Customer Reviews

Andy Kaufman Revealed !

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

One thing Zmuda's book does that "Man on the Moon" did not is outline the M.O. for Andy's stunts, although it still doesn't really establish a reason for them. Of course, maybe there wasn't one. Andy tried to erase the boundary between comedy on the screen and comedy in the field, but whether or not there was a point to his efforts isn't completely decided in this book -- he still could have just been an idiot savant for all we know. The stories behind Andy's best-known antics are wonderful; he and Zmuda really did operate a precise machine of real-life theatre that, for better or worse, set a lot of precedents in show business. The Jerry Lawlor passage puts to rest one of the entertainment questions I've been wracking myself about for many years.

I also liked Zmuda's chapter on his adventures with Mr. X (btw, Mr. X is allegedly Norman Wexler, who wrote "Serpico" and "Saturday Night Fever," according to Roger Ebert); if it doesn't obviously show the inspiration for Tony Clifton, it's still a great story. But I also agree with many other readers that Zmuda intrudes a bit too much of his own biography upon the story of Kaufman's, and succumbs to cliches, and sometimes embarassing details, about his own sex/love lives too much for my taste.

I haven't read the other bio on Kaufman yet, but I suspect that seeing "Man on the Moon" and reading this book might provide you with a good summary of Kaufman's life and importance. Of course, what's really needed is a comprehensive video release of his television history -- a great idea would be a compilation of his appearances on "Saturday Night Live" and "Fridays" if such a deal could be worked out. Not a bad reference, and definitely an entertaining and quick, if flawed, read.

I read over the most negative customer reviews of this book because even if I don't agree with them they generally tend to be more thought provoking than the positive reviews. So far I haven't found anything in them to disagree strongly with. I wanted to give Zmuda the benefit of the doubt though. His own life is somewhat interesting and I don't care much if he claims too much credit for Andy's work. And I'm willing to accept that this is a book about Zmuda's experiences with Kaufman rather than a Kaufman bio. But the guy really grates on you after a while. By around page 90 I'd decided Zmuda was an amoral slug, a boor and a bore. I finally lost all patience with his implied revelation that he was as good in bed (with women) as Andy. Was he trying to convince himself? To hear him tell it, Zmuda is not only a comic genius and a rockin'stud but also a "guerrilla comedy" trailblazer, stickin' it to The Man while expanding everyone else's mind. But he seems more like a 60's hedonist minor jerk who never grew up. The most revealing thing this book has to say about Andy was that he hung out with someone like Zmuda. Three stars because it does have great Andy stories.

Anyone who wants the inside story of Andy Kaufman's genius should buy "Lost in the Funhouse" by Bill Zehme. While Zmuda's book disguises itself as a Kaufman bio, it's nothing more that Zmuda talking about his life and taking credit for concepts that Andy developed years before meeting Bob. The stories of Andy are entertaining, but the book leaves a bad taste in your mouth, much like the film "Man on the Moon". Buy Zehme's book instead - you'll be glad you did.

Damn it, it's about time somebody recignized the REAL talet behind Andy Kaufman - TONY CLIFTON. That hack used my name to get to where he is today and at least someone had the decency to put me in this damn book. It should be TONY CLIFTON: REVEALED! - THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER ALIVE. Zmuda and Kaufman owe ME everything they got. I may have gotten shunned at the Emmy's, but I ain't gettin' shunned here. I'm going to make "Man On The Moon" the success that it will be - NOT BECAUSE OF KAUFMAN, BUT BECAUSE I'M IN IT!!!

I have been waiting 8 months for this book to hit the shelves and now that I finally have it, I am thoroughly disappointed and annoyed.

I appreciate that Mr. Zmuda was Kaufman's best friend and participated in many of Andy's wildest escapades, but the intent behind this book seems more to be to take credit for much of Kaufman's greatest bits, rather than a tribute to him.

The chapter titles should read like this:

Chapter One: Me

Chapter Two: Andy, Me, and Me

Chapter Three: Me, Me, Me and Kaufman

Chapter Four: Forget Kaufman, I'm the Genius Behind Him!

It was a little offputting, to say the least. Although some of the anecdotes were entertaining, they all centered around only two themes:

1) Kaufman like to trick people 2) Kaufman liked to make people uncomfortable

Well, 15 years after his death he's still managing to do both, by having Zmuda write this tell all. I was tricked into thinking it would be all about Andy, and I am annoyed that it is not.

The fact that it Zmuda had help writing this is incredible (Matthew Scott Hansen). I'm sure Zmuda loved Andy and would never intentionally disrespect him, but 90% of this book sounds like coattail-riding to me.

Well done, Zmuda! I'm sure I am not the only one you tricked into buying your book. I bought the book with the intentions of reading a biography on Andy Kaufman. What I got was the rantings of an overblown egomaniac. While some of the stories were amusing, they were few and far between. I strongly have my doubts that Zmuda (who in his own mind) was the driving force behind Andy Kaufman's insanity/genius. If I wanted a book about Bob Zmuda, I would have purchased one. Oh, but that's right, no one is interested in Zmuda's life so he had to say that it was a biography of his bestfriend. I'm just curious to see if the movie, Man On The Moon is going to take the same spin on things as you did in your book and claim that you, and only you, are the true genius behind Andy Kaufman. For some reason I'm tending to doubt it. Way to go Zmuda! You found a way that you can actually sell your autobiography.

Why did this guy waste my time in making me think the book was about Andy Kaufman. I only hope he doesn't have any other "friends" to write about. I know more than I care to know, about Bob Zmuda. Like he lacks humility.... John O'Hara was right on the button with his review.

This book is must have for Kaufman fans. It does tell a lot about Bob Zmuda, but that's because he was there, he was a part of Andy's hijinks, and deserves to be included. This book doesn't focus on Andy's early life, because Zmuda met him later on. Zmuda may not be an awesome writer, but he is a great storyteller, which is what this book is, a compilation of stories. Forget the people who say its all about Zmuda. There's a lot of Kaufman in this book, and the fact is, he WAS ANDY'S WRITER! This solves many of Andy's stage jokes and put-ons, and is a must have for any Kaufman fan

As the years have passed, and I have learned more about Andy Kaufman as not only a comic, but as an artist, and what's more, a human being, I have learned to more appreciate this crazy thing that we call human existence. Thank you, Mr. Zmuda for giving us such an honest, and tear-jerkingly funning account of both your life and the life of that crazy man known as Andy Kaufman. I think that Andy would have been proud of you, and I appreciate what you have done for Mr. Kaufman as well as all of us. To the skeptical buyer, "Steal the book if you must, but just read it." And remember Dana Carvey's words, "All roads lead to Andy."

Zmuda should have called this book "Andy and Me," with the emphasis on the "me." For instance, we read five pages about what Zmuda was doing while Andy was getting started (one page). And pretty much anything Andy was doing sans Zmuda is ignored. This is actually Zmuda's memoirs of his life, with and without Andy; it's not a biography.