Late Night Highlights: Bill Murray
Mr. Bill Murray - and how can you not call him Mr. Bill Murray - is a favorite guest of many late night talk shows. But more often than not, you'll see Murray pop on Late Show with David Letterman to act mix it up with the late night host and play the goofy eccentric.
If you're not familiar with Murray's work, let's leave it at this: he was an original Saturday Night Live cast member, starred in a string of blockbuster comedies, including Meatballs, Stripes and Ghostbusters, and today is known as the indie A-lister, with films like Lost in Translation and just about ever yWes Anderson movie ever made.
And then there's Groundhog Day, a favorite among Murray fans and the film that possibly helped bridge the gap between summer blockbuster and independent sleeper.Groundhog Day tells the tale of a cursed weatherman, Murray, reliving the same day over and over until he learned to be less selfish.
To celebrate both Groundhog's Day and Murray's pitch perfect late night appearances, her are Bill's Top 5 late night guest spots:
In an early December 2012 visit to the Late Show, Murray was welcomed to the stage in a most unusual way. After Letterman introduced him, the show cut to outside the studio, where an unmarked SUV came to a sudden halt. Men dressed in dark suits hurried to the trunk, where they pulled out a stunned Murray - hands tied behind his back and hood over his head - and ushered him to the side door. After becoming uncuffed and de-hooded, Murray starts to complain - before one of the lugs tases him. Murray stumbles onto stage, collapses, and is assisted by a laughing Letterman.More »
In summer 2012, Murray returned to the Late Show to tell Dave about his financial struggles. Because he lives the life of a high roller, Murray said it was imperative he find a way to fund his lifestyle. And, after rapper Tupac Shakur appeared on stage as a hologram, Murray found his answer: his own hologram. "It's an economic choice," Murray told Dave. The hologram could make appearances all over at the same time. The hologram then makes its appearance - Murray in a T-shirt, backward cap and banjo, chewing gum and trying - and hilariously failing - to play a tune with Paul Shaffer and the band.More »
Murray, dressed wildly in a raccoon cap, purple sequins, shorts, boots and crutches, visited Dave in September 2010. At the time, there was a lot of hubbub about the possibility of Columbia producing a third Ghostbusters film. It seemed more than possible - it seemed imminent. Until Murray put the kibosh on it all. During his interview, Murray suggested that he would only do the film if the writers killed his character, Peter Venkman, in the first few minutes. And then he said he hadn't read the script, something that was delivered to him months before. His apathy pretty much closed the franchise down.More »
It's rare that Murray makes a late night appearance without making a comedy sketch. In this appearance on Late Night back in late 80s or early 90s, Murray mixes it up with an audience member. After the heckler tells Letterman he would like the show better if Letterman wasn't the host, Murray stands and defends the late night host. "Say what you want about me," Murray says. "But you leave David alone." The heckler responds, "Well, why don't you come up here and make me, pal?" So Murray does, grabbing the heckler by the collar and tossing him out of the studio. Of course it was all a sketch, with comedian and comedy writer Joe Furey starring as the heckler. Another of Murray's famed entrances and exits.More »
Murray stopped by Late Night in Nov. 1997, while Conan O'Brien was still host. The two got to chatting about how the studio used to be Letterman's, back when he hosted Late Night. After some small talk about what he liked, Murray abruptly said, "But those are the good things." He then explains to Conan how Letterman kept a tight ship - "Everyone knew where to stand and they stood there." - and how Conan's staff was a little too casual. "You're going to see discipline problems." To show him how to make his staff take notice, Murray decides to make an example of a cameraman. Murray calls him four-eyes and then asks "Who's the captain of the ship around here?" "Conan, sir," the cameraman replies. Murray - apparently unexpectedly - gives him a slap. With everyone cracking up, the cameraman says, louder, "Conan, sir!"More »
If you're not familiar with Murray's work, let's leave it at this: he was an original Saturday Night Live cast member, starred in a string of blockbuster comedies, including Meatballs, Stripes and Ghostbusters, and today is known as the indie A-lister, with films like Lost in Translation and just about ever yWes Anderson movie ever made.
And then there's Groundhog Day, a favorite among Murray fans and the film that possibly helped bridge the gap between summer blockbuster and independent sleeper.Groundhog Day tells the tale of a cursed weatherman, Murray, reliving the same day over and over until he learned to be less selfish.
To celebrate both Groundhog's Day and Murray's pitch perfect late night appearances, her are Bill's Top 5 late night guest spots:
1. Bill Murray’s forced ‘Late Show’ appearance
In an early December 2012 visit to the Late Show, Murray was welcomed to the stage in a most unusual way. After Letterman introduced him, the show cut to outside the studio, where an unmarked SUV came to a sudden halt. Men dressed in dark suits hurried to the trunk, where they pulled out a stunned Murray - hands tied behind his back and hood over his head - and ushered him to the side door. After becoming uncuffed and de-hooded, Murray starts to complain - before one of the lugs tases him. Murray stumbles onto stage, collapses, and is assisted by a laughing Letterman.More »
2. Bill Murray introduces Letterman to his hologram
In summer 2012, Murray returned to the Late Show to tell Dave about his financial struggles. Because he lives the life of a high roller, Murray said it was imperative he find a way to fund his lifestyle. And, after rapper Tupac Shakur appeared on stage as a hologram, Murray found his answer: his own hologram. "It's an economic choice," Murray told Dave. The hologram could make appearances all over at the same time. The hologram then makes its appearance - Murray in a T-shirt, backward cap and banjo, chewing gum and trying - and hilariously failing - to play a tune with Paul Shaffer and the band.More »
3. Bill Murray tells Dave Peter Venkman should die
Murray, dressed wildly in a raccoon cap, purple sequins, shorts, boots and crutches, visited Dave in September 2010. At the time, there was a lot of hubbub about the possibility of Columbia producing a third Ghostbusters film. It seemed more than possible - it seemed imminent. Until Murray put the kibosh on it all. During his interview, Murray suggested that he would only do the film if the writers killed his character, Peter Venkman, in the first few minutes. And then he said he hadn't read the script, something that was delivered to him months before. His apathy pretty much closed the franchise down.More »
4. Bill Murray and the Heckler
It's rare that Murray makes a late night appearance without making a comedy sketch. In this appearance on Late Night back in late 80s or early 90s, Murray mixes it up with an audience member. After the heckler tells Letterman he would like the show better if Letterman wasn't the host, Murray stands and defends the late night host. "Say what you want about me," Murray says. "But you leave David alone." The heckler responds, "Well, why don't you come up here and make me, pal?" So Murray does, grabbing the heckler by the collar and tossing him out of the studio. Of course it was all a sketch, with comedian and comedy writer Joe Furey starring as the heckler. Another of Murray's famed entrances and exits.More »
5. Bill Murray warns Conan that his show is going to awry
Murray stopped by Late Night in Nov. 1997, while Conan O'Brien was still host. The two got to chatting about how the studio used to be Letterman's, back when he hosted Late Night. After some small talk about what he liked, Murray abruptly said, "But those are the good things." He then explains to Conan how Letterman kept a tight ship - "Everyone knew where to stand and they stood there." - and how Conan's staff was a little too casual. "You're going to see discipline problems." To show him how to make his staff take notice, Murray decides to make an example of a cameraman. Murray calls him four-eyes and then asks "Who's the captain of the ship around here?" "Conan, sir," the cameraman replies. Murray - apparently unexpectedly - gives him a slap. With everyone cracking up, the cameraman says, louder, "Conan, sir!"More »
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