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Some impressions are funny, and some are so bold they land right in front of the real star. We’re diving into the most savage celebrity impersonations ever caught on camera, from late-night digs to talk-show takedowns and award-show ambushes. These hilarious roasts had the actual targets laughing, cringing, or joining in on the joke.
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00:00Well, that's the news. I'm Tina Fey.
00:02And I'm Jimmy Fallon.
00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:07And today, we're counting down our picks for the top 20 most savage impressions of celebrities done in front of
00:13the actual person.
00:14Here's the thing. There's no way he's my son.
00:18Yeah, here's the thing, Mom. Let me explain. First of all.
00:21Number 20. Jamie Foxx as Donald Glover.
00:25This is America. Don't got you slipping on.
00:28Hey, look how I'm living now.
00:30As his alter ego Childish Gambino, Glover took the music world by storm with This is America.
00:35The music video, which covers heavy themes of racism and violence, is blended with Glover satirically dancing to the chaos
00:42around him.
00:43Naturally, his unique moves became a talking point, with numerous interpretations and inspirations online.
00:49Not one to let this go unacknowledged, BET Awards host Jamie Foxx decided to have his fun.
00:54Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:58Along with roasting Glover's rolled-out-of-bed look, Foxx got the crowd singing along to This is America and
01:04capped it off with an exaggerated take on Glover's moves on stage.
01:07Glover took it all in good fun, though, joining Foxx for an impromptu duet to the crowd's delight.
01:12We just want the money. Money just for you. I know you want to have it. But just for me.
01:21Girl, you got me dancing.
01:23Number 19. George Lopez as Al Pacino.
01:26This country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when
01:34you get the power, then you get the woman.
01:36Among all the iconic characters portrayed by the screen legend, Tony Montana arguably stands out as his most quotable.
01:43Loud, crude, and endlessly imitable, the bad guy is a perfect subject for impressionists.
01:49Me? I always tell the truth. Even when I lie.
01:55So, it's easy to see why George Lopez couldn't resist breaking out his own rendition of the character at the
02:0135th AFI Lifetime Achievement Awards Ceremony honoring Al Pacino.
02:05Playing up Montana's most outrageous moments to its craziest lengths, Lopez is hilariously unbridled and unhinged.
02:12Why me? Huh? Why me? After Scarface, I'm the only Latino. Al Pacino didn't kill. That's why.
02:19Tony Montana was the Lindsay Lohan of the 80s.
02:25With no care for the formality of the event, the comedian runs loose, cursing up a humorous storm.
02:31The set is so wild and over-the-top, it even gets a reaction out of the famously stoic Pacino
02:36himself.
02:37So say goodnight to the bad guy Al. Thank you for inviting me, man.
02:45Let's take a look at the shots!
02:47Number 18. Bill Hader as Conan O'Brien.
02:50And I've never met anybody who did a Conan impression.
02:53Oh, yeah, I do a Conan impression. I did Conan on the show, yeah.
02:56You do a Conan impression?
02:57I did it on SNL, yeah. I do a Conan. I do a really good Conan.
03:00Impressions are meant to be as accurate as they are funny.
03:03But when it comes to Hader's impression of the late-night host, it deliberately leans into the latter.
03:08Uh, how you doing? I'm going to fly it.
03:18While appearing on O'Brien's show, Hader claims to be one of the only performers willing to imitate him.
03:24But as it turns out, his take is an exaggeration that he refuses to acknowledge as completely off-base.
03:30Along with co-host Andy Richter, Hader jokes about Conan's supposed eating habits, jokingly comparing him to a pelican.
03:37He puts things whole and just goes...
03:42Like a pelican.
03:45Yeah, that's me. That's how you eat, right?
03:47Never one to take offense, Conan takes the whole gag in stride,
03:51as Hader's intentionally ridiculous impression draws the biggest laughs from the person he's poking fun at.
03:57Number 17. Jim Carrey as Jack Nicholson.
04:01Terrorizes.
04:05Wait till they get a load of me.
04:08Iconic and easily recognizable, just about everyone in Hollywood has a Jack Nicholson impression.
04:13And as one of the funniest people in show business, Jim Carrey's version ranks up there with the very best.
04:19While speaking at the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony for Meryl Streep,
04:23Carrey took humorous swings at some other names like Robert De Niro and Bruce Dern.
04:27Or Bruce Dern? Where's the beef? Where is it? Give me the beef or I'll crack your head open!
04:35However, Nicholson is easily the most delighted by his own, bursting out an audible laugh as Carrey imitates his mannerisms.
04:42While his take on the other performers is funny in its own right,
04:46Nicholson's clear amusement only makes Carrey's performance land even harder.
04:50I can't believe I ate the whole thing.
04:54After all, it's not every day you see the Riddler make the Joker laugh.
04:58Number 16. Ariana Grande as Cynthia Erivo.
05:01I'm so into you, I can barely breathe.
05:07She may be a multi-million selling recording artist and Grammy winner,
05:11but Ariana Grande is also an incredible impressionist.
05:14Anyone who's seen her many trips to SNL knows just how well she can imitate the biggest names in the
05:20business.
05:21Jennifer!
05:22I'm just like a snackaholic. I mean, I love Pringles.
05:24If no one's looking, I'll eat like a whole can.
05:27Like every day is my cheat day, you know what I mean?
05:29But on this Access Hollywood segment,
05:32Grande was challenged to an impression of her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo.
05:35Not one to back down.
05:37She delivers all of Erivo's articulate and poised traits down to a T.
05:41Of course, babe. Of course.
05:45What was that there?
05:46What was that there?
05:47That is very good, actually.
05:49She is going to trip, please.
05:51Scarily accurate, but equally wholesome,
05:54Grande imitates her castmate's well-spoken mannerisms much to Erivo's own delight.
05:59By the end, we have to agree with both of them.
06:01They really do seem to have spent too much time together, but not enough.
06:05A work in progress.
06:06That's really good.
06:07That's scary. We spent too much time together.
06:10No, no, I love it.
06:11But not enough.
06:12No, no, no.
06:13Number 15.
06:14Chloe Fineman as SNL cast members and Elizabeth Olsen.
06:18Hey, guys. I'm Chloe Fineman.
06:20It's been a really unique season,
06:23and people are always asking what happens when a cast member has to miss a show because they're sick.
06:27AI replacing actors is a real concern today.
06:31But if this SNL segment is anything to go by,
06:34Chloe Fineman might be the bigger threat.
06:36So, every week, I run lines with all the cast members just in case I need to jump into their
06:40roles.
06:41Do you think we can take it from the top of the sketch?
06:43Yeah, yeah. Exterior Met Gala. Kate is an E! News correspondent.
06:47Okay.
06:47With pitch-perfect accuracy, the performer embodies her castmate's traits and signature mannerisms.
06:53Whether imitating Kate McKinnon's unbothered confidence, Cecily Strong's cadence, or Melissa Villasenor's excitable energy, she hits a home run each
07:01time.
07:01Hey, pal. Oh, yeah. I thought I would do, too.
07:06But I see I was more of a pal, you know?
07:08So, it's just not gonna work out.
07:10Fineman further proves her deceptively accurate skills by tricking Benedict Cumberbatch into thinking she's his MCU co-star, Elizabeth Olsen.
07:18Even with the actress next to her, it's almost impossible to tell them apart.
07:23What's going on?
07:25Uh, I thought I was talking to you.
07:29I'm me. No, so am I.
07:31The I am me.
07:33The sketch plays up the humor by having everyone go along with Fineman as their understudy.
07:38But we wouldn't be surprised if SNL ends up with a cast of one in the future.
07:42Number 14. Jay Farrow as Shaquille O'Neal.
07:45I like raisins.
07:47They're just like grapes.
07:50Only they small.
07:52You are the dumbest millionaire I know.
07:56When it comes to Farrow, the comedian might as well be a human jukebox of impressions.
08:00With a long list of names impersonated to pinpoint accuracy, Farrow is the gold standard of this art form.
08:07Shaq, I believe I read this. You bought a piece of the Sacramento Kings.
08:10That's right.
08:11Shaq. I like the Kings.
08:14Like the name. Like Sacramento. Good town. Good sandwiches.
08:18The performer has portrayed Shaq on several platforms, but he got the chance to do it in person at the
08:23Inside the NBA All-Star roast.
08:25Playing into the format, Farrow cuts loose, pretending to be inside the basketball star's mind.
08:30All my friends are saying mean things.
08:34Hurt my feelings. Shaq a big strong man outside.
08:38But soft inside.
08:40Putting on the act of a bitter and offended Shaq, Farrow goes on a comedic monologue with playful shots at
08:45Charles Barkley.
08:46But with the NBA stars in attendance, the impression feels less like mockery and more like a shared joke among
08:53friends.
08:53Charles probably think Dr. Red is a girl doctor. Shaq a boy doctor.
09:00Number 13. Eddie Murphy as Mike Tyson
09:03Ladies and gentlemen, the heavyweight champion of the world, Mr. Mike Tyson.
09:07As the heavyweight champion, many would argue that Mike Tyson was the most dangerous man on the planet.
09:12But even that didn't stop Eddie Murphy from poking the bear at the 60th anniversary celebration for Sammy Davis Jr.
09:18I think Mike can do it a little better than that, Mike.
09:23After hearing Tyson deliver his own tribute to Davis, Murphy insists on hearing the boxer's unmistakable cadence and keeps pushing
09:30further.
09:31And what better way to demonstrate what he's looking for than to imitate the man himself?
09:35More Mike, you know, a little bit more Mike Tyson.
09:38You know, more Mike Tyson-ism, but like...
09:41Hello ladies and gentlemen, Sammy and I...
09:43Too bad for us, Tyson cuts it short by pulling the comedian away from the stage just when the laughs
09:48break out.
09:48As revealed decades later, Tyson wasn't informed in advance.
09:52So Murphy really was out there playing with fire for the sake of a joke.
09:56And you imitated him on that show.
09:58Yeah.
09:59Did you run that...
10:00Did you let him know beforehand that you were gonna imitate him?
10:03No.
10:04No, yeah.
10:05Number 12. Jimmy Fallon and Robert De Niro as each other.
10:09We do impressions of you now and then on the show that I hope you enjoy.
10:14They're all good ones.
10:15No, yeah, listen.
10:17Yeah, I mean, yeah.
10:18But...
10:18Instead of one performer burning the other, both Fallon and De Niro hit some pretty good shots in this late
10:24night moment.
10:25After Questlove delivers what he admits is the worst De Niro impression, Jimmy takes a stab at his own.
10:30I used to do...
10:31I do you from Cape Fear, but I do you just laughing.
10:34Yeah, this is it.
10:35This is...
10:35I have a cigar.
10:36I have a cigar.
10:42With a cigar in hand, he channels the most over-the-top Max Cady impression he can muster.
10:48Although this exaggerated take gets a laugh from the audience, De Niro remains as stoic as always.
10:53That quickly changes when Jimmy asks for an impersonation of him instead,
10:57bringing out arguably the most slapstick side of the legendary actor we've ever seen.
11:02I'll close my eyes.
11:04I've done...
11:09They're performances might not be the most articulate,
11:13but you cannot deny the absolute commitment from both men.
11:17Number 11, Justin Timberlake as Jimmy Fallon.
11:20We're here with Justin Timberlake.
11:22His new single, Suit and Tie, has over a million downloads.
11:25His new album, The 2020 Experience, will be released next week.
11:29Jimmy Fallon's excitable nature makes him an easy target for impressions,
11:33and Justin Timberlake has probably done more than we can count.
11:36But during one late-night appearance, JT tried something a little different,
11:40showing us what an irritated Jimmy looks like.
11:42My favorite is when you get frustrated.
11:45Yeah.
11:46You do this thing where you're like...
11:50My hands are...
11:51Yeah, your hands and your neck, you're just kind of like...
11:53Yeah, like that.
11:54Rather than a full-on impression,
11:56Timberlake delivers the small nuances and quirks that make Fallon who he is.
12:00Putting Jimmy humorously on edge,
12:02the host ends up behaving just like Timberlake describes.
12:06He said, tomorrow.
12:09It's not me.
12:10It's not an impression of me at all.
12:12He said, come on, my man.
12:13Come on, my man.
12:14Can we do that fast, my man?
12:15My man.
12:16Oh, my God.
12:17What starts as a playful jab at his friend
12:19turns into a peek behind the curtain,
12:21as JT shows us how Jimmy might act behind his late-night persona.
12:26Number 10, Frank Caliendo as David Letterman.
12:29Known for his stand-up comedy and television appearances,
12:32Frank Caliendo has garnered a reputation
12:34as one of the best impressionists of the century.
12:36It's really great to be here at Impressionist Week.
12:38Every impressionist seems to have a signature impression.
12:41For me, it's John Madden.
12:42He displayed this talent when he stopped by the late show
12:45with David Letterman to perform an all-star lineup of characters.
12:48After doing accurate interpretations of George W. Bush and John Madden,
12:51the comedian transitions into a surprise performance of Letterman himself.
12:56Every time I'm here, the only thing I can think of is Dave on the side going,
12:59hey, kids, I could listen to that John Madden all day.
13:05What do you think, Paul?
13:06Caliendo captures the facial expressions and speech patterns of the host perfectly.
13:10The comedian also makes a commendable turn as the show's bandleader, Paul Schaefer.
13:15And I'm not sure if you should have done it.
13:17I thought it was okay, Dave.
13:18Okay.
13:19When Caliendo imitates the presenter's laugh, we can tell he nailed it.
13:24Seeing the comedian fearlessly impersonate the host made for great late-night TV.
13:29Number 9.
13:30Oprah Winfrey as Reese Witherspoon
13:32While three cast members of A Wrinkle in Time were promoting their film,
13:36they joined James Corden on the late, late show couch.
13:38Is it true that when you were away shooting the movie in New Zealand,
13:41you missed your children so much, you would treat Mindy like a child?
13:48Is this true?
13:49You know, James, I like to create a lot of activities.
13:53The host asked the three performers about their time working together
13:56and prompted them to do accurate impressions of each other.
13:59Oprah Winfrey's imitation of Reese Witherspoon is a standout with its southern drawl.
14:03Girl, girls, ladies, ladies, this is what we're doing.
14:06This is what we're doing, y'all.
14:08Y'all, I have a helicopter, gonna pick us up right in front of the yard, right there.
14:12We're gonna go right in front of the yard.
14:13Then we're gonna go to the top of the mountain, then we're gonna hike, y'all.
14:16The TV legend makes her co-star crack up with details about the actress's on-set antics.
14:21In the interest of fairness, Witherspoon also gets to fight back with an impression of her own.
14:26It's not the giving of the car.
14:27Okay, go on.
14:28It's probably something very emphatic with a very low voice
14:32about how deep the meaning of life is.
14:38She also gets to imitate Mindy Kaling, too.
14:40The other thing I love about Mindy is, like, this is so fun,
14:43but I also have some follow-up questions about it.
14:45We never expected to see these powerhouses take jabs at each other.
14:48Thankfully, they have as much fun roasting each other as we did watching them.
14:53Number 8. Kiki Palmer as Angela Bassett.
14:5516 years after the release of the film Akilah and the Bee,
14:59Angela Bassett and Kiki Palmer reunited in a discussion for Vanity Fair.
15:03Hey, darling.
15:06It's so good to see you.
15:08You too, Freddie, girl.
15:09Come on. Let's sit down and chat.
15:11This included some fond memories of the filming and some fan appreciation from Palmer.
15:15She does a spot-on impression of Bassett's role as Katherine Jackson in the Jacksons' An American Dream.
15:21In the video, the younger actress puts her entire face into this imitation to capture the veteran's mannerisms.
15:27You were alive. And you were cheaped. And I don't want you. I don't want you. I don't want you.
15:34No more.
15:34Yeah!
15:36For a moment, we thought Bassett would be thrown off by Palmer's highly dramatic take.
15:40But the esteemed performer decides to join in the mimicry.
15:44She embraces the over-the-top nature of her past role with glee.
15:48Together, the duo made an unfiltered impression absolutely hilarious.
15:52It was too good!
15:54Yes!
15:54Your acting is just too good, and that's why it's so easy, honestly, to impersonate in my mind,
15:59because I'm like, you just gotta put that emotion into it!
16:03Bubble up, bro!
16:05Number 7. Bill Hader as John Malkovich.
16:07Bill Hader's talk show host character, Vinny Vedeci,
16:10welcomed John Malkovich in this hilarious Saturday Night Live appearance.
16:15Hey, John Malkovich. John Malkovich! John Malkovich!
16:20After doing a loose attempt at a career retrospective,
16:23Vedeci does an impersonation of the seasoned actor.
16:26Hader effortlessly imitates his scene partner's cadence and voice perfectly.
16:30I can be John Malkovich.
16:32I'm sorry?
16:34Hello.
16:35My name is John Malkovich.
16:38I don't sound anything like that.
16:40No, no, you sound exactly like this.
16:44And, to make matters more impressive,
16:47he even retains hints of the accent he was doing for Vedeci at the same time.
16:51While Malkovich plays along,
16:52the idea of getting easily impersonated by someone who is also putting on a fake accent is pretty savage.
17:07Hader's ability to juggle both his character and a celebrity impression is both brutal and peak comedic talent.
17:14Number 6. Julie Bowen as Sofia Vergara
17:18After the cast of Modern Family got on Ellen,
17:21we were treated to some great banter.
17:23It also gave Julie Bowen a chance to show off her impression of Sofia Vergara.
17:27Who does the best Sofia Vergara?
17:29Julie.
17:30I think it's Julie.
17:30Julie?
17:31I just do it a lot.
17:32It doesn't mean it's good.
17:33She's definitely not the only person to have an imitation of the Colombian actress.
17:37However, Bowen definitely rose above the rest with a story about getting ready for the talk show.
17:42She goes,
17:42What are you going to wear for Ellen?
17:44And I said,
17:45You know, I'm going to wear,
17:46she goes,
17:46Is it cocktail?
17:48Well, I'm wearing like trousers,
17:50but cocktail.
17:53Vergara and her co-stars immediately chuckled at the precision of the accent.
17:57On the one hand,
17:58Bowen's interpretation took shots at the actress's personality and well-known voice.
18:02I will wear something tight and like a dolce maybe,
18:06but it will have fruit on it or flowers,
18:08so you know it's for the day.
18:10It's for the day.
18:12But she also captured the performer's joyful personality and fashion sense.
18:17Vergara can't help but agree that it was accurate when she discussed her wardrobe.
18:22Number 5.
18:23Tom Hiddleston as Graham Norton
18:25When Graham Norton welcomed Tom Hiddleston onto his talk show,
18:28he probably didn't consider that he would be the source of an impression.
18:31People do impressions of you, don't they?
18:33Very rarely.
18:34Yeah.
18:35Very rarely.
18:36Am I in your canon?
18:38No, no, no.
18:39I mean, I haven't.
18:39It's like, I always, I feel like I wouldn't be able to do it.
18:42Until I've met you, but I have.
18:43After the host mentioned that people don't often do impersonations of him,
18:47the actor took it as a challenge.
18:49Hiddleston asked for props and used the presenter's cards to great effect.
18:53So, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.
18:58So, so you, so you, you've never been on the show.
19:04Before Norton can realize what's going on, the actor completely took over.
19:09Hiddleston chose to capture the host by going over the top and rapidly switching pitch and tone.
19:14By the end of the whirlwind interpretation,
19:16everyone on the couch is completely amused by the performance.
19:20Norton himself had no choice but to admit Hiddleston had nailed him.
19:25I feel your pain, Bob.
19:28First time, there's only a first time for everything.
19:31Number 4.
19:32Chloe Fineman as Julianne Moore.
19:34Sometimes it takes a truly specific impression to wow a crowd.
19:38Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman did just that when she was a guest on The Ellen Show.
19:43Hi, Chloe.
19:44Hi.
19:44It's so nice to meet you.
19:46I understand, I learned today in the meeting that you were almost on the show.
19:49When the host brings out Julianne Moore to join them,
19:52the comedian unleashes her best turn as the actress.
19:55Fineman's bit is all about how similar the actress's sad and happy expressions can be.
19:59I do a thing, um, is this Julianne Moore laughing or crying?
20:09Moore was clearly surprised by the performance at first.
20:12In one fell swoop, Fineman nailed the actress's voice and poked fun at a subtle trait.
20:18Her ingenuity clearly separates the comedian from other impressionists.
20:23Both performers end up trying the same routine in unison in a hysterical finale.
20:32Number 3.
20:33Jimmy Fallon as Russell Brand.
20:35Russell Brand is a brash and mischievous comedic personality that few people can imitate well.
20:41We've known each other a long time, Jimmy, and I think I've put more into our relationship than you have.
20:45No, no, no, I don't want, don't do this on air, don't put, don't say this on air.
20:48Thankfully for us, the comedian got a solid impression from the host of The Tonight Show.
20:53Jimmy Fallon's goofy inflections and physical performance mimic Brand better than almost anyone.
20:58He spoofs his guest in a fully-fledged presentation that matches the target's voice.
21:03When you come out, you're very flowy and very high-pitched and very outgoing and you're on and you're looking
21:09and you're sexy and unbuttoned.
21:12By the end of the bit, we're convinced that Fallon's impression might have gotten under the star's skin a bit.
21:16While Brand does play along, we have to give it to the host for fully going in on the comedian
21:21with the impression without any hesitation.
21:23That's a bloody good impression. In a way, it's an honor to be humiliated by you.
21:28Number 2, Andy Samberg as Nicolas Cage.
21:32A fixture on Saturday Night Live in the late 2000s, Andy Samberg brought a recurring segment to Weekend Update with
21:38his best Nicolas Cage impression.
21:40But the best version brought in the real actor himself.
21:50Cage plays opposite his doppelganger with all of the self-awareness that fans could hope for.
21:55However, Samberg kicks it up a notch with his anger-induced rendition of the performer.
22:00How is this possible? I'm looking at two identical Nick Cages.
22:06Well, Seth, I can explain if you just calm down!
22:11I'm cold.
22:12From his hairline to his aggressive intonations, the comic actor gives this performance his all in the face of the
22:18real master.
22:19It all comes together with just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek delivery and an iconic final line.
22:24The time has come for us to ride on to our next adventure.
22:28What is that?
22:30We're gonna have a three-way with a declaration of independence.
22:34Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
22:38Will Ferrell as Janet Reno.
22:39The pair danced it out in Ferrell's final impression of the former U.S. Attorney General.
22:44Oh, Janet, I can't believe I have to say goodbye.
22:47What do you do when you get sad?
22:49I just dance. Now, hit it!
22:55Jimmy Fallon as Enrique Iglesias.
22:58Honestly, we're still wondering who the real Enrique is after this performance.
23:11Abby Elliott as Zooey Deschanel.
23:14The SNL alum captured Deschanel and all her quirks right in front of her.
23:18This lamp used to be an antique watering can.
23:23And if you can believe it, this trendy necklace used to be an old badminton racket.
23:37Before we continue, check out this single from SoundMojo's album current, EDM Transformed.
23:43Check out the full track and album below.
23:59Number 1. All guests as Arnold Schwarzenegger.
24:02On an episode of The Graham Norton Show,
24:04an eclectic panel of guests gather to try out their very best Arnold Schwarzenegger impressions.
24:17The one fact that made this panel must-see TV
24:21is that the action movie legend was also present to experience it all in real time.
24:26Cara Delevingne and Emilia Clarke jumped in first with energetic performances.
24:33Tiny Tempa and Graham Norton also dropped pretty decent impressions.
24:39And what did you do?
24:41I'm old, not obsolete.
24:43But Jake Gyllenhaal shone with his take on a line from Kindergarten Cop.
24:48There is no bathroom.
24:51Throughout it all, the Hollywood icon took it all on the chin and let the others have fun.
24:56It ends up being a loving and savage spoof of some of the best lines in his career.
25:01Do you have any other impressions in mind?
25:04Let us know in the comments.
25:10Bye.
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