Imitation Is the Funniest Form of Flattery

Former MADtv player Pablo Francisco rivals fellow impressionist Frank Caliendo for supremacy of that small, strange niche of stand-up comedy. But where Caliendo doesn't bother much with a narrative thread to introduce his impressions, usually just saying something like, "Wouldn't it be funny if so-and-so did such-and-such?" Francisco works his...

By Jesse Hughey

May 19, 2011

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Former MADtv player Pablo Francisco rivals fellow impressionist Frank Caliendo for supremacy of that small, strange niche of stand-up comedy. But where Caliendo doesn't bother much with a narrative thread to introduce his impressions, usually just saying something like, "Wouldn't it be funny if so-and-so did such-and-such?" Francisco works his usually dead-on imitations seamlessly enough into a story that you don't wonder how Don LaFontaine (the late movie preview voice-over king) or Ozzy Osbourne got involved. Better yet, his observations would be funny on their own, without the mimicry. But that won't stop his fans from shouting out requests for "the movie preview guy," or stop Francisco from obliging at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Improv, 309 Curtis Mathes Way in Arlington. Tickets are $22 to $25. Call 817-635-5555 or visit improv.com.
May 20-21, 8 & 10:30 p.m.; Sun., May 22, 7:30 p.m., 2011

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