Andy Kaufman-Comedic Genius or Unfunny Man?

[MrMaooz]

So, due to SNL 40, I was exposed to Andy Kaufman. His brand of humor was definitely polarizing, but there are many out there who hail him as a comedic genius.

What do you think?

 

[Duke]

He did have his own, unique, brand of humor, overall I found him entertaining.

 

[HaplessHenchman]

I don't know if I can pick one of the two extremes you have as options. Like most comedians, I find him funny sometimes but other times, not so much.

I don't think I would call him a "genius", but I wouldn't call him "unfunny" either.

 

[Pink Ranger]

He's one of those comedians that you could genuinely call an artist and not just an entertainer, because of the creative risks he took. Sometimes they paid off, sometimes they didn't.

 

[jmc]

I think Kaufman was about 5 steps ahead of the audience, the jokes were there all along but it took people a while to get them. I can see why people might not get the humour. Kaufman was also essentially the first person to 'troll' people. I shudder what to think he would have done had the internet existed back then.

 

[jaqua99]

He's one of those comedians that you could genuinely call an artist and not just an entertainer, because of the creative risks he took. Sometimes they paid off, sometimes they didn't.

This. This is what people don't get about Kaufman. He was less a comedian, and more an entertainer, who made the interaction with the audience awkward. And funny.

He was an entertainer

 

[Black Narcissus]

So, due to SNL 40, I was exposed to Andy Kaufman. His brand of humor was definitely polarizing, but there are many out there who hail him as a comedic genius.

What do you think?

I demand a banned for even questioning his genius.

Please get Ja Rule on the phone.

I can't deal with this ****.

 

[Daltonio]

I'm a total Andy fanboy, so of course I go with the comedic genius option.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I don't find him funny but's gone pretty far. Credit where's due.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Kaufman is a genius. Period. End of discussion

 

[TheBat812]

Never seen much of the guy, can people who know his work post up some of his well regarded stuff?

 

[Howlett]

Genius. First troll/prankster comedian.

Loved pro wrestling so much he made it to where he could do it himself. Almost invented the role of "heel."

 

[Howlett]

[YT]kB0hLuDdbD0[/YT]

 

[TheBat812]

Ah yes, I totally forgot I saw Man on the Moon with Jim Carrey. It's a great movie. I don't know how to qualify kaufman's work, but he certainly had balls and conviction. It's funny in it's awkwardness for others.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Genius. First troll/prankster comedian.

Loved pro wrestling so much he made it to where he could do it himself. Almost invented the role of "heel."

Exactly bro, you know you're a damn genius when decades after your death there are still people who can't figure out if you faked or death or not haha. If I recall there was something not too long ago that was done to still screw with people about it. Sheer brilliance, IMO. And his wrastling stuff and the whole fighting women thing is pure comedic gold with how far he went with it. It certainly couldn't even be attempted in today's society

 

[Apollo]

If the whole wrestling feud with professional wrestler Lawler was staged -Which I think it was - Then yes he is a comedic genius. Which I watched on Youtube. I used to really hate him because I thought he was always being serious. I mean it is hard to tell weather he is trolling or is it all part of the gag. Then I started to realize it most likely was all a gag. The Lawler and Kaufman fued is so funny! t: