SNL tastes Athens and sings about it

by Ritu Kelotra
THE POST

Who knew a comedy sketch could revolve around those shriveled up, crazy-haired troll dolls?

Jimmy Fallon, a member of the Saturday Night Live cast, took to the Baker Center Ballroom stage Saturday night, beginning with impersonations of various celebrities in auditions for troll dolls. The characters included John Travolta, Jerry Seinfeld and everyone's favorite mail carrier, Cliff from Cheers. Fallon performed before a standing-room-only crowd.

Fallon began his career on SNL as a featured player during the 1998-99 season and has been a full cast member since this fall. He is best known for his impressions of other celebrities, including former SNL cast member Adam Sandler.

The event, which was sponsored by Ohio University's University Program Council, also included an opening act by comedian Barry Sobel, who appeared in Revenge of the Nerds 2: Nerds in Paradise.

This weekend was Fallon's first visit to Ohio, and though he made jokes about tractors as a primary mode of transportation and "Townies" in the audience, the variety of bars here made an impression on him - particularly Buffalo Wings and Rings.

"In Ohio, you have 20-some bars to choose from," he said to a cheering crowd. "You can go to Wings and Rings, Onion Rings and Things and Chips and Things."

Fallon's career began at 17, when he won a Best Impressionist contest at a local club in New York. His impressions were the highlight of Saturday night's show.

With an acoustic guitar, Fallon impersonated musicians pining for his popular prop, the wild- and pink-haired troll doll.

As George Michael, Fallon sang about the troll doll to the music of Faith, complete with Michael's trademark butt shake. The audience went crazy and Fallon gave them more. His singing also included music by Alanis Morisette, U2 and Third-Eye Blind.

Despite this being his first visit to Ohio, Fallon was able to relate to college students by giving them advice on topics ranging from roommates to hooking up. Although OU does not have incoming first-year students fill out roommate compatibility forms, Fallon emphatically denied their success.

"You might say you like rock and roll, ladies and staying up late," he said of the first hypothetical roommate. "And end up with someone who likes opera, (is) gay and narcoleptic."

Fallon also suggested not rooming with best friends from home and joked about the infamous "Walk of Shame."

Students may have wondered how Fallon could perform on a Saturday night, when SNL tapes shows live on Saturday nights. Fallon said he has two weeks off right now.

He said the show is taped live, with a dress rehearsal at 8 p.m. that night and the real taping later on in the night. There is editing that goes into the show, but Fallon said the amount varies.

"Sometimes they cut things that suck. Sometimes we don't," he mischievously said to the attentive crowd.

A freshman from New York, Kerry Adams, said she thought the show was an April Fool's joke, but was happy it wasn't.

"I really laughed along to the jokes about Ohio," she said.

Sophomore Ted Kearns was pleased that UPC was able to bring Fallon to OU.

"I thought he was really funny, especially his jokes about OU and Wings and Rings," he said. "His impressions were dead-on, but bringing Wings and Rings into the show was great."

UPC Public Relations Director Stacy Apar said she was pleased with the outcome of the show. She thought bringing Fallon to OU would receive a successful showing.

"It's the beginning of the quarter and everyone needs a good laugh," she said.

Fallon's performance did prove to be a fun change for OU students, as crowds anxiously tried to meet the comedian after the show. He did not meet with fans, but Fallon did take a little bit of Athens with him - especially Wings and Rings.