Comedy Central Presents: Darrell Hammond

Darrell Hammond built his career disappearing into other people on Saturday Night Live, but his turn on the Comedy Central stage offers a look at the working comic underneath the prosthetics. The appeal lies in watching an established impressionist apply his vocal control to straightforward stand-up, slipping into dialects and characters to punch up his material rather than relying entirely on direct celebrity parody.

Filmed at the Hudson Theatre in New York City and premiering in late 2000, the set caught Hammond at the peak of his sketch television fame. The broadcast drew massive numbers, setting a viewership record for the network’s half-hour format at the time. He gives the audience what they expect by reminiscing about the entertainment value of the Bill Clinton presidency, then pivots into traditional premises. The remaining time is spent outlining why ghosts avoid haunting Brooklyn and the unromantic nature of the German language.