As the DVD begins, an old man with an unkempt beard gives a bizarre recitation of the FBI warning seen on all DVDs. It is later revealed in the extras to be Johnny Legend, who has been a rockabilly musician, a film producer, and a wrestling manager.
My Breakfast with Blassie spoofs Louie Malle’s classic filmed-conversation My Dinner with Andre. Here, Andy Kaufman, still in a neck brace after getting piledrived by Jerry “King” Lawler during his first wrestling match against a man, sits for breakfast at a downtown Hollywood Sambo’s with famed wrestler and self-proclaimed “King of Men” Freddie Blassie, who famously coined the term “pencil-neck geek.” Over the course of about an hour, they cover a number of subjects as they discuss fame, international travels, breakfast choices, hygiene, and dealing with fans.
They also interact with a pregnant Thai waitress, who worked in the restaurant; a group of female autograph seekers, including a young woman named Lynn, who Kaufman is very interested in; and an oddball, played by Kaufman’s off-screen cohort Bob Zmuda, who pulls things from his nose. They get slightly obnoxious arguing with the women, but it’s more silly than sexist, and is something both men did in their wrestling act.
Kaufman is funny when he throws his name and resume around, pointing out he’s Latka from Taxi to both impress and belittle people, another element taken from his wrestling persona. Blassie is consistently amusing, particularly his phrasing, and totally unpredictable throughout. He comes off so completely authentic at times I couldn’t tell if he was in on what was taking place, which makes perfect sense considering there is a performance component to wrestling. He reveals that while on the circuit, he was shot at by the KKK, had acid thrown on him, and was friends with Elvis.
The video quality is poor. It was shot on 3/4” videotape in the early ‘80s when the format was relatively new and certainly shows its age.
Article comments
1 - Greg Barbrick
I missed your review when it was originally published, but as a fellow Kaufman fan, I'm sure you can excuse the delay. It has been many years since I have seen this, and my memory of it was that it was typically Andy. Just farcical.
His deadpan voice-over when getting off the bus in front of Sambo's cracks me up. Hell, the fact that they chose Sambo's to film the damn thing in the first place is hilarious.
It sounds like the $20 to get this is worthwhile, for the extras alone.
Have you ever seen "I'm From Hollywood"? It documents the whole "feud" between him and Lawler, and is some of the best material Kaufman has ever done.
I'm curious as to whether it has ever been re-issued, as my copy is an old VHS. In any event, fun review. Man I wish there were someone like Andy Kaufman around these days to F* with the world.
Greg
2 - El Bicho
Greg, read them at your leisure. They ain't going anywhere.
I have seen "Hollywood", wiping away tears when chastised the fans, and it's at Amazon. What's amazing is he was ahead of the curve getting into wrestling before it broke from regional to national. And after seeing the Blassie clips, it's obvious he was Andy's inspiration.
Ever read "Lost in the Funhouse" by Zehme? Great bio about Andy, even better than Zmuda's book, and really well written.
3 - Greg Barbrick
Yes, I have read both, good stuff. As for being ahead of the curve with wrestling, you are dead-on.
Even though I miss him, I'm glad McMahon never got to use him. I just can't really imagine how he would have fit Andy in with Cyndi Lauper and Mr. T at Wrestlemania. But I guarantee you he would have tried, and Andy probably would have gone for it, just because he was so into wrestling.
Thanks for the tip about Amazon, they will probably be getting a couple of DVD orders from me today.