NationStates Jolt Archive

What are your thoughts on the famed late comedian Andy Kaufman?

I love how he was trying to be original and do what no other comedian would dare do. In the years since his death, we have learned that many of his contraversial incidents were staged, but that was the genius of his work. We never knew they were staged until those involved came forward.

How many comedians would have the balls to pull off what Kaufman did by inventing false persona like Tony Clifton

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kv73yzYuE_M
(Letterman incident)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AkbjvUAdKBc&mode=related&search=
(scuffle with Michael Richards, who surprisingly didn't use racial slurs)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CPbMgeiXwOc
(Mighty Mouse from 1st ever episode of SNL back in October 1975) He used his foreign man persona for this one

He was funny as hell, and probably a bit insane. :p He seemed to enjoy people hating him a *bit* too much, and might've been addicted to the attention. But he left us some great stuff. :)

He was funny as hell, and probably a bit insane. :p He seemed to enjoy people hating him a *bit* too much, and might've been addicted to the attention. But he left us some great stuff. :)

I think anyone can make the case that he was both a genius and mentally insane. What a combo:D

You know the man was insane when his best friend and sister still hold the possibility that he faked his death.

Now he of course didn't do so as he wouldn't have waited 20+ years before revealing himself. Just the fact that so many people who were close to him seriously consider the possibility says a lot about him.

He was funny as hell, and probably a bit insane. :p He seemed to enjoy people hating him a *bit* too much, and might've been addicted to the attention. But he left us some great stuff. :)

AH, there it is. He wasn't an actor or a comedian in the traditional sense.

He wasn't there to entertain you. YOU were there to entertain him! He did what he did because he enjoyed making people react. Anger, laughter, sorrow, etc. Our reactions to him were his amusement.

I respect that. :)

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Trey Parker and Matt Stone get some of their ideas from him. After all, they put what amuses them into South Park. The April Fools Terrance and Phillip special is the sort of thing Kaufman would do.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Trey Parker and Matt Stone don't get some of their ideas from him. After all, they put what amuses them into South Park. The April Fools Terrance and Phillip special is the sort of thing Kaufman would do.

Watch your negations ;)

I'll have to wikipediize this guy to find out who he is. Never head about him.

I'll have to wikipediize this guy to find out who he is. Never head about him.

That's probably because he was before your time. He was before my time, but the wonders of the internet and home video have allowed me to watch his work.

I rember seeing the movie about him. The one staring Jim Carrey. Man on the Moon I think it was called