Eli Manning (l.) and Deion Sanders on the set of a DirecTV commercial.
The memory of Eli Manning dressed as a 1970s cop, wearing a fake moustache and leaning against a police car, still makes Peyton Manning laugh. He cant believe the world still sees his little brother as shy, reserved and lacking in personality.
Peyton says the world shouldve seen Eli back then.
He was really into the character, Peyton says, reminiscing about the brothers famous Football Cops commercial for DirecTV last summer. I never knew he always wanted to be a cop.
I didnt, adds Eli, sitting next to his brother. I just wanted to have a moustache. A moustache does not grow well with me.
Maybe Eli can convince the producers of Saturday Night Live to let him wear some more fake facial hair when he reports for work on Monday for what he calls his next challenge.
Following in the footsteps of his more gregarious brother, Eli will be rehearsing at Studio 8H in Manhattan all this week preparing for his turn as host of NBCs long-running comedy sketch show on Saturday night.
At first glance, Eli doesnt appear to be the natural fit for that role like Peyton was when he hosted SNL in 2007. But during an interview with the Daily News last week while taking a break from filming another series of DirecTV commercials at the Steiner Studios in Brooklyn, Peyton insisted Eli isnt an unnatural fit at all. In fact, he believes Eli will be a surprising success on t he show because he has one key quality:
An ability and willingness to make fun of himself on national TV.
The main thing I tried to do there, I told them I dont take myself very seriously and Im not afraid to make fun of myself, Peyton says. I think thats kind of important on that show. You have to just kind of let them have at it with you.
Eli seems willing to do that. Despite his controlled and sometimes boring public persona, his teammates have always said hes a funny man behind the scenes. Even Hall of Famer Deion Sanders says he saw signs of Elis comedic genius during the four days they worked on their commercial together last week.
He really is hilarious, man, Sanders says. I can see what theyre saying now. His timing is impeccable. Hes hilarious. Hes a professional. He threw some one-liners out there that are really going to take this commercial to another level.
Eli points out that hes no stranger to co medy, thanks to a long list of commercials during his eight-year NFL career. The two-time Super Bowl MVP says he feels more comfortable in front of a camera than ever before. Hes also learned things from watching his brother, such as the importance of reading a script before shooting starts and knowing when its OK to make up your own lines.
Eli says he hasnt seen the SNL script yet, but hes gotten plenty of ideas for skits from friends and teammates. Victor Cruz, for example, would love to see Eli do a salsa. His old friends keep calling with suggestions, too.
My college buddies keep saying This is something thats funny that happened to us. You should bring that in, Eli says. Some of them might be good suggestions. A lot are not.
Peyton, who wont be in attendance on Saturday night because of a previous commitment, says he hasnt given Eli any ideas yet and really hasnt spent much time helping Eli prepare for the show at all. Most of thei r discussions, Peyton says, have been about how its easier to get tickets for a Super Bowl than it is for this. AnSNL host only gets 10 to distribute to family and friends.
I dont think weve had any film study, if thats what youre asking, Peyton adds. When I was there I just kind of said Just tell me where to line up. Its the same strategy (for Eli). You want to kind of get to know what theyre trying to do, and be yourself as much as you can be.
I will say it is very much like a football week. You get there on a Monday and, not to use too many analogies, but you put in the game plan, the plays youre going to run, then you do double practices.
It was the same, sometimes tedious process during their commercial shoot last week, but it all paid off when they shot their final commercial together in just three takes. It wouldve been even quicker if you could memorize your lines, Eli tells Peyton.
In the commercial, scheduled to a ir this summer, Peyton is wearing his brand new Denver Broncos uniform, while Eli is dressed in Giants blue. Both are clean shaven, much to Elis dismay.
Anytime I can put a mustache on, Im all for it, he says.
He means that, Peyton adds.
Maybe hell get one to wear on Saturday night.
Twitter.com/TheBlueScreen
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