Pablo Francisco is an imitation professional and frequently performs on television or A-stage clubs including the D.C. Improv.
Imitation is the highest form of flattery — or at least that’s what people might have said before Pablo Francisco arrived on the comedy scene. Don’t worry, he doesn’t discriminate: Black, white, Asian, Hispanic — no one is safe from the wrath of Francisco.
“I think the Latino community puts it in my face,” Francisco, a Tucson, Ariz., native whose parents are Chilean, last year told the Boston Globe. “ ‘Hey we’ve got to stick together, da da da.’ I’m kind of realizing I’m not from that world, the world that they claim to be in.”
But mocking racial stereotypes is only part of Francisco’s repertoire.
Drawing on observations of pop culture, as well as incidents and relationships with his friends and family, he’s best known for his impersonations and sound effects. Whether it’s celebrities, jealous psychotic girlfriends or trashy Telemundo soap opera actors, Francisco hits his imitations flawlessly.
Francisco prepared himself for a life of comedy since age 13. He would tape performances by David Letterman and Johnny Carson and memorize their routines. He took aspects of their styles and created his own.
He landed on the professional comedy scene at age 17 when he formed a comedy duo called the Blowout Boys. He and his friend snuck into a local comedy competition and outperformed the older, more experienced performers. He then became a regular at some local improvs. Today, Francisco performs in the country’s A-stage clubs alongside the biggest names in the industry.
He has been all over television; he has been a regular on Fox’s Mad TV, featured a number of times on Comedy Central and can even be heard as the voice of the Cuban terrorist on The Family Guy. Francisco got his feet wet on the big screen years ago as a Coca-Cola vendor in one of those commercials shown before movies.
Often described as hyperactive, he talks a mile a minute, zipping through jokes so fast you have no choice but to laugh and certainly have no time to realize that most of what he’s saying is fairly stereotypical. Regardless, Francisco has pure comedic talent that makes him one of the best and most original stand-up comics around. He has a following strong enough to have successfully put out three discs.
Francisco released his first and most popular CD, Knee in the Groin, in 1997. Since then, he has put out Sausage and Pablo 3. He also released a DVD from a show in California called Bits and Pieces. His most anticipated DVD, The Three Amigos, is scheduled for release in May and will feature Francisco on stage with Freddy Soto and the always hilarious Carlos Mencia.
He is best known for his impersonation of “Movie Preview Guy” Don La Fontaine, nailing that deep, mysterious voice and throwing in sound effects and celebrity impersonations, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger as a tortilla vendor targeted by the mob. It turns out La Fontaine was so impressed with Francisco’s bit, he invited him to his birthday party to perform.
Pablo Francisco brings his routine to D.C. Improv Wednesday night and performs through Sunday. Call (202) 296-7008 for more information.
