#5 Madonna on David Letterman
It all started with Letterman’s less-than-awesome introduction of the pop star before her 1994 appearance: “Our first guest tonight is one of the biggest stars in the world. In the past 10 years, she has sold over 80 million albums, starred in countless films and slept with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry.” Burn! Even faithful sidekick Paul Shaffer couldn’t help but object. “She’s your guest!” he bellowed from off-camera. To which Letterman responded, “It’s right there on her bio, for heaven’s sake.”
Needless to say, Madonna was less than amused, and decided to enact revenge by dropping the F-bomb a record 14 times and making endless sexual innuendos (including comparing a microphone to a certain part of the anatomy, ahem). At one point, Letterman exclaimed, “This, of course, won’t see the light of day.” It did (of course), and became one of the highest-rated shows that year. But that didn’t stop Letterman from making another joke at Madonna’s expense the following evening: “You can tune in safely — she’s not on tonight!”
Time Magazine’s Top 10 Disastrous Letterman Interviews
Sticky & Sweet 
Tom Munro 
Revolver 
Hope For Haiti 
Sticky & Sweet 
Madonna - Celebration 
Madonna - Celebration
Madonna - Celebration
Madonna - Celebration
Madonna - Celebration 
I Am Because We Are 
Filth and Wisdom 
I Am Because We Are 
Miles Away 
Sticky & Sweet 
Madonna Confessions 
Madonna 2009 
Give It 2 Me 
Give It 2 Me 
Hard Candy 
Hard Candy 
4 Minutes 
4 Minutes 
I loved that interview when it first aired on TV. I remember the following day I was at the gym working out when it was all over the news that Madonna had said the F word 13 times on national TV.
I loved the way Madonna handled Dave. The audience sounded a little uncomfortable, but I thought Madonna was actually funny. Sometimes I miss that funny witty side of Madonna, but then I realize that she’s now older, more mature, a mother and can’t behave the same way. People grow up and mature with time. I still love her.
That interview and then the one on Arsenio Hall…classic!
M had made a Top 10 list of her,
but she decided to crumble it up, and throw it away
Letterman’s staff saved the list M threw away
Letterman said in a later interview,
that M’s Top 10 list was actually really good
here is M’s discarded list:
“My Top Ten Complaints About Dave”:
10. Couldn’t vogue if life depended on it.
9. Always asking, ‘Whatever happened to that nice Sean Penn?’
8. Stole his nickname “Material Girl” from me.
7. Before sex, always asks, ‘Do you have any music for this, Paul?’
6. Can’t fit entire Evian bottle down throat.
5. Driving isn’t the only thing he does too fast, if you know what I mean.
4. His Top Ten lists keep getting lamer and lamer.
3. Calls the cops every time I break into his house.
2. Doesn’t look good in a cone bra.
1. He is still a virgin.
Madonna was hilarious and in total control during this interview. I loved her fun, cocky, arrogant demeanor, basically taking on the entire show and its audience and sayin, “F you!” On top of everything, she looked completely fab, as always. I know all of her fans loved it!
All of her fans did not like it…only the ones who could identify with her arrogance “loved” it.
You’re right, Melissa. I hear the uptight ones really didn’t like it
Scott…girl YOU are so right if you call a uptight fan one that is not: arrogant, a campy queen, one that doesn’t have a sarcastic comeback for everyone that doesn’t agree with her and last but not least…one that has moved on from the 90’s and is not wishing it was Blond Ambition over and over gain. Kisses xxoo.
Credit to her for having the balls to have done this. Nice to see she has evolved to her present frame of mind.
best interview of all times!!!
good old days
Thats our girle