SHOWBIZ HISTORY: Why was TONY CLIFTON kicked off the set of Taxi?

Tony Clifton, born Anthony Clifton in 1937, was a larger-than-life entertainer known for his boisterous personality and irreverent comedy. Hailing from a working-class background in New Jersey, Clifton rose to fame in the 1960s as a nightclub performer, captivating audiences with his sharp wit and unapologetic humor. With his signature cigar in hand and flamboyant attire, he became a fixture in the entertainment scene, rubbing shoulders with celebrities like Andy Kaufman and leaving a lasting impact on comedy culture. Clifton's legacy extends far beyond the stage, as his fearless approach to comedy continues to inspire generations of performers worldwide.
#tonyclifton #andykaufman #manonthemoon #jimcarrey

[@drewgeraci8434]

GENIUS! I can't add any more to that.

[@Trishlicious]

I loved growing up with Andy; it was such a pleasure to watch.

[@therenewedpoet4292]

Found Andy when I was about 23... Both my parents have had the pleasure of reliving his career the last 10 years

[@jakea3676]

Love Tony

[@peppermintpasta]

The greatest gig of my career was playing bass for Tony Clifton.....we hung out afterwards...

[@showbizhistory]

whaaaaat - must know more. Did you hang out with Tony or Andy? Did you meet Andy?

[@peppermintpasta]

This was way past Andy's passing. Just Bob Z Turns out we had had a mutual friend and I got an amazing story from that]. But I did meet Andy K many years before at a club VIP room and challenged him to an arm wrestle. He politely told me that he only arm wrestled women!. He was sitting at the next table and that was the extent of our conversation.

[@showbizhistory]

@@peppermintpasta that is fantastic!!

[@maxxbenzz7842]

Best Elivis impression of all time. This guy was a genius. Nobody has come close to his talent

[@journeyman6752]

Thank you for making this video! I didn't know the back story on this.

[@showbizhistory]

My pleasure!

[@nathanwanner..44]

Fucking genius dont make me go tony clifton on you... i will😅

[@davidponseigo8811]

After all these years we still really don't know anything about Tony Clifton. Was he real or not. It's just amazing.

[@ron8802]

What....?????🤦‍♂️

[@Thedrysurrealbloke]

Lol

[@donjohn2695]

Tony was Andy and Bob Zamudaon different occasions after Andy died Bob kept playing the character making some think Andy was still alive

[@Justin-bd8qy]

Bob Zamuda swears he worked for a guy based on Tony Clifton. Called him Mr. X in his autobiography and at one time A K had a script and almost a green light for a movied based on TKs life! Bob Zamuda: comedy from A to Z is the book. How they met. What was a work, everything

[@shaynejenkins446]

Nobody cared to know until man in the moon was made.

[@James_Bowie]

Tony Clifton for President!

[@josephharden5592]

Trolling from the grave 😂

[@williamparrish2436]

Getcha hands off me! Getcha hands off me!

[@rosefarrell2440]

Tony Clifton ruled

[@josephthomas2226]

comic genius and completely insane person

[@mr.doctorcaptain1124]

I’ve never really found him funny. I get that he was who inspired Jim Carrey to become Jim Carrey, but Jim, Sacha Baren Cohen, etc. these guys all took Andy’s formula and made it funny. Andy was just a weirdo who was funny to about 1 out of every thousand people.

[@showbizhistory]

@@mr.doctorcaptain1124 and thus, from being voted off SNL by the public, to now being debated in KZbin comments, the controversy over his "comedy" or rather "performance art" continues.

[@mr.doctorcaptain1124]

@@showbizhistory I’m not sure I’m convinced, that seems a bit hyperbolic to me. I get what his comedy was, I just didn’t find it funny on a personal level. I understand why others did (like his bit where he wrestled Jerry Lawler and then came out in a neck brace was objectively hilarious). I just found most of what he did to be not for me. I’m the same way with Jerry Seinfeld; I get why people like his comedy, but I never have (standup, Seinfeld was amazing). To me, Kaufman and Seinfeld are in a similar vein in terms of how much I enjoy what they do, while I can still understand why others find it hilarious.

[@showbizhistory]

@@mr.doctorcaptain1124 Oh no I'm completely agreeing with you. To an extent (in that I recognize the polarization). At least I think I'm agreeing with you. My comment absolutely was hyperbolic and kind of meant to be. But in that, I mean to express that I find it fascinating that this same type of polarization occurred while he was at his height. The debate over whether he was a comedic genius or just a performance artist was happening from the beginning. There were those, like you, who could appreciate what he did from a distance--understanding that people found it funny, while others thought he was a comedic genius, the funniest person alive etc... And then there are some today who look back on what he did and think it was downright offensive, as many did while he was doing it. He's a bit of an enigma to me. I don't find myself laughing out loud at his stuff, but like you, I can appreciate why others might. I watch with interest and fascination though for sure.

[@steveaustin7306]

Great character

[@nathanwanner..44]

Andy was a true comedy genius weather you love him or hate him the guy was really fucking funny

[@kylemckenna9228]

0:09 better call saul's brother?

[@babbarr77]

Because he was drunk…I don’t need to see the video. He was also removed from “ The Green Room” with Paul Provenza(?) during the show for the same reason.

[@babbarr77]

He was better than Andy Kaufman for being a Dadaist personage..

[@showbizhistory]

my guy, you just saved yourself 5 minutes and 55 seconds.

[@Beer4Breakfast]

yeah yeah, yeah yeah…

[@Kevs442]

As far as Im concerned, Andy Kaufman was performing high art. I think he did all this just to entertain himself because he thought it was funny and he didn't care if you liked it or not.

[@showbizhistory]

100% agreed.

[@onespecies-human344]

Some one should make an ai of him

[@knutini]

It’s like the movie “The Prestige” but with a terrible lounge singer.

[@phenixnight3704]

Do you believe they put a man on the moon?

[@hessiangardner9134]

It's been proven and I doubt you are a Phoenix how it's actually spelled lil girl

[@nicholasarnold1438]

It’s the lyric to the song about Andy Kaufman by REM 😂😂

[@lowboy1one1]

Attention starved much?

[@hessiangardner9134]

He made more than you 😂

[@jerrygarner]

Andy Kaufman and Jim Carrey, two boorish and overrated entertainers.

[@stenbak88]

Most overrated so called comedian ever

[@Numbers1877]

Dude was never funny!

[@daddynichol52]

It was a lame character just like Kaufmann. He was waaaay overrated by people who only "liked" him because Kaufmann was the flavor-of-month Hollywood celebrity.

[@johnknepp5512]

Why are you watching it then

[@donjohn2695]

I agree to a certain extent I think andy had talent and was unique for his time but going back and watching him I don't find him particularly funny

[@Stewieboy1995]

Ok? Sounds like you enjoy lame comedy, stuff that most people would say is not funny at all. Maybe lighten up and learn to appreciate other comedy. You probably laugh and find stupid stuff funny. One of those people who laugh at lame jokes

[@Justin-bd8qy]

The two who think Andy was not funny are just the idiot marks we laugh at when they give any opinion on anything. Marks!

[@hatednyc]

@@Justin-bd8qy Ironically you’re calling someOne ELSE a mark for not liking it? You’re literally marking out over AK and his whole schtick.

[@markmarsh27]

Andy Kaufman's dufus routines never worked for me, no laughs, just cringing.

[@showbizhistory]

I think he would have liked that maybe.