Randy Rainbow

Randy Rainbow was born to a Jewish family in Huntington, New York. Rainbow is his real last name. He grew up in Commack, New York. When he was 10 years old, his father, Gerry Rainbow (né Ribner[https://www.jewishtampa.com/jews-in-the-news/jews-in-the-news-pamela-adlon-matthew-broderick-and-debra-messing Jews in the News: Pamela Adlon, Matthew Broderick and Debra Messing]. jewishtampa.com, April 23, 2020),{{cite news|url=http://www.classmates.com/people/Gerald-Gerry-Rainbow/8686377551|title=Gerald (Gerry) Rainbow, Class of 1953 - Monroe High School - Classmates|newspaper=Classmates.com|access-date=July 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717212914/http://www.classmates.com/people/Gerald-Gerry-Rainbow/8686377551|archive-date=July 17, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.levitt-weinstein.com/obituaries/Gerald-Ribner/#!/Obituary |title=Obituaries - Levitt Weinstein Memorial Chapels & Cemeteries |website=levitt-weinstein.com |access-date=July 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126012710/http://www.levitt-weinstein.com/obituaries/Gerald-Ribner/#!/Obituary |archive-date=January 26, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/Gerald-Ribner-104573106 |title=Gerald Ribner |website=tributes.com |department=Obituaries |access-date=July 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725003123/http://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/Gerald-Ribner-104573106 |archive-date=July 25, 2018 |url-status=live }} a musician and talent booker,{{cite news |url=http://people.com/politics/in-an-ugly-election-year-randy-rainbow-uses-musical-parody-to-bring-on-the-laughs/ |title=In an Ugly Election Year, Randy Rainbow Uses Musical Parody to Bring on the Laughs |newspaper=People |access-date=July 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718030932/https://people.com/politics/in-an-ugly-election-year-randy-rainbow-uses-musical-parody-to-bring-on-the-laughs/ |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |url-status=live }} moved the family to Plantation, Florida. Rainbow 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 back to New York to pursue a theatrical career. It was then he began blogging and making comedic videos.

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."{{cite web |last=Voss |first=Brandon |url=http://www.advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/Internet/Mel_Gibsons_Rainbow_Connection/ |title=Mel Gibsons Rainbow Connection |publisher=Advocate.com |date=July 26, 2010 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214151843/http://www.advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/Internet/Mel_Gibsons_Rainbow_Connection/ |archive-date=December 14, 2011 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://therandyrainbowblahg.blogspot.com/ |title=RandyRainbow.com |publisher=Therandyrainbowblahg.blogspot.com |date=March 20, 2013 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207155223/http://therandyrainbowblahg.blogspot.com/ |archive-date=February 7, 2011 |url-status=live }}

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 280,000 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)". Rainbow's cat Mushi has also appeared in some of his videos.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/user/Tday4U |title=Randy Rainbow |via=YouTube |access-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523224003/http://www.youtube.com/user/Tday4U |archive-date=May 23, 2014 |url-status=live }}

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".{{cite web|last1=Mandell|first1=Sean|title=Randy Rainbow Spells It Out: 'We Got Trump Trouble, America'|url=http://www.towleroad.com/randy-rainbow/|website=Towleroad|access-date=July 31, 2017|date=July 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316210529/http://www.towleroad.com/randy-rainbow/|archive-date=March 16, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Randy Rainbow News and Photos|url=http://www.queerty.com/tag/randy-rainbow/|website=Queerty|access-date=July 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731153016/https://www.queerty.com/tag/randy-rainbow|archive-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=live}} His Lohan clip was featured by Perez Hilton.{{cite web|title=ICYMI: Will & Grace Cast Sparked Even More Reunion Rumors With This Broadway-Style Hillary Clinton Support Song!|url=http://perezhilton.com/2016-11-01-hillary-clinton-will-and-grace-reunion-debra-messing-eric-mccormack-megan-mullaly-sean-hayes-nbc-song-video|website=Perez Hilton|access-date=July 31, 2017|date=November 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731074941/http://perezhilton.com/2016-11-01-hillary-clinton-will-and-grace-reunion-debra-messing-eric-mccormack-megan-mullaly-sean-hayes-nbc-song-video|archive-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=live}} Rainbow made a guest appearance in Tituss and the Tightass Band, a 2010 benefit concert for The Trevor Project at New World Stages.{{cite web|last1=Hetrick|first1=Adam|title=Tituss Burgess Performs Trevor Project Benefit Concert Oct. 30|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/tituss-burgess-performs-trevor-project-benefit-concert-oct-30-com-172823|website=Playbill|access-date=July 31, 2017|date=October 30, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731072751/http://www.playbill.com/article/tituss-burgess-performs-trevor-project-benefit-concert-oct-30-com-172823|archive-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=live}} He also made a guest appearance in the third annual Living for Today benefit concert at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.{{cite web|last1=Hetrick|first1=Adam|title=Jill Paice and Kate Jennings Grant Added to Living for Today Concert|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/jill-paice-and-kate-jennings-grant-added-to-living-for-today-concert-com-172955|website=Playbill|access-date=July 31, 2017|date=October 22, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731104002/http://www.playbill.com/article/jill-paice-and-kate-jennings-grant-added-to-living-for-today-concert-com-172955|archive-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=live}} Rainbow appeared on the cover of Out Front Colorado.{{cite news|last1=Compton|first1=Julie|title=Comedian Randy Rainbow brings humor to tense election year|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/outfront-randy-rainbow-brings-humor-tense-election-year-n665721|publisher=NBC News|access-date=July 31, 2017|language=en|date=October 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731065234/http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/outfront-randy-rainbow-brings-humor-tense-election-year-n665721|archive-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=live}}

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 politics are:{{cite web |url=http://www.youtube.com/c/RandyRainbowOfficial/videos/|title=Randy Rainbow Videos|via=YouTube |access-date=January 3, 2021}}

Rainbow has released several recordings on Broadway Records. He released three singles in August 2012: an original jingle for Chick-fil-A written while he was employed there,{{Cite web|date=August 2, 2012|title=WATCH Randy Rainbow Serves Chick fil A to Sarah Palin|url=http://www.advocate.com/comedy/2012/08/02/watch-randy-rainbow-serves-chick-fil-sarah-palin|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=advocate.com|language=en}} a cover of "An Old-Fashioned Wedding," and a parody of "Born This Way" called "Born This Gay."

He released the holiday EP Hey Gurl, It's Christmas! on November 8, 2019, featuring a studio version of "Trump's Favorite Things"; the title track is an original song.{{Cite web|url=https://www.randyrainbow.com/recordings|title=Randy Rainbow — Recordings|website=Randy Rainbow|language=en-US|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=March 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328203845/https://www.randyrainbow.com/recordings|url-status=live}}

Following the launch of his Pink Glasses Tour,{{Cite web|title=@RandyRainbow|url=https://twitter.com/RandyRainbow/status/1401933529894825987|date=June 7, 2021|access-date=July 17, 2021|via=Twitter|language=en}} Rainbow released his debut studio album A Little Brains, A Little Talent on October 29, 2021.{{Cite web|date=October 22, 2021|title=RANDY RAINBOW'S 'A LITTLE BRAINS, A LITTLE TALENT'|url=https://lifeentertainmentnews.com/randy-rainbow-a-little-brains-a-little-talent/|access-date=November 30, 2021|website=Life Entertainment|language=en-US}} The album includes several studio versions of his YouTube parodies, plus the two original songs "Pink Glasses," and "Randy Rainbow For President!" both co-written by Rainbow.{{Cite web|title=Randy Rainbow: A Little Brains, A Little Talent CD 2021|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/recordings/randy-rainbowa-little-brainsa-little-talent-2021-broadway-records|access-date=November 30, 2021|website=broadwayworld.com}} The album also features a studio version of "The Jitterbug," a scrapped song from The Wizard of Oz, and two bonus tracks: "If Donald Got Fired" (featuring Patti LuPone) and "Mr. Biden (Bring My Vaccine)."

Rainbow was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series in 2019{{cite web|title=Emmys 2019: List of Nominations|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/emmys-2019-nominations-complete-list-1203268665/|website=Variety|access-date=July 17, 2019|date=July 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718164802/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/emmys-2019-nominations-complete-list-1203268665/|archive-date=July 18, 2019|url-status=live}} and 2020.{{cite web |title=72nd Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners |url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners?page=12 |website=Emmys.com |publisher=Emmy's |access-date=July 28, 2020 |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728213532/https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners?page=12 |url-status=live }}

After Primetime Emmy Award categories were combined starting in 2021 to form the Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series, The Randy Rainbow Show was nominated in 2021{{cite news |last1=Lieber |first1=Sarah Jae |title=HAMILTON, Cynthia Erivo, Bernadette Peters & More Earn 2021 Emmy Nominations - See the Full List! |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/XXXX-XXXX-More-Lead-2021-Emmy-Nominations-See-the-Full-List-20010101 |access-date=July 17, 2021 |work=Broadway World |date=July 13, 2021}} and again in 2022.{{cite web|title=Outstanding Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series Nominees / Winners 2022|url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2022/outstanding-short-form-comedy-or-drama-series|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714213132/https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2022/outstanding-short-form-comedy-or-drama-series|url-status=live}}

The album A Little Brains, A Little Talent was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.{{Cite web |title=Grammy Awards (2023) |url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000301/2023/1/ |access-date=November 19, 2022 |publisher=IMDb}}

Rainbow is Jewish and openly gay.{{Cite web|url=https://www.advocate.com/music/2019/12/13/randy-rainbow-gay-jewish-crooner-christmas-season|title=Randy Rainbow Is the Gay Jewish Crooner of the Christmas Season|date=December 13, 2019|website=advocate.com|access-date=April 25, 2020|archive-date=December 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214161010/https://www.advocate.com/music/2019/12/13/randy-rainbow-gay-jewish-crooner-christmas-season|url-status=live}} He was born on Long Island, lived in Queens for 17 years, attended community college in Plantation, Florida, and since July 2019 has resided in Manhattan.{{Cite web|last=mike|date=July 15, 2019|title=Randy Rainbow Moves To Upper West Side|url=https://ilovetheupperwestside.com/randy-rainbow-moves-to-upper-west-side/|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=I Love The Upper West Side|language=en-US|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918072523/https://ilovetheupperwestside.com/randy-rainbow-moves-to-upper-west-side/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Robinson|first=AuthorPam|date=July 17, 2019|title=Huntington Native Randy Rainbow Nominated for Emmy|url=https://huntingtonnow.com/randy-rainbow/|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=HuntingtonNow.com|language=en-US|archive-date=October 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029193122/https://huntingtonnow.com/randy-rainbow/|url-status=live}}

On April 19, 2022, Rainbow published a memoir, Playing With Myself, which tells the story of his personal life and rise to internet fame.{{Cite book |last=Rainbow |first=Randy |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1268205789 |title=Playing with myself |date=2022 |isbn=978-1-250-27625-4 |edition=First |location=New York |oclc=1268205789}}

In mid-August 2020, critics of Randy Rainbow circulated several dozen of his tweets, all but a few published between 2010 and 2012, featuring jokes widely described as racist and transphobic.{{cite web|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/08/randy-rainbows-racist-transphobic-tweets-resurface-dozens/|title=Randy Rainbow's racist & transphobic tweets resurface. There are dozens.|first=Alex|last=Bollinger|publisher=LGBTQNation|date=August 19, 2020|access-date=August 25, 2020|archive-date=August 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825005016/https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/08/randy-rainbows-racist-transphobic-tweets-resurface-dozens/|url-status=live}} Rainbow apologized on August 20, 2020, in an interview with The Advocate.{{cite web|url=https://www.advocate.com/comedy/2020/8/20/randy-rainbow-emmy-nom-and-resurfaced-racist-transphobic-tweets|title=Randy Rainbow on Emmy Nom and Resurfaced Racist, Transphobic Tweets|first=David|last=Artavia|date=August 20, 2020|access-date=August 25, 2020|archive-date=August 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825005128/https://www.advocate.com/comedy/2020/8/20/randy-rainbow-emmy-nom-and-resurfaced-racist-transphobic-tweets|url-status=live}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{official|http://www.randyrainbow.com/}}
• {{YouTube|u=TDay4U|Randy Rainbow}}
• {{IMDb name|8810489}}

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