FRIDAYS {ANDY KAUFMAN, SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night comedy/variety programs. Andy Kaufman is guest host for this program which features musical performances by the Tex-Mex rock band, Sir Douglas Quintet. Kaufman breaks-up laughing during his opening monologue and notes that he can do anything he wishes because the program is live. He then offers to wrestle all the women in the audience. An extended segment called "The Moral Majority Comedy-Variety Hour" includes a magic show in which a black audience member is made to disappear; a "humorous" look at the drugged-out liberal hippie couple down the block; "Celebrity Faith Healing"; and a finale which features a punk rock version of "God Bless America." Other highlights of the program include the following: The Masked Magician joins Kaufman and proceeds to callously give away secrets to some magic tricks, upsetting Kaufman who taunts him into swallowing a sword; on "Friday Edition," correspondent Melanie Chartoff introduces Kaufman in a segment called "Thought Counterthought," in which he argues for and against President Ronald Reagan's proposed budget cuts for the arts; in a comedy skit, the Frankenstein monster terrorizes an upper-crust British family of the 1920s; and Sir Douglas Quintet performs "Mendocino." The final sketch -- about two couples dining at a restaurant who individually slip into the restroom to smoke pot -- is halted by Kaufman who says he does not wish to continue, as he finds the sketch stupid. The other cast members appear angry and upset, and Kaufman's stunt escalates into a near-fist fight with a furious producer. Commercials deleted. Includes a promo for the following week's show, announced by cast member Brandis Kemp.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: February 20, 1981 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:53:11
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:41509
- GENRE: Comedy/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy/Variety; Rock music
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1980-1982
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Promos - "Fridays"
CREDITS
- Bill Lee … Producer
- John Moffitt … Producer
- Jack Burns … Co-Producer, Script Supervisor
- Vic Kaplan … Production (Misc.), Executive in charge of production
- Christie Stentz … Production (Misc.), Production Manager
- Martha Benedek … Production (Misc.), Production Coordinator
- Jim Wycoff … Production (Misc.), Production Services Coordinator
- Bob Bowker … Director
- Thomas Kramer … Direction (Misc.), Film segments directed by
- Brad Bermond … Researcher
- Steve Adams … Writer, Head Writer
- Joe Shulkin … Writer, Head Writer
- Rod Ash … Writer
- Larry Charles … Writer
- Mark Curtiss … Writer
- Larry David … Writer
- Bryan Gordon … Writer
- Bruce Kirschbaum … Writer
- Thomas Kramer … Writer
- Bruce Mahler … Writer
- Elaine Pope … Writer
- Lester Wilson … Choreographer
- Fred Thaler … Music (Misc. Credits), Music Director
- Sir Douglas Quintet … Music Group
- Andy Kaufman … Host
- Mark Blankfield … Cast
- Maryedith Burrell … Cast
- Melanie Chartoff … Cast
- Larry David … Cast
- Darrow Igus … Cast
- Brandis Kemp … Cast
- Bruce Mahler … Cast
- Michael Richards … Cast
- John Roarke … Cast