Russell Brand Schools MSNBC On Professionalism In 8 Minutes Of Epic Television
By Nico Lang
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ADJhErmJuoQ]
Yesterday’s Morning Joe is must-see television, but not for reasons anyone at MSNBC could have anticipated. MJ Co-host Mika Brzezinski invited Russell Brand to come on the show and talk about his upcoming tour, Messiah Complex, but the segment quickly devolved into condescension. Brzezinski and his panel constantly talk about Brand as if he isn’t in the room and spend more time making fun of his accent than actually interviewing him.
It’s clear no one wants Brand there, and one of the hosts quips that they’ve barely even heard of him. To quote Janis Ian, “Oh man, that is bleak.”
The problem is that Russell Brand isn’t Kim Kardashian or your usual celebrity guest. He’s a whip smart provocateur with a lot to say — even if that wit often goes to waste in Adam Sandler vehicles. Brand proves this by taking over the show around the 5:00 minute mark, interrupting them after panelist Katty Kay refers to him by the wrong name. “Who’s Willie?” Brand asks. “Is this what you all do for a living?”
What proceeds is some prime real talk in which Brand shows them how its done, interviewing himself while introducing the next round of topics. For anyone who is a fan of the movie Network, this is Paddy Chayefsky in action. If you don’t know what that is, Russell Brand calls Mika Brzezinski a “shaft grabber” and instructs her to take off her wedding ring while stroking one’s water bottle. There’s something for everyone.
Watch the clippy goodness above.
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Want to write for Thought Catalog? Email Nico Lang at nico@thoughtcatalog.com.