Apparently, Andy Kaufman was a no-show at his comeback party Sunday night in Hollywood. The notorious prankster died from lung cancer at the age of 35 on May 16, 1984, but anyone familiar with Andy's sense of humor has always recognized the possibility he's been faking his demise. Reports have circulated that the actor -- Andy did not consider himself a comedian -- actually contemplated such a career plan as early as 1980. He said, if he did pull a switcheroo, he'd reappear 20 years later to the day.
I enjoyed Andy's style from the very first time I saw him. He materialized on the premiere episode of "Saturday Night Live" in 1975. Although George Carlin was host to our initial glimpse of The Not Ready for Prime Time Players and a film by Albert Brooks, weird Andy Kaufman is the single distinct memory of that program I retain to this day. He was shy, bug-eyed Foreign Man, lip-synching to an ancient record of the "Mighty Mouse" theme. It was a simple bit anyone could do. The routine was almost without content, yet, oddly, via Andy's minimal execution, the piece became yelping out loud hilarious.
He was a performance artist with wild concepts, often funnier than his follow-throughs, which were frequently improvised.
"Nice" Andy rented busses, transporting the entire audience down the road to partake in milk and cookie treats. This ending would conclude a concert of happy elements, like an old-fashioned little kids show performed for grown-ups.
As time passed, he was essentially hostile to his onlookers, especially women, whom he taunted into wrestling him. Those that didn't "get" the humor were the amusement for the hip. He courted jeers and kaos. The more he was loathed, the better he liked the outcome. Unbeknownst to many in the throngs, Andy was the audience, not them.
He'd appear on other occasions and read aloud "The Great Gatsby" novel, starting on page one and, come hell or high water, he'd continue until the paying crowd's growing hostility would jeopardize his personal safety -- and then the show would be over with unpleasantries and his ejection.
So, Andy Kaufman orchestrating a double decades hibernation would certainly fit his pattern, solve his overexposure and image problems, and provide the last laugh of all last laughs.
But it wasn't to be.
But, then again, Andy knew we'd be expecting him.
Let's grab some coffee and wait some more....