no real direction. Ollie doesn't make too much sense (may have a slight buzz). Can't take this interview seriously my goodness. The guys are just playing off each other best they can. I agree that these 2 guys can be intimidating, but in this interview it's all for laughs guys. Remember Reed is an actor. 

  • Intimidating overrated idiot......... and Reed's not much better !

  • And I reckon that Dave would've been knocked out if this interview had of been in pub.

  • Legend. You can see that he's acting pissed(drunk) at times. So quick witted.Great accent. I raise my glass to you sir and may you rest in peace.

  • Nice one seamoose213 love it!

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  • Letterman is a no-talent schlub and always has been. He thinks he's the funniest guy in the world -- he's so full of himself that he can manage to make himself look like a total ass in front of people like Buzz Aldrin without even knowing he's doing it.

  • exactly why does letterman cut to a commercial, sure reed seems quite drunk, but when does it seem like hes going to turn violent?

  • @jhibbitt1 Well, he did remove his glasses. From experience, that's mostly a sign that someone's ready to throw down...Not very pleasant...

  • WKRPinCINN and Messiah717 appreciate your comments and I think you'll agree that Ollie showed he did have a sense of humour as he gave a few smiles at some of Lettermans comments even when it was obvious he was taking a bit of a rise out of him. No-one ever got the better of Ollie in an interview- drunk or sober he was far too witty and intelligent and more than a match for any interviewer. God bless him!

  • I think you have to look at both sides here. Reed a known heavy drinker had a history of appearing on shows either playing it up or actually drunk. Letterman was playing off of that but should've known to stop when Reed objected to it. On the other hand I feel bad for Reed because drinking cost him what should've been a much larger career.

  • dave is an asshole

  • I heard somewhere that Oliver Reed had a heart of gold. I need to know if this is true.

  • if reed hand punched letterman i doubt letterman would still not have come around to this day.

  • MrFibes your a jerk! Oliver Reed was one of the greatest actors of his age but he had a great sense of humour. Don't even attempt to knock an icon you dick head!

  • Oliver seemed like a jerk

  • 4:22 is he speaking in some king of dialect from the British Isles or what? I know he's making fun of Letterman for being so rude asking him about drinking.

  • Grasshopper? Grasshopper? Man, what do you say to a guy who calls you Grasshopper? haha.

  • Oliver Reed, i think, took to drink maybe because he was nervous sometimes but, he states, for the effect. My dad also had this in common and was so much like him, even in his look.And said funny things and stole the show. I understand this situation.God bless you Oliver

  • i just dont get why this guy was so popular in america i meen its so easy to see hes just some corporate shill it makes me cringe when he says something, hes not funny one bit and just has no personality at all

  • @TheT33g If you're referring to Letterman, I'm in total agreement with you. I'm an American, age is 57. This guy just isn't funny to me. It's interesting, but politically, American liberals (i.e. socialists and neo-communists) definitely trend toward Letterman, and American Conservatives def. trend toward preferring Jay Leno. This really isn't due to the bent of the political jokes either does, but just kind of the basic "vibe" that each get from their preferred nightly t.v. host.

  • I love looking up older Letterman videos on youtube and watching everyone bash him haha. I think celebrities should know what they're getting into when going on his show.

  • You know deep within your beat when you have to resort to high school name calling my friend.

  • Don't judge! You have to walk just a few feet in any of these celebrities shoes, that you say have glorified or who have made public drunkeness "cool", and I guarantee you will run away screaming at the pain and recoil in horror at the demons they have to deal with every single minute of the day. I'm not excusing them but I am empathizing. Try that. Love you Ollie! May you rest in peace.

  • @TribalSooz I damn well WILL judge, thank you. Judging things is how we maneuver thru life, in case you didn't realize it. All this p.c. crap about how we "can't judge" somebody or something..that's total b.s. And what is this over-amped drama you're spouting about how I'd recoil in pain and horror at dealing with all the "demons" that they deal with every day?? B.S. again. Can't handle the heat...get a different job..one that doesn't pay millions annually to take that heat.

  • Look, unless you've lived with or been married to a drunk, had one (or both) as parents...or bailed them out of jail...then I guess you're going to think it's "cool" to be a "legendary" drinker...or to show up on National t.v. drunk. Two grown men taking on "who can outdrink who" is pure horseshit. And don't get me wrong, I loved Lee Marvin. He was a true WW2 hero, and probably had horrific nightmares each nite after that. But to glorify alcohol abuse? It's misplaced idol worship.

  • @WickedTornado

    Well said mate. The glorification of celebrities: Sid Vicious, Amy Winehouse and Oliver Reed (and many others) that are worshipped for what is seen as "Rock N' Roll" is just crap. It might be great entertainment but on a personal level it's a nightmare. Misplaced idol worship is a phrase well said...

    How many talented musicians/actors that died from drug/alcohol problems are regarded as "cool" can you count? Too many. Alas self-destruction is seen as cool... sad

  • @leyobahn2011 Thanks, Leyobahn2011, for backing me up on this. If you read a bit further in the comments, some p.c. / enabler took a shot at me for what I said about it not being cool to glorify so-called "legendary" drinkers. Unreal. Can you believe it? Thanks again.

  • oliver reed is the man,,rip

  • I really miss these days of Letterman. This stuff used to happen all the time and it was great. It always cracks me up to see people calling Letterman an asshole. The truth is, Letterman has a lot of balls. If these guests had any idea who they were up against they wouldn't go on the show in the first place. The Letterman show used to be truly edgy, and it all stemmed from Letterman being fearless about showing big stars for the everyday people they are.

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  • I think Letterman is great, having this kind of a guest is fucked up

  • Oliver reed could drink 100 gallons of beer and still have 10 times as much class as this pompous unfunny prick

  • What an absolute lad.

  • oliver reed is hilarious, letterman is typical of how unfunny americans are.

  • @jimboboy Are you fuckin stupid? America produced George Carlin, The Marx Brothers, George Burns, Milton Berle, Lucille Ball, Jerry Seinfeld, Louis CK, Jerry Lewis, Red Foxx, Richard Pryor, Jack Benny, Sid Caesar, Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Carl Reiner. And a lot more. If you think none of those people are funny you have 0 sense of humor and are a fuckin moron.

  • @chuck3668831 Are you on a different planet.not one of these names are remotely funny the only funny American comedian is Robin williams,the rest are a joke.

  • @linoma57 You are on a different planet if you think infantile noises and accents is great humor. George Carlin and Louis CK are easily better stand ups than Robin Williams.

  • @chuck3668831 lol, I think you might be funnier with that kind of satire. Next you'll be telling me George and Louis were also great actors

  • @linoma57 Notice Ricky Gervais lists as his influences Garry Shandling, Jerry Seinfeld, Woody Allen, and Laurel and Hardy. Note how he does not list the blue genie from Aladdin. Now how about you go watch Aladdin and leave the rest of us alone you artistically vapid half-wit?

  • Letterman is hilarious, but his show always seems to draw the nutbars (Crispin Glover, Joaquin Phoenix, Oliver Reed, etc.). Give Leno one of the basket cases every now and then.

  • It seemed like Foster Brooks wanted to put out David Letterman's lights during their handshake.

  • I fucking hate Letterman. Rude little bitch.

    Jonathan Ross, ALL the way.

  • At the 4:17 point where he starts in that language I literally sprayed the room with liquid laughter.

  • When I watched this I was desperate for Oliver to knock the snivelling little twat out with one punch. Desperate!!! Does anyone think Letterman is Chris Evans' Dad (I will knock him out as well, instantly) ?

  • Letterman is kinda being a prick here. Oliver is not helping matters but he has a point. "Aren't we going to talk about movies?" HA

  • Oliver Reed seems to perceive that no one really cares how he answers Letterman's stupid questions, just so long as he answers them stupidly. As an American, I blush every time the audience laughs at childish silliness. Reed was obviously an intelligent man, drinker though he was, evidenced by the way he evades answering Letterman's questions while simulatneously entertaining the audience.

  • @lorrainewands i am sorry but if the man is dumb and classless enough to show up on national tv drunk and out of his mind then how is that dave's fault. all this bullshit about how dave is rude and oliver is a legend. well oliver reed made a fool of himself and dave is an absolute genius

  • @kamaldavis96 It isn't my opinion that Reed was legend, unless one is referring to his infamy as a crass drunkard. I didn't like him in this video, but his condition doesn't cause me to rally around Letterman, either. I don't see any trace of a gentleman, genius, or legend in this clip at any time.

  • @lorrainewands so they are both very flawed.

  • @UrHardyRardy - He's wasn't Irish.

  • Letterman is just not funny. I credit guys like him for dumbing down late night television with his infantile, smart-ass jokes and moronic questions. Oliver Reed is a legend.

  • @classics4life How can you credit someone for demoralizing his watchers, humiliating himself, and making an absolute spectacle of his guests with ridiculous, infantile "jokes"? No one should be credit for being counterproductive. I count him as one of those individuals responsible for the downfall of America's taste in humor and entertainment! And THAT...is all..I have...to say...about...THAT! :)

  • @classics4life I totally agree,Olly was playing with this guy

  • @classics4life --- sorry, but letterman held his own here. this interview cracks me up every time i watch it. both parties, about 30 seconds in, don't want to do it any longer but need to fill up the time. dave could have easily started to kiss reed's ass, but didn't.

    when worlds collide it ain't pretty, but this interview is hysterically tense and rewarding to watch. both parties go the 15 rounds.

  • @classics4life You admonish Letterman for his infantile, smart-ass jokes but celebrate Reed for his infantile, smart-ass buffoonery? That's bollocks. I have massive respect for Reed; He was a legend. Nevertheless the man *was* notoriously difficult. There's a reason he was relegated to chintzy roles in later years. They say comedy is tragedy viewed from across the street; I say it's easy to admire a ribald boor until you have to work with one. Letterman did the best with a difficult situation.

  • Im not sure if i love him or hate him

  • Oliver denied me of an ambition when he died at the bar on Gozo Malta, Dai Wad.

  • @daiwadify not gozo, valletta

  • he was brilliant gladiator, your the shit proximo rip

  • Im missing bastards like Oliver.!Life is full of "cant stop smiling" plastic bores.

  • @RichardElden fuck off, prick.

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  • Macchoo Reeed Randddyy Savage

  • What a legend. Sounded like Tom Waits at the start.

  • Sounds like Popeye! :D

  • I am completely confused bout everything thats happening here...wtf is this..?

  • I wish he strangled Leatherhead!

  • the part where oliver speaks german, always cracks me up

  • @jesper18 love that part

  • This was referenced on wiki for Oliver Reed. The tension between the two was quite real and interesting to watch indeed.

  • didn't know late night shows were egotistical standoffs back then. but in this one, Reed takes the cake

  • what is with all the letterman hate.....

  • pissed genius Ollie,and funny. Running rings around. Brits get his humour - 'I love trees and boats'.Of course he still drinks and forget 'one colourful anecdote' method, Dave.

  • I'd like to say he was drunk but trugthfully I think he was having a blast being SILLY!

  • @wendyverdades five of seventeen shows he was acting, the others he was bored. Go figure.

  • 3:00 Oliver Reed doing manual autotune before they invented autotune [Jim Carrey reference!]

  • Oh dear.

  • @jazzdrum100 yes, you listen to Jazz. Oh dear.

  • @PortsmouthNoir WTF?!

  • That's Proximo from Gladiator.

  • Hey, look! It's 'Macho Man' Randy Savage YEAH!!!

  • This is a guy used to barfights. When he takes off his glasses, you better shudder!!!

  • @sweenyadam That's a trumped up lot of bullshit. "If he takes off his glasses you better shudder." I can tell that this statement came from a man or woman who has no experience with fighting, either in a dojo OR the street. See...it's people like you who buy into this Hollywood b.s. about this or that about a person. Can't you tell when you're getting hyped...which with respect to Hollywood..is 99% of the time? Quit being starstruck and idolizing these people who get paid to pretend.

  • @WickedTornado Obviously, you don't know Oliver Reed's life too well. The man's built like a bull and worked as a successful bouncer before he started acting. Hollywood, this guy ain't. And honestly David Letterman deserved it.

    Oh and I'm a guy who knows his fighting, and fights successful. We don't all need fancy dojos, just experiance through practice. Where's your experiance from, Grasshopper?

  • @WickedTornado No experience with fighting? The man was in more fights than he was films.

  • @pugilistofpower What are you basing this on, sir? Don't get me wrong, if he would'da bashed Letterman, I would stand up and cheer. You know, I really don't know if he did or didn't do this, or do that...etc. etc. What I'm sick of is all these Hollywood stars prancing around and lecturing the rest of us Americans on everything from the environment, to hating Jesus, to how much toilet paper to wipe our ass with. So if Reed had some fights, big deal. You have, I have, we all have.

  • @WickedTornado I don't really think Reed's one of these fellows that you're talking about. I can't think of a Hollywood actor that's lead less of a Hollywood life than Reed, nor has he lectured any impressionable young Americans on any of those things that you mentioned. He was a shy man, and often needed a few drinks to even appear on a chat show. He could handle himself, he was ex army, loved boxing, and was constantly getting into bar fights. Nothing to be proud of, I know.

  • @pugilistofpower Interesting you say he was a shy man - just seen the Parkinson interview from 1973 and yes that is the impression I got despite by no means being at a loss for words. Possibly insecure as well. Interesting guy.

  • @thesubtleface Did you see the scars on the lower left side of his face in the Parky interview? From a bar fight. And you see him flatten out his nose in a fair few interviews, due to multiple breaks in fights.

    He was also dyslexic, which was tough to grow up with in the times that he did because it was merely thought to be laziness and stupidity. May have given him a complex and certainly made him work harder as he appears so well read when sober.

  • @pugilistofpower Well, when I'm wrong, at least I'll stand up and admit it. It appears I was wrong about Reed. I've always thought that he was one of the best actors out there. I first saw him in a weird movie called "The Brood". Maybe it was because I was stoned on mushrooms it effected me the way it did. But I do get sick of this "legendary drinker" crap. We sure need less of those guys nowdays. Hell, I've had enough whiskey and weed for 10 men. Thank U Lord for saving me.

  • @WickedTornado I always liked him better when he was sober anyway. Although he always maintained he enjoyed the drink, it's clear it brought about his death. Did you hear how he died? During a break from filming Gladiator, he was drinking in a bar, consumed a huge amount of alcohol, beat 5 much younger sailors in arm wrestling, then suffered a heart attack a died. A fitting way to go really when you consider his life style. I'd have liked him to have cleared up his act though.

  • @pugilistofpower Where were they when he died? What yr. would this have been? Yeah, you know, beating a bunch of younger guys in arm wrestling, pounding down the alky and dropping dead is the type of death that a lot of us probably wanted to have for ourselves...when we were really young. And really, on the surface, it's pretty impressive, even to me. But, by the time you're oh..perhaps 40ish...you should have enuf fights under your belt, wins and losses, to know it ain't cool.

  • @WickedTornado It was in Malta, and he was 61 at the time (1999). They renamed the bar after him.

    It's not really the kind of death I'd like either. Although I guess given the choice between going out like that, or going out with a long battle with cancer, I'd probably prefer the quick death that Ollie had, doing what he enjoyed.

  • Americans cant drink FACT, I was in Cancun on holiday and they were pissed by lunchtime and were rude and obnoxious to the Mexican waiters. It was embarassing.

    The Canadians spilt more than they drank and the Brits had more for breakfast. To the American holidaymakers who abuse(d) Mexican hotel staff I say FUCK YOU!

  • @haroldbhoy67 I'll drink to that

  • Britain FTW!! 

  • As an american woman who has had my share of british boyfriends. I think americans are WAY to anal about drinking. Clearly he and Letterman had tension and he was taking the piss. But you're correct as a bartender...Americans don't know how to drink.

  • @LCCooper2009 Could you elaborate a bit more on how "americans don't know how to drink"? And I don't mean that in an attacking manner.....I just don't know how Brits drink...compared to Americans...and what it is that makes Brits drink "better"?? I'll tell you what I do a LOT better after I quit drinking 10 yrs. ago...(I'm 57)....I'd say....everything from making love to conversing to doing a better job at my business. Other than that....everything's the same. haha

  • @LCCooper2009 Right. And…. obviously you yourself are an alcoholic and are in denial about it. Anyone with half a brain can see that the UK has a HUGE problem with alcoholism, or "drink" as they call it… Kids, teenagers, young adults vomiting on city street every weekend, older people slowly drinking their lives away in pubs… and you think we Americans are uptight? You're nuts. Get help.

  • @LCCooper2009 I wonder if Reed would agree that Americans are too anal about drinking. We could try to ask him except that he's DEAD FROM DRINKING.

  • Macho Man Randy Savage?

  • Letterman sucks.

  • even Oliver smiled at 6:20

  • Daivid just never spent time with any real drinkers. Oliver is having fun with him. he's trying to get the piss out of him

  • sounds like randy savage loool

  • 7:16 to 7:31 is so awesome haha :P

  • I happen to like Lettterman --taking it for granted that he is a smart-ass (and a 110% smart-ass at this stage -1987) - however Reed jumped right into it from the beginning - Letterman would have showed more respect if Reed hadn't been goofing badly from the start....and its a shame because the interview could have taken a couple of different directions.

  • Letterman wanted to curl up in the corner and suck hid thumb!

  • Damn, talk about being barrel-chested. He sounds like he should've done the Slim Jim commercials

  • 'Can I just thank you for being so eriudite [sic]?'

    I hope that Oliver Reed meant to mispronounce this in an ironic fashion, Dave was exceptionally rude in his relentlessness to talk about a subject matter Reed specifically requested not to be discussed. He has a chance to talk to one of the finest actors of his generation and all he brings up is his drink problem? If he wanted to discuss that he would have gone to oprah surely?

  • @permedmammoth How exactly did his mispronounce it?

  • @mahcuz It's 'erudite' not 'eriudite'.

  • @permedmammoth He pronounced it correctly. He didn't spell it out, so I don't know why you're questioning his spelling.

  • @mahcuz I don't know why but it sounded like he said 'eriudite' the first time I saw this, it's just the way he pronounces his 'u' as a 'you' rather than 'oo'. Still, it's a great insult that flew over lettermans head beautifully.

  • @permedmammoth Sorry, but in Received Pronunciation (ie, 'snobby' English - you know, from England) erudite would sound almost like 'er-you-dite' to Nth Americans. By this point in the interview he had stopped showing off his American accents &, of course, he wanted to get one last barb over Dave's head. Thumbs up to the rest of your post, though!

  • @Yickbob Yes I noticed this and have already corrected myself not long after I commented (as you can see a little above my original post). I know all about received pronunciation as I am English myself but it's not in usage these days which is where my initial confusion had come from. Sometimes talk show hosts really get it badly wrong, ever see Bill Hicks being interviewed by Terry Christian? It's an unmitigated disaster.

  • Wow, Letterman should've shown him some more respect.

  • nice one ollie! letterman is a fuckin twat. R.I.P

  • RANDY SAVAGE soundin ass

  • I love how Oliver totally goofs on the whole Rambo / overly macho American b.s.! Yeah, Letterman looked like he was ready to shit himself when he finally realized that Oliver was neither drunk, or amused. I guess David didn't realize just how much Oliver detested Johnny Carson.

  • Sounds just Macho Man Randy Savage lol

  • What a fucking legend!

  • Oliver is legend!Letterman jewish fuckass!

  • I find it amusing to see Letterman the alcoholic decides to take the piss out of Ollie for being an alcoholic himself. No wonder he was shitting himself as Id bet Ollie knew his form. But it was the look on Paulies face at the end the speeled it out best and that look said "Fuck you Dave, youre on your fucking own son"

  • I'm a brit and can't say I'm too impressed with Oliver Reeds behavior in that interview.

  • You can see Letterman is absolutely terrified of Reed.

  • i thinks its funny how he just takes the piss out off all the yanks in 1st 2 mins lol

  • Sounds like The Macho Man

  • Ollie was un-repentant Hell raiser who caroused himself to death and relished every second spent doing it. Letterman is an insignificant pipsqueak in comparison, a walnut in the batter of eternity. Christ I miss Oliver Reed.

  • ollie on top form

  • Since everyone knew Oliver drank a lot,why did Letterman have to bring it up throughout the interview? Trying to be funny? Yes,he was trying,but not succeeding.Even if Oliver had been drinking,Letterman shouldn't have to make a joke about it through the whole interview.I could care less if he drinks or not.I'd rather hear about the movie he was promoting and more about his life and career..

  • I think all Oliver Reed appearances were infamous!... not one of them boring

  • You can have your brad pitts and tom cruises and the rest of the good actors now but they dont come anywhere near as good as an actor as oliver reed was.

  • @ScottishNonBeliever I was being sarcastic! l0l

  • oliver reed was a legend in his

    own time, just like harris, he had the guts to be himself . rip oliver

  • You can tell from the intro that David isnt looking foreward to the interview. He was told not to talk about his drinking yet he says he can drink "Lee Marvin under the table"...As soon as they shake hands, Ollie shows him who's boss and that he's NOT IMPRESSED!

  • Letterman, may I thank you for being a erudiotic?

  • @ScottishNonBeliever I think, obviously, rude to ask "do you still drink?" Are you a drunk? Geeee! Letterman is an idiot!

  • Letterman is an underedcuated, rude idiot.

  • I just watched Ollie Reed rip Letterman a new arsehole. I bet David wished he didnt make that comment about his "Condition" near the end. The audience was well behind Letterman here, but thats to be expected. Americain's and the British humour is worlds apart.

  • Letterman is being a bit of an ass. Every joke Reed makes he turns it against him. Anytime Reed doesn't want to discuss his alcoholism, which should be understandable, Letterman digs his claw into him. Why?

  • "Where is Guernsey?" Letterman is crap! Ollie is the man!

  • As Letterman ever been more scared?

  • its whisky i can taste it

  • letterman egotripper

  • @ScottishNonBeliever "Non sense?" You should research David Letterman. You know nothing.

  • @ScottishNonBeliever The network pulled Hicks, not Letterman. Letterman expressed disgust over the network's decision.

  • @ScottishNonBeliever Quite the opposite. Letterman is, as always, untouchably cool.

    Oliver Reed was renowned for being a self regarding prick...it's why Shelley Winters dumped a water glass on his head while he was being an asshole on the Carson show in the 1970's.

  • Go on Ollie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Oliver Reed was very clever and he had one of the most beautiful voices of any actor; and as an actor he could be incredibly moving. The interviewer is completely out-classed.

  • I don't think he was drunk either. Letterman is an asshole and always was. Never liked his show. Im glad Reed did what he did. Letterman deserved it.

  • @MagicBus101 I could not agree with you less.

  • @ScottishNonBeliever there is nothing stylish or classy about being drunk on someone else's show. russell crowe said it correctly when he called reed a Pisshead. don't get me wrong, i find reed entertaining as hell...but i enjoy laughing at all drunken pissheads. isn't that the point?

  • Letterman as uncool as is possible. OReed is a gem interviewee and up for it and taking the piss out of DL (ie he is v eccentric and full of stories). His humour is v British; Letterman should have done his homework. OR makes him look a twat

  • @ScottishNonBeliever letterman is smug and reed made a fool of himself by walking onstage

  • @PortsmouthFilms How many Scottish, Welsh and Irish people have you outwitted?

  • why all this anti-american bullshit. we don't all act like letterman, some of us thins he sucks balls. i personally love oliver reed. i don't get all this cross continental hatred.

  • Now watch a real interview with Oliver, see what a charming gentleman he really was

    /watch?v=I1BASXIpJPg&feature=r­elated