Comedian Russell Brand was invited to appear on MSNBC’s Morning Joe yesterday, ostensibly to talk about his controversial world comedy tour Messiah Complex.

But instead, co-host Mika Brzezinski and panelists Katty Kay and Brian Shactman preferred to make jokes at Brand’s expense, pretend they couldn’t understand what he was saying, and refer to him in the third person even though he was sitting right there.

Oh, and at one point, start calling him by a different name.

At about the 5:30 mark, Brand decides he’s had enough goofing around and seizes control of the show, demonstrating to the “journalists” how professionals conduct interviews and deliver news.

Of course, Russell Brand being Russell Brand, he would likely be remiss if he didn’t at least once during the program call Brzezinski a “shaft grasper” and advise her to “lose the [wedding] ring.”