THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 12, 1996 TAG: 9603120049
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
DANA CARVEY says he'll wait until just a few hours before air time to tape his show for ABC, which premieres tonight on 9:30 in a sweet time slot - after ``Home Improvement'' and before ``NYPD Blue.''
New episodes of both shows will be aired.
In that time period, ABC is expecting Carvey to pull a 20 share at least. What kind of a show will Carvey do, exactly?
I can't say for sure because I've only seen bits and pieces of ``The Dana Carvey Show.'' His Paul McCartney impression is dead-on. And he's bringing on the gay nephew of The Church Lady character he played for years on ``Saturday Night Live.''
When he met with TV writers in Los Angeles, Carvey promised to spoof just about everyone whose name has been on Page 1 or the front of The National Enquirer. Will he do his impression of Princess Di? You bet. And Camilla Parker Bowles, too.
How about a Bob Dole imitation? No problem, said Carvey.
``I think of Bob Dole as an auctioneer babbling on,'' said Carvey. ``I'll do Dole, Newt Gingrich, Steve Forbes, President Clinton. Every-body.''
Then he tried out a little Clinton for the TV press.
``I'm a good president. But I got to be honest with ya. Sometimes, my wife is a lyin' sack of Hillary potatas. I hope she doesn't drag me down in the polls just because she doesn't know what the truth is.''
Carvey and his producer, Robert Smigel, promise a 9:30 sketch show with the edge and attitude you see on TV after 11:30.
``For early night, we're going to be very late night in that we are not going to pull punches,'' he said. ``You'll see stuff you have never seen before at this hour.
``We'll be fast-paced, kind of wicked, a little mean and incredibly silly.''
Anything else?
``Yeah. I'll sing and dance.''
Carvey won't be alone. His supporting cast of 20 will be called the Zanies. They should be ready for last-minute changes.
``We're not going to tape 10 shows ahead of time,'' said Carvey. ``We intend to be current. I plan to tape the show right up to the time we go on the air to come up with a fresh angle. Maybe as close as four hours.''
Sketch comedy. Martin Short tried it recently in prime time. He flopped. What makes Carvey and his producer so sure that now is the time to revive it in prime time - and in 30-minute doses?
Because everybody's run out of jokes for six friends sitting around an apartment talking, said Carvey.
``I know the odds are against us, and that doing this show at 9:30 is risky. But this is what I do and the work I like to do. Because everyone else has failed at this, I feel no pressure.''
Then he paused for a moment before saying, ``We'll probably be gone in three weeks.''
Carvey and his producer would love to have The Church Lady and Garth from ``Wayne's World'' with them on ABC, but NBC says no way. These characters are NBC's ``intellectual properties'' and stay with the Peacock Network just as the Larry ``Bud'' Mellman character and ``world's most dangerous band'' properties remained with NBC when David Letterman moved on.
Carvey will improvise. He can't do the Hans and Franz sketch from ``SNL.'' But what's to stop him from bringing on their cousin?
``We're open to everything. But I'd rather do new characters,'' said Carvey.
Is he talking about impressions of ABC sitcom stars Brett Butler and Ellen DeGeneres? And Ted Koppel. And maybe a character called Courtney Cox Love.
Wouldn't that be special? by CNB