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Interview with George Michael
November 9th, 1998

George Appears on Letterman
by Ann Rinehart, in Planet George

The Late Show, the American talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS, featured George Michael live on November 9, 1998 , on the eve of his "Ladies and Gentlemen" greatest hits release.
The Late Show has a comedy format and broadcasts live before a studio audience from the Ed Sullivan Theater located in New York. David Letterman is known for his disrespectful, sarcastic style of humor, which he uses to make fun of anyone he can, even (if not especially) politicians including President Clinton. His show also displays variety skits such as "Stupid Pet Tricks" and "Stop Calling Me Chief." The Late Show airs weeknights at 11:30 p.m. EST.
The show began with a long, monotonous monologue predominately about Meryl Streep's cancellation that night, with only one brief announcement about GM being a guest. George was the first guest, and after a simple introduction, out walked GM in a stylish black suit looking energized for an exciting conversation.
The first question Letterman asked was if George had ever appeared on the show before, and GM quickly replied, "Excuse me, shouldn't you know? This is your show! Shouldn't you know if I've been a guest on your show before?" After that exchange of words the battle of wit began. Letterman pumped George for details about his arrest this past spring, which he thought was last year, but being asked by the show's producers not to use certain terms, GM was at a loss for words.
George, with humorous determination, answered Letterman's persistent and embarrassing questions, matching Letterman's jabs blow for blow. Substituting "the M word," George used "nookie," trying to give perspective to Letterman about the affair. One after another, the same redundant question came, but George never lost his smile; he bravely and wittily responded to Letterman's taunting.
With no warning, as quickly as Letterman's barrage had begun, it ended. And George bid adieu with a simple "Cheers!" and he was gone. Surprisingly GM's music and new release was only mentioned briefly during his introduction to the stage.


Read the transcript of the interview below - Listen HERE

David: Our first guest is a multiple grammy award nominee who has sold more than 60 million albums, who's new cd double complilation is entitled "Ladies & Gentlement The Best of George Michael [Shows CD Set] and it will be available in stores tommorrow. Here he is George Michael.
[George walks on to cheers from the crowd]
David: Nice to have you on the show. This is you first time on the show, it's not your first time on the show is it?
George: Well excuse me you should know shouldn't you, yes it is. Is this your first time on the show.
David: Weren't you on over at the old show on NBC singing and stuff?
George: No, no.
David: Well welcome to the damn show.
George: I don't know what was going on someone was trying to throw a blonde wig on me back there and teach me all these foreign langauges [Meryl Streep ref.]
David: That happens to you all the time doesn't it. It was about a year ago you were arrested in CA. what was that all about?
George: About a year ago?
David: Wasn't a year ago?
George: About 6 months ago.
David: 6 months ago...
George: Oh times flying.
David: Is all that been all straightened out now?
George: Um I still, I've just been um. I have community service to fullfill but I did actually I was expected to be given like a couple extra months to do it in, but apparently its been a, I have got to do it by the end of December which is no problem.
David: What kind of community service will you be doing.
George: Umm well I already do quite a lot. A charity called project angel food in Los Angeles who deliver meals to aid patients in Los Angeles and the area. And I already have connections with them, so I think I will do work there.
David: So you will continue doing that and it will work towards your...
George: No, no it's not, I do actually have to do out, but I have no problem in doing it. I know the people and they will set me to work in the kitchen I imagine.
David: Right. So what exactly happened?
George: I just want to say before we get on to this topic that I have been told backstage that I can't say the M word. So God knows if you aren't allowed to say it no wonder I got arrested for doing it. I mean you know what time does this show go out? 11:30?
David: 11:30, Its an adult show.
George: True, true. I guess people don't get up to that kind of thing here uh.
David: So take us through it step by step. See what happens here.
George: Ok. Alright, so take you through it step by step.
David: Maybe I was misled, I was under the impression you didn't mind talking about it...
George: No I have no problem talking about it.
David: If you would rather not talk about it, we can talk about something else.
George: No, I am just trying to work out...
David: I don't want to embaress you...
George: I am good an embaressing myself, I am very good at that...
David: Alright then lets go ahead and talk about it...
George: I just can't work out how to say it without using the M word but I will find some other. Umm so what happened. What happened was kind of vaguely slightly inebriated pop star on a lovely summers day. And I went in, I walked into the restroom I was followed in...
David: Where is the restroom? Public restroom...
George: Well it is a very classy restroom, it is directly opposite the Beverly Hills Hotel. And basically I was followed into the toilet by a man 6, well over 6 foot fairly attractive not Carmel or Colombo someone kind of slightly more attractive than that. And I was, I think the official word is entraped I suppose I was coaxed fairly directly...
David: Really?
George: Yes. And um nothing happened I didn't come within... [crowd reacts with laughter & applause]
David: Careful Hanson is here tonight...
George: Be honest Meryl Streep heard I was on the show right, and she pulled out...
David: No, I don't know what happened. She is a very busy woman.
George: Ok I will catch up with her sometime...
David: Now Uh, you had gone in, your reason for going into the restroom I am guessing was innocent enough, it that correct...
George: Oh yeah absolutely...
David: You went into there for the purpose that 98% of the people would...
George: Oh yeah, I have said it before I am no stranger to you know outdoor nookie...
David: What, what? ... You can say nookie, but you can't say the other word...
George: Well I didn't think Americans understood nookie, I thought it was a bit like Do you say nookie?
David: I didn't think you did. I thought I am not allowed to say "Masturbation" I have to say nookie something...
George: So I guess half of America just switched over yeah...
David: I think they are switching here, I think word is spreading across the yards [ref. to jail yards were inmates fancy a bit] So anyway. Now you are in there, and a guy a cop comes in and he, its a set up...
George: A lot of people find this hard to imagine. I must admit I found it hard to believe at the time but it is very common practice. Its called entrapment it is illegal its basically being coaxed...
David: What did the guy do?
George: What did the guy do. That I am allowed to say...
David: That he turned out to be a police officer...
George: Alright this is the nicest way I can put it, I will put it this way and I don't want to be graphic and nasty. He played a game called you show me yours, no I show you mine and you show me yours then I will take you down to the police station...
David: Show me what, what am I looking at?
George: He wasn't showing me his fillings, you know what I mean...
David: This guy actually drops his pants down in front of you...
George: No he didn't have to drop them. He had his, I am not allowed to say the word am I. I am a bit stuck here. He had his important equipment...
David: Well I think that depends on your perspective there...
George: Ok alright so imagine for a moment that you are straight...
David: Yeah I know what is going on he's, imagine for a moment that I am what? You didn't mean to say that did you?
George: I have been dying to say that...
David: Oh for heaven sakes. Alright so the guy is standing there trying to engage in some sort of activity...
George: He said, actully police report says that he was trying to simulate urination. Right, now excuse me how do you simulate urination and make no noise do you see what I am saying. If you tried to simulate urination doing that with your hands you would get wee all over the shop is all I can say... Don't try it at home, don't try it at home folks. Actually try it at home you are safe there...
David: So are you nervous are you scared are you embarress about this whole thing, did they take you downtown now...
George: After that I was taken to the police station, which is probably the nicest jail in the western world, the Beverly Hills police department. And I was thinking, actually as I look back on it was quite pathetic I was thinking I was so lucky that no one else had been arrested that afternoon apart from me and you never know that it might not get out. Seven hours later I got helicopters flying around my house, there are hundreds of people in the street...
David: So you are saying you are completely innocent in this particular episode and more or less it was more or less a misunderstanding...
George: Yes absolutely. And ultimately the point being that I think it is kind of irrelevant in terms of the law in terms of what my general behavior is even though I have admitted to similar sort of behavior. The point is the police are not allowed to do something illegal in order to make you to do something illegal. It was definate entrapment...
David: Well then are you going to go after them...
George: Well no because at the time I did actually consider, this week the DAs office issued a statement which they have done quite a few times in the last 6 months, I don't really understand why they have to. But the issued a statement saying that if I believed that I was entrapped, and I actually said The one thing in the police report I know they had to put down was that I stood in the middle of the street surrounded by people saying this is entrapement, I am going to have to say this was entrapment. So that was in there, I said it publically there were enough people watching and listening. But they said that if I believed it was entrapement, having seen an interview I did last week then why didn't I go to court. Now if someone can really tell me that a sane celebrity involved in a luid conduct arrest takes there grievance to international cameras and stands in court to say Yes you did and him going No I didn't . There is no way I'm gonna put myself through that and there is no way I am going to feed the circus to that degree. I was tried really in the media...
David: I hope this whole episode hasn't changed your outlook on outdoor nookie, I hope you haven't soured on that...
George: Well I guess I just have to make sure it is completely outdoor...
David: Now are you going to sing for us...
George: No I am not singing, he is really clued up on me. He doesn't remember if I'd been on the show before, he doesn't know wether I am playing or not I am offended...
David: Are you really?
George: No...
David: I was going to say it takes a awful lot to offend you... Well I am glad that episode is history for you now you can go on and take care of your life. Well nice meeting you George...
George: Cheers.
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English Archive 1998 ~ TV & Radio