By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Friday, October 9, 2015
Master impressionist Frank Caliendo said he is frequently recognized in public - in a way.
"They think I went to high school with them," Caliendo said in a recent phone interview. "I've lost 60 pounds. People think I look sort of look like Frank Caliendo. Also, I'm short. People think I'm a lot taller from TV And on TV, I'm usually in disguise. People expect me to be a lot older because I am often in gray wigs and ball caps. I'm better known for the things I do than who I am."
That's the life of a celebrity impressionist. He is one of the few in his stand-up niche who can headline a theater tour, which includes a stop at Cobb Energy Centre Friday, October 16. (Buy tickets here.)
"There's a huge amount of Donald Trump in the show just because he's everywhere," Caliendo said. "It's amazing how people love him or hate him. There's nobody in the middle. And debates are great for him. You can't beat him. He argues like a five-year old. If he says something insulting, an opponent might say, 'You can't do that!' He'll respond, "You're a doody head!' "
The impression that gave him a huge boost while on the cast of Fox's now defunct sketch comedy show "MadTV" was a manic Super Bowl winning football coach John Madden. That bit led to regular work playing Madden and other celebrities on Fox NFL Sunday.
Since 2013, he has been working with ESPN. He has more creative freedom there but doesn't appear nearly as often as he did on Fox, opting for quality over quantity. And Madden is no longer part of his regular TV repertoire though he feels obligated to bring the coach out during his live show.
Madden is to Caliendo as "Satisfaction" is to the Rolling Stones or "Piano Man" is for Billy Joel.
"People are paying money to see me do Madden," Caliendo said. "If I don't do it, I'm a jerk! It's about what the audience wants. At the same time, I will do some things differently because I want to grow."
His show is high energy and he'll frequently have multiple celebrities interact in such an artful way you could close your eyes and imagine they were all in the same room.
"In a way, I do 90 minutes to two hours' worth of show in one hour," Caliendo said. "Maybe it's better that way. If you missed something I said, maybe you'll think it's new the next time you saw me!"
His quick-fire delivery is the polar opposite of someone such as Bill Cosby. "A lot of pauses and sitting down," Caliendo said. "Apparently, a lot of time to hand out Quaaludes, too."
Although Caliendo has done a Cosby impression before during his live show, he isn't now that Cosby is accused of sexually assaulting more than 50 women. "I could do a lot of things that could get me in trouble," he said. "Kids come to my show. I have to be careful."
A New York Daily News reporter recently listed his favorite top 10 Caliendo impressions. Without seeing the story, Caliendo was able to tick off the top 4 (Madden, George W. Bush, ESPN analyst Jon Gruden and NBA on TNT host Charles Barkley.) plus No. 10: Morgan Freeman.
No. 5 was the late Robin Williams, who used to be one of Caliendo's favorites to do. But since Williams passed last year, he has temporarily shelved that impression. He said given how Williams died (suicide), he hasn't felt right doing it.
"He was amazing," said Caliendo, who never had the honor to meet Williams in person. "Even when he was saying nothing , he was saying so much."
CONCERT PREVIEW
Frank Caliendo
8 p.m. Friday, October 16
$36.50-$86.50 (before fees)
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway
Atlanta
770-916-2800
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