I just want real reactions. I want people to laugh from the gut, be sad from the gut-or get angry from the gut.
Meaning of the quote
The comedian Andy Kaufman wanted his audiences to have strong, genuine emotions. He wanted them to laugh, cry, or get angry from deep inside, not just pretend. Kaufman didn't want polite, surface-level reactions. He wanted people to feel things deeply and express those feelings freely.
About Andy Kaufman
Andy Kaufman was an American entertainer and performance artist who preferred to be called a “song and dance man” rather than a comedian. He was known for his unique and often unconventional approaches to comedy, including his Foreign Man character and his obnoxious lounge singer persona, Tony Clifton. Kaufman’s career spanned the 1970s and early 1980s, and he was a frequent guest on various television shows.
More quotes from Andy Kaufman
There’s no drama like wrestling.
American entertainer (1949-1984)
If I play my cards right, I could bring network wrestling back to TV. Unfortunately, to most people, wrestling is a laughingstock. But fortunately, I’m reaching people who otherwise wouldn’t watch it.
American entertainer (1949-1984)
When I perform, it’s very personal. I’m sharing things I like, inviting the audience into my room.
American entertainer (1949-1984)
I just want real reactions. I want people to laugh from the gut, be sad from the gut-or get angry from the gut.
American entertainer (1949-1984)
While all the other kids were out playing ball and stuff, I used to stay in my room and imagine that there was a camera in the wall. And I used to really believe that I was putting on a television show and that it was going out to somewhere in the world.
American entertainer (1949-1984)
My mother sent me to psychiatrists since the age of four because she didn’t think little boys should be sad. When my brother was born, I stared out the window for days. Can you imagine that?
American entertainer (1949-1984)
There’s no way to describe what I do. It’s just me.
American entertainer (1949-1984)
I never told a joke in my life.
American entertainer (1949-1984)
What’s real? What’s not? That’s what I do in my act, test how other people deal with reality.
American entertainer (1949-1984)