This clip of Andy Kaufman on an old Letterman show singing Slim Pickens’ Rosemarie is the total essence of killin’ it. Here comes the wacky comedian, dressed in a diaper with a turban and a fake mustache…what’s he gonna do to make us laugh? He’s gonna sing a totally heartfelt, sincere, beautiful rendition of the song…no catch. You gotta love it, a gesture like this. One part hilarious, one part utterly sincere. The expectation of comedy rewarded with the power of a genuine singing performance. Andy shows us that the way he looks and the way he acts need not have a thing to do with one another. That alone is killin’ it. Total deadpan, a magic moment. I’m holding Andy Kaufman up high in the ranks of the retro killin’ it hall of fame.
