Rob Bartlett
Encyclopedia
Robert Bartlett is a comedian, actor and writer who gained widespread fame as a comedian on the radio and television show Imus in the Morning
. His most famous characters include: The Godfather
, Dr. Phil McGraw, Rush Limbaugh
, Larry King
, Bill Clinton
, Hulk Hogan
and Brian Wilson
(of the Beach Boys).
Not all of his characters consist of celebrity caricatures. One long-running recurring character is named Blind Mississippi White Boy Pig Feets Dupris, an old blues musician from Louisiana. "Feets" employs a harmonica to accompany his vocals on the "Imus" show. He often takes credit for writing songs or for having instituted, decades ago, innovations in American popular music that have been widely attributed in most music histories to African-American rhythm & blues, jazz and blues musicians.
Rob writes all the material he performs on the Imus show, as well as the lyrics to all of the song parodies the show has become famous for over the years. The lyrics often comment on current news items or societal phenomena. For example, the Bartlett character "Rush Limbaugh" sometimes expresses his commentary in song. An example from the years of the Clinton Administration was the "Limbaugh" criticism of the alleged ultra-feminist or unfeminine tendencies of First Lady Hillary Clinton in "The First Lady is a Tramp", a parody of Frank Sinatra
's version of "The Lady is a Tramp
". Somewhat later came another example of a "Limbaugh" song, a holiday parody of the Burl Ives
version of "A Holly Jolly Christmas". "A Robert Downey Christmas" was about seasonal and celebrity drug use and dysfunction.
Bartlett has been appearing on the "Imus" show, beginning on New York's WFAN-AM (660) radio, since the late 1980s, and now on WABC-AM (770) radio. His earlier characters included Arnold Schwarzenegger, Manuel Antonio Noriega, and fictional Japanese comedian "Buddy" Miyagi.
For a brief stint in 1993, Bartlett was one of the three original hosts of the "WWF Raw" broadcast team, along with 'Macho Man' Randy Savage, and Vince McMahon. His final appearance on the professional wrestling program was April 19, 1993.
Bartlett continues to be in demand for his stand up comedy. He makes annual appearances in venues throughout the Northeastern United States
.
Bartlett is also an accomplished stage actor. He made his Broadway debut in 'More to Love', which he wrote and starred in, with Dana Reeve and Joyce Van Patten. In 1999 he starred in 'Tabletop', for which he received a Drama Desk Award. His other roles include Amos Hart in 'Chicago the Musical', Herman in 'Sweet Charity' with Christina Applegate, originated the role of Mr. Mushnik in the Broadway production of "Little Shop of Horrors', and most recently played Speed in the Nathan Lane/Matthew Broderick revival of Neil Simon's 'The Odd Couple'. On television, in addition to a number of national commercials, he had a recurring role as Defense Attorney Milton Schoenfeld in 'Law and Order S.V.U.', and most recently, has guest starred on 'Ugly Betty' as Troy, the Security Guard. He was the voice of Marty the Dog in the hit animated children's show 'Kenny the Shark'. His film roles include 'Table One', 'Spin the Bottle', 'The Sex O'Clock News' and voiced Boss Baker Bunny in the animated films and commercials. His comic essays can be found on his website: robshow.com as well as on Imus' official website, Imus.com.
Bartlett fell ill prior to the Monday, August 25, 2008 broadcast of Imus in the Morning
when he lost consciousness and was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital. He was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, with a blood clot that lodged between both lungs after having passed through his heart.http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2008/08/27/2008-08-27_on_the_radio_kingsized_fundraiser_in_dc.html After his recovery, he became a print spokesperson for the hospital, where his face can be seen on posters throughout New York City.
In 2011, Rob returned to Broadway in the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
, playing the roles of Twimble and Wally Womper.
Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
. His most famous characters include: The Godfather
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
, Dr. Phil McGraw, Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
, Larry King
Larry King
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
, Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
and Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
(of the Beach Boys).
Not all of his characters consist of celebrity caricatures. One long-running recurring character is named Blind Mississippi White Boy Pig Feets Dupris, an old blues musician from Louisiana. "Feets" employs a harmonica to accompany his vocals on the "Imus" show. He often takes credit for writing songs or for having instituted, decades ago, innovations in American popular music that have been widely attributed in most music histories to African-American rhythm & blues, jazz and blues musicians.
Rob writes all the material he performs on the Imus show, as well as the lyrics to all of the song parodies the show has become famous for over the years. The lyrics often comment on current news items or societal phenomena. For example, the Bartlett character "Rush Limbaugh" sometimes expresses his commentary in song. An example from the years of the Clinton Administration was the "Limbaugh" criticism of the alleged ultra-feminist or unfeminine tendencies of First Lady Hillary Clinton in "The First Lady is a Tramp", a parody of Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
's version of "The Lady is a Tramp
The Lady Is a Tramp
"The Lady Is a Tramp" is a show tune from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical Babes In Arms in which it was introduced by former child star Mitzi Green. This song is a spoof of New York high society and its strict etiquette...
". Somewhat later came another example of a "Limbaugh" song, a holiday parody of the Burl Ives
Burl Ives
Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an American actor, writer and folk music singer. As an actor, Ives's work included comedies, dramas, and voice work in theater, television, and motion pictures. Music critic John Rockwell said, "Ives's voice .....
version of "A Holly Jolly Christmas". "A Robert Downey Christmas" was about seasonal and celebrity drug use and dysfunction.
Bartlett has been appearing on the "Imus" show, beginning on New York's WFAN-AM (660) radio, since the late 1980s, and now on WABC-AM (770) radio. His earlier characters included Arnold Schwarzenegger, Manuel Antonio Noriega, and fictional Japanese comedian "Buddy" Miyagi.
For a brief stint in 1993, Bartlett was one of the three original hosts of the "WWF Raw" broadcast team, along with 'Macho Man' Randy Savage, and Vince McMahon. His final appearance on the professional wrestling program was April 19, 1993.
Bartlett continues to be in demand for his stand up comedy. He makes annual appearances in venues throughout the Northeastern United States
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
.
Bartlett is also an accomplished stage actor. He made his Broadway debut in 'More to Love', which he wrote and starred in, with Dana Reeve and Joyce Van Patten. In 1999 he starred in 'Tabletop', for which he received a Drama Desk Award. His other roles include Amos Hart in 'Chicago the Musical', Herman in 'Sweet Charity' with Christina Applegate, originated the role of Mr. Mushnik in the Broadway production of "Little Shop of Horrors', and most recently played Speed in the Nathan Lane/Matthew Broderick revival of Neil Simon's 'The Odd Couple'. On television, in addition to a number of national commercials, he had a recurring role as Defense Attorney Milton Schoenfeld in 'Law and Order S.V.U.', and most recently, has guest starred on 'Ugly Betty' as Troy, the Security Guard. He was the voice of Marty the Dog in the hit animated children's show 'Kenny the Shark'. His film roles include 'Table One', 'Spin the Bottle', 'The Sex O'Clock News' and voiced Boss Baker Bunny in the animated films and commercials. His comic essays can be found on his website: robshow.com as well as on Imus' official website, Imus.com.
Bartlett fell ill prior to the Monday, August 25, 2008 broadcast of Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
when he lost consciousness and was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital. He was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, with a blood clot that lodged between both lungs after having passed through his heart.http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2008/08/27/2008-08-27_on_the_radio_kingsized_fundraiser_in_dc.html After his recovery, he became a print spokesperson for the hospital, where his face can be seen on posters throughout New York City.
In 2011, Rob returned to Broadway in the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name....
, playing the roles of Twimble and Wally Womper.