Ben Stiller Sends-Up Joaquin Phoenix's Letterman Appearance During 81st Annual Oscar Awards

In case you thought the buzz over Joaquin Phoenix's bizarrely awkward appearance on David Letterman was over, Ben Stiller emerged on the stage of the 81st Annual Academy Awards to prove you wrong.

Stiller appeared on stage with a familiarly scruffy beard, sunglasses, and disturbingly distant persona. His co-presenter, Natalie Portman, described him as looking like he worked in "a Hasidic meth lab." The audience enjoyed the Phoenix-spoof, erupting in laughter as soon as Stiller emerged from backstage in the comical get-up.

During his and Natalie Portman's award presentations, Stiller chewed gum, put the gum on the podium, wandered aimlessly around stage, and muddled through his lines. The focus on the nominees' footage that played in the background became a mere afterthought as all eyes focused on Stiller's bizarre behavior. Even the folks behind the camera couldn't seem to stay away from Stiller's performance; despite the footage rolling in the background, the cameras panned out wide enough to let us at home take in the full spectrum spectacle of Ben Stiller.

Joaquin Phoenix appeared on the David Letterman late-night show on February 11, 2009 sporting a beard, sunglasses, and a tendency to mumble incoherently. Despite several blatant proddings from Letterman in an attempt to draw a logical statement out of the typically-withdrawn actor, Phoenix refused to play along. Throughout the appearance, Phoenix remained mostly silent. When he spoke, it was a jumble of mumbled expressions, one word answers, et cetera. Though the audience, and Letterman, could do little more than laugh, no one seemed sure whether the whole thing was a big joke or not.

Many have speculated the awkward appearance was a covert way of promoting an upcoming project, reportedly directed by fellow-actor Casey Affleck. Whether a promotional stunt or not, Phoenix's appearance opened the door for a lot of light-hearted mockery. Ben Stiller's strange onstage persona took this mockery to a new level, and instantly became a highlight of the evening.