Andy Kaufman interviews his ex-girlfriend Elayne Boosler!

[@TheTurbanator123]

Andy Kaufman would break the internet if he was still alive

[@Poita]

+BrownTownReviews I don't usually find him funny but this was funny. Not only because of the bizarre height of his desk but because it's a comment on how talk show hosts make sure their chair is higher than guests so they can always appear taller.

[@nephelethievenaix294]

+Poita Except Conan... He's just on stilts.

[@francisapple]

He invented most of the comedy we see today

[@Zeitgeist997]

you're assuming folks aren't idiots. folks are idiots and he will be obscure

[@francisapple]

Zeitgeistmusic997 Unlikely

[@BackwoodsFilms]

The way that nobody even questions the fact that he's seated ten feet above his guests....

[@JBmusicart]

Oh, I noticed. It's so obvious

[@RonJohn63]

That's the gag.

[@evanabbott2737]

Hilarious...👍

[@SuperSupasi]

@@RonJohn63 gag? Just admit it American are not funny.

[@michaelmullingo6197]

I heard it was a spoof on David Letterman who sat higher than his guests.

[@gnewt75]

Andy Kaufman was adult swim before adult swim. A pioneer.

[@SoJustCool]

thats one of the best sentences ive read in a hot minute

[@panagiotisdedes9695]

Dont compare adult swim with Kaufman maybe Tim Heidecker is close to kaufmans talent

[@jasonfaulkner8644]

Tom Green was different than Andy, less talented, but just as psycho. I guess Sacha Baron Cohen is the closest comparison. No. No. I shouldn't. There is only one Andy K. Nothing compares, and no one should try.

[@tfunkman]

@@jasonfaulkner8644 a lovely thought. Andy was one of a kind.

[@keithdano]

the world still is not ready for this guy . He was a comedy genius

[@observergoldstein3709]

That's what they all say

[@NoOne-ky1er]

@@observergoldstein3709 About everyone who is pathbreaking..

[@geoffreycurrie9582]

The only comedian id call genius.

[@sillysausage4549]

Or maybe he just wasn't that funny

[@geoffreycurrie9582]

@@sillysausage4549 ...........................

[@stuartpotterton6701]

He is doing what he always did, walk the subtle line where you don't know if something is real or not. Genius

[@fragolegirl2002]

lol he is an amazing guy :) thanks to him I'm uncertain about everything O.o

[@glywnniswells9480]

None of its real

[@cards1985]

I laughed immediately when I saw Andy about 10 feet higher than the guest! Andy will always be my favorite and most original comedian ever!

[@chrisreulbach2543]

As a personal friend of Elayne I can tell you that she and Andy wrote this together. It's a totally planned bit.

[@liljontoaster4649]

chris reulbach people just did not get andy for along time and still to this day,funny,that was his genious

[@WesHuntermusicman]

+chris reulbach Please tell Elayne Kevin Curtis would like to speak with her about a really important project. She can google me and find my contact info. I am the Elvis Impersonator framed in the Ricin Letter Presidential assassination plot in 2013.

[@WesHuntermusicman]

+chris reulbach www.gq.com/story/paul-kevin-curtis-elvis-impersonator-ricin-assassinations

[@jenjen8243]

+chris reulbach oh i agree i can tell this was scripted ... but funny none the less :)

[@chrisreulbach2543]

+Edgehead10075 We all have opinions... I personally find her very funny. Oh well. :)

[@valxavier7498]

Ground-breaking comedy...pushing boundaries between private and public, fact and fiction. This was literally years ahead of its time. So clever.

[@BayviewFinch]

You seem to be making an assumption that things improve with time.

[@DrPhil-kx3ci]

@@BayviewFinch you’re from my past. I know more than you.

[@kidonspank]

@@BayviewFinch try telling that to a vintner.

[@august1520]

I don’t get it

[@td1253]

@@DrPhil-kx3ci no you're from my past and I know more than you!

[@gokinsmen]

I love when Elayne reaches up and drinks from the mug. Judging by Andy's reaction, I feel like she adlibbed that bit -- Andy could barely hold back a smile.

[@nottavictim5]

Elayne was hysterical there. Note she can do Andy’s shtick as well as Andy

[@common101sense]

Hahah I love how he puts his desk on a pedestal. A huge shot at all the big egos on late night.

[@davidgrace2951]

30 years ahead of his time.

[@CT2507]

+David Grace would have been if it was actually funny.

[@askabourgo]

+CT2507 It was funny for him

[@18skeltor]

+CT2507 I don't think he gave a fuck lol

[@CT2507]

Ronan RiemanJohns he did give a fuck if u understand what he was about. he was just as addicted to a reaction from people as normal comedians are.

[@askabourgo]

The godfather of all trolls

[@ManicMechanic82]

He was truly the best and of an untouchable class completely of his own invention. Andy really was a genius!

[@dph22013]

She takes a drink without skipping a beat. Brilliant.

[@cyberwing777]

This is comedy genius! The whole idea that their personal life takes over the show is great. I loved Andy Kaufman and still miss him. Thanks for posting.

[@danos1011]

he always was so good about making the air of uncomfortable atmosphere as a new type of comedy.. this is genius

[@WELLZY_]

zach galifianakis has the same approach which I'm only assuming he adopted from Andy. Watch his between 2 ferns and stand up. Andy did it better it seems like.

[@chrysanth.5700]

+Cammy 96 Surrealist comedy has been on the rise in general. Impressive how much of it is owed to Kaufman's work.

[@peternemeth1777]

@@chrysanth.5700 If I remember correctly comedian Ernie Kovács was a pioneer in developing tricks for tv shows what the breaking of the fourth wall is concerned. And David Letterman should have borrowed and copied a lot of his ideas. This kind of comedy where there seems to be no separation between what happens on the stage and the audience is called breaking the fourth wall. Because a stage usually has three walls whilst the fourth wall is missing to be open for an audience. Andy Kaufman definitely contributed a lot to the development in breaking the fourth wall. He trolled everyone. A brilliant actor, whose brilliance was also confirmed by the great Orson Welles.

[@tomekstrand1988]

No one had the art of "making the audience feel uncomfortable" perfected like Andy had.

[@RadicalCaveman]

Yeah, they weren't so much the audience as the victims.

[@wrayvon121]

And Andy loved it. On a Stern interview Letterman said Andy told him to send him all the hate mail.@@RadicalCaveman

[@Powertuber1000]

A true genius... I can't say he was ahead of his time because he was ahead of all time. This mind will never happen again.

[@justinebeaver1419]

Talk show hosts usually sit higher than their guests. It must be an insecurity thing.....the host feels more powerful and in control when the guest has to look up to them. Now I'll always think of this video when watching a talk show.

[@johnhasaguitar]

Yeah, that was kind of the point behind this design. He was making fun of other talk shows

[@DUBEE43]

Justine Beaver exactly that was my first impression you could tell the guy totally has some serious issues he wasn't even funny on Taxi if you ask me you almost single-handedly ruined the show the cast was too strong though he would have ruined any other show

[@fwlweb5803]

Didn't get the height differential. Thanks for pointing that out. Only Andy would take it to this extreme. I hit the floor when she reach for the cup.

[@simplechronology2605]

@factinator33 You completely missed the joke. And apparently, you have missed a whole lot of jokes too.

[@oreokookie1000]

@@DUBEE43 well, lookin back with 20/20 hindsight, he was pretty astoundingly talented....this is the early 80's?? seems au current.....didn't know what to make of the sonofabitch back then

[@EdWeibe]

her having to reach up for the cup. LOL

[@richardm3023]

I know, she had nice legs too!

[@gigantes1966]

Aside from the hysterically-elevated desk, i cannot believe that Kaufman went through with the feud routine 'off the air' (and huge kudos to Boosler for making it work so beautifully). It was beyond genius, and more importantly, there is nothing like that kind of thing being done even today, decades later. Kaufman was so original and so utterly fascinating that my mind boggles at how much further he might have advanced the field of comedy if he hadn't died so young.

[@brianplace]

Jimmy Kimmel and Matt Damon are doing pretty well with the feud thing... so the idea isn't dead.

[@sybyrtube]

Andy Kaufman was totally crazy and awesome at the same time

[@petewilder1303]

I'm rediscovering Andy Kaufman, forgot about all the stuff he actually did - since I was a young teen at the time. That was fascinating and brilliant.

[@james5460]

That is such an awesome sight gag on the power imbalance in those late-night chat shows where the host holds all the cards. That's brilliant comedy, making her look up to him.

[@FrancisMaxino]

The more I see of Andy Kaufmann the more intrigued I become...he was obviously a comedic genius whose humour was just too intelligent for the American public, I don't think anyone understood where he was coming from because most of the time it seems like reality when it's not, an amazing illusionist and one of the few true artists who wasn't relying on 'lampooning' and idiotic slapstick for laughs.

[@kcuhc84]

The Jim Carrey film gave most people the wrong impression.

[@johndodge8999]

Kcuhc that was his partners fault trying to promote the myth Andy was a crazy guy.

[@DomImaBoss]

He really played him terribly. I hate that movie

[@raulescobar5700]

Of course

[@KaneRobot]

Bunch of people that didn't know him talking about how a bunch of people that did know him portrayed him incorrectly. Sounds like the internet.

[@sarusa1998]

Kcuhc yeah like the way he made Andy talk with his eyes poking out and stuttering. That's really wrong he looks and talks like a normal person here.... So. Hmm

[@BrianDornTFP]

"Dating Andy Kaufman" would have made a great reality show.

[@Spice99857]

More like frightening.

[@joanpelpinosas]

Everything's an illusion to that guy, believe me.

[@funzo1159]

Damn. It would have!

[@buddhull]

Closest thing I can think of comparatively is “I’m With Busey”

[@MsNooneinparticular]

He was on The Dating Game as Foreign Man, so there's that.

[@MusicPlaylistGuru]

Only Andy Kaufman can come up with such a set. He was a comic genius indeed.

[@constantreader7944]

It's kinda funny. I recall watching this particular episode on tv in college with friends, and we were dying laughing. Especially when Elayne reached up to pick up the mug to take a sip--we fell out of our chairs. And my buddy said, Wait wait wait a minute---the audience is not laughing. So we all got quiet, and realized that the audience was not laughing. Oh well. We started laughing again. Brilliant. And now that I think about it, the quiet audience who isn't getting all this, makes it all the funnier. Strange memory from 30+ years ago.

[@Deyonkersny]

Only few in the audience laugh..

[@redshiftexperiment]

What was this show called?

[@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL]

Elayne Boosler always seemed so self assured, as a comedian. She seemed kind of vulnerable, here. Then again, who knows? You can never tell what's really going on with Kaufman. That's why people thought he was faking his own death.

[@jpm4444]

both elayne and andy did great in this bit. true art; not seen anymore.

[@stolentimecapsule7450]

this is great, may i also suggest tim heidecker’s work, particularly his on cinema guise

[@natewilson111]

@@stolentimecapsule7450 Tim's material is the direct descendant to Andy's

[@hollyrochford]

Andy Kaufman makes me feel like im not such a weirdo

[@Gggmanlives]

I love how he pretended they cut to a commercial and they keep shooting. Hilarious!

[@lullabi3234]

that is called a "skit". do you...think that SHE was the dupe in this joke? like she didn't know what was going on?

[@johndodge8999]

When Andy was performing it was a different time. And we all had trouble knowing what was real and what a skit....he was that good.

[@evanabbott2737]

jā carter no need to be a jerk.

[@stanleywigger7332]

Holy shit Gman fancy seeing you here

[@williamrutherford553]

What are YOU doing here, Gman?

[@came6939]

I remember when the news announced his death, I laughed and told my friends, "This will be his greatest achievement." As a fan knowing his work I was on board that this was a prank.

[@inthejcurve7968]

Amazing wits! Dry humor, and the angst that they put the audience through to get the laugh at the end was terrific!

[@skiptowne61]

Brilliant. Eventually people will get Andy. ...maybe

[@namisill850]

I haven't gotten his comedy in almost 40 years

[@jasonhayward7231]

I do,, there’s not comedian alive that can touch him. He’s real but not.

[@leonspinks3787]

I get him allright, dry, stupid, childish. Let me know when to laugh

[@lauralewis4696]

Man, she's amazing.

[@jzimmt]

I love the creative absurdity of Kaufman. In a way he exposed the absurdity of the culture in general by lampooning our entertainment

[@chrisjaybecker]

I remember watching this when it aired. Brilliant.

[@redshiftexperiment]

What was the name of this show?

[@joesimon2018]

Elaine on Seinfeld was based loosely on her.

[@rahkiajohnson7926]

Joe Shmoe she reminds me of her.

[@TerryGrancho]

was she loosely a whore?

[@constantreader7944]

No, that was Carol Liefer. But Elayne did date Larry David too.

[@BabbleOn777]

LOL! What a way to get back at an Ex!! I remember Andy's various broadcasts in the States on Late-Night TV as a wee child...I used to watch Taxi all the time, as young as I was, hanging out with my Dad, cause I used to sleepwalk and have Night Terrors, ANYwayyys. Elaine Booster, part of the alumni of the best SNL days...Miss those years, so many of them passed way too early. I think that is why Andy figured that his 'death' would slip in, afterall..Gilda and Cancer, Belushi and Drugs...I know he is still alive, and bravo on being one of the best minds in comedy. He is still laughing at those he has always laughed with. His brother knows it, Bob Szumda knows it. The best way to never die, IS to 'Die'! R.I.P Andy.

[@gerberbernstein7360]

She was based on Carol Liefer, Jerry's old girlfriend.

[@richardfederico1672]

Andy, possibly the first podcaster.

[@tate3777]

I wanted to know if this is staged or not, and now I realize this is just why Andy loved his comedy, he loved when the audience didn't know if it was staged or not. It's the whole point. Which is genius, but I'm still sitting here trying to know what's real and what's not haha. That's the genius of Andy, he just gets into your head!

[@rickrenner8528]

it's written, she gives it away, but it's done well

[@tate3777]

Well it's definitely done well, I honestly couldn't tell if she was acting or not haha. Thanks for responding

[@joesimon2018]

Tate Saywitz Staged. Basically improvisation

[@rickrenner8528]

Tate Saywitz the give away was at the commercial break, she was a little too involved in their argument at that point, in front of a crowd, seeing an ex-boyfiredn after years apart,....she wouldn't have gotten so caught up in it, and knowing Andy, it would have crossed her mind if she were being set up,.....but his genius was that most never caught on to any of his antics. I saw him live on Friday's Tv show start that riot, and believed it. Everyone did.

[@tate3777]

You saw him on the Fridays skit??? Wow, I can't even imagine. And then didn't he have to issue an apology on TV after that Fridays taping but didn't even do that and still steered off from the script?

[@evilinnnn]

That's what I call a good interview! We really need another Andy in our time...

[@TimsFoyleHeadgear]

evilin N. We have. They're called Jim Carrey and Will Ferrell, whether you like it or not.

[@evilinnnn]

They are really good in their own way. But they are not Andy Kaufman.

[@TimsFoyleHeadgear]

evilin N. That's true. Andy is still unique.

[@evilinnnn]

Yeap

[@WELLZY_]

+johana77 zach galifianakis between 2 ferns. His comedy is similar in my opinion. It's more of the delivery and acting me than the joke itself.

[@alanw505]

We still haven't caught up to the genius of Andy Kaufman.

[@saneee2495]

this was a clever act lol.

[@ChuckSchickx]

Comedic genius. His mind was always creating...in ways NOBODY else was or has since.

[@edwinjimenez3802]

HIS MATERIAL WAS REALLY FUNNY HE DID THE UNEXPECTED GOD BLESS HIS MEMORY AMEN 🙏 TRULY BRILLIANT COMEDY

[@amyntut]

That desk being up really high kills me !

[@LisaJOxo]

Hilarious.

[@paulgagnier7360]

Perfect New York City couple!

[@leokimvideo]

The drinking scene, classic setup Kaufman style

[@sagarr2324]

6:15 i think thats the closest andy came to breaking his character in whole career

[@Nostradamus_Order33]

Wow, I missed that. Good pick up.

[@FuzzyDancingBear]

Have you seen Orca Welles interview him when Andy basically admits the whole Tony Clifton thing and explains the origins of the Forign Guy voice

[@Cloudkick85]

He hurts my head, I can't figure him out....

[@tinycheesegiant1470]

I vaguely remember watching Man in the Moon with Jim Carry. I think it had such an impact on me that this is the way I find comedy. People can't tell if I'm serious or being sarcastic. When really it doesn't matter

[@TheOnlyRagsMorales]

This whole set up and interview is incredible! This is riveting

[@BacchusFA]

This is comic genius. His chair height was extraordinarily funny

[@nadineefleck]

I love his voice

[@KlangenFarben]

Stellar. The ability to consistently and clearly make the audience uncomfortable and/or laugh is a kernal of meta-comedy. Andy Kaufman simply had a different bar to reach for than anyone else of his generation, or for that matter any other generation I can think of.

[@pronemanoldbutyoung5548]

The most impressive feature of Andy to me, and there are a ton of features to this man, is that he never breaks up and laugh at his own silly lines or material or laughs when a costar does or says something silly. Andy is the only performer that I've ever noticed this about.

[@YOROWE78]

Tony laughing at the 5:12 mark is just flat out friggin hilarious!

[@tulrob]

What a great genius Andy was. Fantastic comedian. He blows my mind to this day!

[@realitycheck5383]

his desk being up so high is such a classic bit. i dont think anyone understood why he did it. genius.

[@slumlordable]

Andy wanted everyone to question what is reality. Too bad people never understood that about him. Even after his death, all these years later people still don't get it. Thank you very much!

[@daaarrell15]

is that the puppet laughing aswell lol 5:13

[@madambutterfly7513]

daaarrell15 - yep - lol

[@jasonhayward7231]

Good call.. lol

[@Robert127]

Andy was not crazy he knew how to work people he knew how to set other up for failure roping people in the way he set the stage so he would be facing down on his guests just to make the feel less in them selves and he would always control of his guest's he was a master of knowing the mind this was brilliant within itself only Andy could pull this crazy stunt off hats off Andy Rest in peace buddy.. your Legend

[@jasonfaulkner8644]

When Boosler reaches up for the cup of water ... LOL!

[@dylanalexander4393]

I'm here from the Nostalgia Critic's Spider-Man: Far From Home - Sibling Rivalry video

[@love4music1992]

Get the fuck out me toooooo!

[@richarddye5758]

A lot of people miss the fact that andy was mirroring society back on it self.. these skits were all based on the insanity and hipocrity that was around him. He had spent a lot of time trying to understand people, and in the end the only way he saw himself able to make any impact on the world beyond hollywood's plastic self absorbed success was to show people what they were really like and they didn't like what they saw ..but some of us got it

[@orbianskyler]

Andy was pure Genius.

[@floydtibbs]

Andy is so mesmerizing, i would love it if this show was on today

[@darkfader4511]

Having him and Tony in the same scene and him having a recorded voice is so clever

[@nolanlamond2439]

This is miles ahead of its time - genius 👏

[@Nostradamus_Order33]

“No you opened with the Catskills” “you opened with the Catskills”

[@SteveWaddell1]

It was an objective statement. He did not consider himself a "comedian". The things he did were to provoke your mind. Good or bad. He influenced alot of people who understood what he was doing. Look at Tim and Eric, the Jackass crew, etc. He played pranks on millions mostly for his own amusement. Look at what him and Jerry the King did. They played millions and Andy was hated. But, he made people get mad, angry, emotional and quite often if you knew what he was doing, laugh.

[@craigkdillon]

Let's get one thing straight -- Andy Kaufman was NOT ahead of his time. Andy Kaufman was totally outside of the time/space continuum. Andy Kaufman created alternate reality because he was not of our time or dimension.

[@badskroy71]

lmao i love how they keep the routine up even after they cut to commercials, leaving the audience in total unsurity. Total brilliance.

[@jayberry2716]

Elayne was in on it of course.

[@gwynnthefam2864]

I LOVE ANDY !!!!! HE IS ALIVE AND WELL LIVING IN NEWYORK STATE WITH HIS OWN FAMILY HE ISNT SURE IF HE WANTS TO MAKE A COME BACK OR NOT HE WANTS TO STILL CARRY ON WITH THE PRANK OF THINKING HE IS DEAD MAYBE IN A NOTHER YEAR OR SO HE MIGHT ATTEMPT A COME BACK.

[@WKRPinCINN]

dunkinjugger the adventure guy - All the funny people are dead. He's dead.

[@NomadicBrian]

The set is AWESOME! Andy thinking about future guests... make sure ex girlfriend gets booked to have awkward dating conversation.

[@jamesjonesrocket]

this is pure gold, such a shame there isn't much original comedy like this anymore.

[@stephenc714]

anything with Mr Kaufman is just great to see and getting to re live old memories is fun thanks

[@issy_b_onair]

Elayne's tribute article to Andy is lovely. They were close friends until his last day. 😢❤

[@starhd40307]

I guess this was a play on the fact that most talk show host's sit a little higher than their guest. Andy truly was talented.

[@quicksite]

I suppose i should read all 72 prior comments.. but where did this air & when, aprox? It's typically genius conceptual art... Elayne reaching up for the proverbial cup of water was, of course, only 1 of 100 clues that ensures one understands this was an elaborate construct with just amazing performances. was this a one-off performance event, or were there others? thanks for posting. I had never seen this before.

[@josephvanwyk2088]

WOW this is genius. Imagine a talk show of couples that went through a break up (that's not jerry springer). Love the set design

[@TryTheBLT]

Granted, it depends upon the situation, but Mr. Kaufman was a performance artist who enjoyed playing with people's heads. He did it for the joy. A lot of trolls are just assholes, but some do it for the joy of screwing with people, which is all I meant. He wasn't a comedian, and he wasn't doing it for other people, he did it for himself because he enjoyed it.

[@duroxkilo]

firstly, the key is the scene where Elayne reaches, takes and drinks from the cup w/o skipping a bit. looking carefully, mr Andy always has a way of signaling 'this is not real'. that being said, we're still misunderstanding this artist on a basic level: he's not trying to make ppl uncomfortable as the ultimate goal. he's also not crazy. he is just deconstructing our common illusions, be it regarding what a tv show is or how it works, all the way to why are we laughing when someone is in pain or asking for food money. existential questions you know :}

[@guyguyguy362]

I just heard the very same concept on the radio, no matter who calls in their audio is lower - even if an advertiser calling in and paying the station!

[@carljacobson7156]

I can see how Andy used the Pro Wrestling concepts of a 'Work', which is a fictional situation portrayed as real, in his performances. Andy was decades ahead of his time.

[@philrobinson981]

The only time we saw him in the UK was in Taxi. He certainly had a lot of talent

[@quinnokeefe4684]

I tipped back some mint juleps with Tony Clifton at a bowling alley in Thornton, Kansas in 1983. The dude was a laugh a minute.

[@misterwackydoodle]

truth is stranger than fiction... and funnier too! this really makes me smile because it's so real and so funny and sad at the same time.

[@mws755]

This is my conversation with most women

[@TheWorldTeacher]

The joys of bossy women hey?

[@janets9179]

A planned bit, probably a lot of truth in it, though. Love the desk and the conversation during the commercial.

[@nlabanok]

Wow, Tony Clifton does the best Trump impersonation I've seen.

[@suzieparis6821]

Oh my gosh..could not imagine having a relationship with him of any kind

[@LevitoMax]

Andy Kaufman trolled the world, he invented the game. He is the godfather of trolls, the Troll Allfather.

[@NyQuilDonut]

Lol I love this. Awkward humor like this isn't done nearly enough. The only other show I can think of that's awkward like this is Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job! And after seeing a bunch of Andy Kaufman clips it's very obvious that they're very influenced by him.

[@binko969]

Andy was a Fkn genius. The elevated desk alone makes the segment

[@bryede]

Andy is to comedy what King Crimson is to rock. What you will hear will be strange, often discordant, and will rarely sound like it has any plan or purpose.

[@user-qt5eh9wb7g]

Zappa

[@Shotbybothsides117]

@@user-qt5eh9wb7g zappa is lame

[@Shotbybothsides117]

king crimson is better

[@cflo1386]

This is so freacking funny

[@SteveWaddell1]

If you hated Andy then he played you very well. If you liked Andy you saw how he played people very well. He was NOT a comedian. He was a performance artist. His performances fooled so many people and that was the whole damn purpose. If you hate him so much what the hell are you watching his videos for?

[@bxchef829]

I love the desk 8 feet above the guest hahaha He was a genius.