Hangin’ with Dr. Z!

Everyone has a specialty. A certain niche where they not only fit in perfectly, but they reach their pinnacle. That mountaintop where they can plant their flag and rule supreme. The role they were born to play.

Dana Gould has been a respected and successful stand up comic for several decades. He’s also had his hand in more failed pilots than an air force proctologist (his words). He also created “Stan against Evil” for IFC and was a writer on the Simpsons for 8 years.

But that magic niche that seems to fit him so well? Well, of COURSE it’s dressing up like Dr. Zaius from the original The Planet of The Apes.

Gould has been doing it for the better part of a decade or more. I can only seem to track down YouTube videos of him doing this for roughly the past eight years. Dr. Zaius has appeared on stage in a tribute to Mark Twain, sung Sweet Caroline dressed as Elvis and done impromptu guest spots on stages all over.

Thank god Planet of the Apes had its 50th anniversary a couple years ago– it really opened things up for this would be simian and suddenly, it was a madhouse! Well, not really a madhouse, but the occasion allowed Gould to once again get into full authentic costume and make up as Dr. Zaius. Several times.

Dr. Zaius appeared on Turner Classics as part of the intro to the celebratory anniversary showing of the film, as well as other stage celebrations and interviews to honor the event.

Here’s the thing… the make up is perfect. His costume is perfect. His mannerisms are perfect. His Maurice Evans is perfect. (Evans originally played Zaius in the original film) and his knowledge is perfect, at least on the subject of the original Planet of the Apes. Does Gould have a life long love affair with the film? With Dr. Zaius? With simians in general? I do not know. But he not only knows his POTA trivia, but his ’60’s and ’70’s Hollywood celebrities, and all the hilariously dated in-jokes of that era.

Obviously recognizing that this might be his first, best destiny, Gould has turned this… hobby? Fetish? Curious choice for a witness protection identity? Into a fun, worthwhile, ongoing comedy gig on YouTube.

It’s called “Hangin’ with Dr. Z”

“Hangin'” has — as of this writing — only amounted to 5 eps so far, and each only about 8 or 9 minutes, but it’s a fun ride. A classic talk show intro, a brief monologue, and a word with his one man band, the ever hapless Rusty Steele. They break for their own crafted commercial (sometimes the funniest bit), then on to the guest for the night for a five minute interview. Dr. Z is very much at home here, and Gould perfectly inhabits this simian showman. Think Johnny Carson, circa 1970, … mixed with an orangutan.