On the couch.... with impressionist and actor Mario Rosenstock
Comedian and impressionist Mario Rosenstock started out as a serious actor, playing Dr David Hanlon in rural soap Glenroe. Among many stage and screen credits are Damo and Ivor, Ordinary Decent Criminal and his own self-titled TV show, as well as almost 20 years of Gift Grub comedy sketches on Today FM’s Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show. He is currently on tour nationwide with his live show In Your Face!
Who controls the remote in your house?
My ve-year-old daughter Bellamie, who wants to watch Odd Squad constantly.
Is there just too much good TV now to watch it all?
There’s so much good TV that you actually end up saying, ‘ There’s nothing on TV’ – it’s nearly as bad as when there really was nothing on.
Who were your TV comedy heroes growing up?
I liked Bert & Ernie on Sesame Street and Mike Murphy. And of course, David Coleman the BBC athletics commentator, with his famous line: ‘Alberto Juantorena, the Cuban, opens his legs and shows his class!’
What are your unmissable shows right now?
Meet the Press on NBC, Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO and Dancing with the Stars on RTÉ. (I play Brian Redmond as a trade union delegate in my comedy.)
Would you like to do more ‘straight’ TV work, á la Glenroe?
Yes – and I think I would make quite a good sociopath…
What fellow impressionist impresses you the most?
Impressionists don’t interest me greatly per se, but Risteárd Cooper is a pitchperfect impressionist. Steve Coogan does good ones too. I also like Frank Caliendo in the States.
Are there any genres of TV you just can’t abide e.g. gardening shows, cooking shows, antiques shows, drama-documentary?
All of the above. I’m not joking – how did you guess?
Who would play you in the TV biopic of your life?
Well since you asked, if I wanted to do more acting work, I would sincerely hope that it would be me. Otherwise I’m becoming an estate agent.
What shows do you watch the old-fashioned way, i.e. once a week at a particular time?
I love watching the rugby show Against the Head on a Monday night after a big weekend.
What huge watercooler show have you not seen?
Young O enders, Breaking Bad and many, many more.
Mario Rosenstock’s nationwinde tour In Your Face! has been extended until the end of May. mcd.ie