SNL's Fred Armisen talks Steve Jobs, love of tech at Macworld

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
In an interview with Forbes after his Macworld/iWorld keynote on Friday, comedic actor Fred Armisen shared a story about meeting late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, and gave his feelings on how technology affects his work.

Armisen Jobs
Fred Armisen of SNL and Portlandia speaks at Macworld/iWorld. | Source: Forbes


Armisen, Saturday Night Live's go-to Jobs impersonator, was eager to speak at Macworld and said he's been a loyal Apple user since receiving a hand-me-down Mac from a friend in 2000, reports Forbes.

After appearing as Jobs in a few SNL sketches, including the popular "iPod Invisa" bit where he introduces an iPod so small it can't be seen, Armisen had a chance meeting with the late tech guru at an Apple Store in New York. While the exact location was not mentioned, it is thought to be the Fifth Avenue outlet, as Armisen refers to a major store opening.

"There were people like, 'Do you want to meet Steve? Wait here, wait here, wait here,' and all of a sudden he appeared," Armisen said. Upon seeing Armisen, Jobs pointed and, in reference to the "Invisa" skit, made a pinching motion with his fingers as if holding a tiny iPod, giving a knowing nod. The two made small talk on product design and tech in general.

Armisen Jobs
Armisen doing the "iPod Invisa" bit.


As for how the actor was able to channel Jobs in his impressions, he said the Apple cofounder always loved numbers and would pace around the stage during a keynote, emphasizing exact statistics.

"Over one?million?downloads. A million downloads," Armisen said, doing his Jobs impression. "I loved it, it was very hypnotic."

The comedian went on to discuss how technology affects his current project, Portlandia, which has in the past featured Apple products like the iPad and iPhone. A video of the interview is embedded below.



Comments

  • Reply 1 of 14
    tylerk36tylerk36 Posts: 1,037member


    I have to watch SNL for life now.  :-/

  • Reply 2 of 14
    red oakred oak Posts: 1,087member
    I miss Steve. He was a force. Passionate. Aggressive. He did not let Apple take shit from anyone.

    I also think Tim is a great CEO. I'd like him and the Apple senior team though to be more aggressive. Have more swagger. Be more assertive in Apple building a dominate global device and content platform. For Christ sake, Amazon is coming off as having more vision

    Announce a $10 billion retail expansion plan to open 100 stores in China over the next 5 years

    Hold an iPhone "Big Bang" event this year announcing the launch of multiple devices, including a iPhone "mini" and iPhone+

    Launch finally your music streaming service

    Take on and own the game console market via an iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad mini hardware controller add-on and Apple TV. Apple can lay waste to Xbox and PS3, and make tons of money in the process

    Buy back $25 billion in stock

    Launch watch wearables

    Finally enter the goddam TV market

    Launch an iPad Pro 12" tablet

    Start doing more bigger and bolder things

    And, please start shipping your go damn iMacs on time (of all things)

    Come on Apple. Wake up! And, don't let your stock be so f******* manipulated
  • Reply 3 of 14


    Originally Posted by Red Oak View Post

    Announce a $10 billion retail expansion plan to open 100 stores in China over the next 5 years



    Hold an iPhone "Big Bang" event this year announcing the launch of multiple devices, including a iPhone "mini" and iPhone+



    Launch finally your music streaming service



    Take on and own the game console market via an iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad mini hardware controller add-on and Apple TV. Apple can lay waste to Xbox and PS3, and make tons of money in the process



    Buy back $25 billion in stock



    Launch watch wearables


     


    Why are any of these good ideas or even remotely logical?

  • Reply 4 of 14


    Fred and Carrie should've played Jobs and Woz.


    Not Kelso and Gads.

  • Reply 5 of 14
    blackbookblackbook Posts: 1,361member
    red oak wrote: »
    I miss Steve. He was a force. Passionate. Aggressive. He did not let Apple take shit from anyone.

    I also think Tim is a great CEO. I'd like him and the Apple senior team though to be more aggressive. Have more swagger. Be more assertive in Apple building a dominate global device and content platform. For Christ sake, Amazon is coming off as having more vision

    Announce a $10 billion retail expansion plan to open 100 stores in China over the next 5 years

    Hold an iPhone "Big Bang" event this year announcing the launch of multiple devices, including a iPhone "mini" and iPhone+

    Launch finally your music streaming service

    Take on and own the game console market via an iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad mini hardware controller add-on and Apple TV. Apple can lay waste to Xbox and PS3, and make tons of money in the process

    Buy back $25 billion in stock

    Launch watch wearables

    Finally enter the goddam TV market

    Launch an iPad Pro 12" tablet

    Start doing more bigger and bolder things

    And, please start shipping your go damn iMacs on time (of all things)

    Come on Apple. Wake up! And, don't let your stock be so f******* manipulated

    Some of those ideas are good but a lot of them don't seem like Apple at all.

    It seems whenever we are between "product-launches" people get the idea that Apple is in a lull. They only have 3-4 dates a year they announce new product.

    Give them time and they probably will surprise this year with things we don't even yet expect.
  • Reply 6 of 14
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member


    His Steve Jobs impression is horrendously bad.

  • Reply 7 of 14
    Information about China growth: China may overpass US and becomes the top one market in 2016.

    http://cutt.com/article/1694541892
  • Reply 8 of 14
    chris_cachris_ca Posts: 2,543member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Ireland View Post


    His Steve Jobs impression is horrendously bad.



    But the idea is that you know who he is impersonating. Its a caricature 

  • Reply 9 of 14
    chris_cachris_ca Posts: 2,543member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by tylerk36 View Post


    I have to watch SNL for life now.  :-/



    Why?

  • Reply 10 of 14
    tylerk36tylerk36 Posts: 1,037member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Chris_CA View Post


    Why?



    It was meant to be sarcasm.

  • Reply 11 of 14
    bdkennedy1bdkennedy1 Posts: 1,459member


    I think the most obscure sketch comedies I've ever seen are Kids in the Hall and The Young Ones. I just don't get Portlandia.

  • Reply 12 of 14

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Red Oak View Post



    I miss Steve. He was a force. Passionate. Aggressive. He did not let Apple take shit from anyone.



    I also think Tim is a great CEO. I'd like him and the Apple senior team though to be more aggressive. Have more swagger. Be more assertive in Apple building a dominate global device and content platform. For Christ sake, Amazon is coming off as having more vision

     


     


    I don't think anyone can do what Steve did without looking like a Nazi out of uniform. I'd love it if Apple found a spokesperson (like the old "I'm a PC guy) to do the presentations. Even some other person with stage presence who is believable and a good showman. It's a rare talent for a CEO, Lord knows Steve Ballmer doesn't have what it takes either: Be a CEO or have stage presence...

  • Reply 13 of 14

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by chudq View Post



    Information about China growth: China may overpass US and becomes the top one market in 2016.



    http://cutt.com/article/1694541892




    Apple may enjoy a huge portion of the China market with the new iPad and iPhone Chinese government app: "Find My Traitor."

  • Reply 14 of 14

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Ireland View Post


    His Steve Jobs impression is horrendously bad.



    Its more of a 'paraphrase' than an impression

Sign In or Register to comment.