How a Toronto comedian found a viral audience impersonating the Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten

Like good olive oil, or the finest vanilla, you know a true gay icon when you see one.

In the case of Ina Garten, she mounted this summit ages ago, going beyond mere epicurean icon to queenly status. It is there in her serene singsong and infectious laugh and sneaky shade. Her Hamptons dreamscape and her famous friends. Those popped collars! There even via her campy moniker: the Barefoot Contessa. The woman whom Liz Lemon on “30 Rock” famously wanted to be, if you recall.

Enter: Tom Hearn, who actually did become her — at least on TikTok. After his gentle impersonations of the diva went viral starting in 2022 — videos which have surpassed 100 million views — the Toronto comic found an unexpected audience. How fabulous is that?! — as Tom caps most of his Ina portrayals. Pretty darn fabulous, as local audiences will discover this week at his latest one-man show, before he heads off on a multi-country tour. Perfect time to catch up with the guy … no?

How did the Ina inspiration metabolize, anyways? First question! Over poulet, the New Brunswick-raised funnyman and one-time Second City trouper shared. “It sounds too good to be true, but the night I realized I could do Ina, I was making a roast chicken. She is someone that I’ve been watching for years and years and I’ve always half-jokingly thought she would make amazing comedy. When I put that first video up and it hit over a million views in 12 hours, I knew then to just start following what I thought was funny … for a while I was caught up with ‘What do people want me to post’ vs. ‘This is what I find funny.’”

A universal lesson, indubitably: follow your passions and hopefully others will follow? “I cannot believe the amount of ‘Ina Heads’ are out there,” Hearn continued. “When I performed my holiday show, ‘Barefooting Through the Snow,’ we did a meet and greet — I was astounded how many people wanted photos with me as the iconic Ina.”

When asked about the mechanics of getting into Garten mode, he said: “Whenever I do an impression, I have a vocal hook (with another domestic goddess, Martha Stewart, it comes down to ‘It’s a Good Thing,’ and with Ina, some semblance on ‘My husband, Jeffrey’). It’s something that I can go back to when I get lost and Tom begins to come out. With Ina, nailing down her walking movement was a game-changer; she floats with each step and swims with her arms everywhere she goes.”

On the subject of performing live — hearing the roar of a real audience — at a time when you can become famous online and when comedy is so accessible on our feeds, Hearn says this: “Nothing will ever replace live comedy, ever. The feeling in the room is irreplaceable. I wish more people would come out to live shows … the comedians I know pour their entire essence into their comedy and I promise that seeing them live will always trump seeing a clip online.”

This new show? The culmination of his last 10 years performing in Toronto. “How Fabulous is That?!” has original music created with Jordan Armstrong (both Ina and Jeffrey have their own songs!). Also: other original characters and impressions, together with some standup. “I never leave the stage and I do all the tech, from sounds to lights, live onstage with a bunch of buttons. I’ve essentially had to memorize a dance of where to be at any given moment to execute the tech … it’s everything I love about live comedy: it’s risky, it’s campy, it’s just a good time.”

The debut at the Comedy Bar Danforth, his comedy home in Toronto? The perfect send-off before he heads to New York, Philadelphia, London … and numerous shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe!

Like many of us, too, Hearn cannot wait to read Ina’s much-anticipated memoir (due this fall). “One of the main reasons why I adore her is the lore surrounding her. Watching her shows, I’m enamoured with the Hamptons lifestyle. I want to know more about T.R. Pescod (her BFF), the shop Loaves & Fishes, and just how many days Jeffery is actually away on business!”

There is, of course, also the added lore of Ina having been a nuclear energy expert in the White House, back in the day!

Finally, a random question: does he have a favourite herb? Hearn sure does: “I’ve never met a herb I didn’t like, but I like thyme because it takes time. Ina said that. She is truly the Socrates of our time.”

“How Fabulous Is That?!” is at Comedy Bar Danforth, 2800 Danforth Ave., Friday at 9 p.m. See comedybar.ca for tickets.