Andy Kaufman Talks About Foreign Man and Staying in Character | Carson Tonight Show

Original Airdate: 08/04/1977
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[@vincentrimmer5844]

He managed to hold on to that child-like exuberance that most of us have beaten out of us by life.

[@duradim1]

Well, we haven't offed ourselves, now have we. The pain came through.

[@A-FrameWedge]

Probably because he never really had to live in the real world, he was in show business his whole life. But he was so different that he created a career that was made out of thin air and created a character that was so unique and really an entertainer that was not truly appreciated until after he died.

[@duradim1]

@@A-FrameWedge I think he was appreciated during his time. Afterall, he was called the king of late night.

[@A-FrameWedge]

@@duradim1 He might of been appreciated, but his fame and the recognition of his talent wasn’t fully realized until after his death.

[@grawakendream8980]

he didn't really spend his whole life in show business, his dad sold fake jewlery, come on@@A-FrameWedge

[@adamdesanti6713]

I'm on an Andy Kaufman binge on KZbin and I'm really appreciating it.

[@Joe-hs7nd]

@adamesanti6713 doing a binge myself the couple of days and slowly warming and laughing he's funny strangely

[@ToneeRhianRose]

Me too! I do it every yr around his b-day & then again in May. He was definitely 1 of a kind & gone way too soon.

[@ToneeRhianRose]

@@Joe-hs7nd Yeah he never considered himself a comic, but you don't have to tell jokes to be funny.

[@julesl6910]

I've been hiking on the Kaufman ridge for a fortnight and am so relieved to have reached the peak of mount Carson, will be spending the night here before moving on

[@Soulbrothersunny]

same

[@fladave99]

The first comedian with ABSOLUTLY NO JOKES and I cant stop lauging

[@alweinhofer5453]

Performance artist not comedian.

[@fladave99]

@@alweinhofer5453 He was so subtle most people dont realize he was acting. True genius

[@sailbatten2056]

People calling this guy genius....... Give it up. Performance artists are weird. BY DESIGN, they have to be weird or there is no emotional impact. Doesn't make it enjoyable. And it certainly doesn't make it genius.

[@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL]

This wasn't a joke for Andy. It's pretty obvious that he was a very loyal Elvis fan, even though most younger people had lost interest in The King.

[@Shopmyst]

I met Andy once on the street in Manhattan, near the Plaza Hotel. He went to Great Neck North High School. I graduated from the rival crosstown high school, Great Neck South. After I told him that, he asked me if I wanted to go to his high school reunion (I am not joking). I took him up on his invitation and went to the reunion. I didn't know anyone there except Andy.

[@riverland22]

Shopmyst, did you consider sharing a little more so we can see what he was like in real life??!! What did he talk about to you? What did he talk about to his friends?

[@mikeshannon2676]

That's amazing. I would love to hear more.. what's your take on Jim and Andy reverse?

[@trevorhansen1940]

When Andy isn't in character, you can see the sincerity in his eyes. Only problem is he can do the same while in character.

[@gustafsone]

It's hard to get a sense of the "real" Andy Kaufman. If you're interested, there are a handful of videos you can search for with Jerry Lawler and he talks about the time he and Andy was doing the women's wrestling thing, and how all of it was planned from the beginning and was performance. He also reveals what it was like actually working with Andy and what he was like when not performing.

[@trevorhansen1940]

@@gustafsone I've seen that interview, it's a good one. Andy was a complicated man in many ways but at the end of the day he just loved to make himself laugh most of all. Sometimes we are the punchline and those are some of the best jokes.

[@FoxyHatsauce]

The dude commits 1000% to EVERYTHING

[@trevorhansen1940]

@@pmbbmp Exactly, that's just how Andy was.

[@BAKER22-l4u]

Lol..WTF

[@floydpattersonii4996]

He reversed everything and made the audience embrace absurdity. A very rare performer. He was amazing. An innovator. Took his audiences on a ride in which they had no idea where they were going. There'll never be another.

[@beverleypeacock]

How sweet that he gave that massage lady some respect..Something we all could learn. And the drumming sequence.....Mmmmwahhh. Perfecto.

[@elvicare35]

Right on, that was SO sweet, and his drumming act was AMAZING!!!!!!! P.S.-Elvis said that NOBODY captured him better than Andy...SIMPLY THE BEST!!!!!

[@EnoVarma]

Andy's comedy was precise, controlled and highly technical. His ability to make it seem unhinged puts him on another level where geniuses reside.

[@enterthebruce91]

Jim Carrey played him so well in Man on the Moon. Great film, I saw it for the 1st time about a month ago.

[@grawakendream8980]

i disagree, it's all feeling

[@fladave99]

It took so much BALLS to do that Schick. He could be living in Lithiuanka sipping a cocktail Knowing hen to walk off the stage is the height of genius

[@grawakendream8980]

he passed away@@fladave99

[@grawakendream8980]

@Bebtelovimab elaborate

[@drbernstein3073]

I went to high school with Andy. He came each day wearing white pancake makeup, a black suit, and I think a top hat. He drove a taxi for the town’s all black taxi company. He was the oddest person in school. Constant performance art.

[@dr.barrycohn5461]

It's the constant being in character is odd and peculiar and tiresome.

[@dynamitebandito2172]

Hi there, Dr.Dynamite here. I wouldn't sat it's too tiresome. It doesn't really effect me personally. If it began to be tiresome, I would simply divert my attention elsewhere.

[@joebiggs4387]

Wait a sec… He drove a TAXI?! How cool! Definitely great that you can say you went to school with him. 😁

[@JimmyBarnesTPA]

, huh?? He stepped out of character in the interview. Oh wait, I'll explain...this is not Jim Carrey.

[@dynamitebandito2172]

@@JimmyBarnesTPA damn it. I thought it was jim Carrey. Damn, he's good.

[@davidchandler55]

I just checked the original airdate...and Andy performed this Elvis impression 12 days before Elvis died. Crazy. RIP Andy and Elvis

[@squinkque]

Wow. I thought for sure this was probably a couple years after Elvis died. His Elvis impersonation was one of the best, he could sing too.

[@trekkiejunk]

This episode aired only 12 days before Elvis died. Andy's impression of Elvis is really accurate in some ways, too. His bad jokes are actual jokes Elvis told all the time on stage. The way he used his guitar as a prop and didn't actually play it, was exactly how Elvis actually used the guitar in his 70's concerts.

[@kkelly2799]

The way you state the obvious is just like Andy! I can tell you're a real fan!

[@halweiss8671]

He was Elvis’s favorite Elvis impersonator because he had fun with it.

[@mws755]

No kidding , like I've never watched an Elvis concert before lol

[@AutomobiliVeloce]

This is actually important for those unaware.

[@igottheneed2]

I believe they each was the others favorite.

[@Joshualbm]

46 years later this is sill better than much of what comics can come up with for fearless originality today.

[@ldbjr]

I hate to break it to you, but this is 46 years old

[@Joshualbm]

@@ldbjr Yeah, I'm in denial about that, apparently. Changed!

[@TheBillaro]

1000%

[@patricksowders7989]

The fact that you can't tell if he's still joking or being serious is amazing especially during interviews

[@lynnturman8157]

The time he was on Letterman begging the audience for money is one of the funniest things on you tube.

[@janorhypercleats]

Yeah, i love that one!

[@troynov1965]

Love him or hate him you can not deny Andy was a one of kind !

[@markherring3513]

One of a kind for sure...but really, imo, he really wasn't THAT funny unless he was portraying the foreign man. That's all he had going for him..to me anyway. I never laughed at anything else he brought to the table. Yeah, I get it with the performance art aspect of it but it still needed to be amusing in some way, ya know?

[@raincloud7817]

@@markherring3513 In my humble opinion, an entertainer doesn't have to be funny all the time. His musical talent alone was remarkable and he could sing beautifully. He was also extremely charming. It was a pleasure to listen to him talk about himself to Carson and others.

[@chelseataylor5244]

He seemed genuinely thrilled that he may have made that woman’s day. That was a strangely sweet story!

[@SuperPussyFinger]

She has no idea at the time that she was being had by the greatest troll that ever walked the face of the earth.

[@user-kw1hx4sx3l]

One of the funniest men ever, great on bongos, underrated talent

[@dianewinters8628]

Andy was one of a kind

[@gmail4218]

11:33 As a former professional musician, I can unequivocally say that Andy had extraordinary musical talent. His four octave range and impeccable timing could have made him a highly sought-after studio musician.

[@kewkabe]

His conga playing is also really good (13:52)

[@gmail4218]

@@pmbbmp You calm down. You have obviously never been a professional musician and are laughably uninformed. Doc Severnson had to approve all musical guests in advance. You apparently think that you have more expertise than he did, LOL.

[@victorblock3421]

@@pmbbmp "calm down"????? Get over yourself.

[@treywest268]

Such magnificent brilliance that left us all too young. I still miss him to this day.

[@cimerians]

46 years later I'm busting out laughing out loud in the living room. I don't think anyone has ever done that. This man transcends time RIP Andy.

[@citizensane1426]

What a talent! RIP Andy, we still love you and The Great Johnny.

[@treywest268]

A bright shining star that brought happiness, joy, and humor to so many. I am in tears watching this and knowing thwt I will never again, in this lifetime, see someone as funny and interesting as Andy was.

[@treywest268]

@@pmbbmp Jeff Conway didn't like him at all and actually punched him. The others were upset because Andy wasn't required to be at rehearsals as they were yet he showed up, and not did he know his own lines but also knew everyone else's lines. That fact, and the way Andy was able to get his arch nemesis Tony Clifton on the show, really teed them.

[@ToneeRhianRose]

@@treywest268 I don't think they hated him as much as we were led to believe. I mean why would they all agree to be in a movie based on his life (w/ the exception of Tony Danza who was in a play at the time & couldn't do it) if that were true? I just read this today on Wikipedia (you can find the interview here on YT by searching for WTF with Marc Maron - Sam Simon Interview). "Sam Simon, who early in his career was a writer and later showrunner for Taxi, stated in a 2013 interview on Marc Maron's WTF podcast that the story of Kaufman having been generally disruptive on the show was "a complete fiction" largely created by Zmuda. Simon maintained that Zmuda has a vested interest in promoting an out-of-control image of Kaufman. In the interview Simon stated that Kaufman was "completely professional" and that he "told you Tony Clifton was him", but he also conceded that Kaufman would have "loved" Zmuda's version of events."

[@mypal1990]

Andy is so down to earth on this interview. He's way beyond his time with his comedic sets.

[@ashleelarsen5002]

He was cute too, ya know- Like a Mama's boy

[@MidnightV6]

@@ashleelarsen5002 girls these days don’t go for that, they prefer tough guys who have tattoos on their face and drives a roaring loud $5000 shitbox for a car lol

[@ashleelarsen5002]

@@MidnightV6 they don't take those boys seriously, sweety, girls like nice and comfortable- unless you are shopping for girlfriends at the strip club, or she was neglected by her daddy- but you don't want that, HEP C is forever (currently) Mahalo 🤙🏻

[@tomspeed3354]

he is dead btw

[@joebiggs4387]

It’s probably the one show where he couldn’t pull off any Hijinx, like he did on Letterman….others. Johnny would go along with a good joke but he’s not going to be made to look like a fool.

[@boballard6040]

The Caspian Sea harvest song.. absolutely brilliant 👏 👌

[@chrissullivan40]

I remember my dad getting mad at this performance while I was rolling on the floor laughing my ass off. 🤣😂

[@MrEsMysteriesMagicks]

​@@pmbbmpNo, he's really dead.

[@chrissullivan40]

The dad getting mad part was part of the enjoyment of the memory. Different culture.

[@LeoMumford]

That's awesome

[@InterestedAmerican]

What a talent! Any is willing to commit totally to characters he created, giving them a true life of their own. With it, came the freedom for him to just amaze audiences. He's done sketches that were so real and visceral that you couldn't tell if it was real or part of the skit. Amazing!

[@samsmith4216]

The most unique performer Johnny ever had on stage.

[@gemmavarroyave]

He was a real genius and an extraordinary talented musician! His voice...no words! ✨💜

[@silvrbck1]

I have never seen this appearance before. Thank God for KZbin. I think it is safe to say that Andy Kaufman was from a highly superior planet than ours. If there ever comes a person with this kind of talent I hope I am alive to see it.

[@HardRockMiner]

Andy had so much respect for Johnny that he was actually himself. He didn't do that for Letterman.

[@Mozart1220]

The guy was genius beyond our comperhension. His Mighty Mouse bit is CLASSIC.

[@loupasternak]

It wasn't that hard to comprehend , if you were of a certain mind.

[@nicfisher8266]

@@loupasternak sorry we aren’t all self proclaimed genius’ champ. Oh how hard it must be looking down on us less fortunate. Us poor peons are not worthy of the magnificent light that shines so brightly from your arse!

[@loupasternak]

@@nicfisher8266 tasty?

[@user-xr2vl1vq2i]

I thank my lucky stars that I was around during that era to experience many of Andy’s avant grade performances. They were always entertaining, full of energy and off the wall which placed him in that special category of entertainers. R.I.P. Andy..we know your up there putting em’ on.

[@sammcbride2149]

"This is really me." If you say so Andy.🤣🤣🤣

[@terrytragianopoulos9345]

Absolute Genius...No one like him before or since

[@raradis]

Such a fragile and funny soul... thanks Andy..

[@Pladderkasse]

Nah, even "sincere real, fragile Andy" was a role he played, he toyed with everyone and that's what was funny to him.

[@raymondholleb1875]

Two of my favorite guys of all time.

[@shellthomas3123]

I never realized he was this talented.

[@prod6mill.512]

U would never know cuz he’s such a mixed bag of tricks

[@joebiggs4387]

Andy Kaufman… So many people thought his death was a hoax because of the way he lived his life.

[@Kryptospotted]

Much like Elvis, in fact.

[@texasgina]

I remember that

[@joebiggs4387]

@@texasgina Yeah. He was pulling off all kinds of practical jokes. Even on his friends and family! I can appreciate that. 😁 Within reason of course. He was a funny, crazy man!

[@joebiggs4387]

@Bønzëaux Błëuxgrēn learn about ppl thinking his death was a hoax?

[@beetlejews]

@@joebiggs4387 yeah you made the statement like it was breaking news. You sound ridiculous tbh

[@regplasma7906]

Sheer brilliance from Andy.One of the bravest and best comedians of all time.

[@ro7242]

R E M RECORDED A GREAT SONG ABOUT ANDY MAN ON THE MOON PERFECT EXSPRESS ANDY KAUFMAN LOVE THE SONG LOVE HIS HUMOR

[@ToneeRhianRose]

Yup. There's a movie of the same name that starred Jim Carrey as Andy. If you haven't seen it, definitely check it out! It's uncanny how Jim was able to channel Andy's spirit!

[@jefffarmer5785]

Their will NEVER be another Andy... WISH he was still with us-!!! 🤔🙂😊😁😆👍✌

[@dannyconnell4533]

He was my favorite comedian growing up when I was a kid 😊

[@etfbit]

TIME OUT .... Johnny Carson saw the genius of this performance decades before the general population would appreciate it.

[@cherylnelson4259]

Andy was amazing!!!

[@user-il5mq6tb9m]

" And now I'll imitate ..." The way he says is so brilliant 😂😂😂

[@eltonjohnson]

Legendary.

[@Charlesinfinite]

Wow that island song blew my mind!

[@elvicare35]

Incredible performance!!!!!!!

[@AutomobiliVeloce]

What a performer.

[@BacchusFA]

What amazing interview. Carson was so awesome

[@kraig7777]

When he said "1927" I was laughing so hard tears were coming out of my eyes.

[@igano111]

What a legend.

[@kathleenmckeithen118]

Andy Kaufman was really one of a kind.

[@valgilson6504]

I have heard of Andy Kauffman but I have never really seen any of his stuff, so I didn't understand why he was loved. Watching this I was astonished at his comedic and acting range, going from one dynamic to another with fluidity. I am going watch more of his acts.

[@ToneeRhianRose]

Check him out on the show Taxi. That's where I 1st saw him. Been in love w/ him ever since I was 14 & I'm nearly 44 now.

[@eliasb8]

14:12 When he had side stitches, he had ME in stitches! 🤣 Andy Kaufman was something else! He is greatly missed.

[@satseetal]

Amazing!!!

[@georgwalt7978]

What an incredible talent

[@cgsweat]

Elvis died just a few short days after this performance. This episode of Carson was from August 4th of '77, and Elvis passed away on August 16th. All 3 are sorely missed.

[@fuckgoogle554]

A true original.

[@joeconcrete5067]

Andy was one of a kind and a kind of a one.

[@giovannaquilici2194]

He was a genius, he couldn't die so young, he was terrific in his Elvis imitation ❤

[@meijer78]

Andy was one of a kind. Just sad that the real Elvis Presley would pass away almost 2 weeks later.

[@adrianpoesiat]

The one and only ❤️

[@garcybarcy9337]

😮WOW what a talent! 🙌👏👏👏👍💖

[@clarkgardiner6795]

Andy will always rule. RIP

[@fairphil2890]

He’s a hard person to “get.” His act is a lot funnier when he is just himself at some points. I enjoyed this.

[@jokerswildio]

I don't think there will ever be an entertainer as fascinatingly enigmatic and original as Andy Kaufman was. No wonder why they made a feature film about him....Man on the Moon, which I think is one of the best biopics ever made...also sadly underrated.

[@itannoysme3348]

Everything these days is "underrated." Who is actually doing it if everyone is using that word?

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

Thank you for entertaining me, Andy.

[@karmaisreal261]

Back when entertainers were entertaining.

[@mundoeuniverso5123]

The comedian who was the greatest influence of Jim Carrey.

[@fyiaustralia9686]

I can see the similarities between Andy Kaufmann's act here and Jim Carrey's debut on the Carson show.

[@joebiggs4387]

@@fyiaustralia9686 YEAH! That’s right, I had forgotten! Carrey did Elvis on his first appearance, if I’m not mistaken. 🤙🏼

[@AnthonyESacco]

also an influence on Sacha Baron Cohen.....

[@janorhypercleats]

@@fyiaustralia9686 No, Jim Carrey's biggest inspiration was Jerry Lewis!!

[@SergioArellano-yd7ik]

I don't remember him playing Him in a movie.

[@damc8415]

Amazing!😮😂😂😂😂

[@completeMonti]

"This is my biggest record -- well, actually they're all the same size." Nice!

[@futtertots]

Elvis actually said that they one of his performance, back in the early days on the Ed Sullivan show

[@bijankimiachi9430]

I was roommate and classmate with Andy Kaufman in Grahm Jr College in Boston, Massachusetts. The character Latka is based on me. I suggested him to use my character, and he admits that in his interview with Orson Welles 1982. Film maker Alex Braverman has interviewed me in his documentary, “ thank you very much “

[@scotttiory7234]

True and Sweet talent! Very sincere and fun! What a wonderful character! RIP Andy

[@GG-xs8vt]

I remember him on TAXI. What a cast. Had a little crush on Marilu .

[@KalElvis]

Who didn't have a crush on Marilu?

[@riverland22]

I think there is a fine line between craziness and humour. Or maybe a very wide line where both overlap. We're a complicated people.

[@beetlejews]

This is brilliant.

[@michaelhanlon6118]

Andy Kaufman had great courage !!

[@spiritualED]

4:23 12 days before EP’s passing.

[@user-qc4kd7py8h]

One of the few true geniuses of comedy.

[@WilsonPendarvis-tn3wm]

Am I supposed to cry watching this? I feel like it

[@ToneeRhianRose]

Sure. That was the beauty of Andy. Whether he made you laugh, cry, or so angry you wanted to hurt him, it was all the same to him. He was all about getting a genuine reaction out of ppl.

[@nodartoro]

the diversity and freedom of the comedy throughout this 15 minutes is just insane ...

[@bacchuslax7967]

He’s trolling so many people on so many levels here. What a genius

[@TheBillaro]

genius

[@jasonsnyder8341]

I miss those times

[@grokeffer6226]

This aired less than two weeks before Elvis Presley passed away.

[@AFMMarcelD]

And less than 7 years after this Andy himself was gone.

[@grokeffer6226]

@@AFMMarcelD Rest in Peace.

[@elvicare35]

Yes, I was expecting the AMAZING," Love Me" performance, but that was in March, I noticed that the date looked like it was from August or April, but it is August, so, I SURE hope that Elvis saw this, I'm SURE that he did!!!!!!!!

[@tarhunta2111]

And that's what probably killed him.

[@georgemetesky5519]

@@elvicare35 It has been told that Andy was Elvis's favorite impersonator.

[@StarwaterCWS]

New York was blessed

[@SergioArellano-yd7ik]

Long Island, like Howard Stern, and they Both had the same dad, at least in their movies

[@fishhookism]

Brilliant

[@catsoandahalf]

FABULOUS!

[@AlexLewisTV]

He's such a good guy.

[@siulumlion]

Only a man truly on the edge can play a conga drum at that pace.

[@richardthelionheart5594]

Andy Kaufman bizarro before his time and he still is.

[@ThefightingCelt]

Andy may have been an oddball character but he was a total original. I think it took a lot of balls to do what he did.

[@Egoblivion]

HUGE balls! Yes!

[@charmerci]

I wonder if this is the only time we see Andy as Andy?

[@anonymous203020]

Fearless genius!

[@zovalentine7305]

Rest in powerful peace 🙏 Andy Kaufman 17 January 1949 ~ 16 May 1984⚘

[@moehammondmedia]

Andy Kaufman was a comedic genius. i’m sure of that now.

[@drillbag]

Johnny Carson was a great host. He was never a jerk or a phony to his guests.

[@pennyking3823]

Comic genius. way ahead of his time

[@Kryptospotted]

Those eyes, man

[@vicmerle57]

It’s been so long, I totally forgot how incredibly awesome Andy Kaufman was. I would hope he is living on small island somewhere laughing at all of us who think he is dead!

[@manzion7599]

… in the islands of the Caspian Sea, drumming ballads of harvestime tragedy.