Data and joe piscopo | TheaterFire

[-]

Neveronlyadream@reddit

Looking back, that's such a weird guest starring role.

I don't think there's anyone who wasn't there that knows who the hell Joe Piscopo is.

[-]

sosire@reddit

No idea think he was on SNL or something . Wasn't know to me at the time

[-]

I looked it up out of curiosity and he hasn't been in a single high profile project, most of his roles are tiny bit parts, and he only has 35 credits, so I don't blame anyone for not knowing who he is.

[-]

Key-Crow-2114@reddit

You all gotta look up a top ten (at least) SNL skit featuring Joe Piscopo(Frank Sinatra) and Eddie Murphy(Stevie Wonder) duet from 1982. I was fourteen and this was what we couldn't all wait to talk about in Monday homeroom. I just watched it for the first time in forty years and it stands the test of time. Two lines by Piscopo/Sinatra are comedy classics: "It was groovy, thinkin, Lincoln, when you set them freeeeeeeee." And Murphy/Wonder "I am dark and you are light" Piscopo/Sinatra "you are blind as a bat and I have sight, side by side you are my amigo, negro, let's not fiiiiiiiiiiggggggghhhhhhht."

[-]

AnonymousChicken@reddit

He's also part of one of the most racist Miller Lite commercials ever. I'm not linking it. It's searchable.

[-]

SpacePolice04@reddit

That was horrifying. Like almost Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany’s bad.

[-]

soothsayer2377@reddit

Which tracks because he's a huge maga guy now.

[-]

sunkskunkstunk@reddit

I saw him in SNL once. Once.

[-]

Arizonacolleen@reddit

Once.

God, please tell me that was where this was going.

[-]

Garguyal@reddit

Don't worry, I'll only work out during my down time.

[-]

Neveronlyadream@reddit

Oh my God. Thank you. That's what it was.

[-]

soothsayer2377@reddit

It was written for Jerry Lewis and he was originally going to do it but there was a scheduling conflict (I think). In 1989 there were probably a ton of bigger comedians who would have done it opposite Whoopi but he could do the Jerry impression.

[-]

ZyxDarkshine@reddit

He plays it like he’s doing an impression of Jerry Lewis

[-]

Acceptingoptimist@reddit

I remember him from the time. He was on SNL and he and Eddie Murphy were the only cast members not let go between a season than kind of course corrected SNL.

He was in some OK movies including Johnny Dangerously with Michael Keaton. He had a big role in that one. For the time he was seen as a well known up-and -coming comedian.

He left comedy and got into body building and Idk what he's doing now. I doubt they could afford like Eddie Murphy, but George Carlin would have been my dream casting. Not just because of how good he is but because he would have been good for Data specifically. Alas...

[-]

whatsbobgonnado@reddit

ohh that makes sense because he was in the chuck norris movie sidekicks and was shredded lol I was very shocked and confused

[-]

SpacePolice04@reddit

I liked his SNL duet with Eddie Murphy where they played frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder.

[-]

Ambaryerno@reddit

Johnny Dangerously was more than OK. It's probably the best role he's ever done.

[-]

Acceptingoptimist@reddit

You're right. I was referring to the body of his work but wanted to call that out specifically. It's probably his best high profile role. The rest of his movie appearances are so-so. But necessarily because of him.

[-]

Mistervimes65@reddit

Apparently now he’s a radio host playing Sinatra and he stumped for Trump in 2016.

He’s had three acting roles in this century.

[-]

wikipediareader@reddit

Might be a generational thing but Piscopo was still at least a B list talent circa 1989.

[-]

Ambaryerno@reddit

Danny Vermin.

(Ok, that line's a little less funny these days...)

[-]

Ephisus@reddit

Well, he did do Jerry Lewis on SNL a bunch.

https://youtu.be/ej-7TYJK_uY?si=gJrXiUGGck6GQJR4

[-]

Neveronlyadream@reddit

I remember that and I remember something about bodybuilding, but I can't remember if it was a skit he did or he was just into it at some point.

[-]

PawsButton@reddit

Nah, it wasn’t a sketch, he was just into it.

[-]

Diastatic_Power@reddit

I watched this episode once..........once.

[-]

trer24@reddit

I've always thought the scene where Data "fast forwards" Joe Piscopo in order to learn how to be funny was strange because couldn't Data just plug himself into the ship's computer and just quickly download all of the Joe Piscopo program instantly?

[-]

Mega-Steve@reddit

Do you want a mediocre 80's comedian to take over an advanced android? Because that's exactly what would happen in the Star Trek Universe

[-]

HighValuePanda@reddit

oh no, the Joe Piscopo program has gained sentience and control of the ship! He plans to prank call every ship in the fleet. we must stop him

[-]

rickmccombs@reddit

I've never thought Joe Piscopo was funny. If you skip that episode, you won't miss much.

[-]

KaizokuShojo@reddit

Yeah. He struck me as a guy who could kind of do impressions but wasn't actually ever funny on his own, and I think him doing some bits with Eddie Murphy is what saved him from getting axed too. He just doesn't have it, and boy this scene doesn't either.

[-]

Ambaryerno@reddit

Let's give him his due: He was great in Johnny Dangerously.

[-]

rickmccombs@reddit

I don't think I ever saw that.

[-]

Ambaryerno@reddit

You’re seriously missing out.

[-]

Kulban@reddit

His face in that picture is a less natural shade of skin color than Data's is.

[-]

Garguyal@reddit

God help humanity if Joe Piscapo is all that survives of 20th century comedy.

[-]

SpookyScaryBlueberry@reddit

If you take it within the context of the show it makes complete sense why Data had such a hard time learning humanoid humor.

[-]

Groundbreaking-Pea92@reddit

its amazing that tng survived its firsr and second seasons

[-]

kkkan2020@reddit (OP)

Big studio and the ratings were just enough to scrape by for a 3rd season. Lucky that Berman took over and well the rest is history

[-]

doveinabottle@reddit

“My timing is digital.”

[-]

spiderland5150@reddit

I wish they'd chosen Rodney Dangerfield instead.

DATA: Mister Comic, I wish to know what is funny.

RODNEY: Funny huh. I told Counselor Troy that everyone hates me. She said I was being ridiculous, everyone hasn't met me yet.

Data with a confused look

RODNEY: Stoic huh? You've got an interesting look, they must've made you the poster boy for birth control. I'm just kidding, you're alright. Thanks for having me. Captain Cueball said I was invited to the bridge. I jump off next Tuesday...Last week Commander Riker started coming on to my wife, I said, who said you could feel up my wife? He said "everybody".

[-]

Ambaryerno@reddit

I read that in Rodney's voice.

[-]

spiderland5150@reddit

The greatest compliment!

RIP Rodney

[-]

Darktrooper007@reddit

I never knew I needed to see Data performing a Rodney Dangerfield set, until now.

[-]

GhostWatcher0889@reddit

No idea who Joe piscopo is but he was the least funniest comedian ever on the holodeck.

[-]

Mega-Steve@reddit

He was on Saturday Night Live for a few years and did a few movies. He was already irrelevant when this episode aired. Why they cast Joe I have no idea

[-]

GhostWatcher0889@reddit

His Jerry Lewis impression made me wanna vomit. I don't even know what Jerry Lewis is, how the f*ck is an android in the 24th century supposed to understand that joke?

[-]

Ambaryerno@reddit

Danny Vermin is still probably his best role.

https://i.redd.it/8p8xrb6kczle1.gif

[-]

Ambaryerno@reddit

"My uncle shot me into space once." *Finger Point.* "Once."

[-]

SplendidPunkinButter@reddit

The guy who plays Okona was in The Rocketeer and I f——g love that movie, so I give this one a pass

[-]

AnonymousChicken@reddit

"Take my programmer, please!"

[-]

VajennaDentada@reddit

Don't hate me..... this is my least favorite episode of TNG....I hate hate hate hate it.

I've only been able to get through it once when I was high on something 8 years ago.

[-]

dnkroz3d@reddit

I hate hate hate hate it.

I skip it every time.

[-]

VajennaDentada@reddit

Glad to hear there's empathy out there. It feels like an episode built around some schtiks and not the other way around... which works great with Data.

[-]

Otherwise_Shift3047@reddit

Hell yeah, Dead Heat is amazing and very underrated. RIP Treat Williams.

[-]

Cool_Butterscotch_88@reddit

I can't believe I just accepted that.

[-]

terrymcginnisbeyond@reddit

Let's not forget, they had just recruited a legitimate comedian celebrity as an 800 year old bartender, and gave her material like, 'I'm a droid and you're a noid'. FML, why did TNG squander so much potential.

[-]

Geknight@reddit

I actually love this episode. The idea of having Whoopi Golberg, one of the top comedians of the time, describe humor to data without using humor herself, is hilarious to me. This Joe guy was annoying af, but the whole point was that he wasn’t funny in this context.

[-]