News of Rick Perry’s indictment broke on Friday, after the script for that Sunday’s Top Story! Weekly was locked. And we didn’t really have anyone in the cast to play Rick Perry. But when I saw that Perry’s troubles arose out of the drunk driving arrest of a political rival, I realized that was the way to hit the story. I churned this out in about 40 minutes, and Stacy Rumaker did an absolutely awesome job as the drunk D.A. explaining the case. And at the end is our tribute to Robin Williams who had passed away the preceding Monday.
ROSEMARY LEHMBERG EXPLAINS RICK PERRY’S INDICTMENT by Michael Hughes
Hey! It’s been a while! But when our show’s most loyal fan, Herb Koss, celebrated his 80th birthday a few days before our March 9th show I knew we had to do something to address it. Brian Vestal does an absolutely amazing characterization of Herb here – even if you don’t know him, you’ll really enjoy it!!
I had wanted for a while to do a “Downton Abbey” parody with Mitt Romney, but I hadn’t been able to figure out an angle. But when I read about the incredibly elitist and out-of-town comments his supporters made outside his Hamptons fundraisers, I knew I had it. And when the Bain Capital allegations blew up over the past few days, the sketch provided a means to address those stories as well. I was happy about a lot with this sketch – especially the audience’s instant recognition of the “smoking and plotting” O’Brien and Thomas.
Tickets are just $10, so make sure you get them now!! Not only will you see an awesome show, but you’ll help a great cause – part of the proceeds will go to the Chris Farley House, a residential sober living facility.
The festival runs from Sunday, June 3 till Saturday, June 9, with amazing shows and workshops every night. The cast of Top Story! Weekly will be hosting all week. And we’ll also be performing in other shows, and teaching workshops that you shouldn’t miss. Check them out after the jump:
When the story of John Travolta being accused of sexually harassing masseurs broke, Matt Manser suggested a he said/he said song parody would be in order. And since probably the most famous song from “Grease” fit the bill, I went to work. There’s a couple of line flubs, but there’s some stuff I’m really proud of – especially the perfect scan of “John Travolta” to “Summer Lovin'” in the opening lines, and the “Look Who’s Talking” reference.
We needed another sketch for our show this week, one with a lot of good parts for the ladies, so I threw together this piece about George Clooney’s fundraiser for President Obama that gave the cast a chance to show off their impersonations.
Wait – so you’re telling me that North Korea launched a rocket that fell into the sea? And that both Artemis Pebdani and Brent Pope are in the cast to play Kim Jong-Il and Kim Jong-Un? Yeah, I think I might be able to write something on that….
Keith Olbermann’s firing from Current TV broke late on Friday – after we’d already picked the sketches for this week’s show, but early enough that I could get in a desk piece with Phillip Wilburn doing his great Al Gore characterization offering his side of the story!
TS!W 720: AL GORE RESPONDS TO KEITH OLBERMANN by Michael Hughes
Since the results of the SAG/AFTRA merger were being announced on Friday – after our submission deadline, I had to think of a way to write a sketch that wasn’t dependent on the results (even though the fact that they were announcing them in a press conference was a pretty good sign that the merger was going to go through). So I thought about the lengths to which actors go to get a break…and this comic look emerged.
Mike Hughes' blog 
Watch “Rosemary Lehmberg Explains Rick Perry’s Indictment” From Top Story! Weekly Episode 262: “Perry Deep Trouble”
August 22, 2014News of Rick Perry’s indictment broke on Friday, after the script for that Sunday’s Top Story! Weekly was locked. And we didn’t really have anyone in the cast to play Rick Perry. But when I saw that Perry’s troubles arose out of the drunk driving arrest of a political rival, I realized that was the way to hit the story. I churned this out in about 40 minutes, and Stacy Rumaker did an absolutely awesome job as the drunk D.A. explaining the case. And at the end is our tribute to Robin Williams who had passed away the preceding Monday.
ROSEMARY LEHMBERG EXPLAINS RICK PERRY’S INDICTMENT by Michael Hughes
Starring Stacy Rumaker (Rosemary Lehmberg), Matthew Harris (Matt) and Brent Pope (Brent)
Directed by Kristina Adelmeyer
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Tags:Adrian Cronauer, Aladdin, Ashleigh Hairston, Austin Texas, Bennie Arthur, Brent Pope, Dead Poets Society, district attorney, drunk driving, Genie, Good Morning Vietnam, Good Will Hunting, Hook, John Keating, Matthew Harris, Michael Hughes, Mike Hughes, Mitchel Baldwin, Mork, Mork and Mindy, Mrs. Doubtfire, Oh Captain My Captain, Peter Banning, Peter Pan, Rick Perry, Robin Williams, Rosemary Lehmberg, Sean Maguire, Stacy Rumaker, Texas Public Integrity Unit, Top Story! Weekly, Zach Zucker
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