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Watch Rip Torn Go Street Fighting in They Might Be Giants’ New Video

The new video for They Might Be Giants’ “Can’t Keep Johnny Down” feels like an homage to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” video, except instead of two rival gang leaders knife-dancing, it features an 80-year-old tank-topped Rip Torn bare-knuckle-boxing with a shirtless whippersnapper. We called TMBG’s John Flansburgh to explain this odd collaboration.

“Did I ever consider fighting Rip Torn myself? Oh no. After seeing the Norman Mailer video, I would never dare. To fight Rip Torn is to lose to Rip Torn.”

Watch Rip Torn Go Street Fighting in They Might Be Giants’ New Video