A Funny Thing Happened . . .
Having now seen Robert Downey, Jr.'s hilarious work in Tropic Thunder, I think we can all agree that the guy is a gifted comedic actor. Yet he wasn't always given such credit. In the past, Downey's dramatic turns seemed to get much more attention, even though countless amusing interviews and a few past roles (in the hysterical Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, for example) proved his comedic skills. It wasn't until Ben Stiller enlisted him as Kirk Lazarus that his considerable dramatic and comedic talents finally got equal consideration.
Though I'm happy that Downey is finally getting his due, let's not let a similarly phenomenal actor wait around to truly prove his comedic chops. The mystery man I'm alluding to here is Jon Hamm.
Most of you familiar with Hamm probably know him from the less-than-lighthearted AMC series, Mad Men. Hamm is so convincing and compelling as Don Draper that you probably wouldn't expect him to be that funny. I certainly didn't. Until, of course, he hosted what still may be the season's best episode of Saturday Night Live. Between his hysterical James Mason impression, the brilliant simplicity of Jon Hamm's John Ham ("the ham you can eat in the bathroom") and his fantastic self-skewering in Don Draper's Guide to Picking Up Women, Mr. Hamm took me and countless other viewers by surprise. An extraordinary dramatic actor who's also hilarious? It just doesn't seem possible, but boy is it ever.
Hamm continued to impress as Liz Lemon's love interest, Dr. Drew Baird, on two episodes of 30 Rock (the third is coming later this season). It's tough to hold your own against people like Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan and Jack McBrayer, but Hamm fit in just fine. Sure, most of the laughs came from the main cast, but his terrified reaction to Fey's proclamation "I am the Generalissimo!" was one of his debut episode's best moments. And given how even comedy greats have had less than stellar 30 Rock cameos (I'm looking at you, Steve Martin), Hamm deserves credit for making his enjoyable.
Most recently, Hamm released a new video on Will Ferrell's FunnyOrDie.com, entitled "Lex Luthor Bailout." In it, he plays Superman's archnemesis, who's pleading for a little loan of $100 billion. Hamm's increasing frustration as he explains how he got to be so in debt is hysterical, as are the evil plans he details. While the actual material is no doubt entertaining for Superman fans, it's Hamm's delivery that gives the video its comedic strength . . . and makes up for that horrible bald cap.
Finally, let's not forget the exchanges from Hamm's hilarious interview with Conan O'Brien back in February. If the man is apparently handsome enough to distract pilots and melt faces and funny enough to come up with this hyperbole the least we can do is pass some more comedy roles his way.