The key to great impersonations, is capturing the ‘essence’. Impersonating someone either too far off or too close to home doesn’t quite work for comedic purposes, but getting right into the middle and then amplifying their main character traits is the ticket. By now, almost everyone who pays attention to current events has seen Alec Baldwin’s impersonation of President Trump. He’s plausibly exhibited the gestures, mannerisms, and an over-the-top version of his voice, but there are other contenders in the game. SNL has led the charge on political satire in the past few years, but in 2016 before the election results were announced, @Midnight – Trump vs. Bernie with Chris Hardwick took a stab at it and hit the nail on the head.
@Midnight – Trump vs. Bernie aired a specific episode in which ‘Donald Trump’ and ‘Bernie Sanders’ carried on a presidential debate.
@Midnight – Trump vs. Bernie aired a specific episode in which ‘Donald Trump’ and ‘Bernie Sanders’ carried on a presidential debate. Of course, this wasn’t the REAL Trump or Sanders, as each were impersonated by Anthony Atamanuik and James Adomian. The two performers started a tour that covered forty cities called Trump vs. Bernie, which became so popular that it ended up making a stop over onto @Midnight with host Chris Hardwick acting as the moderator for the fantastical debate. In the ‘debate’, both candidates lay out their policies (sort of) and answer online questions (kind of) in the hopes of wooing potential voters to their side of the isle (not really). As bold a statement as it may be, these two actors are likely the two closest impersonators to completely and humorously nail down both candidates.
The show comes off as both scripted and improvised, playing within the parameters of the time they’ve been given and the basic structure that they’ve created. With that in mind, there’s only one thing do going forward: be prepared to laugh uncontrollably. Atamanuik is near flawless as Trump. Not only does his makeup draw a comical yet close comparison, his physical interpretation of the now president is unmatched, along with the cadence of his speech and the subject matter that Trump has been known to espouse. Adomian, though obviously much younger than Sanders, is right there with him. His speech patterns, mannerisms, and tone of voice that is incredibly similar to Senator Sanders makes for an entertaining parable. What’s most enjoyable about this sketch is the topics that they discuss. Trump, known for his hard stance on immigration, troubles with women, and his tendency to go on the attack are well expressed and over exaggerated. Sanders, known for his rhetoric on Socialism and criticisms of capitalism and corporate America are equally tackled and done so with fantastic farcical mastery.
The episode is on YouTube, simply search Trump vs. Bernie or Trump and Bernie @Midnight and it should be there for free viewing. This show isn’t an endorsement of any presidential candidate. It’s only the funny side of politics, and a wildly fun ‘out of left field’ interpretation of two of the world’s most notable presidential candidates. So, this show should prove enjoyable for anyone regardless of political leanings.
