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[TV Party] Andy Kaufman Pilot that Inspired Pee V2Vl nM= Playhouse - Andy Kaufman Pilot that Inspired Pee Wee’s Playhouse
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Ubiquitous
Jun 21, 2019, 2:51:15 PM6/21/19
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"You almost sat in some cottage cheese, oh pardon me, that's your ass." -
Tony Clifton
Tony Clifton was an atrocious but hilarious parody of a bloated Hollywood
blowhard created by performance artist Andy Kaufman. It was one of his most
elaborate hoaxes, refusing to admit that he was Tony Clifton under all those
prosthetics and makeup. Supposedly, Andy Kaufman discovered Clifton
performing in a seedy Las Vegas lounge in 1969.
"I am not a comic, I have never told a joke," Kaufman once said. "The
comedian's promise is that he will go out there and make you laugh with him.
My only promise is that I will try to entertain you as best I can. They say,
'Oh wow, Andy Kaufman, he's a really funny guy.' But I'm not trying to be
funny. I just want to play with their heads."
As part of this ruse, Tony Clifton was not only portrayed by Kaufman but,
when the need arose, also by longtime Kaufman collaborator Bob Zmuda.
Clifton's appearance on Taxi was a debacle that surely must have pleased Andy
Kaufman greatly. Cast as Louie's brother, after the first day of rehearsal
Tony was fired, in front of the press and ABC executives, then escorted off
the set for boorish behavior that infuriated co-stars Judd Hirsch and Jeff
Conaway. When Andy (as himself) returned to the set for the following
episode, he acted as if nothing had happened.
In 1980, Andy filmed a pilot for ABC, the network that aired his hit show
Taxi, for `Uncle Andy's Funhouse,' a parody of TV kid shows. (The alternate
title for this pilot was "Buckshot.")
While ABC passed on the series, this pilot film became the inspiration for an
iconic show some 3 years later. Kaufman even gave Paul `Pee Wee' Reubens
permission to base his Saturday morning kiddie show, `Pee Wee's Playhouse,'
on the Uncle Andy concept.
Note that this is the first filmed appearance of "Little Tony" and
"Knuckles", designed for Andy by the Legendary Norman Tempia (`Team
America').
Andy Kaufman died in 1983. Still, Tony Clifton turned up on The Opie &
Anthony Show in 2009 promoting his gig at Santos Party House in New York City
among other public sightings.
"How about a bathroom I may of shit my pants!" - Tony Clifton, what a classy
guy!
https://youtu.be/zOYPtax4NvE
Not to be confused with 'Andy's Funhouse.' This infamous 90 minute broadcast
is shown here uncut with TV commercials intact. Guests include the original
Howdy Doody and Cindy Williams. Originally taped in 1977 but not aired until
1979.
https://youtu.be/CjNlT3CL6yE
--
Watching Democrats come up with schemes to "catch Trump" is like
watching Wile E. Coyote trying to catch Road Runner.
Tony Clifton
Tony Clifton was an atrocious but hilarious parody of a bloated Hollywood
blowhard created by performance artist Andy Kaufman. It was one of his most
elaborate hoaxes, refusing to admit that he was Tony Clifton under all those
prosthetics and makeup. Supposedly, Andy Kaufman discovered Clifton
performing in a seedy Las Vegas lounge in 1969.
"I am not a comic, I have never told a joke," Kaufman once said. "The
comedian's promise is that he will go out there and make you laugh with him.
My only promise is that I will try to entertain you as best I can. They say,
'Oh wow, Andy Kaufman, he's a really funny guy.' But I'm not trying to be
funny. I just want to play with their heads."
As part of this ruse, Tony Clifton was not only portrayed by Kaufman but,
when the need arose, also by longtime Kaufman collaborator Bob Zmuda.
Clifton's appearance on Taxi was a debacle that surely must have pleased Andy
Kaufman greatly. Cast as Louie's brother, after the first day of rehearsal
Tony was fired, in front of the press and ABC executives, then escorted off
the set for boorish behavior that infuriated co-stars Judd Hirsch and Jeff
Conaway. When Andy (as himself) returned to the set for the following
episode, he acted as if nothing had happened.
In 1980, Andy filmed a pilot for ABC, the network that aired his hit show
Taxi, for `Uncle Andy's Funhouse,' a parody of TV kid shows. (The alternate
title for this pilot was "Buckshot.")
While ABC passed on the series, this pilot film became the inspiration for an
iconic show some 3 years later. Kaufman even gave Paul `Pee Wee' Reubens
permission to base his Saturday morning kiddie show, `Pee Wee's Playhouse,'
on the Uncle Andy concept.
Note that this is the first filmed appearance of "Little Tony" and
"Knuckles", designed for Andy by the Legendary Norman Tempia (`Team
America').
Andy Kaufman died in 1983. Still, Tony Clifton turned up on The Opie &
Anthony Show in 2009 promoting his gig at Santos Party House in New York City
among other public sightings.
"How about a bathroom I may of shit my pants!" - Tony Clifton, what a classy
guy!
https://youtu.be/zOYPtax4NvE
Not to be confused with 'Andy's Funhouse.' This infamous 90 minute broadcast
is shown here uncut with TV commercials intact. Guests include the original
Howdy Doody and Cindy Williams. Originally taped in 1977 but not aired until
1979.
https://youtu.be/CjNlT3CL6yE
--
Watching Democrats come up with schemes to "catch Trump" is like
watching Wile E. Coyote trying to catch Road Runner.
A Friend
Jun 21, 2019, 5:16:27 PM6/21/19
to
In article <qej8v1$f42$1...@dont-email.me>, Ubiquitous
a stage show, and the series was drawn from that.
<web...@polaris.net> wrote:
> While ABC passed on the series, this pilot film became the inspiration for an
> iconic show some 3 years later. Kaufman even gave Paul `Pee Wee' Reubens
> permission to base his Saturday morning kiddie show, `Pee Wee's Playhouse,'
> on the Uncle Andy concept.
It's been a long time, but I thought PEE-WEE'S PLAYHOUSE was originally
> While ABC passed on the series, this pilot film became the inspiration for an
> iconic show some 3 years later. Kaufman even gave Paul `Pee Wee' Reubens
> permission to base his Saturday morning kiddie show, `Pee Wee's Playhouse,'
> on the Uncle Andy concept.
a stage show, and the series was drawn from that.
Ubiquitous
Jun 21, 2019, 6:51:25 PM6/21/19
to
Ultimately, it inspired the TV show.
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