If Rudy Guiliani doesn’t make it to the White House, he could have a fallback career as a stand up comic. Guiliani was one of National Italian American Foundation’s honorees at its annual gala last Saturday night at the Hilton Washington, and he used the occasion to wax hilarious. After the requisite paean to his immigrant ancestors, Guiliani recalled hosting Saturday Night Live. In one skit, he had to play an Italian grandmother. “I immediately rolled down my socks,” he said. Then he was stymied. The director told Guiliani to channel one of his own grandmothers.
The morning after the show, Guiliani nervously called his mother, fearing she would be offended by his portrayal. “Did you see me, Ma?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “But you weren’t on after the monologue.”
“That’s right, Ma,” Guiliani said. Then he hung up.
Former FBI director Louis Freeh served as both Guiliani’s award presenter and his opening act. Freeh recalled his early days in New York when he was a young FBI agent and Guiliani was the US attorney prosecuting organized crime. Freeh was assigned to watch a mobster who conducted all of his business in a local health club. When the mobster was eventually indicted, he spotted Freeh in the courtroom. He pointed to Freeh and told the judge, “The kid had nothing to do with it.”
Despite their stellar performances, neither Guiliani nor Freeh got the most enthusiastic applause from the audience. Who wowed the crowd? Not Supreme Court justices Samuel Alito and Antonin Scalia, not House speaker Nancy Pelosi or Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo or soap-opera diva Susan Lucci. The ultimate adulation was reserved for former Yankees catcher Yogi Berra and Italian movie icon Gina Lollobrigida.
Don’t Miss Another Big Story—Get Our Weekend Newsletter
Our most popular stories of the week, sent every Saturday.
A Night Out: Rudy Does Standup
Giuliani brings down the house at NIAF dinner
If Rudy Guiliani doesn’t make it to the White House, he could have a fallback career as a stand up comic. Guiliani was one of National Italian American Foundation’s honorees at its annual gala last Saturday night at the Hilton Washington, and he used the occasion to wax hilarious.
After the requisite paean to his immigrant ancestors, Guiliani recalled hosting Saturday Night Live. In one skit, he had to play an Italian grandmother. “I immediately rolled down my socks,” he said. Then he was stymied. The director told Guiliani to channel one of his own grandmothers.
The morning after the show, Guiliani nervously called his mother, fearing she would be offended by his portrayal. “Did you see me, Ma?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “But you weren’t on after the monologue.”
“That’s right, Ma,” Guiliani said. Then he hung up.
Former FBI director Louis Freeh served as both Guiliani’s award presenter and his opening act. Freeh recalled his early days in New York when he was a young FBI agent and Guiliani was the US attorney prosecuting organized crime. Freeh was assigned to watch a mobster who conducted all of his business in a local health club. When the mobster was eventually indicted, he spotted Freeh in the courtroom. He pointed to Freeh and told the judge, “The kid had nothing to do with it.”
Despite their stellar performances, neither Guiliani nor Freeh got the most enthusiastic applause from the audience. Who wowed the crowd? Not Supreme Court justices Samuel Alito and Antonin Scalia, not House speaker Nancy Pelosi or Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo or soap-opera diva Susan Lucci. The ultimate adulation was reserved for former Yankees catcher Yogi Berra and Italian movie icon Gina Lollobrigida.
Don’t Miss Another Big Story—Get Our Weekend Newsletter
Our most popular stories of the week, sent every Saturday.
Most Popular in News & Politics
Trump Hotel Employees Reveal What It Was Really Like Catering to the Right Wing Elite
Washington’s Most Influential People
The Latest Marjorie Taylor Greene Dust-Up Shows that Capitol Hill Isn’t Very Good at Giving Someone the Silent Treatment
Inside DC’s Secret Covid Morgue
Trump Hotel Rates Are Over $1,300 on March 4—the Date in a Wild QAnon Theory
Washingtonian Magazine
February 2021: Great Neighborhood Restaurants
View IssueSubscribe
Get Us on Social
Get Us on Social
Related
Video From Fall Real Estate Market Update With Local Leaders
Washingtonian Real Estate Virtual Happy Hour
Videos from Washingtonian’s Wellness Day
Washingtonian Wellness Day
More from News & Politics
Maryland Looks to Get Rid of Its Pro-Confederate State Song
Marijuana Sales Could Finally Become Legal in DC
A Funny Flowchart About the New Way to Network in DC
Marty Baron’s Last Day at the Washington Post Is This Sunday
Pete Buttigieg Spotted Wobbling on a Capital Bikeshare Bike
Capitol Police Worried About Threats to Biden’s Address to Congress
Here Are All the Error Messages We Got Trying to Register for the Vaccine
This Stage Actor’s Job Did a Total 180, and Now She’s Performing Audio Plays