Jon Lovitz has warm memories of Atlanta going back two decades, when he starred in "City Slickers 2," which hosted a big red carpet event at the Fox Theatre to screen the movie. (Ted Turner had just purchased Castle Rock at the time so he had a little sway.)
"It was the biggest premiere I've ever been to," he said. "Ted Turner and Jane Fonda and the mayor were there. Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn were there. They had a parade. All 4,600 seats were filled. The people were just roaring laughing at everything. It was incredible!"
His arrival this weekend, he admits, will likely be a bit more low key at the Atlanta Improv in Buckhead for five shows from Thursday through Saturday (capacity: 350).
Lovitz, a longtime Los Angeleno, credits Lorne Michaels for launching his career in 1985. During his five-year stint on the show, he joined classic "SNL" actors such as Dennis Miller, Victoria Jackson, Dana Carvey and the late great Phil Hartman.
“I was completely unknown before ‘SNL,’ ” said Lovitz, 57. “I’m very grateful to Lorne.”
He created several indelible characters such as pathological liar Tommy Flanagan (“Yeah … that’s the ticket!”) and Master Thespian (“Acting!”).
Over the past 24 years since he left “SNL,” he has partaken in film (“A League of Their Own,” “City Slickers 2,” “Rat Race”), sitcoms (“NewsRadio”) and animation (“The Critic”). A decade ago, he decided to try stand-up to bring in more income and appeared at the now-defunct Roswell club the Funny Farm in 2006.
“I laugh at myself,” Lovitz said. “I play the piano. I sing funny songs. I play around a lot with language.”
Lovitz, who owns two comedy clubs under his name (one is featured on the current "Last Comic Standing'), also recently appeared on an ABC summer reality show, "Sing Your Face Off," where he performed in full costume as famous singers such as Luciano Pavarotti, Billy Idol and part-time Atlantan Elton John.
While he has eschewed other reality show offers in the past, he found this one intriguing. “I like to sing,” he said. But John was especially challenging: “I tried to imitate him on ‘Bennie and the Jets’ and I realized all the things he did with his voice. It made me appreciate what a great singer he really is.”
Here he is as John:
Coincidentally, current "SNL" cast member Sasheer Zamata is at the Laughing Skull Lounge at the same time he's at the Atlanta Improv. He's aware of the hiring controversies Michaels has faced and said he sees both sides.
"You've got to hire people who are qualified," he said, " no matter who they are. You're there to play different characters. On the other hand, there's an advantage to having a diverse cast."
Jon Lovitz
8 p.m. Thursday, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. $25-$30, depending on the night. Atlanta Improv, 56 E. Andrews Drive NW, Atlanta. 678-244-3612, www.theimprovatlanta.com.
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