Mel Gibson the latest in a long line - top 10 recorded meltdowns

While the 'sex tape' has become more of a planned marketing tool than a genuine leaked faux pas, the celebrity meltdown recording still has the power to break careers.

In an age where most phones have cameras, and most people know how to upload to the internet, it's remarkable that some still risk humiliation by leaving expletive-laden diatribes on answer-phones and cameras.

Here are 10 of the best - New Zealanders don't make too much of a dent in this list - but when they do, oh boy.

Be warned, these recordings contain offensive language. Otherwise why would they be on this list?

10 - Ryan Adams takes the critic's bait

Championed as 'finally critics are held to account' by some, but by most just dismissed as a precious over-reaction by a notoriously uptight (if talented) performer. Ryan Adams leaves a message on the answer-phone of Jim DeRogatis, who wrote this review of his show 4 days earlier. The remarkable thing about this message is just how calm Adams remains throughout the whole two and a half minutes. It's almost as though he expects the recording to be leaked, so wants to sound reasonable.

9 - Unknown guy attacks film reviewers at media screening

You take a risk when you turn a much-loved book into a film.

Readers

are a fickle bunch, and how do you turn hundreds of pages of well-crafted prose into 90 minutes of audio visual entertainment and satisfy everyone?

Well, it only took 15 minutes or so for one unhappy punter at an invite-only media screening of an upcoming release, to decide not only was he not enjoying the film, but that it was the media's fault, and he was going to let us know about it.

(He'd been going for a few minutes before this recording starts)

.

8 - Bill O'Reilly struggles with a dicky autocue

Unlike some of the others in this list, Bill O'Reilly clearly knows this is being recorded. Does he care? No. People didn't leak these kinds of things back in those days. A quick search on this will also point you to a dance remix, and 'unseen behind the scenes footage'.

7 - Kramer and the hecklers

But he's so funny! Many were outraged that such a lovable sitcom star could say the n-word in such a public forum. Surely it was some sort of post-modern deconstruction of racism and he lost where he was? Well, that's where I thought it was going in the opening seconds the first time I watched it, but it doesn't take long for the uncomfortable truth to show itself. You can almost hear his spirit leaving along with the audience.

6 - John Sweeney and the Scientologists

Let's face it, Scientologists are an easy target. But as BBC journalist John Sweeney found out, it's probably better to give them enough rope, etc. The vocal one-upmanship in this clip is gold. In a stroke of genius, the BBC used a similar clip to promote the show.

5 - Christian Bale terminates the cinematographer

One of the best of the 'star goes ape on set' series. While Bale apologised profusely, some who were there came out in support, adding that the cinematographer, Shane Hurlbut, had been adjusting lights during takes, and that 'he'd had several warnings'.

4 - Casey Kasem actually has a point

Particularly shocking for someone who grew up listening to the silk-voiced Kasem on

American Top 40

. However, he speaks the truth. How do you go from an up-tempo song to a death dedication?

3 - Alec Baldwin forgets daughter's age

12 years old... 11 years old... close enough, eh Alec? Mr Baldwin says his daughter has humiliated him for the last time. I reckon second-to-last.

2 - Mike King treats Newsboy like a caged pig

Countless New Zealand politicians, TV hosts and society figures were lampooned over the course of

Eating Media Lunch's

8 seasons. Few of them reacted like this, and of those who did,

only one did it on voicemail

. However the reaction was directed at the wrong target. The night before this message was left, King had been the subject of

Media Dog

, the Anthony Ellison cartoon that appeared on

Eating Media Lunch

.

Note - particularly shocking. C words and all.

1 - Mel Gibson does it again

Perhaps this seems worst because it's so recent. Or perhaps it's simply that this misogynistic rant of cataclysmic proportions to the mother of his child is so offensive that for a second you forget what he said about Jews.