I used to think all talk-format television shows were engineered to be a generic stage where actors/directors/musicians (or any combination of the three) could shamelessly promote their new movie, album, drug addiction, pregnancy etc. Although the TV/AD industry knew their purpose (to cross promote everything) the creators or guests on these shows didn't always seem to have a hidden agenda. The shift happened with the growth of the almighty MTV mentality. It's cheap to show music videos, so cheap that I can't believe it's not programming.
The other day, the happiest happy accident brought me upon my new favorite clip on the internet.* It's of Andy Kaufman on David Letterman doing his Elvis impersonation, but before he performs, he is sitting on the couch with three black men who he has, according to the clip, "adopted".
This clip is a great artifact of discourse on race and its so poignant and is so fucking important. Take Kaufman as an elevated outsider in terms of the media, an active participant with a critical awareness. He is wise to the machine of synergy. So wise to it that he could not help but to provide a figurative commentary track to his own claim to fame, a really great impersonation of Elvis. This is where I get really excited. Now Kaufman, a white male, is doing an impersonation of another white male who reached legendary acclaim in co-opting black culture, for better or for worse. Still, Kaufman along with his figurative manifestation of this said, here America, look closer at what we're doing.
*Subject to repeated repeals in the event that a new favorite clip is unwebbed.
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