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Brick Wall Comedy
Brick Wall Comedy

Bits and Pieces - Live from Orange County

Pablo Francisco

2004 · 50 min

Vocal sound effects and movie trailer parodies from the Irvine Improv.

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Pablo Francisco brings his high-energy, rapid-fire style of vocal mimicry to the Irvine Improv at the Irvine Spectrum Center in Southern California. The centerpiece of this 48-minute performance is his signature movie-trailer narrator impression—the booming, theatrical voice that famously transforms Arnold Schwarzenegger into the unlikely hero of an action thriller called “Little Tortilla Boy”. Francisco relies heavily on his beatboxing, sound effects, and physical acting to keep the pace relentless. At this point in 2004, Francisco was riding the momentum of his appearances on MADtv and a popular half-hour Comedy Central showcase, as well as touring on the “Three Amigos” lineup. While Bits and Pieces captured him at his commercial peak, some critics and fans noted that the performance leaned on a relatively short rotation of material, with several of his most famous routines already familiar to those who had followed his club runs. Beyond the trailer-guy centerpiece, the set includes riffs on Irvine’s spoiled youth, psycho girlfriends, and old men on Viagra.

The set list

4 bits

  1. Movie trailer voiceover parody featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger in 'Little Tortilla Boy'

    Imitating iconic movie trailer narrator Don LaFontaine setting up an absurd action film premise

  2. Making frog noises in a strip club

    Using vocal sound effects to perplex and annoy the venue staff

  3. Losing money gambling in Las Vegas

    Frustrated, profanity-laced recounting of casino losses

  4. Elderly men taking Viagra

    Observational humor and physical act-outs concerning pharmaceutical side effects

How it plays

Tone
Profane, slapstick, and parody-driven with mature sexual themes
On stage
High-energy comedic performer specializing in vocal impressions, mimicry, and sound effects
Pace
High-octane, frenetic energy with rapid voice shifts
About
movie trailers, Viagra, love songs, relationships and dating, Vegas, pop culture

What the critics said

Critiques were mixed to negative from reviewers who found the reliance on sexual humor, profanity, and limited voice variations crude, while audience reviews praised the fast pacing, sound effects, and memorable trailer parodies.

In the room: Energetic club crowd visibly laughing hard throughout the performance

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: allmusic.com, allmovie.com, letterboxd.com, comingsoon.net, imdb.com.

Details

Released
Taped
Irvine Improv
Runtime
50 min
Director
Shawn Amos
Topics
Before
Comedy Central Presents (2000)

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