The promotion has begun – Hanks on SNL last weekend (I caught the opening monologue), on Letterman, Ron Howard on Leno last night.

Barbara Nicolosi watched and noticed something.

Leno pressed Howard a few times about the controversy in the project, and it was clear that there was a script in play in Howard’s responses. (paraphrasing the words here for the sense they communicated.) "No, no, there was no real controversy….Everybody is just so excited to see it! The book has lots of fans. LOTS of fans!So, no, there was no real controversy! It’s just fun and fluff! Everybody loves this book! LOTS OF FANS! And no REAL controversy! Only have had two wackos ever protest it. Everybody knows this is just good fun! Everything is happy happy. NOPE, NO REAL CONTROVERSY THAT I’ve SEEN! Just a fun, happy, fun movie!"

At one point when Leno was really pressing the point that some people would find the movie offensive, Ron kind of blew out through his mouth and nose, "Well, what am I a creative woos?" But the audience barely laughed. It was like Chicken Little asking, "What am I a scrawny little bird or something?"

It was strangely painful watching an otherwise nice guy with a guilty conscience basically hoping if he pretends it all isn’t bothering him that he will convince all of us and himself too. It was icky and shameful and way too intimate for late-night.

Bob at Da Vinci Facts noticed something, too:

I saw Tom Hank’s appearance last week on Letterman and was wondering the same thing. The first 11 1/2 minutes he’s just joking around, relaxed, telling funny stories, pretty much what you’d expect from someone with his experience.

Then the topic switched to the movie, and there was a very noticeable change. Hanks just looked so uncomfortable and unconvincing. He really looked like he was just wishing that this would all go away, or at least make him boatloads of money and then maybe, just maybe he might feel better.