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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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Well, a boy can hope anyways.
 

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Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
 
coincidentally, i was listening to a modest mouse song with the following lyric playing when i first read this:

"Didn't mean to laugh, didn't know I had.
Didn't know the better part of what you said
cuz in your head you are not home.

Didn't get the joke. Didn't mean to poke another, just to save myself from some something something or another one. "

i dunno, i was amused

[ May 19, 2004, 05:07 PM: Message edited by: Ben ]
 

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Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
 
I always liked that song...
 

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Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
 
The press release has been placed on "dispute hold" by the PR wire that sent it out.


 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
*rolls eyes* If it's Andy Kaufman, he's gotten a LOT less funny.

So, yeah, it's a hoax.
 

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Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
 
Now with Photos
 

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Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
 
I dunno... The whole photo thing. Seems like Andy to me.
 

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Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :
 
Tom,

You're ever the cynic. why is that?

fallow
 

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Posted by Frisco (Member # 3765) on :
 
That blog doesn't sound anything like what I'd expect from Andy, and I've been a fan for a long time.

Put me down in the "hoax" column. I'm actually surprised that, with 20 years to prepare, there weren't more fake Andys coming out of the woodwork.
 

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Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :
 
frisco,

20 years and still waiting?! that's some serious fanwood on you.

*consults tally sheet*

fallow
 

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Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
 
I printed the article for my dad to read, he said he remembered something about Andy saying that if he could come back twenty years after he died, he would. I wasn’t alive 20 years ago, so I don’t want to offer a real oppinion, though I have watched reruns of Taxi which was a really cool show.
 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
I'm not ALWAYS the cynic, fallow. It's an indication of how often people lie that I'm cynical so frequently, however.

This is a hoax.
 

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Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
 
I want so badly for it to be true.
 

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Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
I haven't seen much footage of Andy, but I've seen a couple of shows that talked about him. They kept saying that nobody understood him and people didn't think he was very funny. Therefore, he must be a COMIC GENIUS!

I didn't get it. The stuff they showed seemed like it was all just him acting weird and not funny or like a jerk and not funny.
 

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Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
 
His wrestling schtick was pure genius!
 

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Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
 
Ben - I'm with you.

But I have to admit that Snopes has this hoax by the balls. Right here... Damn. (sigh) But the last few paragraphs really proved it for me.

[ May 20, 2004, 08:24 PM: Message edited by: Ryuko ]
 

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Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :
 
Nope. Still dead.
 

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Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 

quote:

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His wrestling schtick was pure genius!

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