It's nearly impossible to escape from Frank Caliendo these days. He pops up during televised sporting events, movie-theater previews, on the couch of every talk show and even on radio morning shows as a frequent guest.

His hit television series, "Frank TV," just began its second season on TBS.

"Believe it or not, my goal had always been to be a talk-show guest. I just wanted to be famous enough to get to be a talk-show guest. So I clearly didn't set my sights too high," he said, laughing.

Though Milwaukee-reared, Caliendo was born in Chicago, and most of his father's side of the family still lives in Chicagoland, mostly in Addison, Shiller Park and Elmwood Park.

Because Caliendo has a huge following of sports fans because of his frequent appearances on programs like "The Best Damn Sports Show ... Period" and "Mike And Mike" on ESPN2, one might wonder which home team he was rooting for in the playoffs.

"It was great seeing both the Sox and the Cubs doing so well this year," he said. "My dad played in the minor leagues, so I do like the Sox, but I would have loved to have seen the Cubs finally break through and win."

Caliendo is creator, writer and star of the innovative "Frank TV," where he performs opposite himself in a variety of "guest roles," morphing with ease into the likes of Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Jerry Seinfeld, Bill O'Reilly, Al Roker, Charles Barkley, Dr. Phil or one of the many dozens of other celebrities whose voices and personalities he has mastered.

"It was pretty easy show to sell, because 'Frank TV' is basically my stage act turned into sketches," Caliendo said.

Back on the road, Caliendo stops tonight at Merrillville's Star Plaza Theatre, with a show described as a blend of observations, impressions, characters and anecdotes.

"It's a pretty clean show," said Caliendo, the father of two children ages 2 and 4.

"I do that on purpose, because I tend to have a lot of kids and teens in my audience. I do like take it right up the line, so there are little innuendoes, but if you think something is a dirty joke, it's because YOU made it a dirty joke yourself."

Caliendo finds it a compliment to be compared to iconic celebrity chameleons such as Rich Little and Frank Gorshin.

"Rich Little was ahead of his time as far as the voices went, but his material was never A++. It was funny and it worked, but only because Rich himself was so good." Caliendo said.

"Frank Gorshin, though, was a real genius. He was great at impressions, but he could do so much more. Just look at what he did with 'The Riddler' character (from TV's "Batman" in the '60s). Gorshin was always amazing."

Caliendo especially loved the way Jonathan Winters and Robin Williams developed characters.

Caliendo mastered Bill Clinton, Al Gore and George W. Bush over the years and is working on tightening up his Obama.

So what's next for Caliendo now that he has attained the lofty celebrity goal of frequent couch-sitter?

"I'm busy working on new things for the show and evolving as a comic right now," Caliendo said.

"A lot of people worry about doing movies or what's coming next, but that stuff will come along eventually if it's meant to happen. I'm just happy doing what I'm doing right now."

FYI: frankcaliendo.com

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Frank Caliendo

When: 8 tonight

Where: Star Plaza Theatre, Route 30 and I-65, Merrillville

Cost: $47, all ages

FYI: starplazatheatre.com or (219) 791-1234