Jay Leno will soon have some stiff competition as television’s most controversial talk show host. Earlier this week, Julian Assange — the Wikileaks founder now under house arrest in England while awaiting judgement on an extradition order issued by Sweden, where he is wanted on a sexual assault charge — announced that he will helm a program on RT, the possibly propagandistic English-language Russian network that airs worldwide. On the show, which will debut in March, Assange will interview “key political players, thinkers and revolutionaries from around the world.” People, you imagine him thinking, not so different from himself. Daniel Ellsberg, who released the Pentagon Papers, or Bob Woodward, the journalist who exposed Watergate, come to mind. But what if, as it seems natural he would, Assange thought “out of the box”? Which guests would best embody his mission of making available the world’s information, no matter how discomfiting, or even dangerous? Ten suggestions follow.
Spike Lee: He recently accused the film industry of knowing “nothing about black people,” then blew off Chris Rock when the comedian needled him about it. Blew off Chris Rock! Clearly he can go up against Assange on any topic.
Lars Von Trier: This filmmaker isn’t so much a polarizing figure as a confusing one. Maybe Assange can reach into his big bag of information and help ground Von Trier in some fact-based conversation.
Sasha Grey: She’s an actress and former porn star who defends the adult industry but considers her work performance art. Surely she and Assange can compare notes on what constitutes a thinker or revolutionary.
Joe Biden: The leading political gaffe-maker would undoubtedly let a meme-spawning something slip, helping give the show a little traction online.
Barney Frank: Obviously he speaks his mind. But he’s also hilarious, which is key when your host is, whatever else you want to say about him, as humorless as Assange.
Charlyne Yi: This actress-comedian is her own straight man, seeming to surprise and amuse herself with her own (admittedly stage-y) honesty and openess. She thrives on awkwardness, which Assange should amply furnish.
Sacha Baron Cohen: As Ali G, and like Assange, Cohen has vexed a number of world figures. The interview would have to be in two parts: Assange talking shop with Cohen, and Ali G sparring with Assange.
Nickelback: With many fewer defenders than Assange, this rock band, unfairly scapegoated for their blandness and commercial success, have made defensiveness their art.
Cam’ron: He has famously gone on record saying he wouldn’t turn in a serial killer even if the person were his neighbor: “I’m not gonna call and be, like … the serial killer’s in 4E.” (Although he would “probably move.”)
Sarah Palin: Actually, we’re not sure we want to see these two flirt.