Tony Clifton aka Andy Kaufman on Dinah! (Dinah & Friends) 1979

A very early 'Tony Clifton' on Dinah Shore's daytime talk show with Andy forgetting his trademark sunglasses. . Before the cooking segment, Clifton sings "On the Street Where You Live" from "My Fair Lady," . Their duet is "Anything You Can Do".
Aired October 12, 1979 according to TV.com
Season 6 of Dinah! was renamed Dinah & Friends now with co-hosts, this time Charles Nelson Reilly - yes! [SORRY it plays at 240p YT quality but the upload = 478 x 358 (I hear if downloaded that is what you get] BOOST THE COLOR when playing it - 1979 TV had better color.

[@angeloiodice9304]

Tony Clifton had it all, looks, charisma, talent, intelligence sophistication and a truly golden voice. Sinatra may have been more popular, but he never had the confidence to share a stage with this guy, the real deal right here.

[@communityorganizer5645]

Truer words... Never spoken, my friend! And when I learned how Frank literally spent millions, over the decades, to try to quash Tony's career, I never listened to even one Sinatra tune or watched a Sinatra movie on late night TV again. (True story) Clifton always had more women.with him than Sinatra did. Sinatra got the publicity for being a ladies man, but it was Clifton who actually got the ladies.

[@angeloiodice9304]

@@communityorganizer5645 Nice, my friend. You see so clearly. And, not only Sinatra, but every singer of that era, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Bing Cosby, et cetera, all idolized, mimicked, emulated Tony. But, Tony wouldn’t sell out to the mob. He stood up to them. Literally told a mob boss to go home and get his shine box.

[@eddiemunster8634]

Elvis would be a better comparison, there are the same generation, and I don't think anybody besides Tony could match Elvis's sex appeal

[@GforceProdComp]

Tony was the real one. Andy was one of Tony's characters.

[@betsybarnicle8016]

mind blown!

[@gregoest143]

True. Most people think Tony Clifton was a character. Andy Kaufman was a figment if Tony Clifton’s imagination

[@eins2001]

Nah. They were one person who changed depending on how the light hit him, like a colourshift paint.

[@BigSmoke-bu6ib]

If Tony Clifton's imagination what?

[@tonyclifton2279]

BULLSHIT!

[@johnrroberts7900]

Didn't realise how much Tony Clifton needed his sunglasses.

[@northernbrother1258]

Still amazed that a surrealist comic like Kaufman was allowed anywhere near a network TV show!

[@user-ks8pf5yk4m]

That's not Andy. It's Tony. And if Andy were alive today (assuming he's not), he'd surely tell you so.

[@KingCrimson82]

@@user-ks8pf5yk4m its andy here

[@Frankincensedjb123]

Kaufman was great because he was always on the edge. He wasn’t about just being funny, but pushing the envelope of what was accepted. He was a ticking bomb which you never knew when he’d go off. Watching Kaufman wasn’t just entertainment. It was an event.

[@michaelfowler5760]

Trollin before trollin was trollin...

[@briantyson6138]

Ignore the first comment. You are insightful. That is a fucking great observation.

[@x00p3]

@Lee Sun hun v chai That must be the reason he forgot to wear his sunglasses.

[@sethcaudle2700]

The real reason that he didn't wear sunglasses was because he was drunk

[@sethcaudle2700]

There's a cooking segment that is missing because he was so drunk that he was throwing food around the set. NBC may have destroyed the cooking segment

[@shimatetsuo2019]

That man with Dinah. His reaction during the duet is the reaction Andy always went for in these bits.

[@harrodsongs]

Charles Nelson Reilly.

[@Lampshade51]

Dinah was a very hip individual and was well aware of people like Andy, Bowie, Iggy Pop and Frank Zappa, all of whom she had on her show. She knew this was Andy and was playing along with the gag. I don't think any of the other guests knew. Andy, who was reportedly drunk, went overboard on the segment, surprising Dinah with roping her into singing a brief duet with her (she was game), but then started a cooking segment where he cracked eggs and put the dripping shells in Dinah's hands. Sensing that Andy was losing it, she went to a commercial while Andy/Tony flicked water in her face. The producers escorted Andy from the set and the air tape cut before the egg shell and water flicking. Andy called Dinah later (prompted by his manager) and apologized for "his friend Tony's behavior". Dinah was reportedly gracious and invited him/Tony back on the show but Andy never took her up on it, possibly embarrassed that he went too far with this gracious lady. By the way, the "dumping eggs on Dinah's head" never happened according to several crew people. An urban legend.

[@richardspikman7116]

He was magic. And of all the "hosts" that tried to figure Andy out, Dinah was pure class and pure talent.

[@srj34]

I really appreciate the media hosts that "got" Andy and played this stuff so, so very straight. I mean, his trolling is funny regardless but to have people like Dinah Shore introduce Tony Clifton so earnestly makes the act even funnier.

[@fruticetum]

Tony Clifton is a very talented guy. He's got a real presence and a great voice.

[@harrodsongs]

He was the biggest star in Hollywood at this time and is still remembered as one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century.

[@tonyclifton265]

thanks but when i want your opinion I'll ask for it. dont twist my noodle, toy poodle!

[@seldomsceen]

It's just such a genius character. The over the top Vegas lounge singer. It's just gold.

[@evhvariac2]

Well not genuus

[@tonyclifton265]

thanks but when i want your opinion I'll ask for it. dont twist my noodle, toy poodle!

[@dirtyunclehubert]

GREAT vid. without the sunglasses it was more than visible that it was andy. those eyes.

[@oldcremona]

Clearly

[@tobybartels8426]

They must have asked him to leave off the sunglasses so they could put ‘recognize him yet?’ on the screen.

[@garnetnard4284]

We’re watching in HD in the 2020’s. You wouldn’t be able to tell on your 1970’s CRT.

[@Spirit-Of-The-Age]

The fact that they had a really good make-up department was the reason they managed to make Tony Clifton look similar to Andy Kaufman here. It was all part of the joke !

[@PeppyLuv]

Unfortunately, the video cuts out the part when Tony Clifton started throwing eggs at Dinah and throwing the utensils on the set. Dinah Shore was so upset with Andy and told him to never return. So Merv Griffin invited Andy on his talk show to asked about the incident. Of course, Andy sweared it wasn’t him, but Tony Clifton did it!

[@michaelfox2433]

I have never seen Tony without the sunglasses,...it doesn't even look like him as its so easy to see its Andy.

[@robertblakeman9978]

Fabulous impression of the ultimate lounge lizard! No one did satire like Andy!

[@greysky1252]

His cover is blown without the sunglasses.

[@howardmanley3388]

This guy was way ahead of his time , some people got it ,some didn’t .

[@evhvariac2]

You didn’t

[@ramosproductions2370]

@@evhvariac2 exactly you might enjoy this but you don’t really understand it. He never really explained it well enough.

[@PamelaRP]

Great video and funny segment on this show. Definitely Andy Kaufman and you can tell by Tony's eyes. Thanks for posting this on here for us to all enjoy this fantastic comic and it is sad he is gone.

[@tonydalcon]

Wow, Andy Kaufman & CNR on the same show! This reward awaits me in heaven. :)

[@jamesperih9658]

And decades later. OMFG, 34 years later. That's the genius.

[@weezalicious]

Wait until 2020. We needed this more than ever.

[@landl190372]

Now 44 years!

[@harrylangdon491]

Tony is not really worse than the average lounge singer. The audience is also a hoot. I managed to snag a last-minute ticket to Andy's Carnegie Hall concert (had just returned from a trip to CA and saw a notice in the paper -- one of the worst seats in the house, didn't matter). What an evening. But I didn't get in a bus for milk and cookies. According to the Village Voice, those who did were told at the school where the snacks were served that Andy said he'd be somewhere else the next day (can't remember), and sure enough he showed up at the promised venue outdoors in NYC.

[@westonames2086]

the remaining footage supposedly shows Clifton cracking a dozen eggs on Dinahs head, and then being thrown out, whilst screaming "what do you think you're doin', I'm a big star!"

[@TheDanm22]

Find it!!!

[@guyguyguy362]

AFTER TAPING but before airing: "Columnist Marilyn Beck UPS column October 7, 1979. Taxi star Andy Kaufman insists he's furious over the fiasco at a Dinah and Friends taping when 'Tony Clifton', his tacky Las Vegas lounge singer-character, hurled insults at the band and his hostess, and created a scene before the cameras until guards escorted him off the set. It's common knowledge that Andy IS Tony, but Kaufman insists he was sitting in the audience watching Clifton commit chaos and is now fuming that he's being held accountable for Tony's behavior. .From "their" representative comes the statement: "Andy's been on Dinah's show before and was delightful, but it wasn't Andy they booked this time. Their contract was with Tony Clifton - and I frankly don't know why they'd book Clifton to begin with." Thanks to TV.com for this gem.

[@phillyflash43]

Andy died from Tony's second hand smoke.

[@GavinRopchan]

i never thought if it that way.

[@mtsflorida]

phillyflash43 I thought about that too. Poor Andy doing Tony.

[@rickmanning5574]

really you think that's what caused his brain tumor....duh

[@kozz1984]

Lung cancer

[@danielpauldebs6526]

Very funny dude1111

[@walterhager1264]

why does everyone jeep saying that's Andy. Tony is the greatest lounge singer ever.

[@paulm6081]

Walter Hager Yeah! Andy Kaufman is a hack, Tony Clifton is the best

[@ronniebishop2496]

Walter Hager That is Andy though Bob is better.

[@betsybarnicle8016]

@@ronniebishop2496 This is the first Tony I've seen played by Andy. I agree that Bob is much better.

[@ronniebishop2496]

Betsy Barnicle Yes it was Andy on the Shore Show that poured eggs on her.

[@tonyclifton265]

thanks but when i want your opinion I'll ask for it. dont twist my noodle, toy poodle!

[@ReginaViolet]

I never realized how much Andy and Tony look alike.

[@ladyashen4173]

You could always tell if it was Andy or Zmuda being Clifton. Andy could sing better and didn't actually smoke the cigarette. This is Andy.🤗

[@bisexualdogthatgetsbonersf8187]

i now wish the cooking segment was there.

[@amyntut]

The eyes have it . That's why he ( "Tony" )wore glasses .

[@laquil1]

THANK YOU for finding this!!!!!!!

[@Mrcfrickie]

Andy was magnificent, he was a great entertainer.

[@edwardnavedo9682]

According to Zmuda's book, Andy was blitzed on Jack Daniels. Could explain why he isn't wearing his shades. Plus, he's definitely slurring.

[@musixmylyfe]

Tony Clifton is pure class

[@krisscanlon4051]

Correct like English Royalty with a smidge of Rodney Dangerfield

[@tonyclifton265]

thanks but when i want your opinion I'll ask for it. dont twist my noodle, toy poodle!

[@jameshurtado5389]

Tony Clifton was great, I didn’t like it when he pretended to be Andy Kaufman

[@tonyclifton542]

I AM great.

[@EatAPeach72]

@@tonyclifton542 Thankyou for your service sir

[@MerkinMuffly]

Shoulda left the glasses on.

[@amalgamaxx]

My first thought

[@elijahmaier5975]

The legend goes he was drunk and forgot them, also applying his make-up wrong.

[@jmadratz]

You can recognize Andy by the eyes

[@mikef2813]

@@jmadratz Andy who?

[@Joesfosterdogs]

What makes this epic is the time period...look at the ladies in this crowd...they come from a different generation and world...this guy was generations ahead this was so raw...

[@77-ty7gb]

I saw Tony perform at the Greasy Eagle in Reno back in the early 70s. In those earlier years he really put on an energetic show! I remember that smoke filled casino room...the stage was right by entrance, the room was full of slot machines and had a very small bar, maybe 3 foot wide. The stage wasn't much bigger.

[@cherisseneverson4697]

“What about what about, I was gonna sing another song?” 😆

[@ChrisBennettGameDesign]

Tony putting the cigarette out on the floor. 😂😂

[@4998826p]

The hairstyle and wardrobe of a winner, no two ways aboudit. That Mr. Clifton shall go far, you mark my words.

[@buzzlightyear6796]

Most of the time Bob Zmuda played Tony clifton. This is obviously Andy.

[@timharrod]

I don't know if it was most of the time, especially during Andy's lifetime. Bob was Tony on Letterman and some other places, but I believe most existing Tony footage is Andy.

[@danhenderson783]

I was at the Harrah's Tahoe show when Andy appeared with Bob (on stage together) as Tony Clifton for the first time. The performance was accurately re enacted in Man on the Moon.

[@MS-rj8dp]

With glasses =Bob, No glasses= Andy

[@Dogeathotdog1]

@@MS-rj8dp Glasses = Tony Clifton No Glasses = Bob/Andy

[@misterroperssmile8107]

LOL 0:34. I don't think Charles knew what was coming. When Dinah announced Tony, Charles applauded and s said, "Won-da-ful" with sincerity, like it was Andy Williams or Tony Bennett coming out to sing some beautiful, lovely song. BTW, I believe this is the show where Andy...er, I mean, Tony threw eggs at Dinah LOL. I've looked for footage of the actual egg throwing but never have found it. I think I read somewhere that they destroyed it. So, I guess it's just lost to history. LOL.

[@KaBoomChannel]

This absolutely hilarious!!

[@GregoryTheGr8ster]

I didn't know that Andy had such a good voice. I'm impressed!

[@sylviagenemans410]

Tony really was a different character living in Andy's head!

[@Natedawg38]

I had no idea Andy was such a good singer

[@markhostetter1383]

You should hear his Elvis covers!!!

[@thingfish000]

He sings "Oklahoma" and it's... different.

[@Cazz8203]

damn, kinda hard to fool people without the sunglasses

[@fuzzballzz36]

We were less suspicious or more innocent then. We weren't used to first-level celebrities pretending to be somebody else!

[@danorthsidemang3834]

Anyone who dislikes this has never been able to pick up a chickie in their lives.

[@guyguyguy362]

At least by belting out a Broadway musical tune. Maybe that works sometimes.

[@vortexmusicmovies6173]

Saw Andy in concert in '79, amazing! Tony Clifton came onstage at a REM concert in 2003 @ Hollywood Bowl!

[@farenmareeramos]

So do you think Andy wasn’t Tony or that Andy is still alive doing Tony?

[@harthitman169]

That was probably Jim Carrey with r.e.m

[@adabofeverything7120]

​@@harthitman169 It was Bob Zmuda or however you spell that name.

[@Abelhawk]

I can see why he usually wears glasses. There’s no mistaking those bright blue eyes for Andy.

[@blueticecho5690]

I want this played at my Funeral...

[@johnlarson4254]

I wish he would have lived longer. Imagine seeing him in the wedding singer

[@clownnookie]

Andy really liked to keep people spinning and guessing. He later goes on Merv and explicitly states that it wasn't him impersonating Tony that day when he threw eggs at Dinah Shore.

[@themightychabunga2441]

Dinah was a hottie!

[@ignorecorporatenews]

you are obviously a genius

[@unclesporkums]

2:33 On the far left of the aisle "Tony" walks up to are Zmuda and Linda Mitchell in character as Tony's friends Bugsy Meyer and Ginger Sax.

[@kaneforgov558]

Andy would have loved that people are still arguing over whether it’s him or not.

[@user-on5mf7fk3b]

0:34. LOL. I love how when Dinah announces Tony, Charles Nelson Reilly earnestly applauds and says, "Wondah-ful," like Tony's going to come out sing some tender, lovely song. I think this is the show where "Tony" throws eggs at Dinah and gets barred from the show during a cooking demonstration.

[@ArmyJames]

Those 80-year old little old ladies in the front row didn’t know what to make of this.

[@JewandGreek]

First time I've ever seen the Andy version of Tony Clifton. It's usually the Bob Zmuda version.

[@tiffanymccallister6011]

Andy kaufman was awesome! If people dont like him or understand him, why watch? He created the Clifton character. There is no "real" Tony Clifton. He would love how so many now believe hes real.

[@WytZox1]

More than a comedian or actor Andy was a brilliant performance artist, a true genius! ☺

[@robfriedrich2822]

There were 3 persons doing Clifton

[@skiddwister9143]

When I saw Charles Nelson Reilly looking around like, "What in the heck is going on here??," I couldn't stop laughing.

[@bobthebear1246]

Skidd Wister HELL. Say HELL!

[@ButterOnCorn]

Kaufman wrote a screenplay for a Tony Clifton biography. In the screenplay Clifton dies at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from cancer.

[@cziffra1980]

The genius is how well he straddles the boundary between a credible lounge singer and a truly abysmal one. He exaggerated the character more later on but it's really not so far from the real thing. My ventriloquist dummy Mr Chuckles does a Tony Clifton impression.

[@davehasenford3985]

Brilliant duet performance

[@dmatzo]

I'm reading that book now too. That's what brought me here.

[@benjaminbr8915]

dmatzo where can you even buy the book?

[@otisandspauiding]

Tony Clifton changed my life. NO JOKE!

[@pmacc3557]

How so?

[@otisandspauiding]

@@pmacc3557 This opened my eyes to new levels of comedy. I love this angle... It's as awkward as it is familiar. We all know Tony from somewhere... lol

[@pmacc3557]

@@otisandspauiding oh yea..but Tony's like this are a rear breed now

[@albertoascari2542]

Tony Clifton What a Class Act ! Lol !

[@margitouma6172]

He had a great voice.

[@elvicare35]

Awesome AND Hilarious!!!!!!!!

[@cynamonstudio]

AMAZING ! Either it is Bob Zmuda or Andy. It is lietarally the funniest thing ever, and most of all I come back here or there to pick up all those pieces of Andy's "works" to watch them all over again.

[@ronniebishop2496]

murgrabia bęc This is Andy. Bob did it much better.

[@cynamonstudio]

@@ronniebishop2496 Yes, after years of admiring the both gentlemen's appearances I can easily tell who is who. And I do agree Zmuda is better as Clifton . Pleas watch Storm Justice on youtube. Tony and comedy in general at its best!!!!

[@DizGuys]

All of us who face the world are Tony Cliftons...

[@denisenelson8077]

Shore actually burned the footage of Andy cracking eggs over her head.

[@fuzzballzz36]

Is that what happened to it? That's a shame. I've always wanted to see it.

[@CrooningForLeftovers]

We needn't be told "this is a put on."

[@SoothingSounds-kq6yg]

The genius of this is it's Tony Clifton doing Andy Kaufman doing Tony Clifton.

[@dantyler1558]

This is maybe the best recording of Kaufman as clifton since I can more easily see Kaufman in his character. He is not wearing the glasses.

[@dijjmann]

Dan Tyler I know this is an old comment so I don't know if u will see this but check out Andy's interview with Orsin Welles, he straight up admits its him playing Clifton.

[@jefffromjersey52]

Tony Clifton Likes The Chickies.... LOL Brilliant man... miss him I had honestly never seen this before, a very early Tony Clifton ,fascinating how he was in the process of creating the character .

[@VALENTINEproductions]

Definitely Andy, has s eyes gave him away

[@betsybarnicle8016]

@Freddy Krueger I think in this instance he wanted you to see it was him. Then later when it was Bob, that would be part of the planned confusion. Perfect.

[@minantraXOX]

Andy Kaufman was a genius, to make everyone feel uncomfortable and his talent of creating the 'talentless' Tony Clifton was amazing, oh and also the fact that people thought Clifton wasn't Kaufman LOL!

[@guyguyguy362]

It could be that the end of the Dinah- Tony Clifton segment, now known to be MISSING, became the perfect TV event to embellish starting with Tony on David Letterman a few years later. "Andy Kaufman Documentary" refers to what - possibly the A.K. Biography

[@flatplant]

Not only the eyes but when Andy plays Tony you can tell since his singing voice is much stronger.

[@A.M......]

Also stage presence. You can tell at the Carnegie hall performance Andy played Clifton for first song then bob zmuda played him for the duet with Andy later in the show. Bob could never match Andy's charisma.

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

Tony Clifton one of the great Vegas lounge acts.

[@paulshamblin6260]

He really did have a great voice.

[@sugarlanskee8]

That what Andy and Bob et al. wanted: for us never to be sure whether it was Andy, Bob or Tony or......

[@52memor]

Brilliant absolutely brilliant................

[@DomenicDee]

Who knows what Dinah Shore was really thinking ,but it's pretty obvious Charles Nelson Reilly is baffled! LOL

[@sandygrungerson1177]

John C Reilly?

[@TheTourmaline57]

dangus hunk

[@jfkesq]

act

[@Lampshade51]

Dinah knew it was a put on and that was Andy. But I don't think Reilly knew.

[@thomashahn631]

@@Lampshade51 Charles Nelson Reilly was getting freaked out by Clifton.

[@Gregoryt700]

Fascinating in a way. Like watching a train wreck - horrific, but can't keep ur eyes off it

[@kylieandanton3823]

Tony was devastated when he heard Andy had died

[@emilcorday]

If I didn't know any better, I'd swear that was Andy Kaufman.

[@wytzox1187]

With the cheesy dinner jacket & bad toupee he could've been a Televangelist. ☺

[@ggggg8853]

I don't think we never met the real andy kaufman

[@unreasonablysane7415]

finally, a person who actually gets it. You sir, are the genius everyone claims Andy Kaufman was. seriously.

[@UncleSamSiam]

The end is a legendary scene

[@ignorecorporatenews]

Andy had Gargantuan balls. Unbelievable. The Best.

[@RaymondPeckIII]

The duet was really cute. I love how he kind of tricker her into doing it even after she declined. :-)

[@guyguyguy362]

Dinah sounded pretty good for supposedly being sick.

[@fuzzballzz36]

I really wish we could've seen the cooking segment! I don't think it made it past rehearsal though.

[@davidmorris8654]

I remember this its too much a Andy was an actor I believe in that character real good

[@mariogentile4326]

Don't compare him to Borat. He has the same deceiving style, but no one is in Andy's league. No one.

[@rootykazooty351]

No, Sacha is right up there with Andy.

[@guilty9851]

Not even close.

[@Scorchy666]

Andy was a troll. A total jerkoff who punked nice people. He wasn't funny. This clip isn't funny. He was an asshole.

[@brockalbert330]

They didn't compare him to Andy, or put him in the same league. They merely said Andy is the original. Which could just mean Sasha is a cheap knock-off. Even though Sasha is a legit genius, Andy's the original.

[@alexsmith5606]

Andy is troll, but he isn't funny. he is only amusing in jerry springer/professional wrestling kind of way. Borat/Bruno/Ali G is sharp and funny in a legit way (i am talking about the show, not the movie. i felt that the movies took it too far into trash territory)

[@steveparker5406]

I assume Andy added the sunglasses later to make it a better disguise, as it’s clearly him here. With the sunglasses, Bob Zmuda and Andy could switch “performing” the character. I think Andy’s brother played Clifton too on occasion.

[@E4RLIES]

It could be the poor wobbly sound but he sounds like the Singing Bush out of The 3 Amigos 😂😂😂

[@guyguyguy362]

NOT SPAM: ButterOnCorn..... Kaufman wrote a screenplay for a Tony Clifton biography. In the screenplay Clifton dies at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from cancer.

[@PauloVinicius2111]

Can u prove it?