The Passion of Andy Kaufman - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 05-14-2004, 10:32 PM

The Passion of Andy Kaufman

By Jennifer Godwin
E! Online

It's only May, and it's already been a big year for resurrection in American pop culture: First Jim Caviezel as Jesus Christ, and now Andy Kaufman…as himself? Having promised to return from the grave on the 20th anniversary of his death, Kaufman is due back on the mortal coil on Sunday--and at 7:30 that evening his friends are throwing him a welcome-back party in Hollywood.

Bob Zmuda, screenwriter, comedian and Friend of Andy tells the LA Weekly that Kaufman first broached the idea of faking his own death back in 1980. "Andy said, 'You know if some celebrity really did this, do you know big it would be? How legendary it would be?' "

Zmuda's charity organization Comic Relief rolls out the red carpet at the House of Blues for Andy Kaufman: Dead or Alive?, which can only be described as a happening--sort of an event, sort of an performance and almost certainly a conga-thumping hootenanny. But there's no help-the-homeless angle here--the $250 VIP tickets are strictly for those who simply must be there when Kaufman rolls back into town.

Best known as Latka Gravas, the foreign man from no place in particular on TV's Taxi, Kaufman was one of the most eccentric comedic performance artists of the '70s and '80s. He impersonated Elvis and Mighty Mouse, created the character of venomous lounge singer Tony Clifton, wrestled women and took Carnegie Hall out for milk and cookies. Toward the end, while appearing to die from lung cancer at age 35, he mused aloud about the best gag of all--staging his own death and reappearing 20 years after the fact.

Zmuda, Lynne Marguiles (Andy's girlfriend) and George Shapiro (Andy's manager) are taking Kaufman at his word and throwing him a homecoming party. Should Kaufman choose to once again grace the Sunset Strip with his presence he'll be greeted by his friends and compatriots, his old band--Tony Clifton and the Cliftones and His Steamy Cliftonettes--and famous funny people galore, including Rodney Dangerfield, Caroline Rhea, Bob Odenkirk, Andy Dick, Paul Rudd and wrestling mogul Jerry Lawler.

"We're taking out hundreds of personal ads in newspapers across the country and abroad, reminding Andy of the date, and what he said," Zmuda tells the LA Weekly. "So, hopefully he'll see one of them."

Plans for the shindig include roasting Kaufman until he emerges from seclusion to defend his comedic honor (or not), a performance by the Cliftones and the world premiere of a never-before-seen Kaufman film, which is presumably not 1999's Milos Forman-directed Man on the Moon, which starred Jim Carrey as Kaufman, Paul Giamatti as Zmuda, Courtney Love as Marguiles and Danny DeVito as Shapiro.

There was no word as of press time about what miracles Kaufman might perform upon his return, or if he would be joined by post-life pals Elvis Presley and John Belushi

A limited number of tickets are available through the House of Blues Website (www.hob.com) and Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com); general seating is available for $99.95, standing room can be had for $50 a pop.

And, as R.E.M. once sang about a certain man on the moon, "See you in heaven if you make the list."

AKA · 05-14-2004, 10:36 PM

Man, how cool would that be, if it turned out Andy Kaufman was still alive?

Too bad it's not possible, since he died twenty years ago Sunday.

Skywalker · 05-15-2004, 12:25 AM

I'm still not sure if he's dead or not. He couldn't have "died" at a better time. Let's see. Taxi cancelled. Banished from SNL. No longer allowed to practice TM. If anyone could fake a death, it would be him. The fact that his girlfriend at the time of his "death" is going to be there makes you wonder. Either that or Zmuda's going broke.

AKA · 05-15-2004, 02:36 AM

Good points, jpnoyes.

Me? Even though I know he's dead, a part of me hopes he'll surprise us on Sunday. How wild would it be to read the headline "Andy Kaufman alive" in Monday morning's paper?

Skywalker · 05-15-2004, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA
Good points, jpnoyes.

Me? Even though I know he's dead, a part of me hopes he'll surprise us on Sunday. How wild would it be to read the headline "Andy Kaufman alive" in Monday morning's paper?

That would be great! Though he would probably get arrested cause faking your death is illegal(I think).

AKA · 05-15-2004, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpnoyes
That would be great! Though he would probably get arrested cause faking your death is illegal(I think).

Not only that, but many people wouldn't be amused by the joke.

robyrob · 05-15-2004, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA
Not only that, but many people wouldn't be amused by the joke.

but isnt that just his style

Dean Winchester · 05-15-2004, 07:31 PM

wouldn't that be cool if Andy shows up?

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 05-15-2004, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
wouldn't that be cool if Andy shows up?

Yeah, it would.

Rockapella722 · 05-15-2004, 09:47 PM

This sort of thing is just up Andy's aisle. If he does show up, I will be VERY angry with this joke, regardless of the fact of how much I love him.

I just hope no one is really expecting him to come back, because they'll be horribly dissappointed. Whether the public likes it or not - Andy Kaufman died 20 years ago.

barwars · 05-16-2004, 10:38 AM

Andy Kaufman is my savior.

musicradio77 · 05-16-2004, 04:05 PM

I always love Andy Kaufman as a funny man. Sadly he died 20 years ago. He was on "Taxi" at the time. My favorite sketch on the first SNL was the famous anthem "Mighty Mouse Theme" and Andy went crazy. I have that song on a CD called "Toon Tunes", a collection of 50 favorite cartoon theme songs and I also have the movie "Man on the Moon" with Jim Carrey played a biographical role as Andy Kaufman.

MandieR1980 · 05-16-2004, 06:47 PM

I loved his Mighty Mouse skit. It would be cool if he's alive. I think 2pac is doing the same thing doesn't matter to me though I never liked him. Nobody can come out with that many new songs and not be alive.

TJL · 05-16-2004, 07:45 PM

I saw Tony Clifton on the Jimmy Kimmel show the other night and I thought to myself how amazing it would be if he did return.
I'm sure many folks close to Andy would be pissed if Andy did return, and this was one big elaborate joke; but since I'm not one of them, I say welcome back Andy!

AKA · 05-16-2004, 08:37 PM

Guess they're finding out right now whether or not Andy's a no-show.

05-14-2004, 10:32 PM	#1
AKA In stereo (where available) Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 16,786	The Passion of Andy Kaufman The Passion of Andy Kaufman By Jennifer Godwin E! Online It's only May, and it's already been a big year for resurrection in American pop culture: First Jim Caviezel as Jesus Christ, and now Andy Kaufman…as himself? Having promised to return from the grave on the 20th anniversary of his death, Kaufman is due back on the mortal coil on Sunday--and at 7:30 that evening his friends are throwing him a welcome-back party in Hollywood. Bob Zmuda, screenwriter, comedian and Friend of Andy tells the LA Weekly that Kaufman first broached the idea of faking his own death back in 1980. "Andy said, 'You know if some celebrity really did this, do you know big it would be? How legendary it would be?' " Zmuda's charity organization Comic Relief rolls out the red carpet at the House of Blues for Andy Kaufman: Dead or Alive?, which can only be described as a happening--sort of an event, sort of an performance and almost certainly a conga-thumping hootenanny. But there's no help-the-homeless angle here--the $250 VIP tickets are strictly for those who simply must be there when Kaufman rolls back into town. Best known as Latka Gravas, the foreign man from no place in particular on TV's Taxi, Kaufman was one of the most eccentric comedic performance artists of the '70s and '80s. He impersonated Elvis and Mighty Mouse, created the character of venomous lounge singer Tony Clifton, wrestled women and took Carnegie Hall out for milk and cookies. Toward the end, while appearing to die from lung cancer at age 35, he mused aloud about the best gag of all--staging his own death and reappearing 20 years after the fact. Zmuda, Lynne Marguiles (Andy's girlfriend) and George Shapiro (Andy's manager) are taking Kaufman at his word and throwing him a homecoming party. Should Kaufman choose to once again grace the Sunset Strip with his presence he'll be greeted by his friends and compatriots, his old band--Tony Clifton and the Cliftones and His Steamy Cliftonettes--and famous funny people galore, including Rodney Dangerfield, Caroline Rhea, Bob Odenkirk, Andy Dick, Paul Rudd and wrestling mogul Jerry Lawler. "We're taking out hundreds of personal ads in newspapers across the country and abroad, reminding Andy of the date, and what he said," Zmuda tells the LA Weekly. "So, hopefully he'll see one of them." Plans for the shindig include roasting Kaufman until he emerges from seclusion to defend his comedic honor (or not), a performance by the Cliftones and the world premiere of a never-before-seen Kaufman film, which is presumably not 1999's Milos Forman-directed Man on the Moon, which starred Jim Carrey as Kaufman, Paul Giamatti as Zmuda, Courtney Love as Marguiles and Danny DeVito as Shapiro. There was no word as of press time about what miracles Kaufman might perform upon his return, or if he would be joined by post-life pals Elvis Presley and John Belushi A limited number of tickets are available through the House of Blues Website (www.hob.com) and Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com); general seating is available for $99.95, standing room can be had for $50 a pop. And, as R.E.M. once sang about a certain man on the moon, "See you in heaven if you make the list."
	__________________ The artist formerly known as AKA. Also, the artist currently known as AKA.

05-15-2004, 09:47 PM	#10
Rockapella722 .B.A.D.G.E.R. .G.I.R.L. Senior Member Join Date: Oct 28, 2001 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,489	This sort of thing is just up Andy's aisle. If he does show up, I will be VERY angry with this joke, regardless of the fact of how much I love him. I just hope no one is really expecting him to come back, because they'll be horribly dissappointed. Whether the public likes it or not - Andy Kaufman died 20 years ago.
	__________________ ...Queer Eye For The Straight Guy... "You guys, look. This is my pile of stuff I don't like..... is it getting too big?" -Thom Filicia \| livejournal \| email \|

05-16-2004, 04:05 PM	#12
musicradio77 Disney Expert Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 14, 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 6,475	I always love Andy Kaufman as a funny man. Sadly he died 20 years ago. He was on "Taxi" at the time. My favorite sketch on the first SNL was the famous anthem "Mighty Mouse Theme" and Andy went crazy. I have that song on a CD called "Toon Tunes", a collection of 50 favorite cartoon theme songs and I also have the movie "Man on the Moon" with Jim Carrey played a biographical role as Andy Kaufman.
	__________________ Musicradio77 Productions

05-16-2004, 06:47 PM	#13
MandieR1980 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 03, 2001 Location: East Taunton, Massachusetts Posts: 2,635	I loved his Mighty Mouse skit. It would be cool if he's alive. I think 2pac is doing the same thing doesn't matter to me though I never liked him. Nobody can come out with that many new songs and not be alive.
	__________________ Mandie myspace.com/mlr930

05-16-2004, 07:45 PM	#14
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I saw Tony Clifton on the Jimmy Kimmel show the other night and I thought to myself how amazing it would be if he did return. I'm sure many folks close to Andy would be pissed if Andy did return, and this was one big elaborate joke; but since I'm not one of them, I say welcome back Andy!
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

05-14-2004, 10:36 PM	#2
AKA In stereo (where available) Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 16,786	Man, how cool would that be, if it turned out Andy Kaufman was still alive? Too bad it's not possible, since he died twenty years ago Sunday.

05-15-2004, 12:25 AM	#3
Skywalker Member Forum Star Join Date: Apr 04, 2003 Posts: 14,204	I'm still not sure if he's dead or not. He couldn't have "died" at a better time. Let's see. Taxi cancelled. Banished from SNL. No longer allowed to practice TM. If anyone could fake a death, it would be him. The fact that his girlfriend at the time of his "death" is going to be there makes you wonder. Either that or Zmuda's going broke.

05-15-2004, 02:36 AM	#4
AKA In stereo (where available) Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 16,786	Good points, jpnoyes. Me? Even though I know he's dead, a part of me hopes he'll surprise us on Sunday. How wild would it be to read the headline "Andy Kaufman alive" in Monday morning's paper?

05-15-2004, 07:31 PM	#8
Dean Winchester Member Forum Star Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	wouldn't that be cool if Andy shows up?

05-16-2004, 10:38 AM	#11
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	Andy Kaufman is my savior.

05-16-2004, 08:37 PM	#15
AKA In stereo (where available) Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 16,786	Guess they're finding out right now whether or not Andy's a no-show.