It's the quiet ones you've got to watch. Although Darrell Hammond hasn't enjoyed the superstardom claimed by other Saturday Night Live alums like Will Ferrell, Eddie Murphy, Chris Farley or Adam Sandler, he certainly holds his own. His bit parts in movies like "Celtic Pride" (1996) or "Blues Brothers 2000" (1998) were forgettable, and he doesn't have his own sitcom on network TV. But maybe that's because he has not yet left SNL and entered the alum club.
As of 2005, Hammond set the record for longest running cast member in SNL history, having completed ten seasons. And he's still going strong. Hammond seems to be in no rush to leave for bigger and better things. SNL Producer Lorne Michaels has no problem with that. He told Fox News' Roger Friedman that he thinks "Darrell realizes this is a good place for him and his talents. A lot of people thought they had to move on, but Darrell gets it."
If the name sounds familiar, then you probably remember his dead-on Bill Clinton impersonations, or some of his other recurring characters: Ted Koppel, Sean Connery and Donald Trump, to name a few. Over the past ten years he has lampooned almost every major player in the Bush administration, including Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. He even takes on the role of political commentator when he steps into character as Tim Russert or Chris Matthews.
Hammond's on-camera success truly lies in his versatility. Unlike other SNL stars of past like goofy Jimmy Fallon or over-the-top Will Ferrell, Hammond's persona doesn't pigeonhole him into a specific role. When he appears onscreen he embodies whichever character he is representing. If you caught SNL this past weekend, however, you would have been hard pressed to find Hammond in more than a couple sketches. We can only hope that it's because he is so busy honing his stand-up skills for the big show at the big TU.
Tonight, we will find out if this impressionist's skill in sketch comedy translates well in the world of stand-up. But if most people aren't familiar with his stand-up routine, why choose Hammond for the particularly hyped Spring Comedy Show? Co-chair of the Entertainment Board Peter Davidson admits Hammond wasn't the E-Board's first choice, but that they "needed a big name."
"He was available and we wanted the show to sell out. He does the funniest impressions ever, so we knew he'd be a big draw," Davidson said.
The pressure is certainly on Hammond to perform well, since the Tufts crowd is used to the highly energized and engaging comedy performed by the likes of Mitch Hedberg and Jim Gaffigan. Word on the street is that Hammond is an unassuming family-man, and this characteristic shines through on and off the stage. His routine is devoid of profanity and he is rumored to often stay after shows to take pictures and sign autographs for fans.
Tufts students are eagerly anticipating the show, but admittedly don't know what to expect.
"I'm trying not to go into the show with unrealistic expectations. He's really funny on TV, but I don't know how easy it is to bring that same energy to the stage," junior Jesse McCormick said. We would be remiss, however, not to acknowledge that Hammond knows a thing or two about performing live. It's his job.
What should people really expect from the show? "It's just going to be a fun night," says Davidson. "It's right in the middle of midterms, so we're hoping to give everybody a little break, let them forget about all of their work for a couple hours, and have a good time."
Darrell Hammond will play an hour set in Cohen Auditorium with Tufts alumnus Jack Byrne (LA '05) opening the show. Doors open at 9:30 p.m.
