03/21/2008
Jay Leno Asks Ryan Phillippe to Give Camera His 'Gayest Look'
Ryan Phillippe appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Wednesday night doing promotion for the film Stop-Loss and the first topic Leno brought up was Phillippe's first acting role as a gay teen on One Life to Live.
No matter that the role was a serious one in which a gay son came out to his father. Leno had to squeeze as much of a joke out of the fact that his first acting role was a gay part, even asking Phillippe to look into the camera and give his "gayest look."
To Phillippe's credit, he seemed annoyed with the line of questioning.
Watch it as well as the One Life to Live clip, AFTER THE JUMP...
Here's Phillippe on One Life to Live back in 1993:
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 12:48 PM EST by Andy in News, Ryan Philippe, Television | Permalink
Comments
Maybe I could look a little "gayer"...Perhaps, if Leno could, in his role of arbiter of what looks gay, give me a pointer or two, then I could exact the stereotype that America is so hell bent on looking for.
What an insecure prick...
Posted by: Dave | Mar 21, 2008 1:01:40 PM
JAY LENO IS A TOOL
Posted by: dw314 | Mar 21, 2008 1:09:16 PM
Ha ha ha!
Jay Leno is such a FUNNY guy- Lance Bedrock, Ha!
Homophobic Hack.
Oh, I'm sorry. I just noticed the lapel pin. My mistake- He's a great American!
Posted by: BusyTimmy | Mar 21, 2008 1:09:19 PM
Jay Leno needs to be called out for his consistent homophobia. What a jerk!
Posted by: Jim | Mar 21, 2008 1:15:48 PM
Well, Ryan is still the bigger narcissistic prick in that conversation--what a jerk is he!
Posted by: kurt | Mar 21, 2008 1:18:34 PM
Well, Ryan is still the bigger narcissistic prick in that conversation--what a jerk is he!
Posted by: kurt | Mar 21, 2008 1:19:53 PM
Wow, that was truly embarrassing on Leno's part. What an idiot. I wish Phillippe had walked off.
Posted by: Patrick | Mar 21, 2008 1:24:33 PM
RP looked sooooooo pissed!
Posted by: Wes | Mar 21, 2008 1:25:07 PM
Hmmm, my "gayest look" would've been to shove both my fists up Jay's ass and clap.
Will Leno ever stop? http://www.whitless.com/leno.htm
Posted by: John In Manhattan | Mar 21, 2008 1:35:02 PM
Seemed annoyed? That's definitely an understatement (no offense). Poor Ryan's just going on there to chat about his new film (directed by Kimberly Peirce, who does amazing work), and Jay was being a total jackass instead - nearly five minutes wasted!
And I'm not surprised about Jay Leno's juvenile behavior/line of questioning. That's par for the course with hetero folks who grew up in suburban Massachusetts (which I can say, because I grew up there).
Posted by: Davey | Mar 21, 2008 1:35:55 PM
You guys couldn't be more on-point with the words you chose to describe Leno. I've always thought he was an unfunny tool and hack... and that was before this...
Posted by: stuart | Mar 21, 2008 2:01:10 PM
Davey...you got that right!
- Pugzz in Boston
Posted by: Pugzz | Mar 21, 2008 2:07:57 PM
what an asshat...but not surprising coming from an ass-kissing, picket line crossing, douchebag...
but i also agree that ryan philippe is a talentless snotrag...
Posted by: Michael Strangeways | Mar 21, 2008 2:14:01 PM
Jay Leno is a total jackass idiot, and a huge homophobe. Can't wait for him to leave the Tonight Show for good!
Posted by: goofy big chinned idiot! | Mar 21, 2008 2:16:15 PM
I don't watch "The Tonight Show." I haven't since Jay Leno helped Arnold Schwarzenegger and the GOP engineer a Republican coop against a Democratically elected governor. So I didn't see Jay being his usual jerkish self. And I feel the better for it.
As for Ryan, I feel sorry for him. Getting smacked around by Jay and then beat up on by some people on this thread -- he can't catch a break.
Posted by: Jemmytee | Mar 21, 2008 2:26:17 PM
Secretly hoped this would have devolved into a Tom Selleck - Rosie O'Donnell style throwdown....
BTW, has Jay Leno ever been called out on his content by a GLAAD or GLAAD-like organization?
Posted by: Harrison | Mar 21, 2008 2:33:12 PM
leno is a hack and a disgrace. i do hope he is called out on this behavior in a more explicit and sophisticated manner, perhaps through glaad.
Posted by: christopher | Mar 21, 2008 2:43:50 PM
Leno hates gays because he's fat.
Posted by: anon | Mar 21, 2008 2:48:55 PM
Is it just me or does Ryan seem to be putting a lot of energy into "butching it up"? I almost expect him to be saying "dem" and "dos" to offset his effeminate features.
Posted by: pinky mcstinky | Mar 21, 2008 2:52:44 PM
Wow, what an asshole. Seriously, I don't see why people would bother watching Leno. That was really classless of him, especially when it was *more than apparent* that Ryan was very uncomfortable. Anything for a cheap joke, I guess.
When's Conan getting the Tonight Show? The sooner the better!
Posted by: Ryan | Mar 21, 2008 3:03:57 PM
Stop complaining about this on a gay blog. Write to NBC.
Posted by: jeff | Mar 21, 2008 3:22:02 PM
PLEASE write to The Tonight Show and COMPLAIN. I just did, YET AGAIN. Jeff Whitty, the creator of Avenue Q, wrote an open letter to Leno about 2 years ago, concerning Leno's horrid gay jokes. I DESPISE Leno, so I don't watch him. BUT during the Brokeback Mountain time, I watched Jake on his show, and Leno was his USUAL, ADOLESCENT, HOMOPHOBIC SELF. To him, gay = joke. Being gay is a joke. Playing a gay character is a joke.
In the meantime, gay people are being beaten and killed just because they are gay. While Leno PLAYS to homophobia, DEPENDS on homophobia, for a laugh, at the expense of the gay community. Even though I don't watch him, I've come across clips, like this one with Ryan, in which he has been horribly homophobic, and I ALWAYS write and complain. PLEASE do the same.
Barry
Posted by: BB | Mar 21, 2008 3:22:20 PM
Ryan Phillippe did not seem annoyed that Jay was being homophobic. He seemed annoyed that Jay was going to put him in a position where he would 'look gay'...which is, in itself, homophobic. I'm not impressed with either one of them.
Posted by: peterparker | Mar 21, 2008 3:36:00 PM
I would love for Ellen to go on his show and call him out.
Jay is way to smart and gets paid WAY to damned much to have to resort to such cheap, unintelligent, uninventive, lowest common denominator gutter comedy.
Posted by: Zeke | Mar 21, 2008 4:36:10 PM
I agree with PeterParker, Ryan was annoyed he was being put in the position to 'look gay'.
We need to hold Leno to account.
In a similar vein, AfterElton.com has a story about Sean Penn making a "buttboy" comment trying to endear himself to a crowd.
Posted by: queendru | Mar 21, 2008 4:46:33 PM
jay leno plays to the least common denominator, and his writers rise to his level. it appears that the tonight show's target demographic is 13 year old straight boys raised by bigots. fuck him. i'm also writing to NBC.
Posted by: nic | Mar 21, 2008 5:08:34 PM
I've never actually heard of someone finding Jay Leno funny. Anyone?
Ryan, looked hot!
Posted by: DJSauvage | Mar 21, 2008 6:43:29 PM
OH come on Queendru! Sean Penn is SO supportive of the gay community. He just finished filming the movie about Harvey Milk. He THREW himself into the role. He really got the attitude, and look and sound of Harvey, to an amazing degree.
My room mate was present, watching, when he made the "butt-boy" comment. Sean just meant that Hannity was Murdoch's BITCH. His WHORE. And he also commented on the horrid Falwell, and the horrid O'Reilley. Sean is SO liberal. He meant NO harm. He was seeking to get the crowd worked up and ANGRY about all the horrid antigay conservatives, for the sake of the scene that was to be filmed. HE is a METHOD actor, so he was doing a little Method Acting coaching of the crowd.
Butt-boy was not the best choice of words, to a mostly gay crowd. LOL He forgot that being a butt-boy to a gay crowd is a GRAND thing. BUT, to a straight crowd (he is straight) his point about Hannity would have gotten across, better. Hannity is SUBMISSIVE to Murdoch's will. Murdoch's puppet. Someone who lives to PLEASE Murdoch. Okay? Don't be hating the wonderful Sean Penn, who is giving to the gay community another IMPORTANT movie, just as Brokeback Mountain was important. We ALL make slips of the tongue now and then. Even grand people, like Sean. HE I can so EASILY forgive.
Posted by: BB | Mar 21, 2008 6:48:29 PM
Jay Leno has never been funny, that bit is no exception. Ryan Phillippe did seem annoyed to me and I give him credit for the fact he took that part at the age of 17 seeing where he came from. I think the disgust should go to Leno, who is a homophobic asshole.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Mar 21, 2008 7:35:44 PM
I guess I am different from all of you. I like Leno. I will agree that he comes across as a hack, and will do anything for a laugh, but what he pulled on Ryan Phillippe was no different that what he has pulled on others. Phillippe came across as arrogant. No sense of humor whatsoever. He could have added to Leno's remarks of being the 'first' young gay character on daytime television, instead of trying to defer the subject, as though he was ashamed. When they showed that video of the Armani ad, Phillippe also seemed curse. Leno has done that same bit to so many stars, including "A" list. I can remember when he had "NUM3ERS" co-star Judd Hirsh on and showed him in, I believe, a Folgers commercial, they laughed and talked about it for a couple of seconds. As much as I like to see Ryan Phillippe, I can see why he is rarely on talk shows. He is too into self worth. No wonder Reese divorced him. I think he is trying to hide his true feelings, whatever they may be, and inturn, comes across as arrogant.
As for late night, I prefer Leno over Letterman (actually, it's not so much Letterman as it is Paul Shaffer. I find him annoying). Conan O'Brien is out & out boring. His skits fall flat, and after every joke he tells in his monologue he has to say 'yeah'. Once Leno is gone, and O'Brien takes over, NBC will lose the lead at late night. Just another stupid move at NBC (just like when CBS, back in the 60's decided to cancel all their top rated comedies like Hogan's Heroes, Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, etc.). It took CBS nearly 20 years to recover. The best monologue overall is Craig Ferguson, who airs, for those of you who don't know, after Letterman. He's fun.
Posted by: MP | Mar 21, 2008 8:55:21 PM
When did Phillippe start to talk like Vinnie Barbarino?
Posted by: Marc in Chicago | Mar 22, 2008 12:07:52 AM
Phillippe has always had a bit of a lisp.
That doesn't imply anything about sexual orientation (nor should it). It just means...his voice is considerably less "manly" than say... James Earl Jones.
Posted by: John | Mar 22, 2008 12:27:47 AM
JOHN,
nor should we infer otherwise. the fact that james earl jones has a manlier voice is beyond dispute (i think).
Posted by: nic | Mar 22, 2008 12:45:38 AM
IF RYAN DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT GAYS OR IS EMBARRESSED BY THEM...THEM MAYBE HE SHOULDN'T PLAY THEM....
Posted by: alan brickman | Mar 22, 2008 1:16:31 PM
Alan, did you and others, who are making this about RYAN, rather than about Leno, even watch the video? Leno asked Ryan about him being the first gay character on a Soap, and Ryan answered in an adult, and matter of fact way, with NO shame, and NO embarrassment.
When Leno told him he had googled him, Ryan braced for what Leno might bring up. BUT, when Leno asked about the gay role, Ryan relaxed with it. He had probably feared something about his personal life being asked about, and was relieved.
Leno then proceeded with the gay thing, as if Ryan SHOULD be ashamed or embarrassed. Leno kept at him and asked him to give his best "gay look". Ryan REFUSED to go along with such HOMOPHOBIC shenanigans. But he refused in a POLITE way, rather than in a hostile way. He sort of laughed his way through it. What the HELL is a "gay look" anyway? AND, if Ryan has gay friends, as I'm willing to bet he does, he was not about to INSULT them, to play Leno's HOMOPHOBIC GAME. Ryan acted embarrassed about his NUDE commercial. NOT his gay role.
Posted by: BB | Mar 22, 2008 4:38:10 PM
Friend of mine met RP on a plane from California to New York, and he said he spoke to him the whole flight and he couldn't have been nicer. Absolutely no attitude, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Leno, on the other hand, reminds me of a guy I used to work with - ass kisser, not funny, unintelligent, gay jokes abounding.
I haven't watched Leno in years, but from this clip, he hasn't changed a bit.
Posted by: David | Mar 22, 2008 11:52:02 PM
I think that Ryan P. is that good-looking that even the most straightest or so-called straight guy can deny their attraction to him. Jay is just a guy that never would dream of being attracted to another man until Ryan came along. Knowing that Ryan has done risque roles throughout his career, I have to say that he is fully aware of his gay legion of fans.
Posted by: Curtis | Mar 23, 2008 11:10:04 PM
Leno is the guy middle America tunes into to for a chuckle or two before having 34 seconds of boring hetero sex to help them sleep.
Posted by: christopher | Mar 24, 2008 12:55:45 PM
Jay Leno is the unfunniest man on television, an arrogant blowhard who couldn't make a schizophrenic with Tuarettes Syndrome laugh if he tried. Leno is ovah. And he's dumb-ass homophobe to boot.
Posted by: mike | Mar 24, 2008 2:49:25 PM
Jeff Whitley, the creator of Avenue Q, wrote another open letter to Jay Leno about his HORRID homophobia. As I mentioned, in a previous post, he did so about 2 years ago. Here is the recent one, for those who have not seen it. He gives Jay his "gay look" at the end. I hope ALL of you wrote to NBC.
http://www.whitless.com/
Posted by: BB | Mar 24, 2008 5:02:15 PM
Hasn't everyone noticed lately that since comedians, or political pundits, or anyone for that matter, can no longer use race, or sometimes gender, or country of origin, or religious affiliations as the basis of their humor......they have ALL felt more than free to use HOMOPHOBIC ISSUES, over and over and over again. Gay marriage has moved from the political agenda of sincerety, to the butt of many comic's jokes. Obviously, freedom of speech applies to all the first categories I mentioned, but now social influence seems to bless, as well as exclude the respect for the civil rights of gays!
Posted by: Randy | Mar 25, 2008 2:00:12 AM
Judging from that one clip alone - Leno is DESPARATE for ratings - Leno's staff did a LOT of research to embarrass a guy who went on the show to promote a movie.
Once again, Leno found a venue for his own homophobia.
Jay's the loser - he still thinks homophobia is funny...
He's TOTALLY unaware that homophobia can - and sometimes does - KILL !!
Posted by: tgrade5 | Mar 30, 2008 8:53:27 PM
PETERPARKER wrote: "Ryan Phillippe did not seem annoyed that Jay was being homophobic. He seemed annoyed that Jay was going to put him in a position where he would 'look gay'...which is, in itself, homophobic. I'm not impressed with either one of them."
'Look gay'? What the hell does that mean? Seems to me you're the one buying into Leno's "gay look" nonsense, which Ryan wanted nothing to do with. What would you say if an interviewer asked Neil Patrick Harris, TR Knight or even someone more flamboyant like Carson Kressley or Ross The Intern to give their "straightest look" into the camera and they refused?
Watch Ryan's subsequent interview on Ellen and see what a difference a thoughtful interviewer makes. Ryan clearly has no problem talking about any of his previous roles, gay or not.
Posted by: RJ | Mar 30, 2008 10:08:46 PM
Oh please, that whole thing was rehearsed. It's all about marketing Stop-Loss to the only people who will be going to see it - gays wanting to see Ryan and Channing shirtless. Because otherwise the movie is a heavyhanded political statement that nobody wants to hear.
And the naked commercial thing is simply about promoting his hot body - he is super hot by the way - since his looks and not his acting is his meal ticket.
Posted by: Andrew K | Apr 1, 2008 6:23:33 PM
Yeah, Leno's a tool.
Ryan is cute but his attempt to "butch it up" is PAINFUL.
Posted by: M | Apr 2, 2008 12:28:07 AM
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