Johnathan Lamberton was on “Good Day New York” this morning. You might know Johnathan from New York Mayor Bill De Blasio’s press conferences during Winter Storm Juno and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”
Lamberton, who is deaf, brought his wife and his own interpreter to talk about sign language with hosts Greg Kelly and Rosanna Scotto. “I’m very proud of the work I do,” Lamberton told the WNYW morning show hosts. He added, “I understand why you might be fascinated with it, because it looks sort of like a side show and entertainment to you, but I do not mean it that way. I am there to be as clear as possible for native sign language users to watch and understand me.”
Jon Stewart spoofed Lamberton on his Comedy Central Show, calling him Best Silent Mayoral Hype Man for his dramatic style. “That is some New York sign language,” said Stewart. WARNING: Parts of video NSFW.
During Sandy, then Mayor Bloomberg’s interpreter Lydia Callis was spoofed on “Saturday Night Live” for her style.