Andy Kaufman Returns After 20 Years (WTF?!?!?!)

PRWeb via Yahoo ^ | 5.19.2004

[NYC GOP Chick]

Andy Kaufman Returns After 20 Years

Wed May 19, 9:00 AM ET

New York City, NY (PRWEB) May 19, 2004 -- Twenty years ago, on May 16, 1984, most of the world believed that we had lost a comedic legend forever. This has turned out to be what will inevitably be known as the greatest comic prank ever conceived. Andy Kaufman, by all accounts, is alive and well at age 55 and is now living in New York City on the upper west side. To his loyal supporters and fans, Andy says "sorry about faking my death," in a recent interview with ABC News at his apartment. In order to reach legendary comic status and seal his place in the history of performance art, he said it was "necessary to go away for twenty years."

Andy Kaufman's official site has been launched at:
http://andykaufmanreturns.blogspot.com/

Even though he has technically returned, Andy says that he plans to maintain his low key lifestyle that he has led for the past twenty years. He has resumed contact with friends and family. Fearing the possibility of this scenario and the potential for another hoax, Kaufman's family has contracted with independent auditors Ernst & Young to determine if this in fact the real Andy Kaufman. He has subjected himself to medical examination and submitted DNA, hair, blood and fingerprint samples to the auditors. Ernst & Young and the Kaufman family report that with a 99% probability, this is indeed the real Andy Kaufman. His mother says, "It's good to have Andy back."

In 1999, a new crop of Kaufman fans were born after Jim Carrey starred in the hit film Man on the Moon. "Andy's bizarre mix of comedy and performance art will inspire fans and comedians alike for generations, especially after this stunt," says Jim Carrey.

Andy says he will make only occasional public appearances, sometimes in disguise so that you won?t know if it?s really him or someone else. Kaufman was famous for pulling this stunt with the Tony Clifton character, sometimes played by good friend Bob Zmuda.

Andy says fans should tune into his website for ongoing updates to his adventures in life. As always, Andy's stage has been the world, testing the boundaries of our beliefs, our sources of information, and our perception of reality. "It's good to be back," Andy writes on his website.

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Andy Kaufman
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[Salamander]

I think it was Jim's bar that was featured in "From Dusk To Dawn".....;))

[NYC GOP Chick]

Next time you do that, please add me to the ping list, 'k? :)

[eastforker]

I'll try to remember cuz I don't realy have a ping list.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Thanks. :)

[Central Scrutiniser]

Kauffman ruled, his humor was groundbreaking and anyone that didn't get his humor probably thought that Steve and Edie were a bit too radical.

As for this, its a goof, Zmuda did a benefit 20 year thingy last saturday. Its funny, yes and Kaufmannesque. I liked his "Has been" corner on his TV special, and the way he made everyone feel 'edgy' about his stuff.

[ladyinred]

I hope it is true, but hard to believe! I loved his character on TAXI, one of the funniest things around in those days.

[Central Scrutiniser]

I will agree with you on the old timers, Shelly Berman is a genius (now appearing on "Curb Your Enthusiasm". But I think Kauffman was a genius, he pushed the enevelope out of the box, and always, always left you guessing.

[HairOfTheDog]

I am so confused. He confused me.

[norton]

...did push the envelope.
...Nearly always too far.

I COULD see this as something he set up with a confederate 20 years plus just a tad ago....

...before he died.

[dfwgator]

I never saw any pictures of Andy ill, when they announced he died it came as a total shock, especially when it was announced the cause of death was lung cancer. If anyone could pull this stunt off, it would be Andy.

[bootyist-monk]

I saw Kaufman once at a club in LA. He did his Foreign Guy for most of the show, doing some of the most awful impressions you'd ever seen. As it went along, people started to get restless... he was getting heckled, etc. And yet, he never broke character. Then, his last impression was Elvis, and it was dead-on perfect. Kaufman probably did Elvis better than anyone. That's when everyone realized the joke was actually on them, and the place erupted in laughter.

BTW, if you ever go to the Jerry's in Studio City, they still have the picture of Andy working as a busboy (which he did, unbelievably, while he was starring in Taxi).

If anyone could pull a stunt like this, it would be Andy (though I doubt it's true).

[Trampled by Lambs]

This is so bogus, and even if it were true-- Who gives a rat's a$$? We got Islam-0-Rama-dama-ding-dongs cutting off peoples' heads, flying planes into buildings, and setting off Sarin laced explosives.

Because once in a while, we need something else to think about. Something absurd and pointless like AK returning from the grave fits the bill nicely.

I hope its real...

[bootyist-monk]

Jinx... I owe you a Coke (see our posts above).

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I hope this means Tony Clifton is back. (Not that he ever actually left or anything.)

[Ruth A.]

I guess this means that there is a "Taxi" reunion in the works, eh?

[richmwill]

How I wish and pray that this would have been true- to see one of the most brilliant comedic minds pull off the ultimate gag would have been unbelievable. But alas- it's a hoax, folks. That's obviously Zmuda in the Tony Clifton outfit on that webpage.

[NYC GOP Chick]

One can always hope! ;D

[kingu]

Damn, does this mean I have to give back my winnings from the Dead Pool?

[RoarkMan]

Watching this space.

[Hildy]

My brother was very good friends with his (Kauffman's) personal assistant. She even gave him the the famous costume he wore when he did his Elvis impression (The powder blue four leaf clover one - the REALLY famous one). I just told my brother about this and he said that it would just be incredible because he spent alot of time with the assistant and, well, everyone really said he was dead.