In the world of comedy and sports media, few have the talent to bring a personality to life with as much precision and humor as Josh Rosen. A man of many voices, Rosen has carved out a unique niche as an impressionist with a knack for mimicking some of the most iconic figures in sports broadcasting. But how did Rosen go from being the kid who entertained his classmates with spot-on teacher impressions to becoming a viral sensation? Let’s take a deep dive into the world of Josh Rosen, where humor, sports, and spot-on impressions collide.
A Talent for Miming Voices
Rosen’s journey into the world of impressions began in his school days, a time when he was just a regular student with a penchant for entertainment. “I used to be mimicking the students in the class and the teachers,” he shared on today’s episode of Scoop B Radio. “I think that’s when I first noticed, Wow! I’ve got a talent to do that…”
Growing up a sports fan, Rosen always had a passion for broadcasting. It wasn’t long before he noticed his uncanny ability to impersonate iconic voices like Marv Albert. “The first impression I did was Marv Albert,” he recalls. “When I would do it, people were like, Wow! That sounds really good.” And that was the breakthrough moment. His Marv Albert impression became his bridge into the world of impressionism, and to this day, he continues to nail the legendary sportscaster’s voice.
The Skip Bayless Reply That Changed Everything
Despite his growing portfolio of voices, Rosen’s big break came when he discovered the magic of social media. Always trying to find ways to get his impressions to a wider audience, he knew he had to try something different to make his mark. Enter the viral Skip Bayless Reply video. “I’ve always felt like, How come people are not seeing my stuff?” Rosen admits. “So, I figured I’m gonna try it and I’m gonna do it as Skip Bayless.”
One day, Rosen posted a video reply to Skip Bayless, using his signature impression. What followed was pure magic. “It just went viral,” he says, smiling. The reaction was overwhelming. By mastering Bayless’s voice and responding quickly to trending tweets, Rosen found the key to viral success. And as he put it, “I think I found the formula…”
Skip Bayless: The Silence and the Motivation
While Rosen’s Skip Bayless impressions have garnered significant attention, there’s one thing that still bothers him: the silence from the man himself. “It does bother me,” Rosen confesses. “A few years ago on his podcast, he actually said that nobody’s been able to imitate him. He said that Bill Hader and Frank Caliendo both tried and so he came to the conclusion that nobody could imitate him…”
Rosen, who’s confident that Skip has seen his impressions, finds it a little frustrating that the man he impersonates hasn’t acknowledged his spot-on work. But as he humorously points out, in his best Skip Bayless imitation, “I don’t mean any ill will, Mr. Bayless. This is what I do. This is my life’s passion. All I ask is one acknowledgment!”
The Art of Perfecting Impressions
What sets Rosen apart in the world of impressions is his approach to practice. While many might attempt to master a wide range of voices, Rosen prefers to focus on quality over quantity. “I’m more quality than quantity with the number of impressions that I can do,” he explains. “I’d rather have 15-20 impressions that I think are like A-plus versus 100 impressions that aren’t as good.”
He’s constantly working to improve his repertoire, and you’ll often catch him practicing in public. “I practice everywhere, yeah. Including in public sometimes,” he admits, adding, “Actually, a lot.” The reactions from the public? They’re less bizarre than you’d think. “They’ll just think, Oh yeah, that guy sounds that way.”
The Challenge of Transitioning Between Voices
For Rosen, transitioning between voices is a challenge he’s constantly refining. Take, for example, switching from Stephen A. Smith to Donald Trump. “It’s actually interesting,” Rosen says. “They’re both New York guys, they’ve got massive egos, and they love talking about themselves. So, it’s actually a similar impression.”
But while some impressions come naturally to him, others require a bit more finesse. Barack Obama is one of the most challenging for Rosen. “He’s the hardest one that I’ve ever imitated by far,” he says. Obama’s calm, politically correct demeanor makes it tricky to pinpoint things to exaggerate. Still, Rosen isn’t one to back down from a challenge.
From Donald Trump to Joe Biden: A Full Range of Political Impressions
Rosen’s impressive political roster doesn’t stop at Obama. He’s also nailed the voices of other key political figures like Joe Biden and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. His Biden impression, complete with Biden’s signature lip-licking and nose-scratching, is another favorite.
When asked if doing an impression of The Rock is difficult, Rosen nods. “Yes, it is actually,” he acknowledges. “The way he pauses and pronounces certain words makes it hard. But you make a good point there with The Rock.” Still, Rosen’s ability to switch seamlessly between political figures is a testament to his versatility.
The Future of Josh Rosen: Stand-Up Comedy and Beyond
Rosen’s ambitions go beyond social media. As his online presence continues to grow, he’s begun performing live comedy shows where he showcases his range of impressions. “I’m starting to do live comedy shows so I have an act, a stand-up act that’s all impressions,” he says. He’s even been hired for private events, performing as characters like Donald Trump for birthdays and corporate gatherings.
But Rosen’s ultimate goal is clear: he wants to be the next Frank Caliendo. “I’d like to start getting on more TV shows and be known as the guy, you know?” Rosen states. “That’s really where I wanna get to — where I’m just THE GUY, the go-to guy for impressions.”
A Humble Background and His Love for Sports
Despite his impressive work in comedy, Rosen’s roots are in sports. While he admits he wasn’t the best basketball player growing up, his love for sports has always been part of his identity. “I was a poor basketball player as a kid,” he laughs. “But the only sport I currently play is golf. My handicap is the sport!” [laughs]
Rosen also acknowledges that his love for sports figures like Charles Barkley, whom Frank Caliendo has mastered, has driven him to toy with a few impressions of his own. Though he’s not sure if he can ever top Caliendo’s Barkley, Rosen remains a student of the craft.
Social Media and the Skip Bayless Effect
Since his viral Skip Bayless videos, Rosen has noticed a surge in his social media following, especially on platforms like Twitter. “Any time news breaks about Skip, they wanna hear it from me,” he says with a grin. “They almost know they’re not going to get anything from Skip, so the Skip impersonator has to do it.”
But despite the laughs, Rosen is quick to clarify that his impressions are all in good fun. “It’s comedy, but I don’t intend harm,” he explains. “I don’t want to destroy anyone’s character. My intention is just to get a laugh.”
Looking Ahead
As Josh Rosen continues to grow his presence in comedy, his future looks brighter than ever. From his viral impressions to live performances, he’s paving the way for a career that could land him on TV screens across the country. Whether it’s as Skip Bayless, Barack Obama, or Donald Trump, one thing’s for certain: Josh Rosen’s talents are here to stay.
It’s clear that Rosen isn’t just a viral sensation — he’s a rising star in the world of impressions, and his journey is only just beginning. Stay tuned, because the best may still be yet to come.
Make sure to click here to watch Rosen’s full interview on Scoop B Radio.
