David Bowie made his first talk-show appearance the other night on The Dick Cavett Show and, though the singer apparently did his best to appear normal, he said little to alter the widely held feeling that he comes from another planet.

Bowie fidgeted in his seat, played with a cane, and giggled as he offered short answers to Cavett’s questions and proclaimed himself to be simply an actor who likes to make up stories. The strangest moment came when the talk-show host wanted to know what Bowie’s mother does for a living. The singer looked confused, thought for a minute, and then mumbled, “Uh, I think she’s got a day job.”