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GRIPARIS SKIPS INTO THE MOVIES

We thought we noticed a familiar face in one of the television commercials for the film ”Major League,” which opened around town Friday.

”That`s Skip Griparis,” we shouted.

”No it`s not,” said the dark-haired woman. ”He doesn`t make movies.”

She was wrong on both counts, barely so on the latter. ”Major League”

is Skip Griparis` first film role and he is very, very happy about it.

”It`s not a lot of lines,” he said. ”But it`s a lot of screen time . . . . And this is my first movie. My first movie!”

A long time coming, too, if you ask us. Griparis has, for the last few years, been one of the city`s brightest comedic lights. Masterfully mixing humor with music and impressions of musicians, he has crafted a successful career. (He appears Tuesday through Saturday at Zanies` on Wells Street.)

”I auditioned for two parts, a ballplayer and the part I got, Bob Ueker`s broadcast booth sidekick,” he said. ”Everybody laughed at the audition, but I just thought they were trying to be nice. I went home thinking, `I blew another one.` ”

But he hadn`t. In September, he went to Milwaukee for two days to shoot his part in the film, which stars Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen and Tom Berenger; writer/director is David S. Ward.

”It was a blast,” he said. ”I play color man to Bob`s play-by-play man. But I`m a color man with no answers. It was written funny. I hope it plays as funny.”

Now Griparis feels ”really hooked. I can`t wait to see it. I think the movies is where I belong.” As for the future, it`s likely he will have to spend more time in Los Angeles, searching for more parts.

”I`ve only done a few auditions,” he said. ”So I guess my batting average is pretty high.”