US Impressionists...?
Dan Owen
the art of "impressionism" a curiously British thing? I know a few
US/Canadian comedians who *do* a handful of impressions - but it's never a
sole part of their act. I can't even think of a single US equivalent to the
liked of Rory Bremner or Allister MacGowan.
Do Americans "get" impressionists, or are the British just far too easily
pleased when a man can - effectively - talk like someone else while
delivering usually weak satirical gags?
Discuss. ;P
Dan
Tom K.
<da...@powen20.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
Impressionists who specialise in doing only impressions are not that big
in the US at the moment. Probably the most famous one is Rich Little.
His speciality has always been impressions of presidents, but he has a
vast repertoire of political and show-business personalities. He was
quite big in the 1970s and 80s, appearing on TV all the time, but I
haven't heard much of him lately.
-Tom
--
"There's a dead bishop on the landing, Vicar-sergeant"
"Uh, Detective-parson, madam. I see, suffragan or diocesan?"
"'ow should I know?!"
"It's tattooed on the back of their necks..."
Hammicus
something, he disappeared of the radar a long time ago, he probably works in
Vegas now. The most you ever see of Impressionists comedy now a days is on
Sat Night Live, I'd say Dana Carvey was the last really good Impressionists
on SNL, and he's
been off the show for ages.
"Tom K." <tk...@speakeasyNOSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:tknob-12070...@dsl231-042-156.sea1.dsl.speakeasy.net...
Mike Price
You obviously have never been to Las Vegas. There are at least two as
major performers at some of the super-casinos
Chris Hughes
<tknob-12070...@dsl231-042-156.sea1.dsl.speakeasy.net>, Tom K.
<tk...@speakeasyNOSPAM.net> writes
>In article <agnoiv$2f1$1...@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk>, "Dan Owen"
><da...@powen20.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> Just suddenly realize that I don't know a single American impressionist! Is
>> the art of "impressionism" a curiously British thing? I know a few
>> US/Canadian comedians who *do* a handful of impressions - but it's never a
>> sole part of their act. I can't even think of a single US equivalent to the
>> liked of Rory Bremner or Allister MacGowan.
>>
>> Do Americans "get" impressionists, or are the British just far too easily
>> pleased when a man can - effectively - talk like someone else while
>> delivering usually weak satirical gags?
>>
>> Discuss. ;P
>>
>> Dan
>
>Impressionists who specialise in doing only impressions are not that big
>in the US at the moment. Probably the most famous one is Rich Little.
>His speciality has always been impressions of presidents, but he has a
>vast repertoire of political and show-business personalities. He was
>quite big in the 1970s and 80s, appearing on TV all the time, but I
>haven't heard much of him lately.
>
>-Tom
>
--
Chris Hughes
Covenant
"Dan Owen" <da...@powen20.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
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Eddie Murphy does *killer* Impressions of M. Jackson and Stevie Wonder.
Sammy Davis Junior broke into the bigtime with impressions of people like
Jerry Lewis as part of his act.
--
Covenant
A Man With Far Too Much Time On His Hands
Keeger
>Do Americans "get" impressionists, or are the British just far too easily
>pleased when a man can - effectively - talk like someone else while
>delivering usually weak satirical gags?
Sure we do, but they aren't very big at the moment. The best known is
probably Dana Carvey, as someone already mentioned. Billy Crystal was
also very good at impressions on Saturday Night Live. Wayne Brady and
Brad Sherwood also do some great impressions on Who's Line Is It...
So perhaps it's not so much a matter of popularity or talent, but
rather that there are only a couple of forums for that kind of humor
on American telly at the moment.
Paul
Dan Owen
> probably Dana Carvey, as someone already mentioned. Billy Crystal was
> also very good at impressions on Saturday Night Live. Wayne Brady and
> Brad Sherwood also do some great impressions on Who's Line Is It...
> So perhaps it's not so much a matter of popularity or talent, but
> rather that there are only a couple of forums for that kind of humor
> on American telly at the moment.
I'm not saying there are NO impressionists in America, just that the ones
you have tend not to make their living by just doing impressions. I doubt
anyone would class Dana Carvey, Eddie Murphy, Frank Gorshin, Jim Carrey, or
Billy Crystal as "impressionists". But in the UK there are many people whose
job title would be that.
I just wondered why Americans are loathe to actually be known as an
impressionist, or to have a TV show that just features impressions. In the
UK there a hundreds! Steve Coogan started out as an impressionist, as did
Chris Barrie. Then there are THE impressionists - Allister MacGowan, Ronnie
Ancona, Rory Bremner, John Culshaw, etc.
Dan
David G Fisher
he's an excellent impressionist.
Dave
"Dan Owen" <da...@powen20.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
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Bob Johnson
Canadian, but he does amazing impressions of Sam Kinison, Al Pacino and Gene
Simmons from KISS (among others). His website is below and he is currently
touring. The guy's so spot on it's difficult to tell him from the real
thing. And he actually has some solid material. He used to be a fixture on
the Howard Stern show, but now he only stops in on occasion.
http://www.ihatecomedians.com/index.html
"Dan Owen" <da...@powen20.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
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Cori
well as the people from SNL and Mad TV. It seems that, in order to pass the
auditions for these shows, one has to be able to do some impressions.
Also, the great actor Kevin Spacey does some amazing impersonations - Al
Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Christopher Walken to name a few.
There was a rumor/joke going around shortly after 9/11 that bin Laden was
really dead, and the home movies being released were really Kevin Spacey.
Here he is now... &8^)>
-- Cori
Dan Owen <da...@powen20.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
> Just suddenly realize that I don't know a single American impressionist!
Is
> the art of "impressionism" a curiously British thing [snip]
> Dan
Dan Owen
and
> he's an excellent impressionist.
I'm sure. But you wouldn't say "Martin Short - Impressionist", now would
you? My point is that there are very few US impressionists who make their
living solely by doing impressions. Martin Short is a comic actor, really.
Dan
Lknafc
as they once were is because the variety show doesn't exist here on television
any more (neither does the featured comedy special starring one comedian in a
showcase style program).
Back in the 60's The Ed Sullivan Show and other variety shows were huge and
there were any number of actual impressionists which appeared on them. These
days the only avenue for impressionists besides cable comedy shows are the late
night network talk shows and other late night comedy programming, i.e. Saturday
Night Live. And then those usually only feature either the host doing an
impression or an unknown impressionist performing in a sketch, not the stand-up
style of impressionism. That does seem to exist mainly in the nightclub and
Vegas circuits these days. But at one time impressionists were just as popular
here as they are in England, I believe, and the examples cited early (i.e. Rich
Little, Frank Gorshin) are all good ones.
Linda Kay
Dan Owen
U.S.
> as they once were is because the variety show doesn't exist here on
television
> any more (neither does the featured comedy special starring one comedian
in a
> showcase style program).
This would be a good reason, but unfortunately the UK doesn't really have
any variety shows, as such. Not anymore. We have satirical shows dedicated
to impressions of politicians/entertainers/sportsmen, etc, or light-hearted
sketch shows with impressionists. I just find it weird that Americans don't
have a version of that style of show - especially given the rich material
post-September 11th.
Dan
David G Fisher
"David G Fisher" <davegf...@home.com> wrote in message
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The following is all just a guess.
I think that in America, if someone has the talent to be a faitly good
impressionist, they probably get immediately funneled towards a
comedy/acting career, and then usually fade into oblivion once they go to
L.A./Hollwood. There's just too many people trying to be
actors/entertainers.
In Britain, I would GUESS that because of the smaller size of the
entertainment industry, it's easier for the more traditional types of
entertainment to survive (like imperssionists). They aren't overrun by the
huge Hollwood/network industry. People who want a career there probably have
a clearer view of what's available to them, and are more willing to make a
career in a niche type of entertainment field.
Any of that make sense?
Dave
David G Fisher
allready.
Dan Owen
> entertainment industry, it's easier for the more traditional types of
> entertainment to survive (like imperssionists). They aren't overrun by the
> huge Hollwood/network industry. People who want a career there probably
have
> a clearer view of what's available to them, and are more willing to make a
> career in a niche type of entertainment field.
Yes, this makes the most sense it seems. A shame, though. The US could do
with a satirical impressionist to rip the piss into Bush and his cronies.
Dan
David G Fisher
I agree with that. :-)
Dave
Larry Bastard
Andre-Philippe Gagnon. His show was brilliant, and at the time (ten years
ago) he had something of a following in Canada. However, I don't know what
he's up to now (Vegas?).
There is also a group that has been doing political and social satire for
Canada for decades now (The Royal Canadian Air Farce). Although I've been a
fan since the early 80's, outside of Canada their humour wouldn't mean
anything to anybody.
Larry
"Dan Owen" <da...@powen20.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
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