MADtv star Frank Caliendo to headline 2007 Gator Growl

Colleges & Universities University of Florida
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<p>GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Blue Key’s annual production, Gator Growl, has showcased some of the top comedic talent in the past; this year will be no exception. </p>

<p>Frank Caliendo will headline the 84th annual “world’s largest student-run pep rally” and is sure to make a great impression, literally.</p>

<p>Caliendo, regarded as one of today’s most talented impersonators, will join Growl’s list of distinguished comedian alumni. Past performers include Bill Cosby, Dane Cook, Bob Hope and Jerry Seinfeld. </p>

<p>Caliendo, a native Chicagoan, has parlayed a series of local comedy acts into national recognition. He has been a frequent guest on “Fox NFL Sunday” and “The Late Show with David Letterman” while starring on “MADtv” since 2001. This fall, Caliendo’s own show will air on TBS, titled “The Frank Show.”</p>

<p>Caliendo is famous for his witty sketches referencing pop culture and his realistic mimicry of a wide cast of politicians, actors, commentators and other comedians. He is most well-known for his John Madden and George W. Bush impersonations.</p>

<p>Caliendo will take the Growl stage Nov. 2 in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Gator Growl is the culminating event of Homecoming week and one of University of Florida’s oldest traditions. It began more than 80 years ago as a Dad’s Day and is now a large-scale professional production of talent, pyrotechnics, music, light shows, skits and comedy.</p>

<p>Student tickets can be purchased early through the G.A.T.O.R.S. hotline at 352-384-3262 for $13. General admission tickets are available through Ticketmaster at 904-353-3309 for $20.</p>

<p>Visit <a href=“http://www.frankcaliendo.com%5B/url%5D”>www.frankcaliendo.com</a> and <a href=“http://www.gatorgrowl.org%5B/url%5D”>www.gatorgrowl.org</a> for more information on Caliendo and Gator Growl. </p>

<p><a href=“http://insideuf.ufl.edu/2007/07/09/growl-comic/[/url]”>http://insideuf.ufl.edu/2007/07/09/growl-comic/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Is it just me or UF could have done better, especially from last year?</p>

<p>Hopefully this was a last resort.</p>

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<p>He’s not bad. He has a great George Bush impression:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAMIlPudalQ[/url]”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAMIlPudalQ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Gator Growl always gets the rising stars. Keep that in perspective.</p>

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<p>True, but it will be nice to say “Hey Dane Co–” nevermind. Hopefully he will put on a good show.</p>

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<p>It’s a safe pick. He’s going to get a lot of laughs. He’s a great impressionist. But that’s really all he has. I just wonder how we can get Lewis Black for free, but when we are paying we can’t do better than Frank C.</p>

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<p>His Al Pacino impersonation…fuggettaboutit</p>

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<p>Also, he has a new show coming out on TBS. </p>

<p>Me + Frank Caliendo = BFFAE477</p>

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<p>We didnt get Lewis Black for free, we paid about 50,000 for him. </p>

<p>What I dont understand is why they think that he can headline the show and they dont need a second person. I think hes funny but I also thought (well used to think) that Dane Cook was funny when I saw him at Gator Growl but I was still glad there was another comic coming on afterwards.</p>

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<p>"We didnt get Lewis Black for free, we paid about 50,000 for him. "</p>

<p>Sorry I misspoke. I meant that the show was free for students whereas we have to pay for gator growl.</p>

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<p>that clip is pretty funny</p>

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<p>I agree with Kristen. Last year we had Jim Gaffigan and Gabriel Iglesias. While I find Frank Caliendo to be funny, I was a bit disappointed we couldn’t do better. I know FSU brought in Stepehen Colbert for their annual Pow Wow and while Gator Growl has a lot more notoriety that Pow Wow, IMO, I feel we could have gotten someone better or at least two comedians.</p>

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<p>FSU got Colbert? $*(&</p>

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<p>Yeah, for last year’s Pow Wow, FSU got Stephen Colbert. But, FSU’s Pow Wow is more expensive than Gator Growl and Pow Wow isn’t in their football stadium like ours so tickets are limited.</p>

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<p>DUDE, if we got Stephan Colbert I would die…seriously, I love him so much.</p>