“I’ll take swords for $200, Alex.” “That’s S-Words.”

While watching some old SNL recently, I decided something:

Y’know what’s overrated?

Will Ferrell’s abilities as an impressionist.

Well, just two impressions:

Harry Caray and Alex Trebek.

People love his Harry Caray impression. But — and sorry to be the one to break it to you — it actually sucks. Sure, Harry Caray got liquored up in the booth and said some pretty ridiculous things, but Will Ferrell’s impression of him is really just ridiculous behavior for the sake of ridiculous behavior using a wig, some Harry Caray glasses, and bootleg mannerisms/voicework.

Sure, it’s funny. But it’s not funny because he actually tricks you into believing he’s Harry Caray doing or saying funny things; it’s funny because he’s simply acting ridiculously.

I’ll grant you that comedic impressions of people are really just parodies of the people who are being impersonated, but the Harry Caray impression he did (does he even still do it?) is a completely over-the-top caricature. That’s fine, because it worked and plenty of people remember it (plenty of Joe Shmoes out there are to this day still doing Harry Caray impressions not realizing they’re actually doing impressions of Will Ferrell’s absurd take on Harry Caray).

Then there’s Will Ferrell’s take on Alex Trebek.

People loved SNL’s Jeopardy sketches for various reasons. I’m not sure if any of them were because of Will Ferrell’s Alex Trebek impression or not, but like his Harry Caray impression, it missed the mark.

(I actually thought the sketches were funny, too, but never because I believed Will Ferrell did any sort of comedic justice to Alex Trebek; the celebrity Jeopardy contestants were usually the funny part.)

Well, I guess that depends on what the mark was. If the mark was to remain above the over-the-top behavior of the celebrity Jeopardy contestants, then he nailed it. But as an Alex Trebek impressionist, he failed terribly.

Where Alex Trebek is more of an emotionless guy who sometimes gets excited at the bad jokes he tells, overpronounces foreign words, and speaks with feigned sympathy as he finishes reading the correct clue when a contestant guesses incorrectly or not at all, Will Ferrell’s take on him is more that of any random pissed off guy who’s annoyed by dealing with stupid people.

It’s closer to being a straight role amongst a sea of zany characters. That’s why it worked in the sketches, but as an impression, it’s really not that good.

Sigh.

Sorry for soapboxing my blog like that.

I still think Will Ferrell’s funny. I just think those impressions are overrated because the humor in the sketches overshadows the accuracy in the execution.

And, ta-da!, now I sound pompous, like I know what’s funny or something. I should pimp-slap myself for this.

Screw this. I’m outta here.

Oh, but before I go, I’d like to get pompous again and point out that Aries Spears’ impressions are my personal favorites. If you close your eyes and listen to him do his impressions of pretty much anyone he does impressions of, you’d think it’s the actual person talking. Except he has them saying really ridiculous things. He nails their tone, their personal idioms, and even their laughs. It’s really quite remarkable. They’re the most realistic impressions I’ve heard anyone do. And his Charles Barkley is way better than Frank Caliendo’s. Then again, Frank Caliendo’s impressions, while pretty decent, are more cartoonish in nature.

Okay, now I’m done.

~ by joshlos on June 1, 2009.