He was just kidding. For two years.

All the craziness attributed to actor Joaquin Phoenix — including a confused appearance last year on David Letterman's show and a drugged-out attempt at a hip-hop career, detailed in a "documentary" movie — was all a performance. This comes according to Casey Affleck, who directed the movie, "I'm Still Here," in an interview with The New York Times.

The Associated Press notes that this had been suspected by some observers. And analyzing the news, the Washington Post's Celebritology blog says the timing of the confession, along with Phoenix's return to the Letterman show next week, seem aimed at getting more people to see the movie.

Intrigued by the whole thing? "I'm Still Here" opens today at the State Theater.

Other entertainment news of note online today:

MORE MOVIES

• Speaking at the Toronto International Film Festival, the director of "Conviction" — shot in Ann Arbor and elsewhere in Michigan — had some nice things to say about the state, and the tax incentive that drew him here.

• MTV.com has one of its "cheat sheets" for Ben Affleck's well-reviewed new movie, "The Town."

• Another movie opening today — "Easy A," starring Emma Stone — is getting lots of positive reviews.

• Sacha Baron Cohen will play singer Freddie Mercury in an upcoming movie about Queen.

• Actor Jesse Eisenberg reflects to the Grand Rapids Press on his experience shooting a movie in the area.

• There are plans to make a novel called "U.P." into a movie.

TELEVISION

• Comedy Central hosts Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are both planning rallies in Washington, D.C., with some pretty funny angles.

• The Detroit News has a story on James Wolk, star of the new Fox series "Lonestar," who is a University of Michigan graduate from Farmington Hills.

MUSIC

• For Bruce Springsteen fans, Rolling Stone has some tantalizing details about the upcoming "Darkness on the Edge of Town" box set reissue, particularly focusing on the documentary movie included in the set. Meanwhile, don't forget longtime E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg is bringing his big band to The Ark next month; watch for a preview on AnnArbor.com.

• The New Pornographers have found a new venue for a show in Grand Rapids after Calvin College canceled on them.

• The Oakland Press has a story on Electric Six, playing this weekend at Ferndale's DIY Street Fair.

• The civil case against Kid Rock over a fight at a waffle house has gone to the jury.

• England's NME reports on a bit of what John Lennon's killer told the parole board in his latest failed bid for release.

BOOKS

• Just so happy to know that Oprah Winfrey and Jonathan Franzen have made nice.

ONLINE

• Finally today, the lovable muckrakers known as the Ann Arbor Newshawks are back with a new report, this one focusing on the city's leaf pickup issues:

Renee Tellez, Jenn McKee, Cindy Heflin and Kevin Ransom contributed to this roundup. Bob Needham is director of entertainment content for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at bobneedham@annarbor.com or 734-623-2541, and follow him on Twitter @bobneedham.