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 Views,
Reviews, and Interviews
by Dianne R. Davis
diannerd@aol.com
Photos by Dianne or Burt Davis
Up Close
and Personal with Rich Little
Rich & Marie - their marriage is stronger than ever!
Photo courtesy of
www.richlittle.com
DD: What did you want to be?
RL: My ambition was to be an actor. I got into little theater at early
age. Then I fell into impressions by accident. I used to imitate my
teachers.
DD: What are you, impersonator, entertainer singer, artist, performer?
RL: I am listed as a comedian. That’s what impersonators are. There
isn’t a designation for what I do. I perform for laughs. I have done
tributes, but mostly I do humor. So I am a comedian more than anything.
I didn’t set out to be a comedian, but doing impressions isn’t enough.
You have to say something. You should be funny. I have had writers over
the years. I’ve kept the material and often will rewrite it. I find
jokes in books or people tell them and I write them down. For instance,
if it’s a stingy joke, I can use it with Jack Benny. I really tell a lot
of jokes. A lot of impersonators don’t. Gordie Brown or Danny Gans do
rapid fire impressions. I have more structure to my routine. I have a
routine and follow it with punch lines. I have a concept. I was brought
up on people that told jokes.
DD: Let’s talk about the new show at the Golden Nugget. Who or what will
we see that we haven’t seen before?
RL: My act is a little like seeing a famous singer. People want the old
stuff that you are known for. But you can’t make an act entirely of old
stars and old people. Otherwise, they think you are living in the past.
I still perform for older groups of people. I do Jimmy Stewart, John
Wayne, Jack Benny. For others, I do Andy Rooney, dr. Phil. Now I do Fred
Thompson and John McCain.
DD: What part does politics play in your act?
RL: I’d like the guy with the best voice to become president.
DD: Will Hillary be imitated or not?
R: They will get look alike but voice is difficult. Her voice is average
American housewife sort of voice. Except her laugh. Somebody will be
doing her.
DD: Are there any performers that you could not do?
RL: Robert Redford. Harrison Ford, Gene Hackman, Brad Pitt, Matt Damian,
Leonardo DeCaprio. People say why not do current stars. Current actors
of today don’t have distinctive voices. Its tough. You pick Dr. Phil. He
is larger than life with a distinctive style.
DD: I understand that you will have a larger orchestra than in the past.
What can we look forward to musically?
RL: I will have 6 or 7 doing more by doing less of the song. Once the
people get it, there is no sense singing whole tune. You can move it
quicker. Carol Channing, Neil Diamond, Frank, Tony Bennett, Willie
Nelson. I’ll be doing 20 singers. Johnny Cash, James Cagney,.
DD: Who else can we expect to hear?
RL: Andy Rooney. Everyone knows him. He’s always asking questions. He is
a little annoying. Reagan is still popular. George Bush is okay.
DD: You’ve recently done shows in North Carolina and Wisconsin. Does the
audience influence your show? Is a Vegas audience different?
RL: No not really, they can be a little different if you get audience
that has seen seven shows in seven days. They are from all over country.
They go to Vegas. Audiences are pretty much the same every where thanks
to television.. Except perhaps better on road if they are in a place
where people never see a Vegas show or live show. Then they are more
excited. They can sometimes be a little more blasé in Vegas.
Rich Little
DD: For those who have never seen Rich Little live, are there some
characters that are in every show? How many characters will we see in
one show?
RL: You’ll see Johnny Carson, Nixon. Jimmy Stewart, Reagan. He’s my
favorite because I loved him as person..
DD: You are an award winning performer. But I understand that you are an
artist as well. When did that begin? How much time do you devote to your
art work?
RL: I have been doing charcoal drawings since I was 12. Only charcoal.
Never paint. I did all my relatives. My grandfather and grandmother and
friends. Film stars and locals. I gave them away. Then someone suggested
that I sell them for charity.
DD: You live in Las Vegas. Where do you like to vacation?
RL: Hawaii. And we have a summer home in Idaho. Up above Salt Lake City.
DD: What do you tell someone who wants to go into your line of work?
RL: Keep working at it and get a manager.
DD: What types of things five you the biggest kick out of your job?
RL: Meeting all my idols and getting to know them. To ever think I would
be friend of Jimmy Stewart, Jack Benny, Frank, Bing. Those were people
you just looked at. I saw Showboat when I was 12. My dad said he would
love to meet Howard Keel. I got to meet him.
DD: Are there any that you haven’t met that you would like to meet?
RL: George Clooney. My wife is a fanatic over Angela Jolie. She admires
her for the good work she does. I like a lot of actors. Character actors
too. Tom Cruise. I thin the best is DeCaprio. He is fabulous. He is only
going to get better too.
DD: Well, I imagine anyone who catches your new show at the Golden
Nugget will feel that you only get better. Best of luck with it.
RL: Thank you.
Rich Little will headline at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas from October
2, 2007 through April 6, 2008. Check times and dates at
www.goldennugget.com or
call 866.946.5336. Also, check
www.richlittle.com to view some of Rich’s artwork and check
out a special coupon.
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