New documentary looks back on the career and personal life of the unusual comedian whose brand of performance art made him a true originalThe stereotype of comedians is that they’re compulsively “on”, finding it difficult to revert to normal off-stage behavior when so much of their life revolves around getting laughs from a crowd. That makes Andy Kaufman particularly unusual, even this many years later: he is a comedian who worked so hard to raise questions about whether or not he was “on” that those questions lingered well after his death.The creator of characters such as Foreign Man, who would unexpectedly break into a spot-on Elvis impression; Latka Gravas, the sitcom version of that character he did for the beloved show Taxi; the grotesquely abusive lounge singer never-was Tony Clifton; and the misogynist woman-wrestling showboat named, uh, Andy Kaufman constructed so many clever hoaxes to house his work that many assumed he must not actually have died young at the age of 35. (S...
A new documentary, "Thank You Very Much," explores the genius of Andy Kaufman, highlighting his commitment to challenging audiences and blurring the lines between reality and performance through characters like Foreign Man, Latka Gravas, and Tony Clifton. Kaufman's influence can be seen in comedians like Adam Sandler and Tim Heidecker, but his dedication to his craft and willingness to risk his reputation remain unique. The documentary emphasizes Kaufman's thoughtful deception, contrasting it with contemporary comedians who exploit uncertainty for personal gain.
