After averaging 2.1 million viewers an episode and receiving an Emmy for the show’s costumes in its first season, “Frank TV,” Frank Caliendo’s TV show, will air its second season this month on the TBS network.
Caliendo has high hopes going into this, the show’s second season.
“Having over 2 million viewers has enabled us to get more money for the show, so this season should be better than ever, and our fans are in for some surprises,” he said in a phone interview.
“Frank TV”, essentially a one man show in its first season, added two members over the break, comedians Freddy Lockhart and Mike McCray.
McCray made his name in standup with his Harrison Ford impression, and Frank has known McCray for years.
“There should be more people on the show besides me, ” he said. “We can have more characters and more interaction now.”
The first three episodes of “Frank TV” will be more political than the rest due to the upcoming election, and a special episode will air on the night of the election.
Frank Caliendo’s fame started with skits on YouTube and the sketch comedy show “Mad TV”.
When his manager told him about TBS’ interest in making his skits into a TV show, he didn’t have much interest.
However, with goading from his wife, he followed through, and “Frank TV” was born.
Frank enjoys the freedom he gets on TBS.
“There are still rules that we have to follow [that] you will get with any station,” he said.
“But there is definitely more freedom than I got on ‘Mad TV’,” he adds.
As the programming on TBS is directed toward an audience more his age, Caliendo finds it easier to relate to his audience and feels that his humor is better understood by them.
“Forced humor doesn’t appeal to me, but when people are doing what they like and what they want to do it works better,” he said.
Last season featured impersonations of stars such as Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Charles Barkley and, his most famous impression, President George W. Bush.
Caliendo says hasn’t run into serious problems with people because of these yet.
“I haven’t gotten punched in the face yet, but people have told me they don’t think I sound like them at all,” he said. “It’s not so much about being exactly like the person, but its just making it funny.”
He did get to show his impression of George W. Bush to Vice President Dick Cheney, and Caliendo claims that Cheney found it hilarious.
He has also heard from sources that Bush is a big fan of the show and of the impression. This next season, audiences can expect to see more of Bush, plus “appearances” by Obama and McCain.
The second season of “Frank TV” premieres on Oct. 21 at 10 p.m. on TBS.
