Highlights
- Bobcat Goldthwait’s appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno caused controversy.
- During his appearance on The Tonight Show, Goldthwait lit one of Leno’s chairs on fire.
- Goldthwait pleaded no contest and was ordered to pay fines.
During the ’90s, several talk show hosts were so popular that fans still want to know what happened to them. A perfect example of that, Jay Leno was extremely successful, which has been great for him since popular talk show hosts tend to become very rich.
Unfortunately for him, many of his peers, including David Letterman and Arsenio Hall have called Leno out. Amazingly enough, Leno seems to take everything in stride, including criticism. However, Leno seemed pretty shocked when a guest set part of The Tonight Show’s set on fire.
Bobcat Goldthwait Set Fire To The Set Of The Tonight Show
After The Tonight Show with Jay Leno premiered in 1992, the show quickly became a huge hit. As a result, it seemed like virtually every celebrity from that time wanted to be a guest on Leno’s talk show, so they could talk to the comedian’s audience.
However, when Bobcat Goldthwait appeared on Leno’s show in 1994, he had a lot more planned than just talking to the audience. Instead, Goldthwait came prepared to do something that would ensure that he would go down in talk show history.
Before Goldthwait appeared on The Tonight Show in 1994, he’d recently gone on The Arsenio Hall Show. During that appearance, people thought Goldthwait had gone nuts as he “freaked out” and destroyed parts of the show’s set.
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How Long Was The Arsenio Hall Show On The Air? |
The Arsenio Hall Show aired in syndication |
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Premiered on January 3, 1989 |
Finale aired on May 27, 1994 |
During Goldthwait’s appearance, the comedian stepped all over the show’s furniture early on. Goldthwait then pulled a can of spray paint out of his pocket and used it to write “PARAMOUNT SUCKS” on part of the set. It is important to note that Paramount was the company behind The Arsenio Hall Show.
From there, Goldthwait threw part of the set’s furniture into the audience before he smashed a monitor and jumped on it. Goldthwait then proceeded to grab another piece of furniture that he tried to use to break another part of the set.
Goldthwait was then stopped by Hall who pretty much tackled him. When the show returned from commercial, Hall claimed that he wasn’t bothered by Goldthwait’s conduct. “The terrible injustice is I have to pretend like I’m mad at him. I can’t believe what you did…We’ve been having a lot of fun.”
After Hall briefly tried to conduct an actual interview, Goldthwait remarked that he felt like breaking more stuff. Goldthwait then got his hand on cups of water he seemed to be preparing to use to create anarchy until Hall wrestled them out of the actor’s hand.
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How Long Was The Tonight Show with Jay Leno On The Air For |
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Aired on NBC |
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Premiered on May 25, 1992 |
Original finale aired on May 29, 2009 |
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Returned on March 1, 2010 |
Second finale aired on February 6, 2014 |
From there, Goldthwait talked about illegal substances and bashed Jerry Seinfeld. Goldthwait also tried to break more stuff at one point, but Hall physically restrained him. The anarchy of that appearance garnered headlines and Goldthwait was invited to appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno days later.
As he spoke to Leno, Goldthwait remarked that he wasn’t sure how he would top himself. However, Goldthwait stated that it was ratings sweeps week, so he knew he had to “go nuts” to get ratings and attention for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Goldthwait eventually pulled a can of lighter fluid and a barbeque lighter out of his pocket. Goldthwait then proceeded to light one of Leno’s chairs on fire before the talk show host and another guest used their water to put it out.
After Leno put the fire out, he instructed Goldthwait to sit in the soaking chair. Never mind the fact that it had recently been on fire, so it could be dangerous to sit there. When Goldthwait refused to sit directly on the chair, Leno tried to physically force him to.
Goldthwait then walked away from his chair seemingly ready to unleash more anarchy. As Goldthwait tried to walk around the set, however, he slipped and fell directly on his backside.
What Was The Aftermath Of Bobcat Goldthwait’s Fire?
After Bobcat Goldthwait messed up The Arsenio Hall Show set, he got lots of attention, which clearly encouraged him. Following the incident on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, however, Goldthwait wound up facing some serious consequences.
Following Goldthwait’s The Tonight Show appearance, the Burbank city attorney’s office released a statement on his conduct. Based on that statement, there was no doubt that the legal system was taking Goldthwait’s actions seriously.
“During that televised appearance Mr. Goldthwait lit a chair on fire using a lighter and lighter fluid. His actions created a significant danger of harm to himself and others.” A Los Angeles Times article about the incident revealed that Goldthwait was facing fines and time behind bars.
“Goldthwait was charged with unlawfully causing a fire and possession of a flammable substance or device with the intent to burn property. Each count carries a maximum $1,000 fine and six months in jail.”
Months later, it was revealed that Goldthwait had pleaded no contest which makes sense. After all, footage of Goldthwait starting the fire aired on national television so there wasn’t much sense in claiming innocence.
In September 1994, The Los Angeles Times reported that Goldthwait had been ordered to pay fines.
“The New York-born entertainer made a personal appearance at Burbank Municipal Court, where he was ordered to pay a $2,700 fine and assessment, $690 to NBC for the damaged chair and more than $490 to the city of Burbank for investigating the incident, Deputy City Atty. Robert Walters said.”
Years later in 2015, Goldthwait clarified during a Sundance Institute interview that he is a “convicted arsno[ist]”.
Source: NewsFinale
