Browsing TagSNL

DEEP NIGHT SEASON 10 BEGINS 9/20!

Friends. Dale’s looking forward to seeing you at The Slipper Room on Weds, September 20th at 8pm for the live Season 10 premiere of the Deep Night podcast. Dale’s got a terrific lineup of guests – most of whom are still covered in body glitter after attending the recent Emmy Awards. We’re finding comedy in dark places with Matt Rogers (Las Culturistas), Rae Sanni (The President Show), Kristen Bartlett (SNL), and Melinda Taub (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee). For tickets and more info visit:
http://www.slipperroom.com/event/1519641-guest-event-deep-night-dale-new-york/.

All of these guests are helping to define and contextualize and offer relief from our current political moment. Meanwhile – Dale is fresh off his stint as spiritual consultant to the catering staff at some of NY’s hottest fashion events for New York Fashion Week. His turtleneck is pressed, his owlmulet gleaming, and his demons are mostly in check. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the tenth season of the show and to learn more about essential oils from a licensed regional distributor.

And after this live event tune into the podcast for more great conversations. But really – come to the event. Dale promises a good time.

Photo of Dale looking especially mystical by the one and only Sandy Honig.

Why I’d Be Great as SNL’s Announcer

Update 9/18: We wish Darrell Hammond all the best and congratulate him on securing the dream gig. Thanks for all the votes of confidence. I’ll be out on the sidewalk with my microphone if anyone finds themselves in need of an enthusiastic voice tinged with sadness.

Original post:
Last night I couldn’t stop thinking about SNL. Specifically the job of announcer that is now vacant (or not – they probably filled it by now, so forgive how foolish this will look the day they discuss who got the job) following the passing of the legendary Don Pardo. I was thinking how, even though I am very happy where I am career wise (hi co-workers and board members!), that the only job I’ve ever really wanted is the announcer gig at SNL.

So here are eight reasons that I would be perfect for a job that is probably not even open. (And I fully acknowledge that a non-white guy voice is probably a more progressive path forward and I would applaud that choice forever, but hey, a kid’s gotta dream, right?)

1) Born to it. I am exactly one day older than Saturday Night Live. Given my erratic sleep schedule that first night, I probably watched it. I might not have been able to hold my head up, but I knew something monumental was happening, the culture had shifted. I knew exactly one day without SNL and that day was awful, and I never want to live in that world again.

2) Experience. I’ve been cast as an announcer in things since middle school. My voice changed in the sixth grade, long before the rest of me. So I was this scrawny big haired kid who resembled Egon from Ghostbusters with a voice like Barry White. It did not help me with the ladies, but I’m hoping it helps me secure a job where I get to say the names of celebrities and Maroon 5.

3) Stay the course. Let’s say you want someone who sounds exactly like Don Pardo. I can be that person. I even have a recording of that happening. Take a listen to this interview wherein I really go to town on a bunch of 1990s bands. If Fine Young Cannibals ever get back together, I’m your guy. My take is in this bit at around the 12 min mark:

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/167409944″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

4) Oh, Canada! My family has deep roots in our great neighbor to the North. I get what’s going on, Lorne! Also – thanks to my great grandfather and his somewhat ill-advised, possibly con-artist like decision to fly a broken plane from New England to Toronto – Canada has an Air Force. You’re welcome!

5) 40 More Years. I’m almost 40. You’re almost 40. I got 40 left in me and I am willing to give em all to you. Like a John Legend song, you are my end and my beginning. You want consistency? I am loyal, I will never leave to star in a movie, I have no other aspirations beyond being your announcer, and I will never do less than 110%.

6) NYC based. I gather Don lived in the desert somewhere. Those plane tickets must have been expensive. I live in Brooklyn, overlooking the pier and a bunch of garbage trucks. So yeah, I am here to stay. I mean, if you cover a MetroCard, I’d be grateful, but also NOT A DEAL BREAKER!

7) Almost 40. Yeesh. I’m almost 40, which probably means I’m older than everyone in the cast, and probably always will be. What can I bring to this youthful group? I can fill that adorable/authority figure/cool Uncle spot without any aging make up. I’m almost bald on my own!

8) Easy to work with. Ask anyone. I’m a champ. People genuinely like me. (I think.)

Obviously, I heart SNL pretty bad. Probably no other television program has had such a direct impact on what I chose to do and the things I’ve thought possible in comedy and in life. I’ve seen almost every episode. I stuck with it during some cast transitions that didn’t always work, and I have celebrated when a sketch knocked it out of the park. I love the failures as much as the successes. I have had Toonces the Driving Cat theme stuck in my head for weeks. I bought the It’s Pat My Life Exposed book and the Stuart Smalley book. The 15th Anniversary calendar hung on my wall for many years more than it should have. And while this starts to sound like maybe I care too much – that’s probably true – but I hope this also conveys the deep level of respect I have for this comedy institution. And c’mon – how fun would it be to be their announcer? Ack! Can’t sleep.