Trump vs. Bernie

Adomian began impersonating Sanders in May 2015, making an appearance on Dan Harmon's podcast Harmontown and in a Funny or Die short with a television debut on a September episode of @midnight.{{Cite web|url=https://www.harmontown.com/2015/05/episode-147-high-concept-humiliation/|title=Episode: 147 – High Concept Humiliation {{!}} Harmontown|website=www.harmontown.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-24}}{{Citation|title=Bernie Sanders Is Not Boring|url=http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c563893ec1/bernie-sanders-raw|language=en|access-date=2018-02-24|date=2015-06-23|archive-date=March 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314174025/http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c563893ec1/bernie-sanders-raw|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=http://splitsider.com/2015/09/learn-about-bernie-sanderss-social-media-habits-with-james-adomian/|title=Learn About Bernie Sanders's Social Media Habits with James Adomian|date=2015-09-17|work=Splitsider|access-date=2018-02-24|language=en-US|archive-date=January 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118131414/http://splitsider.com/2015/09/learn-about-bernie-sanderss-social-media-habits-with-james-adomian/|url-status=dead}} Atamanuik performed as Trump at various improv shows starting in August 2015, resulting in a one-man show at UCB New York entitled "Trump Dump."{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/23/arts/television/trump-becomes-a-late-night-host-on-comedy-centrals-the-president-show.html|title=Trump Becomes a Late-Night Host on Comedy Central's 'The President Show'|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=2017-04-23|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-02-24|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} The duo, having known each other from the improv scene since 2008, connected to stage a fake debate in a one-off live sketch on October 12, 2015, at UCB's stand-up showcase "Whiplash."{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-ca-st-trump-sanders-show-20160501-story.html|title=Anthony Atamanuik and James Adomian have turned 'Trump vs Bernie' into a comedy hit|last=Rottenberg|first=Josh|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2018-02-25|date=2016-04-29}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/11/james_adomian_the_hilarious_be.html|title=James Adomian, the hilarious 'Bernie' in 'Trump vs. Bernie' parody, performs at the Winchester in Lakewood Nov. 15|work=cleveland.com|access-date=2018-02-24|language=en-US}} An edited video of the performance uploaded to YouTube was well-received by websites like Salon and Daily Dot, which lead to a subsequent show at the New York Comedy Festival, where the "debate" was moderated by The Daily Show correspondent Hasan Minhaj.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/-uN0A0vZTo/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/-uN0A0vZTo |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=limited|title=Hasan Minhaj on Instagram: "Moderating #trumpvsbernie. Photo: @withreservation"|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=2018-02-25}}{{cbignore}}

File:Tvb tour boston.png

In January 2016, dates for an initial 12-city US debate tour were announced.{{Cite news|url=http://splitsider.com/2016/01/james-adomian-and-anthony-atamanuik-are-going-on-a-trump-vs-bernie-debate-tour/|title=James Adomian and Anthony Atamanuik Are Going on a 'Trump vs. Bernie' Debate Tour|date=2016-01-06|work=Splitsider|access-date=2018-02-25|language=en-US|archive-date=January 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118012226/http://splitsider.com/2016/01/james-adomian-and-anthony-atamanuik-are-going-on-a-trump-vs-bernie-debate-tour/|url-status=dead}} Debates were held in Portsmouth and Manchester a day before the New Hampshire presidential primaries that both the real Trump and Sanders won. The tour grew to a total of 40 cities and had an international leg in Amsterdam, Dublin, London, and Montreal.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/trumpvsbernie/status/745720719355478017|title=#TrumpvsBernie takes the debate abroad in July!|last=BERNIE|first=TRUMP VS|date=22 June 2016|website=@trumpvsbernie|language=en|access-date=2018-02-25}} Each debate was moderated by a celebrity guest such as Baratunde Thurston, Andy Richter and Mark Hamill.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/trumpvsbernie/status/743485963863756800|title=The esteemed AndyRichter moderates #trumpvsbernie |last=BERNIE|first=TRUMP VS|date=16 June 2016|website=@trumpvsbernie|access-date=2018-02-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/trumpvsbernie/status/751581360335314944|title=The debate only a Master Jedi could handle! Thank you @HamillHimself for taking the time to moderate our little showpic.twitter.com/IUH77mbUEs|last=BERNIE|first=TRUMP VS|date=8 July 2016|website=@trumpvsbernie|language=en|access-date=2018-02-25}} The tour concluded at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal where Atamanuik and Adomian were honored as two of Variety magazine's 10 Comics to Watch for 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/10-comics-to-watch-2016-1201789465/|title=Variety Announces 10 Comics to Watch for 2016|author=Variety Staff|date=2016-06-06|work=Variety|access-date=2018-02-25|language=en-US}}File:Anthony Atamanuik, Jon Favreau & James Adomian as Trump & Sanders (27874311542).jpg moderates a mock "Trump vs. Bernie" debate with Anthony Atamanuik as Donald Trump and James Adomian as Bernie Sanders. ]]

On March 23, 2016, @midnight deviated from its usual three-person panel game format to host an hour-long Trump vs. Bernie debate moderated by host Chris Hardwick. According to Hardwick, a Comedy Central executive present at the taping decided to preempt originally scheduled programming to extend the 30 minute show to an hour because he was so impressed. Billed as "socialist vs. sociopath," the episode was subsequently posted to YouTube and has amassed over 7 million views.{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/trump-bernie-debate-midnight-chris-hardwick-1201725626/|title='Trump & Bernie' Debate On '@midnight': Chris Hardwick Moderates "Socialist Vs. Sociopath"|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|date=2016-03-24|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-02-25|language=en-US}}

On Super Tuesday, the Fusion network ordered an hour-long debate special and hour-long sketch show special based on the act along with digital content that began with a livestream on Fusion's F-Comedy Facebook page later that night.

The debate special aired April 27, 2016.{{Citation|last=FUSION|title=Trump vs. Bernie • Debate for America (Full Special)|date=2016-04-27|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfXdmHseiFA|access-date=2018-02-25}} It is moderated by Paul F. Tompkins, Brianna Baker, and River Butcher.{{Citation|last=Feinartz|first=Steven|title=Trump vs. Bernie: Debate for America|date=2016-04-27|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5664904/|others=James Adomian, Anthony Atamanuik, Brianna Baker|access-date=2018-02-25}} Betsy Sodaro plays a protester who heckles Trump throughout the debate. When Sodaro storms the stage, Trump brandishes a gun and shoots her. The special ends with Bernie rushing to Sodaro and tackling Trump.

Trump vs. Bernie: Shout the Vote! aired later the next month on May 11, 2016. Presented as "Loudbox," a cable news program hosted by Rachel Maddow (Atamanuik) and Chris Matthews (Adomian) with panelists Donna Brazile (Nicole Byer), Jeb Bush (Daniel Van Kirk), and Ben Carson (Jerry Minor), the pundits ignore an impending cataclysmic asteroid strike in favor of political optics while throwing to interviews and field pieces with Trump and Bernie. Atamanuik also impersonates alleged serial killer Robert Durst while Adomian plays former Governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura.{{Citation|title=Trump vs. Bernie: Shout the Vote (TV Movie 2016)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5814014/fullcredits|access-date=2018-02-25}}

Comedy Dynamics released Trump vs. Bernie: Live from Brooklyn Starring Anthony Atamanuik and James Adomian on July 29, 2016, on vinyl as well as on iTunes and other streaming services.[https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/07/bernie-sanders-and-donald-trump-debate-in-forthcom.html] The album featured a tour debate moderated by the Huffington Post's Howard Fineman. It debuted at #5 on Billboard's Comedy Album charts.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/anthony-atamanuik/chart-history/gig/|title=Anthony Atamanuik Trump vs Bernie: Live From Brooklyn Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-02-25}}

Atamanuik and Adomian promoted the debate tour in character on an episode of Comedy Bang! Bang! that also features Gilbert Gottfried.{{Cite web|url=http://www.earwolf.com/episode/trump-vs-bernie/|title=Trump vs. Bernie, episode #399 of Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast on Earwolf|website=www.earwolf.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-26}} On February 12, 2016, a week after the New Hampshire primary, CNN's Brooke Baldwin interviewed Atamanuik and Adomian on Newsroom as if they were the real life candidates.{{Cite news|url=http://splitsider.com/2016/02/watch-james-adomian-and-anthony-atamanuiks-trump-vs-bernie-cnn-interview/|title=Watch James Adomian and Anthony Atamanuik's 'Trump vs. Bernie' CNN Interview|date=2016-02-12|work=Splitsider|access-date=2018-02-25|language=en-US|archive-date=May 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514055520/http://splitsider.com/2016/02/watch-james-adomian-and-anthony-atamanuiks-trump-vs-bernie-cnn-interview/|url-status=dead}} The duo has appeared on The Howard Stern Show twice: first in June 2016 and again after the election of Donald Trump.{{Cite web|url=https://www.howardstern.com/show/2016/11/9/donald-trump-and-bernie-sanders-discuss-outcome-historic-election/|title='Donald Trump' and 'Bernie Sanders' Discuss Outcome of Historic Election|website=Howard Stern|date=November 9, 2016 |language=en|access-date=2018-02-25}}

Both Atamanuik and Adomian have received praise for their portrayals. Critic for The New York Times Jason Zinoman said of their initial debate, "The best sketch about the current political campaign that I've seen this year was not on 'Saturday Night Live.'" Dan Caffrey of The A.V. Club credits Atamanuik with taking a "psychological approach" with "moments of self-awareness" that allows him explore the emptiness of Trump's soul.{{Cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-president-show-gifts-donald-trump-with-frightening-1798191151|title=The President Show gifts Donald Trump with frightening moments of self-awareness|last=Caffrey|first=Dan|work=TV Club|access-date=2018-02-25|language=en-US}} Both Salon and Huffington Post called Adomian's Sanders better than Larry David's, which Jené Gutierrez of the Daily Dot attributed to his ability to not only capture the essence of Sanders, but to bolster it with improvisation that "communicates complex issues in an accessible way" and transforms it into "smart and subtly flattering comedy."{{Cite news|url=https://www.salon.com/2015/10/20/no_offense_larry_david_but_this_is_the_best_bernie_sanders_impression_in_the_game/|title=No offense, Larry David, but this is the best Bernie Sanders impression in the game|date=2015-10-20|work=Salon|access-date=2018-02-25|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-impersonation_us_562435e7e4b0bce34701253b|title=Larry David Was Pretty, Pretty Good As Bernie Sanders, But This Comedian Is Even Better|last=Fang|first=Marina|date=2015-10-19|work=Huffington Post|access-date=2018-02-25|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/james-adomian-bernie-sanders-impression/|title=James Adomian and the art of the Bernie Sanders impression {{!}} The Daily Dot|date=2015-12-19|work=The Daily Dot|access-date=2018-02-25|language=en-US}} Comedian Patton Oswalt agreed saying, "[James Adomian] and [Anthony Atamanuik] are the scary best at everything.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/pattonoswalt/status/656524519566278656|title=Yep! 'Cuz @JAdomian and @TonyAtamanuik are the scary best at everything. Watch and gape:https://twitter.com/salon/status/656500829193674752 …|last=Oswalt|first=Patton|date=20 October 2015|website=@pattonoswalt|access-date=2018-03-20}} Actor Mark Hamill said of the routine, "Beyond hilarious! On a scale of 1-10, it's an 11! TREMENDOUS Trump. BRILLIANT Bernie."

After the election of Donald Trump, Comedy Central premiered The President Show on April 27, 2017, as a weekly late-night show starring Atamanuik.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/03/arts/television/trump-talk-show-comedy-central-anthony-atamanuik-the-president-show.html|title=A Trump Talk Show, Courtesy of Comedy Central|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=2017-04-03|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-02-25|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} Adomian reprised his role as Bernie on an episode of the show as well as on its one-hour special "I Came Up With Christmas."{{Cite news|url=http://splitsider.com/2017/05/donald-trump-catches-up-with-his-old-friend-bernie-sanders-on-the-president-show/|title=Donald Trump Catches Up with His Old Friend Bernie Sanders on 'The President Show'|date=2017-05-19|work=Splitsider|access-date=2018-02-25|language=en-US|archive-date=March 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325153121/http://splitsider.com/2017/05/donald-trump-catches-up-with-his-old-friend-bernie-sanders-on-the-president-show/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=http://splitsider.com/2017/12/watch-some-clips-from-the-president-shows-one-hour-special-i-came-up-with-christmas/|title=Watch Some Clips from 'The President Show's One-Hour Special 'I Came Up with Christmas'|date=2017-12-01|work=Splitsider|access-date=2018-02-25|language=en-US|archive-date=May 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508114251/http://splitsider.com/2017/12/watch-some-clips-from-the-president-shows-one-hour-special-i-came-up-with-christmas/|url-status=dead}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://trumpvsbernie.com/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304054234/https://trumpvsbernie.com/ |date=March 4, 2021 }}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Poi5x0E2CM @midnight Presidential Debate] (Comedy Central)
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfXdmHseiFA Trump vs. Bernie: Debate for America] (Fusion)
• {{IMDb title|5664904|Trump vs. Bernie: Debate for America}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwA5cYcJNpc Trump vs. Bernie: Shout the Vote!] (Fusion)
• {{IMDb title|5814014|Trump vs. Bernie: Shout the Vote}}
• [https://www.howardstern.com/show/2016/6/27/donald-trump-and-bernie-sanders-debate-issues-isis-executive-orders-and-robin-quivers-breasts/ Trump and Bernie Debate the Issues] (The Howard Stern Show)

{{Bernie Sanders}}

{{Trump media}}

Category:2015 beginnings

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Category:2016 United States presidential election in popular culture

Category:American political satire

Category:Bernie Sanders

Category:Parodies of Donald Trump