The Amazing Jonathan

I've seen him twice in Vegas so it's kind of relevant. It would appear that he is dying. I just watched a YouTube video where he is sitting down and talking to the audience because he can't stand and perform anymore. He had everybody who worked with him over the years in the audience so he could say good - bye. Damn.

After a cursory search of the internet it would seem that it isn't a hoax. At least I can say that I caught his act a couple of times. Unlike Sam Kinison.

Probably should have posted this in off topic. Sorry.

Norm Clarke had a good interview with him last month in the LVRJ I remember seeing him on TV a few times several years ago with a frenetic act that in hindsight, was fueled by his meth addiction.

I remember him from a Young Commedians HBO special in 80's. I also saw him in Vegas before but he has burnt every opportunity given him due to the drugs. He was last seen at Ballys in 2013 for a few weeks. He used to have a huge house in Vegas but not sure if he lost it.

In the words of Mr. Mackey......Drugs are bad. OK

documentary just released on Hulu. It is a little boring but I enjoy documentaries so I found it interesting.

Quote: GWAE

documentary just released on Hulu. It is a little boring but I enjoy documentaries so I found it interesting.

You should have added that John believes his addiction to meth is keeping him going...

https://decider.com/2019/08/19/the-amazing-johnathan-documentary-where-is-he-now/

The single worst show I've seen in Vegas, but my date and my friends all thought he was great. I wish him well.

I know the guy pretty well, seen his show so many times know it by heart. I'd just call and his assistant would put us down for as many free tickets as we wanted. The "best" part about his show Was in fact that it almost never changed.

And then when used to stay at the Nugget a lot, they would constantly show that clip from his show on the "Golden Nugget TV channel" (the channel all the resorts have which loop plays info about the casino and hotel) where he was sawing through his arm with a long knife, the skit where he saws through a little bit and the audience is already grimacing from all the blood, and then he pulls the knife back, explains that it was all fake and THEN says "If I were ACTUALLY cutting through my arm, it would look like, THIS" and then starts REALLY cutting into the flesh.
Actually though, he eliminated that part of his show by the time he got to the Harmon Theater he had eliminated that bit.

I guess I didn't know him all that well because although we hung out a bit I had no idea what a meth addict he was. I always knew he was a druggie but not the extent or the exact drug of choice.

Quote: MDawg

I know the guy pretty well, seen his show so many times know it by heart. I'd just call and his assistant would put us down for as many free tickets as we wanted. The "best" part about his show Was in fact that it almost never changed.

And then when used to stay at the Nugget a lot, they would constantly show that clip from his show on the "Golden Nugget TV channel" (the channel all the resorts have which loop plays info about the casino and hotel) where he was sawing through his arm with a long knife, the skit where he saws through a little bit and the audience is already grimacing from all the blood, and then he pulls the knife back, explains that it was all fake and THEN says "If I were ACTUALLY cutting through my arm, it would look like, THIS" and then starts REALLY cutting into the flesh.
Actually though, he eliminated that part of his show by the time he got to the Harmon Theater he had eliminated that bit.

I guess I didn't know him all that well because although we hung out a bit I had no idea what a meth addict he was. I always knew he was a druggie but not the extent or the exact drug of choice.

I saw him many years ago and remember the show to be ok. He was one of the first vegas magic shows that I saw. Him and the afternoon show with a tiger whomever that is/was. I didnt realize that he was doing the same show all that time. I wonder how many of them do it that way.

He used to put on a haunted house every 3rd Halloween or something.

It was the best one, imo. Much like his act. It was funny and clever, more than attempting to be actually scary. I can't remember it that well, except that it involved a lot of optical illusions and I really enjoyed it.

By the way his name is Johnthan. With an H. His stage name anyway.

Quote: MDawg

By the way his name is Johnthan. With an H. His stage name anyway.

maybe a mod can change the title. I resurrected a 5 year old thread

I always confused this guy with Super Dave Osborne.

I made it maybe ten minutes into the documentary and bailed, didn't seem like would get better any time soon

Quote: Johnzimbo

I made it maybe ten minutes into the documentary and bailed, didn't seem like would get better any time soon

It really didnt

Which one did you watch I ended up watching the YouTube one "ALWAYS AMAZING: The True Story of the Life, Death, and Return of Amazing Johnathan" before I realized this wasn't even the Hulu one. The YouTube one is the type of thing you need to watch while doing other things it is not all that engrossing.

One thought that came out is - is the guy even really sick? Is he really dying? This is what he told me and all his friends acquaintances family ex-gf wife, everyone I know has been told this, but is it true? Are some of the true innermost circle in on the truth? A comparison was made to Andy Kaufman playing a joke where you don't know for sure if it is a joke or real life. But in this instance, I think he really is sick, playing a joke that you think might just be a joke but is really the truth. The guy, behind the guy. Behind the guy. So to speak.

Quote: MDawg

Which one did you watch I ended up watching the YouTube one "ALWAYS AMAZING: The True Story of the Life, Death, and Return of Amazing Johnathan" before I realized this wasn't even the Hulu one. The YouTube one is the type of thing you need to watch while doing other things it is not all that engrossing.

One thought that came out is - is the guy even really sick? Is he really dying? This is what he told me and all his friends acquaintances family ex-gf wife, everyone I know has been told this, but is it true? Are some of the true innermost circle in on the truth? A comparison was made to Andy Kaufman playing a joke where you don't know for sure if it is a joke or real life. But in this instance, I think he really is sick, playing a joke that you think might just be a joke but is really the truth. The guy, behind the guy. Behind the guy. So to speak.

this was addressed in the Hulu version. I guess it is a spoiler but it is a documentary so not sure a spoiler is such a thing. anyways, the person doing the documentary questioned him and AJ went nuts on him and was pissed. Towards the end the documentary guy says that he believes him even though he never went to a doc appointment or saw anythng to prove it.