I really hate impression-based comedians

15  2013-01-10 by goofyasiankid

Pretty much unrelated to O&A, but I really hate comedians who do impressions as the majority of their bits. Frank Caliendo, Pablo Francisco, etc... Most of the time they aren't funny, they just rely on their ability to do impressions... shit gets old really quick.

32 comments

13  exophrine 2013-01-10

"You gotta make up shit as the person, you can't just do them. You have to make up what the person would say."

...this gets lost with a lot of hack impressionists.

12  houseboatgambler 2013-01-10

That is why Mohr is classic. Great quote.

8  [deleted] 2013-01-10

Great two part video of Patrice and Jay Mohr discussing this. Jay's Colin in part 2 is incredible.

3  goofyasiankid 2013-01-10

Thanks! Not sure if I've heard this or not. Loading it up now.

8  nataskaos 2013-01-10

A comedian that does the occasional impression is OK. But impressionists are the worst human beings alive.

I don't know what the woman's name was, but I saw some comedian not too long ago that would do the "this is what Woody Allen would sound like if he was on a horse". Not only were her impressions not even close, the setups were bad and the jokes were worse.

6  [deleted] 2013-01-10

So...not much for Jay Mohr then?

11  goofyasiankid 2013-01-10

Nah, I don't mind Jay Mohr as much cause he is funny without the impressions. He does a fair amount of them but that isn't his entire act. I do cringe a little when he does his Walken, though.

6  houseboatgambler 2013-01-10

Jay Mohr doing Harvey Keitel or Eddie Veder is great. When he does Veder doing a Keitel impression is amazing.

6  Slippery_Slope_Guy 2013-01-10

His Norm and Colin impressions are my favorites.

4  [deleted] 2013-01-10

Jay Moooors Vedder impression is gold. I can't even say the term "Mookie Baylock" without saying it as Mohr doing Vedder.

5  jsnoots 2013-01-10

How often do you find yourself needing to say the name of a basketball player that retired in 2002?

5  mikejac 2013-01-10

I'll speak for myself here - I say his name fucking constantly.

2  [deleted] 2013-01-10

I'm a Pearl Jam fan and that's the original name of their band. But to be honest, I probably say it way too often because I think I do a good Jay Mohr doing Eddie Veder. I'm such a hack.

3  Acatalepsia 2013-01-10

"This is daughter."

3  [deleted] 2013-01-10

His Ricky Gervais is one of the funniest things I've heard.

1  mnap1122 2013-01-10

Jay does impressions but has them say random stuff not just quotes all the time.

5  [deleted] 2013-01-10

Jay Mohr is certainly an exception when it comes to impressionists as he is funny beyond the impression... Ant, who's like a comic, is the same way.

It's like Kevin Pollack said when he was on with Jay Moh: Rich Little's a great impressionist but he's not funny at all.

Here's a great clip from The Patrice & Bill Burr Show. They trash Rich Little:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16ziSYfP-Q0

3  AirplaneStrikesBack 2013-01-10

You don't even like Bobo's impressions? In all seriousness, Jay Mohr doing Eddie Vedder is hilarious.

2  falkerman 2013-01-10

Have you seen Caliendo live? The guy puts on a pretty damn good show.

5  goofyasiankid 2013-01-10

No, I honestly haven't. I've heard him on the radio a ton of times and it just seems like the same old schtick over and over again. Madden, George Bush, Madden, repeat.

2  falkerman 2013-01-10

Well you have to kinda figure he's not gonna do his whole act on radio interviews, then no one comes to the show. Frank is different from other impression comics because he actually makes bits for his voices. He's also got the facial expressions and body language down. I haven't seen him live in almost 4 years, but I suggest people go if he's in your town.

1  goofyasiankid 2013-01-10

Fair enough, I can see your point. I doubt I'd go see him live, so I'll have to take your word for it.

1  tommyjwall 2013-01-10

Yes, I have. And no, he doesn't.

2  DATDONTMAKENOSENSE 2013-01-10

I can't get enough of Pollaks walken. Its scary good.

1  schwm39 2013-01-10

I'm not sure if it's just me, but I don't think its nearly as good as Jay Mohr's. I guess if Jay says it is, then it is, but I feel like he was just being humble.

2  DATDONTMAKENOSENSE 2013-01-10

I do agree Jay does the voice better I feel like Mohr does a better Walken than Walken

2  CanbolatComedy 2013-01-10

Yeah I agree. I think its better if they incorporate it into their act. Just as a small bit with impersonation. Kind of like Aries Spears, he makes original jokes and then adds tid bits of impersonations.

1  Tony-Fuchi 2013-01-10

I wouldn't categorize Pablo as an impressionist, sure he does the movie trailer voice and voices that would be in the trailer but that's just one bit. His act is hilarious.

1  goofyasiankid 2013-01-10

Really? I just heard him on a radio show and it was literally impression after impression. I'm not even sure what his real voice sounds like.

1  EVILTHE_TURTLE 2013-01-10

The problem with him is that he had the same set for about nine years. He did start coming up with new material in 2004/2005

1  mkv_VI 2013-01-10

Rich Little was one of the original impressionist comics. He sucked too.

0  NefariousBanana 2013-01-10

This is why I hate Jimmy Fallon.

1  goofyasiankid 2013-01-10

Really? I just heard him on a radio show and it was literally impression after impression. I'm not even sure what his real voice sounds like.

1  EVILTHE_TURTLE 2013-01-10

The problem with him is that he had the same set for about nine years. He did start coming up with new material in 2004/2005

2  DATDONTMAKENOSENSE 2013-01-10

I do agree Jay does the voice better I feel like Mohr does a better Walken than Walken