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Frank Caliendo

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Frank Caliendo
Born (1974-01-19) January 19, 1974 (age 50)
Template:City-state, U.S.
MediumStand-up comedy, television
NationalityAmerican
GenresObservational comedy
Subject(s)Impersonations, popular culture
Websitefrankcaliendo.com

Franklin "Frank" Caliendo (born January 19, 1974) is an American comedian known for his impersonations on the FOX Network television series MADtv, and has been the in-house prognosticator for FOX NFL Sunday. Currently, he performs his impersonations on his own show, Frank TV, which airs on TBS. He is particularly well-known for his impressions of United States President George W. Bush and NFL color commentator John Madden, as well as Charles Barkley, Dr. Phil McGraw and Al Pacino.

Biography

Early life & career

Caliendo was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he attended Waukesha South High School. He is of Italian ancestry.[2] After graduation from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Caliendo began performing stand-up comedy, taking a job as a master of ceremonies at a local comedy club. Within a year he was headlining. He made his network series debut on the 2000-2001 sketch comedy series Hype.

Caliendo has performed stand-up on such series as cable's Premium Blend, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, The View, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. His signature 'John Madden' impression is frequently seen on FOX NFL Sunday, The Best Damn Sports Show Period and Mohr Sports.Caliendo has also appeared on Comedy Central's Comedy Central Presents, as well as many radio shows, including the Mike In The Morning Show in Detroit on 101 WRIF , The Dan Le Batard Show, The Junkies, The Bob & Tom Show, Mike and Mike in the Morning Drew Blows, Opie and Anthony, The Don and Mike Show, Mike In The Morning Show, Rise Guys, Bubba the Love Sponge, The John Boy and Billy Big Show, Mike In The Morning Show on 101 WRIF DETROIT', The Howard Stern Show, Mike and the Mad Dog, Elliot in the Morning, Mike In The Morning, The Sports Inferno, The Rick and Bubba Show, The Roe Conn Show, Detroit's "Mike In The Morning" on 101 WRIF, Holmberg's Morning Sickness, Detroit's Only Morning Show, "Mike In The Morning on 101 WRIF

Impressions

Below is a list of impersonations that Frank Caliendo has done while on MADtv, Fox NFL Sunday, Hype, his standup routine, and other media sources.

Frank TV

Frank currently stars on Frank TV, his own sketch show on the Turner Broadcasting System that began airing in November 2007. Frank is its host and performs in sketches in full makeup as characters he impersonates. Frank joked that he "wanted the show to be called The Chappelle Show [sic], but the lawyers wouldn't allow it," referring to the publicity he would likely receive from naming his show after another popular comedian.

The ratings for the five aired episodes have been beyond the show's expectations.

On February 21, 2008, TBS announced that they ordered eight more episodes to premiere later in 2008.[3]

MADtv

Caliendo officially joined the cast of MADtv in 2001 as a repertory performer, for the seventh season, and as MADtv's equivalent to Saturday Night Live's Darrell Hammond. In 2002, Caliendo replaced Will Sasso as the impersonator of George W. Bush, but he won audience members over with an offbeat impersonation of former FOX sports announcer John Madden and also many other Fox personalities. Both became some of the cast member's most popular impressions on MADtv, and were featured quite prominently during his tenure.

In August 2006, Caliendo announced he would not return to MADtv for its 2006-2007 season.

FOX NFL Sunday

In 2001 and 2002, Caliendo had a reccurring role on FOX NFL Sunday, as a guest to comedian Jimmy Kimmel. Caliendo frequently appeared impersonating announcer John Madden during some of Kimmel's prognostication skits.

In 2003, Kimmel departed the program, and Caliendo was named his permanent replacement. As the prognosticator for the NFL on FOX, he gives his predictions for the day's NFL games. Typically these come during a skit (usually a one-man skit), where he does one of his famous impersonations. For example, for the first week's FOX NFL Sunday of the 2006 NFL season, he impersonated James Brown, who left the show in the off-season to join The NFL Today on CBS. He also imitates the cast of FOX NFL Sunday on occasion, most frequently Terry Bradshaw.

The Comebacks

Caliendo appeared in the 2007 film The Comebacks. He plays John Madden and Al Michaels in the championship game between the Comebacks and The Gridiron Gang.

Television and Movie appearances

References

  1. ^ Pantagraph.com | Free Time | Caliendo hopes 'Frank TV' makes good first impression
  2. ^ An Interview With Frank Caliendo
  3. ^ TBS Orders Eight More Episodes of Hit Late-Night Sketch Comedy Frank TV, Starring Frank Caliendo, The Futon Critic

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