The Strange Way Andy Kaufman Was 'Fired' From SNL

The peculiar departure of Andy Kaufman from Saturday Night Live (SNL) remains an enigmatic chapter in the comedian's career. Despite not being an official cast member, Kaufman frequently graced the show in its inaugural year and throughout the following seven years, leaving much of the audience baffled by his unconventional antics. His brand of anti-humor often left viewers questioning whether his performances were intentional or genuine.

Kaufman's unconventional behavior reached new heights in 1979 when he began wrestling women on the show, seemingly for real. His call for women wrestlers to "stay home... they should be kept barefoot and pregnant" proved divisive, with some taking his challenge seriously. "I suppose he was only kidding," stated one challenger to the Morning Union, but Kaufman himself was unapologetic, insisting his comments were sincere.

Kaufman's antics continued, culminating in his apparent dismissal from SNL in November 1982. At the end of a November 13, 1982 episode, SNL producer Dick Ebersol announced to the audience that he had cut a sketch at the last moment due to Kaufman's waning comedic appeal. While this marked the end of his live performances on the show, his true firing didn't occur until a week later.

Following Ebersol's on-air tirade, SNL aired a live segment that encouraged viewers to vote on Kaufman's future. Of the 195,544 votes cast, 195,544 called for his banishment, while only 169,186 requested he remain on the show. Kaufman, true to his character, complied with the audience's verdict and stayed away from SNL thereafter.

However, Kaufman's commitment to the bit led him to buy ad space in the weeks following his firing, pleading for America to reconsider his banishment. Curiously, Brad Hall, the then-Weekend Update anchor, featured one of Kaufman's ads during a live broadcast, solidifying the blurred line between reality and performance art.