"Acting exercises for Speakers and Comics: solo performing," by Jim Richardson

Pour yourself a cup of coffee,
Mix with:
Professional Stage Movement

My fellow Dellaventuras of the Internet, if you have found this page before December, 1997 (when Danny's show was cancelled), you've already done too much.

This leitmotif which Danny Aiello often pronounced to keynote the series is an essential definition of character:
"You see, everything we are is everything we were,
and everything we were is everything we will be.
That's the Dellaventura philosophy."

Jim's sunglasses on dash, seagull looking in through windshield

I know that you are all eager to learn more about the Jim Richardson philosophy. But for now . . .. And I say this with all due respect. Do yourself a favor. Win a fight, fall in love, . . .. But whatever you do, always go home justified.

Danny Aiello

Before he became a great character actor, Danny Aiello was the bouncer
at New York City's premiere comedy club, The Improv.

Despite his tough guy image, in his movie work he clearly had mastered the lost art of "making love to the audience," often coming off better than the film's slick but shallow Hollywood stars.

Aiello always seemed for real. We could almost read his mind as he considered, then acted. We didn't always have a clue what he was thinking, but sensed something was going on.

And we were ready to see his decision realized in action. It often came, swift and hard.

Aiello brings all his imaginative acting style from the movies, now expanded and improved for TV. The effect is at first low-key, then electrifying. Repeatedly.

And what does this have to do with stand-up comedy and keynote speaking?

The over-voice narrative is one guy talking, a hero telling you his life philosophy which tonight's show will illustrate by example, example, example.

Coupled with many on-camera solo pieces (usually near the end of the show) from reciting T. S. Eliot to singing lounge room songs, accompanying himself on piano—all the variety-act talent that used to make great comics and speakers
can now be seen in this fine actor.

People in the business had been waiting a long time to find out what Aiello could really do. Now we know.

By the third episode of his break-out series on CBS-TV "Dellaventura,"

10/2/97, Bill Maher had kidded the success of "Dellaventura" in passing on ABC-TV's "Politically Incorrect" (industry insiders call the show "PI"; now that you know this bit of trivia, step inside).
10/7/97, David Letterman on CBS-TV's "Late Show with David Letterman," devoted both a major section of his monologue and a running-gag parody to "Dellaventura." Never before has Letterman paid such early tribute to a new TV show.
By 10/8/97, Tom Snyder on CBS-TV's "Later," had also shown respect out of the chute in his opening remarks.

In the opening credits, it's not for nothing that Aiello punches that big body bag so hard:

He's a good boxer. And proves it with every move.
Plus, his line delivery is as punchy:
but always with the change of pace, always putting on a new spin.
Test yourself (with "Dellaventura," and/or try this same test on another TV show or movie of your choice--one you love excessively): video record the show, then try to copy a gesture, movement of the head, line delivery, etc.
- Video record yourself, and then see how close you can come.
  - Can you duplicate one vocal element of his performance of one sentence letter-perfect? three consecutive sentences?
  - Can you do the whole sequence of small movements and vocal inflections he uses to sell the entire sentence?
    - OK, now: how about three sentences in a row?
    - Oh, you say you can? Liar, liar: pants on fire!
- Not since the best of Greta Garbo and Orson Welles, have we had such original acting.
- This, in a weekly TV crime show!

Jimmy 2-jokes gives a student assignment

I say this to you, watch 2.5 hours of television a week.
Learn to work with a video recorder so you can record shows, and each week:

Nail all 5 "PI's" * and the latest episode of "Dellaventura."

Learn by example, example, example.

You say, “But just taping 'PI' is already .5 hour times five = 2.5 hours, plus an hour of 'Dellaventura'
makes 3.5 hours.”

Did I ask you to watch the commercials?

Not to worry: ORGANIZED COMEDY will continue.

If you need me, I'll be around.
(Wink.)

_______________________________
*Now, "Real Time with Bill Maher" is on HBO once a week for 58 minutes.

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Page last updated: Monday day, September, 2013, 4:20 pm and Thursday, June 5, 2014, 5:33 pm PST.