Freddie and Andy Kaufman - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

chicosladyfair · 08-07-2001, 02:58 PM

There is a mention of Freddie on the E! True Hollywood Story about Andy Kaufman. It seems that Andy Kaufman (from the show Taxi)used to do a character by the name of Tony Clifton. When Andy was made up as his alter ego Tony, he would never, ever break character...carrying the character of Tony Clifton to the extreme. One night when Andy was appearing at The Improv as Tony Clifton he ran into Freddie. Tony Clifton walked by and said something to Freddie and Freddie ignored him, not knowing it was really his friend Andy Kaufman. Tony Clifton again said something, Freddie ignoring him once again. By this time Tony was in Freddie's face shouting, "How dare you ignore me punk! It's comics like me who made you what you are today punk!!" Freddie became understandably upset and having studied karate in those days, grabbed Tony by the arm, spun him around up against the wall, twisted his wrist until he almost broke it and proceeded to smash Tony's head into the brick wall several times before Bud Friedman and some of the others could pull Freddie off him. Tony started screaming "It's me Andy...it's me Andy!" Reportedly, this was the ONLY time that Andy Kaufman ever broke character as Tony Clifton.

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Chico: Age before beauty.
Ed Brown: Pearls before swines.
VIAGRA: Nature's little way of saying "No hard feelings"

catcopy18 · 08-07-2001, 04:27 PM

Very interesting - thanks for sharing! I saw Andy Kaufman doing something else on tv
where he was very obnoxious. It had something to do with wrestling and he was very provoking and pathetic acting. He almost got his --- kicked bad. I wish I would have seen the whole program but I didn't. I don't know if he was in character then or not, I think he may have been.
What you were describing Chicosladyfair, made our Freddie sound like he tried his best to control his temper, but his anger got the best of him. I would have loved to see that!

Pitooey · 08-07-2001, 08:52 PM

If Freddie kicked his ---- then I'm glad! He deserved it! The only role I ever liked Andy in was Lafka on Taxi. Even then his made up voice bothered me a bit. He was no Freddy!!!! That's for sure............

Karen64 · 08-07-2001, 10:26 PM

I remember seeing an "extra" on a CATM show who looked alot like the Tony Clifton character...it's the "Bird in a Guilded Cage" epidode (the one with the old silent screen actress who is out of work). It's the scene in the diner; he's sitting on the barstool behind Ed, Chico and Ms. Baines.

At first I dismissed the thought that it was him, because that episode was 1975 and the Tony character wasn't around 'til the 1980s (or so I thought). Was the Tony character around earlier than that? Was never an Andy fan, so I never paid much attention....

(I think I saw that same extra in a later episode, where Chico is auctioning off Ed's wife's dress.)

Anna · 08-07-2001, 10:51 PM

I remember reading that about Freddie, and kauffman. I would of paid money to see Freddie kick his_ _ _.

Cheryl Harrell · 08-08-2001, 05:57 AM

I read that too. I'd have liked to have seen that. He was funny as Latka tho. But Freddie was cuter. It's obvious.

chicosladyfair · 08-08-2001, 11:00 AM

I'll have to go back and check those episodes to see if it was Tony Clifton. I know that Andy's co-stars on Taxi didn't know for the longest time if Tony Clifton was really Andy. He was a strange little man. I say he got what he deserved and I would have paid good money to see that exchange. Way to go Freddie!

------------------
Chico: Age before beauty.
Ed Brown: Pearls before swines.
VIAGRA: Nature's little way of saying "No hard feelings"

*Looooooooking good!!* · 11-30-2001, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chicosladyfair:
There is a mention of Freddie on the E! True Hollywood Story about Andy Kaufman. It seems that Andy Kaufman (from the show Taxi)used to do a character by the name of Tony Clifton. When Andy was made up as his alter ego Tony, he would never, ever break character...carrying the character of Tony Clifton to the extreme. One night when Andy was appearing at The Improv as Tony Clifton he ran into Freddie. Tony Clifton walked by and said something to Freddie and Freddie ignored him, not knowing it was really his friend Andy Kaufman. Tony Clifton again said something, Freddie ignoring him once again. By this time Tony was in Freddie's face shouting, "How dare you ignore me punk! It's comics like me who made you what you are today punk!!" Freddie became understandably upset and having studied karate in those days, grabbed Tony by the arm, spun him around up against the wall, twisted his wrist until he almost broke it and proceeded to smash Tony's head into the brick wall several times before Bud Friedman and some of the others could pull Freddie off him. Tony started screaming "It's me Andy...it's me Andy!" Reportedly, this was the ONLY time that Andy Kaufman ever broke character as Tony Clifton.

Whoa!I didn't know Freddie did that!

You have to refresh my memory a little bit more about this incident.What happened after they pulled Freddie off of him?

Also,Did he really kick his butt or was it staged?

[This message has been edited by *Looooooooking good!!* (edited 11-30-2001).]

tylersmistress2002 · 11-30-2001, 09:41 AM

I read this also somewhere, tho I dont remember where rite now. Andy was obnoxious but I guess they were friends...anyway, I would have liked to see that moment too.

DJM77 · 12-01-2001, 12:25 AM

Has anyone else seen "Man On The Moon?" It's a Jim Carey movie that is based on the life of Andy Kaufman. The Tony Clifton character was often played by Andy Kaufman but he had a friend that also played the character sometimes. I wish they would have wrote the Andy/Freddie incident into the script. It would have been real interesting to see.

08-07-2001, 02:58 PM	#1
chicosladyfair Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 10, 2001 Location: Sunny California Posts: 770	Freddie and Andy Kaufman There is a mention of Freddie on the E! True Hollywood Story about Andy Kaufman. It seems that Andy Kaufman (from the show Taxi)used to do a character by the name of Tony Clifton. When Andy was made up as his alter ego Tony, he would never, ever break character...carrying the character of Tony Clifton to the extreme. One night when Andy was appearing at The Improv as Tony Clifton he ran into Freddie. Tony Clifton walked by and said something to Freddie and Freddie ignored him, not knowing it was really his friend Andy Kaufman. Tony Clifton again said something, Freddie ignoring him once again. By this time Tony was in Freddie's face shouting, "How dare you ignore me punk! It's comics like me who made you what you are today punk!!" Freddie became understandably upset and having studied karate in those days, grabbed Tony by the arm, spun him around up against the wall, twisted his wrist until he almost broke it and proceeded to smash Tony's head into the brick wall several times before Bud Friedman and some of the others could pull Freddie off him. Tony started screaming "It's me Andy...it's me Andy!" Reportedly, this was the ONLY time that Andy Kaufman ever broke character as Tony Clifton. ------------------ Chico: Age before beauty. Ed Brown: Pearls before swines. VIAGRA: Nature's little way of saying "No hard feelings"

08-07-2001, 04:27 PM	#2
catcopy18 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 08, 2001 Location: Indiana Posts: 413	Very interesting - thanks for sharing! I saw Andy Kaufman doing something else on tv where he was very obnoxious. It had something to do with wrestling and he was very provoking and pathetic acting. He almost got his --- kicked bad. I wish I would have seen the whole program but I didn't. I don't know if he was in character then or not, I think he may have been. What you were describing Chicosladyfair, made our Freddie sound like he tried his best to control his temper, but his anger got the best of him. I would have loved to see that!

08-07-2001, 08:52 PM	#3
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	If Freddie kicked his ---- then I'm glad! He deserved it! The only role I ever liked Andy in was Lafka on Taxi. Even then his made up voice bothered me a bit. He was no Freddy!!!! That's for sure............

08-07-2001, 10:26 PM	#4
Karen64 Comedy Fan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 24, 2001 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,412	I remember seeing an "extra" on a CATM show who looked alot like the Tony Clifton character...it's the "Bird in a Guilded Cage" epidode (the one with the old silent screen actress who is out of work). It's the scene in the diner; he's sitting on the barstool behind Ed, Chico and Ms. Baines. At first I dismissed the thought that it was him, because that episode was 1975 and the Tony character wasn't around 'til the 1980s (or so I thought). Was the Tony character around earlier than that? Was never an Andy fan, so I never paid much attention.... (I think I saw that same extra in a later episode, where Chico is auctioning off Ed's wife's dress.)

08-07-2001, 10:51 PM	#5
Anna Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 23, 2001 Location: Indpls,Ind. U.S.A. Posts: 442	I remember reading that about Freddie, and kauffman. I would of paid money to see Freddie kick his_ _ _.

08-08-2001, 05:57 AM	#6
Cheryl Harrell I Love You Mike 4-Ever Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Location: Pixley!!!! Actually VA--USA LOL! Posts: 6,192	I read that too. I'd have liked to have seen that. He was funny as Latka tho. But Freddie was cuter. It's obvious.

08-08-2001, 11:00 AM	#7
chicosladyfair Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 10, 2001 Location: Sunny California Posts: 770	I'll have to go back and check those episodes to see if it was Tony Clifton. I know that Andy's co-stars on Taxi didn't know for the longest time if Tony Clifton was really Andy. He was a strange little man. I say he got what he deserved and I would have paid good money to see that exchange. Way to go Freddie! ------------------ Chico: Age before beauty. Ed Brown: Pearls before swines. VIAGRA: Nature's little way of saying "No hard feelings"

11-30-2001, 09:41 AM	#9
tylersmistress2002 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 21, 2001 Location: Providence, RI USA Posts: 493	I read this also somewhere, tho I dont remember where rite now. Andy was obnoxious but I guess they were friends...anyway, I would have liked to see that moment too.

12-01-2001, 12:25 AM	#10
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,564	Has anyone else seen "Man On The Moon?" It's a Jim Carey movie that is based on the life of Andy Kaufman. The Tony Clifton character was often played by Andy Kaufman but he had a friend that also played the character sometimes. I wish they would have wrote the Andy/Freddie incident into the script. It would have been real interesting to see.