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 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 Oct. 16.
“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 5-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 in the cast of Fox’s now-defunct sketch comedy show “MadTV” was a manic John Madden, the Super Bowl-winning football coach. 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 see me!”
His quick-fire delivery is the polar opposite of someone such as Bill Cosby. “A lot of pauses and sitting down,” Caliendo said of Cosby.
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.”
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