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Not Don Pardo?

1

1069_KIFR

Last nights episode of Saturday Night Live (Host Kevin Hart), did not sound like Don Pardo announcing. I have heard before that they have had others impersonate Don Pardo in the past. But this really sounded not as good, if it was an impersonation.
 
1069_KIFR said:
Last nights episode of Saturday Night Live (Host Kevin Hart), did not sound like Don Pardo announcing. I have heard before that they have had others impersonate Don Pardo in the past. But this really sounded not as good, if it was an impersonation.
Click to expand...

Don's 95 and no longer travels to NYC. He records the pieces in a studio at home. If there's a glitch or last-minute change, they have to do them live. Darrell Hammond did a Pardo impression when Pardo was ill. I understand Bill Hader does it now.

I was watching and thought it was Pardo. At this stage of his life, changes in timbre and cadence aren't unexpected....and a cold or allergy will have a bigger impact.
 
It was NOT Don Pardo. He recently broke his hip and did not record the open for yesterday's show. No word yet on when he will return, but he is reportedly "on the mend."
 
AlexBrowne said:
It was NOT Don Pardo. He recently broke his hip and did not record the open for yesterday's show. No word yet on when he will return, but he is reportedly "on the mend."
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Thanks for the news. Broken hip at 95. Ouch. Prayers for a speedy and complete recovery.
 
There is a thread about NBC, CBS not having anyone lined up to replace Leno or Letterman when they retire! Don Pardo being 95, Lorne Michaels had plenty of time to line up another announcer.

Let Don Pardo retire with all the accolades he deserves and bring in another 'voice'.

I, too, wish him a speedy and healthy recovery!!
 
1069_KIFR said:
There is a thread about NBC, CBS not having anyone lined up to replace Leno or Letterman when they retire! Don Pardo being 95, Lorne Michaels had plenty of time to line up another announcer.

Let Don Pardo retire with all the accolades he deserves and bring in another 'voice'.

I, too, wish him a speedy and healthy recovery!!
Click to expand...

Don suggested two years ago that he was going to quit voicing SNL, but continued.

Obviously Lorne likes him, and so does the audience. The injury wasn't caused by announcing, so I see no reason he shouldn't continue, if he's well enough and still enjoying the work. If and when he wants to retire, fine.

The fact that Lorne has Hader or Hammond (and I'm reading now that last night was Hammond) do a Pardo impression indicates just how much a part of the show Pardo's voiceover is, though I'd personally prefer another announcer using their own voice, and an announcement from Lorne, the guest host or a cast member about how Don is doing until his return.
 
I'm surprised it took so long for people to notice. Pardo was missing for the Christoph Waltz episode too, except for that episode they used his recording for the cast intros, & had Hader do the host/musical guest. To me that sounded more obvious then this past week, when the entire intro was not Pardo.

Noticed the next week part sounded like Pardo. Since Timberlake has hosted & performed as musical guest before they must've just used an existing recording. So thats what they will probably do for next weeks show. Have Pardo's cast intro recording used, followed by a old Timberlake recording tacked on the end.
 
Funny. I watched this weekend and thought Pardo sounded "off" his game, but I chalked that up to pre-recording and age. If that really was Hammond, I'm impressed. I never doubted it was the real deal.
 
I noticed the difference coming out of the intros & into the announcing of " Ladies and Gentlemen, Christoph Waltz !" That is why I listened more closely on this last show.
 
Don officially retired from NBC in 2004, after 60 years. The network was phasing out its announcing staff, relying more on freelancers (like Bill St. James). The last NBC staff announcer, Howard Reig, retired in '07 and died the following year.
 
Until Don Pardo recovers, how about another Don--Morrow?
Yeah, he's 86 but seems to be in good shape and although
he lacks Pardo's booming voice ("It's Saturday Night---LIVE!"
wouldn't quite come out the same way from Morrow) he's a
freelancer who's happiest when he's working, and he's no
stranger to satire--back when he was hosting "Camouflage"
he recorded something called "Grimm's Hip Fairy Tales," recounting
some of those stories in beatnik lingo (this was the pre-hippie
early '60s) and has kept himself up with the times.
 
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