Laura Benanti as Melania Trump

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 9:12am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-Laura-Benanti-Channels-Melania-Trump-in-Hilarious-LATE-SHOW-Skit-20160720   I laughed so much.  This is hilarious!

Updated On: 7/20/16 at 09:12 AM

[Valentina3]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 9:14am

I saw it on TV last night with my partner, and as he started introducing Melania, I knew it was going to be Laura. Was so thrilled, and it was absolutely hilarious.

 

Next stop - SNL 

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 9:19am

Martha Plimpton should play Hillary and spoof her speech next week. 

[macnyc]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 10:37am

I was hoping "Melania" would launch into the Gettysburg Address!

Laura is a treasure.

[Nick Murphy]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 10:57am

she's brilliant

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 11:07am

I died at "West Philadelphia" . her facial expressions are so spot on!

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 11:30am

I  didn't get the reference to West Philadelphia.  

[Pippin]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 11:32am

^

......then we can't be friends

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 11:35am

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "I  didn't get the reference to West Philadelphia.  

 

"

I'm assuming that it was a parody of the fact that she was born and raised in Slovenia and NOT an actual born-and-raised-in-the-US American.

(someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

[Felm_heart]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 11:37am

West Philadelphia is a Fresh Prince reference, people.

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 11:47am

Felm_heart said: "West Philadelphia is a Fresh Prince reference, people.

 

"

ah, ok. (I never watched that show)

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 11:48am

Watching her in this skit and in She Loves Me, I'm totally impressed at her ability to nail every possible laugh and her impeccable comic timing. 

Even more impressive is that, to my knowledge, she's never been a part of a comedy troupe like Second City or The Groundlings, nor has she done stand-up. No matter how "naturally funny" a person may be or how skilled they may be delivering a character, there's an extra level of comedic skill that she's mastered.

I love Laura - and am looking forward to seeing her at Feinstein's at the Nikko in a couple of weeks.

[dissimilate]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 12:32pm

MarkBearSF – I’m in total agreement, her comedic timing is perfect. I asked her once on Twitter whether she’d done any stage improv, and she said she hadn’t, though she does improvise in those TheaterMania “explains the Broadway plays/musicals” videos (which are absolutely hilarious). She isn’t particularly known for impressions either, but she knocks this out of the park!

I sure hope she guests on SNL, or some other show that gets her name out there and showcases her incredible talent. (And not just in comedy either! I recall recognizing her in an episode of Elementary in a role that was entirely dramatic. She nailed it.)

[Tom5]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 12:36pm

Mental note to myself; She's a terrific actress.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 12:48pm

broadwayguy91 said: "Felm_heart said: "West Philadelphia is a Fresh Prince reference, people."

ah, ok. (I never watched that show)"

Here's the theme song. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nCqRmx3Dnw

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 1:15pm

As a child of the 90s I'm shocked people would not get the Fresh Prince reference. Should I feel really old or young right now?  

 

Laura Benanti (or anyone but Trump) for president!

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 1:17pm

She's hysterical. As much as I would love for her to join another TV show, I would selfishly prefer if she stayed around Broadway more!

[rjm516]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:14pm

You kids who don't know all the words to the Fresh Prince theme are making me feel the olds.

Anyway, Laura was AMAZING and I'm so excited to see everyone talking about her today. It's her time to be a household name maybe! 

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:19pm

rjm516 said: "You kids who don't know all the words to the Fresh Prince theme are making me feel the olds.
 

"

Shhhhhhhhh.  I'm still holding out hope it's because I'm so much younger than all these people who don't know the words. The list of things making me feel old is starting to get too long....

[@z5]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:22pm

Sorry this was not funny at all.....Benanti didn't do anything so great.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:25pm

^Hahahahaha girl, bye.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:27pm

Laura Benanti a "household name?" Laura Benanti hosting SNL? I personally love Laura but people, come on. Seriously? You need only look to both Hilty and S. Foster to see how that's working out. Not so well... 

[indytallguy]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:36pm

ChiTheaterFan said: "As a child of the 90s I'm shocked people would not get the Fresh Prince reference. Should I feel really old or young right now? "

 

Straddling a bit of both I'd guess given the demographics on BW boards.

 

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:43pm

Liza's Headband said: "Laura Benanti a "household name?" Laura Benanti hosting SNL? I personally love Laura but people, come on. Seriously? You need only look to both Hilty and S. Foster to see how that's working out. Not so well... "

I can't see her hosting, but I could see her recurring as Melania, the way they're using Darrel Hammond and Larry David.

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:46pm

indytallguy said: "ChiTheaterFan said: "As a child of the 90s I'm shocked people would not get the Fresh Prince reference. Should I feel really old or young right now? "

 

Straddling a bit of both I'd guess given the demographics on BW boards.

 

Or rather than an age issue, maybe some people simply didn't watch the show even if they were around then. And if they didn't watch it, the reference would be lost on them. It was a nice show that got decent ratings for 6 seasons but we're not talking Seinfeld or Friends here.