Randy Rainbow

Randy Stewart Rainbow (born July 6, 1981) is an American comedian and singer, best known for videos published on YouTube, in which he spoofs interviews with famous figures and parodies musical numbers, often with a political focus.[1]

Early life

Randy Rainbow grew up in Long Island, New York and Florida, where his father, Gerry Rainbow (born Ribner),[2][3][4] was a musician and talent booker.[5] He credits his grandmother as his greatest comedic influence. In a 2017 interview with the New York Times, he recalled "It was really my grandmother who was the biggest influence because she’d talk back to the celebrities and politicians on TV. She was a combination of Joan Rivers, Elaine Stritch, Betty White, and Bea Arthur rolled into one". After dropping out of community college in his early 20s, Rainbow moved to New York to pursue a theatrical career. It was then he began blogging and making comedic videos.[1]

Career

Rainbow created his blog, The Randy Rainbow Bloggity BLAHg-BLAHg, to document his theatrical experiences and "kvetch about my day-to-day as a single homo in the city".[6][7]

In his early work, Rainbow stages fake phone conversations with famous people by editing real audio clips of those celebrities. He posted his breakout video, "Randy Rainbow is Dating Mel Gibson" in 2010. It received more than 60,000 views in one week and has since surpassed 150,000 views. Subsequent videos include "Randy Rainbow Calls Lindsay Lohan", "Randy Rainbow Calls Dr. Laura", "The Morning After Chelsea’s Wedding", "Randy Rainbow Gets a Job (from Rachel Zoe?)", "Randy Rainbow Kicks It with Kanye West", and "Randy Rainbow Spends Christmas with Mel Gibson". Michael Urie appeared as himself in "Randy Rainbow Getting Married?" Tituss Burgess appeared as himself in "Randy Rainbow Stars in a Show!" Brent Corrigan appeared as himself in "Randy Rainbow Makes a Sex Tape (w/Mel Gibson)". Randy's cat, Mushi Rainbow, also plays a prominent role in his videos.[8]

Rainbow gained a larger audience and shifted focus during the 2016 American presidential campaign, with a series of spoof interviews and musical parodies skewering the election process and the candidates, especially Donald Trump, who became Rainbow's primary subject following his nomination by the Republican party and subsequent election. Among the musical parodies he has done about Trump are "You're Making Things Up Again, Donald", "Unpopular", and "Fact Checker, Fact Checker".

Rainbow’s videos have been featured on a number of blogs. Popular LGBT blogs Towleroad and Queerty have reposted many of his videos since "Randy Rainbow is Dating Mel Gibson".[9][10] His Lohan clip was featured by Perez Hilton.[11] Rainbow made a guest appearance in Tituss and the Tightass Band, a 2010 benefit concert for The Trevor Project at New World Stages.[12] He also made a guest appearance in the third annual Living for Today benefit concert at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.[13] Rainbow appeared on the cover of Out Front Colorado.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 Morris, Bob (23 June 2017). "YouTube Star Randy Rainbow Brings Sass to His Trump Bashing". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "Gerald (Gerry) Rainbow, Class of 1953 - Monroe High School - Classmates". www.classmates.com. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  3. ↑ "Obituaries - Levitt Weinstein Memorial Chapels & Cemeteries". www.levitt-weinstein.com. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  4. ↑ "Gerald Ribner". Obituaries. tributes.com. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  5. ↑ "In an Ugly Election Year, Randy Rainbow Uses Musical Parody to Bring on the Laughs". Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  6. ↑ Voss, Brandon (2010-07-26). "Mel Gibsons Rainbow Connection". Advocate.com. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  7. ↑ "RandyRainbow.com". Therandyrainbowblahg.blogspot.com. 2013-03-20. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  8. ↑ "Randy Rainbow". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  9. ↑ Mandell, Sean (20 July 2016). "Randy Rainbow Spells It Out: 'We Got Trump Trouble, America'". Towleroad. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  10. ↑ "Randy Rainbow News and Photos". Queerty. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  11. ↑ "ICYMI: Will & Grace Cast Sparked Even More Reunion Rumors With This Broadway-Style Hillary Clinton Support Song!". Perez Hilton. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  12. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (30 October 2010). "Tituss Burgess Performs Trevor Project Benefit Concert Oct. 30". Playbill. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  13. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (22 October 2010). "Jill Paice and Kate Jennings Grant Added to Living for Today Concert". Playbill. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  14. ↑ Compton, Julie (13 October 2016). "Comedian Randy Rainbow brings humor to tense election year". NBC News. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
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