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, and for his partnership with fellow rocker/writer Carrie Brownstein on the popular sketch comedy show 

But after this past weekend, Fred Armisen will be known amongst public radio fans for his dead-on imitation of Ira Glass, host of "

The theme of Episode 484 of TAL was "Doppelgangers," and in honor of the occasion, Fred Armisen was invited to co-host the show. Armisen had 

 for an SNL skit, but the show never aired because Glass "wasn't famous enough."

But within the realm of public radio, Glass IS famous, and so Armisen's impersonation finally found a home.

For listeners the experience was both comic and confusing. Is that Ira talking? Or is it Fred? At one point they both laugh, and Fred's 'imitation' laughter inspires Glass to laugh even harder... an upward spiral of dizzying mimicry.

A warning: Act 1 deals primarily with pork rectum, and the possibility of passing it off as calamari. Blech!

Arts and Culture

State of the Arts Blog

Marianne Combs

Author

The SNL comedian is so convincing in his imitation of the public radio host that it’s often impossible to tell who’s who.

Fred Armisen nails Ira Glass on ‘This American Life’

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