Gibson Receives Standing Ovation on Leno

NewsMax.com ^ | 2/27/04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Mel Gibson appeared on Jay Leno’s "Tonight Show" – and was greeted by the live audience with a prolonged standing ovation.

Gibson’s appearance on the top-rated late-night program came on the heels of new box office results showing that his new film, "The Passion of the Christ," may be one of the biggest hits of all time.

But box office success hasn’t stopped controversy from swirling around the religious epic.

"Some people thought it was a bad idea," Gibson told Leno about his desire to do the movie on Jesus’ death. The actor said anytime one touches upon politics or religion, that person runs the risk of touching a nerve.

"I didn’t expect to hit a main artery," Gibson said to chuckles from the audience.

Gibson said his film first germinated over a dozen years ago. He said he was unfazed about Hollywood’s criticism of his work.

He said that he discovered in Tinseltown that "you can get a shiv between the shoulder blades and it’s done with a smile."

Still, Gibson said he was shocked by the "pre-judgment and condemnation” which began over a year ago – before anyone had even seen the film.

He told America’s favorite comedian that he was surprised by the attacks against him; including the charge he was an anti-Semite.

"It’s wrong, it’s unconscionable,” he said.

Leno questioned Gibson about the film’s violence.

Gibson readily admitted the film is violent and deserved the R-rating it received. But he added that the violence was not "gratuitous” and, in his opinion, drew a different reaction from audiences who watch, for example, horror films.

Gibson said the film’s message is one of tolerance. He told Leno he chose actor James Caviezel to play Jesus because he projected both a childish innocence and masculinity – consistent with the Biblical Jesus.

Gibson’s decision to produce "Passion” may have earned him at least one fan in Hollywood.

"Thanks for the courage of your convictions,” Leno told Gibson as he concluded his interview.

[Reactionary]

It obviously has to be shocking to them as it must remind them of their loss of power, their inability to shape and to dominate opinion.

For the first time in a long time no one bought the smears of Leftist cultural radicals. No one bought the egalitarian premise that all things right-wing are intolerant, hateful, that they deny the principle of equality that they promote. This *has* to bother them greatly.

They understand better than anyone that once an "argument" is rejected by the majority the argument will be much less effective in the future. They also know that the "arguments" they have are really all they've got.

Time for idiot liberals to rethink and regroup.

[bluebunny]

I toyed with the idea of starting a thread on this. I wish I had now. Mel handled himself beautifully. The audience loved him. I was a bit apprehensive when I heard about this appearance earlier this week. But Mel did great. I am so damn proud of him. I will be seeing this movie Sunday. And to give people the heads up, Caviezel will be on Leno tomorrow night too.

[searchandrecovery]

Hollywood is deeply saddened (at Mel's success). That vampire/cross comment on this thread is great.

[Bonaparte]

"Did their faces look something like this?"

More like this

[Porterville]

Prince is doing real well also, probably the best show I've ever seen on Leno.

[oceanperch]

replay @ 2am west coast time

[Squantos]

Have ya seen this yet ?

Stay Safe !

[longtermmemmory]

Consider that this movie is "cutting edge".

Al the homophile, relative morality, christian ridiculing, a-moral tripe they made saying they were only reflecting society is now proven false.

I submit this is not a conservative "story" but a good "story". It just so happens that conservative in everyone has been hungering for a good story.

Here is the other show. Each of these people who is selling out theaters weeks in advance is not only a vote for the passion, it is a message that much of what they have on their shelves is destined for failure because the audience for "the passion" is not automatically going to go to the usual hollyweird tripe.

They have completly miss judged audiences and who is an available audience. They could have been making so much more money if they had not been so self absorbed.

(Out of curiosity, I wonder how many parents are taking their children to see this?)

[Howlin]

One of the best parts of this show was at the end, after Prince sang, he turned to Gibson and said, "Mel Gibson! Wanna catch a movie after we're done here?"

It was priceless and the crowd loved it!

[Ohioan from Florida]

Yes, it was a really good show tonight! It appears that it grossed ~$26 million on its opening day! Didn't Gibson invest somewhere around $30 million of his own money? Pretty great to make so much of it back on its first day out! I hope Hollywood takes notice. Anyone think they might feel a little like the Pharaoh and the Egyptians when Moses led the Israelites out of slavery? The Tinsel-towners thought that success from this movie would be impossible, but they forgot that nothing is impossible with God! Glad that Mel and his cast and crew knew differently!

[Qwinn]

I'm just curious, since my knowledge of pop culture is usually at least 3 years out of date... did Prince finally get off that ridiculous "Artist formerly known as" and symbol shtick?

I can't even imagine what he looks like these days.

Qwinn

[AnimalLover]

Ping

[Howlin]

Yes, he did. He is now Prince, the artist formerly known as

Honestly, he looks more normal than most of the "musicians" out there now!

He's starting a new tour, with absolutely NO COMPUTER generated music; something about Musicology; he said people should bring their whole families because they were going to be about real music.

Sounds interesting. I like Prince!

[TheMole]

I'm just curious, since my knowledge of pop culture is usually at least 3 years out of date... did Prince finally get off that ridiculous "Artist formerly known as" and symbol shtick?

I can't even imagine what he looks like these days.

Qwinn

You asked for it.

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Friday, April 26, 2002 Concert Preview The divine one: Prince adds a 'Rainbow' of religion to his eclectic musical pot By Pam Sitt Seattle Times staff reporter What to expect when the artist formerly known as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince takes the stage at the Paramount Monday? Don't ask us. Even the Purple One can't seem to make up his mind. As Prince, 43, nears the end of a 29-date tour, he continues to keep fans guessing. (So what else is new?) At a sold-out show in Lakeland, Fla., three weeks ago, Prince started things off by announcing, "If you came to get your Purple Rain on, you have come to the wrong place. This is not 1984." He later played the hit song in its entirety. But he's shunned fans in other cities who have shouted requests for the song (and other 1980s classics). Billed as "a stripped-down show that allows the music to speak for itself," "One Nite Alone with Prince" abandons the backup dancers and pyrotechnics and focuses instead on Prince's latest album, the deeply religious "The Rainbow Children." Reports from other tour stops include sprinklings of classic hits such as "Raspberry Beret" and "When You Were Mine"; at least one city was treated to a medley of hits including "Diamonds and Pearls," "Nothing Compares 2 U" and "How Come U Don't Call Me," a song covered by rising star Alicia Keys in her debut album. Known for his variety of sounds — rock, funk, soul, blues — Prince, a recently converted Jehovah's Witness, delves into his spirituality in the jazz-oriented "The Rainbow Children." His 23rd album is loaded with religious imagery and has been called by critics everything from "challenging" to "rewarding" to "weird." (Fans count at least 50 Prince songs the artist can no longer perform as a Jehovah's Witness due to their explicit content, including hits such as "Little Red Corvette" and "Cream.") But don't expect to hear any songs from the new album on the radio. Prince hasn't charted a hit in eight years (his last was 1994's "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World"). Not to say that his new stuff isn't good (on the contrary, some critics laud "The Rainbow Children" as his best work in years), but Prince is in control now, and he just doesn't seem interested in doing things the usual way. After his well-publicized battles with record label Warner Bros. and a brief stint with Arista Records in the '90s, Prince began his own online society, The New Power Generation Music Club (www.npgmusicclub.com), last year. As members of the NPG clan, fans pay $100 annually plus a monthly fee to download Prince's music before anyone else, buy tickets to shows (that'll be another $100, thank you) and get invites to pre-show sound checks. No more music videos, singles or advertising — seemingly, now, Prince is all about the music. Expect the same for his show. "Real music by real musicians," Prince has said of the tour, which includes appearances by veteran saxophonist Maceo Parker and drummer John Blackwell. There will be no choreography or lip syncing, and — if previous shows are any indicator — good luck searching for any method to a maddening mix of covers, jams, solos and new tunes. © 2002 Seattle Times

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[longtermmemmory]

my understanding is that he adopted the "sympbol" as a means of protesting/getting back at Sony for their "slavery" based contracts.

[Qwinn]

Eh. It's an improvement, at least.

I've never utterly -disliked- him, but he was always a bit too effete for my tastes.

Qwinn

[Quix]

FOR THOSE INTERESTED . . .

There's some new Bible Codes discovered on Mel Gibson's name . . . you can read them at this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1086319/posts

[Howlin]

When you actually hear him talk like he did last night, he isn't. He has kind of a low voice; believe me, compared to the artists out now, he's TAME (except for that thing with the guitar in The Purple Rain tour!) :-)

[Qwinn]

Yeah, I suppose my perception of him -does- go back to Purple Rain, lol (like I said, I'm not quite at the edge of pop culture, my favorite artist is still Billy Joel). Alright, alright, I'll give him another chance and not immediately turn him off next time I'm watching something where he's scheduled to appear ;)

Qwinn

[Howlin]

From the Grammys: