Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony
• VHS Release Date: November 16, 1999
• Run Time: 55 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305605963
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #210,159 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The big mystery about Andy Kaufman's work is in trying to figure out what's serious, what's an act, why he is doing what he's doing, and whether he even knows the differences himself. His performances are among those rare examples where you feel extremely uncomfortable watching them, but at the same time you can't pull yourself away because it's hysterical in a twisted and bizarre sort of way.

Andy Kaufman's Midnight Special is an episode of Burt Sugarman's Midnight Special, hosted by Wolfman Jack, which aired on January 23, 1981. Even though this was filmed a few years before Kaufman's premature death in 1984, it's a retrospective of his work. Many of his better known characters and routines are featured, including "The Foreign Guy," Tony Clifton, "Ladies Wrestling," the ventriloquist act, and of course, Elvis. The highlight of this video is interview footage of Andy "explaining" his work. Is it real or an act? Was he a comic genius or an utter madman running loose on a TV stage? We may never know. --Rob Bracco

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Late Night w/ Andy Kaufman, November 24, 1999

By 

Melissa Brown (Birmingham, Alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Midnight Special [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A must-have for Andy fans (and sure to freak-out anyone who's not familiar w/ him...) His Elvis impression is still awesome...if you've ever seen "This is Elvis" or any Elvis concert footage, you'll see how uncanny Andy's version is, with the stage banter and the karate moves...See Andy wrestle two hooker-ish women (very daring for network TV!) They should have made Andy permanent host after this episode.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Look at a Comic Genius, February 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Midnight Special [VHS] (VHS Tape)

If you've seen Man on the Moon and want to see some real Andy Kaufman, this is the video. It's Andy guest hosting a variety type show. Most of his comic performances are covered. Foreign man, Elvis, Tony Clifton, Latka on Taxi, Andy playing Bongo drums, Andy busing tables, and an hilarious ventriliquist act with Howdy Doody and Little Red Riding Hood. There are interview segments intertwined with the skits and two musical guests Freddy Cannon and Slim Whitman (watch Andy as Slim sings, er lip syncs his song). It's well worth the price for a peek into the highly crazy and complicated world of Andy Kaufman.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Andy's Greatest Hits, April 17, 2000

By 

C. Manson (Destin, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Andy Kaufman: The Midnight Special (DVD)

This sensational DVD, culled from a TV show I have cloudy memories of from my youth, presents Andy Kaufman in a way that surpasses the Milos Forman biopic (not to denigrate Jim Carrey's outstanding performance) and the A&E Biography. You get it all here, and it's mostly hilarious. Best of all is Mr. Kaufman's dead-on Elvis impersonation...his choice of songs is impeccable--"Too Much" is an Elvis hit that Mr. Presley seldom performed live. Great introduction (or reintroduction?) to this fascinating character.