Andy Lives?

[Use3D]

What the...

[7/4]

Really?

[Dan Gould]

I might lend credence to this if it wasn't just a press-release posted on the Web. They do refer to an ABC News interview, but there's nothing on the ABC News home page about "Andy Lives" so ... draw your own conclusions.

I did hear, however, that he had said something about faking his own death and then returning in 20 years, so his friend, the guy who sometimes appeared as the lounge lizard character, said he was having a party and hoped that Andy would show.

[Use3D]

I don't know, it's pretty weird. Me and a few others are skeptical.

[14:25] <Manc> it's hard to say just how believable this is

[14:25] <Gh0sTly> explain

[14:25] <Gh0sTly> whe whole andy kauffman thing?

[14:25] <Manc> http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/5/prwebxml127444.php

[14:25] <Manc> something from prweb

[14:26] <Manc> Anyone can create a free account on prweb and make a press release

[Chrome]

From E! online:

The Passion of Andy Kaufman

by Jennifer Godwin

May 14, 2004, 5:50 PM PT

It's only May, and it's already been a big year for resurrection in American pop culture: First Jim Caviezel as Jesus Christ, and now Andy Kaufman…as himself? Having promised to return from the grave on the 20th anniversary of his death, Kaufman is due back on the mortal coil on Sunday--and at 7:30 that evening his friends are throwing him a welcome-back party in Hollywood.

Bob Zmuda, screenwriter, comedian and Friend of Andy tells the LA Weekly that Kaufman first broached the idea of faking his own death back in 1980. "Andy said, 'You know if some celebrity really did this, do you know big it would be? How legendary it would be?' "

Zmuda's charity organization Comic Relief rolls out the red carpet at the House of Blues for Andy Kaufman: Dead or Alive?, which can only be described as a happening--sort of an event, sort of an performance and almost certainly a conga-thumping hootenanny. But there's no help-the-homeless angle here--the $250 VIP tickets are strictly for those who simply must be there when Kaufman rolls back into town.

Best known as Latka Gravas, the foreign man from no place in particular on TV's Taxi, Kaufman was one of the most eccentric comedic performance artists of the '70s and '80s. He impersonated Elvis and Mighty Mouse, created the character of venomous lounge singer Tony Clifton, wrestled women and took Carnegie Hall out for milk and cookies. Toward the end, while appearing to die from lung cancer at age 35, he mused aloud about the best gag of all--staging his own death and reappearing 20 years after the fact.

Zmuda, Lynne Marguiles (Andy's girlfriend) and George Shapiro (Andy's manager) are taking Kaufman at his word and throwing him a homecoming party. Should Kaufman choose to once again grace the Sunset Strip with his presence he'll be greeted by his friends and compatriots, his old band--Tony Clifton and the Cliftones and His Steamy Cliftonettes--and famous funny people galore, including Rodney Dangerfield, Caroline Rhea, Bob Odenkirk, Andy Dick, Paul Rudd and wrestling mogul Jerry Lawler.

"We're taking out hundreds of personal ads in newspapers across the country and abroad, reminding Andy of the date, and what he said," Zmuda tells the LA Weekly. "So, hopefully he'll see one of them."

Plans for the shindig include roasting Kaufman until he emerges from seclusion to defend his comedic honor (or not), a performance by the Cliftones and the world premiere of a never-before-seen Kaufman film, which is presumably not 1999's Milos Forman-directed Man on the Moon, which starred Jim Carrey as Kaufman, Paul Giamatti as Zmuda, Courtney Love as Marguiles and Danny DeVito as Shapiro.

There was no word as of press time about what miracles Kaufman might perform upon his return, or if he would be joined by post-life pals Elvis Presley and John Belushi

A limited number of tickets are available through the House of Blues Website (www.hob.com) and Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com); general seating is available for $99.95, standing room can be had for $50 a pop.

And, as R.E.M. once sang about a certain man on the moon, "See you in heaven if you make the list."

[catesta]

[Dan Gould]

So the question is, did Zmuda have this press release posted or is someone having fun?

Because the fact is, if Andy's alive, he's not going to show up several days before the 20 year anniversary.

Andy was a pro. He'll hit his mark, if he's here to do so.

[Claude]

I didn't know who Kaufman was, and checked his wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Kaufman

Kaufman died on May 16, 1984 of lung cancer and was interred in the Beth David Cemetery, Elmont, New York (Long Island). Over the years, many people doubted Kaufman's death, thinking that he staged it as the ultimate Andy Kaufman stunt. Kaufman himself even said that were he to fake his death, he would return 20 years later, on May 16, 2004, a claim which has become urban legend.

[catesta]

There is one way to find out for sure.

[RDK]

Maybe he's a jazz fan who's been posting here on this very forum under an alias. Let's see, who's been try to rile us up?

Hardbop, is it you?

Or maybe Clem or Aric or even Berigan?

B)

[Big Wheel]

On the one hand, Kaufman's cause of death is pretty strange. Kaufman was a nonsmoker, yet he supposedly died of rare "large cell carcinoma," which seems to be caused primarily by smoking.

But why are there no photos? You'd think if Kaufman was really back he'd make a huge splash instead of setting up a random blog without any pictures...

[Dmitry]

There is one way to find out for sure.

Tell you what, dude. If you have the balls to do it, I'll do it with you.

First we'll hit the cd stores in the city, of course, then buy a couple of shovels at Home Depot[they give you a refund if you still have the receipt!], drive out to Elmont with a bottle of Wild Turkey, wait till the dark and find out for ourselves.

I'm dead serious.

[catesta]

D, I'm in. B)

That scenario kind of reminds me of when Jerry and Kramer went to dig up the Parrot "Fredo" to get back Jerry's cuff links.

[7/4]

D, I'm in. B)

That scenario kind of reminds me of when Jerry and Kramer went to dig up the Parrot "Fredo" to get back Jerry's cuff links.

That's a good sign. This reminds you of a Seinfeld episode.

[Dmitry]

Chris, they got busted, if I remember right.

Chrissy and Tony B, otoh, were jim dandy.

Imagine drinking a cold one from Andy Kaufman's skull.

Do I hear "Keg Party" or what? B)

[catesta]

Chris, they got busted, if I remember right.

Chrissy and Tony B, otoh, were jim dandy.

Imagine drinking a cold one from Andy Kaufman's skull.

Do I hear "Keg Party" or what? B)

Dude, check the connections on the nitrous container.

[Dmitry]

I stopped using that stuff long time ago, ever since jazzshrink showed me how to hypnotize people.

That's how I get all of my cds from the brick-n-mortar stores.

[couw]

jazzshrink showed me how to hypnotize people

damn! that's why I pause to stare at that avatar painting time and again...

[Dmitry]

jazzshrink showed me how to hypnotize people

damn! that's why I pause to stare at that avatar painting time and again...

You're getting relaxed, you're getting relaxed.....

Your eyes are closing, you feel nice and sleepy.....

Now, get up and slowly walk to your cd rack, remove 10 random tocjs and slowly put them in a bubble mailer...

[BERIGAN]

Maybe he's a jazz fan who's been posting here on this very forum under an alias. Let's see, who's been try to rile us up?

Hardbop, is it you?

Or maybe Clem or Aric or even Berigan?

B)

Gee, thanks for grouping me with those two!

I did think Jim Carrey did a good job as me though....

[JSngry]

True or false, dead or alive, this is totally brilliant.

[Alexander]

True or false, dead or alive, this is totally brilliant.

Indeed, and if it proves to be a hoax, I for one believe that Andy is either behind it (as in from beyond the grave) or would absolutely LOVE it. I can think of no greater tribute to Andy Kaufman than to fake his return from the dead!

[jack]

First Andy, then Tupac. (even though I think Tupac is still alive)

Edited May 20, 2004 by jack

[Use3D]

Oh well...

[DrJ]

What Jim and Alexander said.