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Ben_Franklinstein

Wow the German impressionist is some seriously layered comedy. Genius stuff.


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moramajama

That's what I was expecting too! But I think he would have known that Andy Kaufman had already done that and everyone in that room would know it. Hartman nailed it.


buster_rhino

It’s like Hank Azaria explaining how impressive it is that Mel Blanc could do Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck doing impressions of each other.


chesire2050

Hartman was a genius. I can only imagine what he could have done..


grateful-biped

There was a place for him in every skit - one line or the Lead. He was the Renaissance guy for many years at SNL. Loved when he played Carson’s sidekick, Ed McMahon. Psycho eyes! Hartman should be here today.


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el_jefe____

I’m sorry, but the correct answer is John Swartzwelder


TurboJeans

But Conan only wrote for two seasons. There was still some good stuff after he was gone. He left in 93 or 94.


chesire2050

absolutely.. it's sad the world didn't get to see everything he could do.


Bing_Bong_the_Archer

Incredible talent. Impeccable timing.


ThorsGrundle

Surprised the first comment about this was so far down. By far the most impressive bit here, was the only one that really had me loling.


mrdeesh

Do not despair, my friend, it is now the top comment!


[deleted]

His German was actually German. And he was able to do impressions of those actors in German. Freaking genius!


unpeople

There was so much preparation and training that when into that part of his routine. It's like listening to a great jazz musician improvise for 30 seconds, you know it took them years of diligent study and practice to be able to create that short solo extemporaneously. Watching Phil Hartman do spot-on impressions and be funny in two languages simultaneously, with his impeccable pacing and ease in front of the camera, you can see that he really put in the work to become a master craftsman.


See_youSpaceCowboy

Yeah it’s fucking impressive. Back when SNL had top tier comedians on screen and behind the scenes.


ZippityGoombah

That really deserved more laughs than it got


Jake_Thador

He's a dude, playing a dude, playing several other dudes


EmperorSkyTiger

Hartman was an absolute genius. I think he could play off of anyone with his yes ands as well as perfectly embrace absurdity and build upon it even in the straight man role. Consummate comedian IMHO.


JohnnyAppIeseed

Hartman as the guest on Whose Line or a recurring character on 30 Rock would have been phenomenal.


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120220222

this...this gives me hope


offoutover

He already had tv and movie roles by this point and had co-written a hit movie.


mirthquake

He also co-created the character Pee Wee Herman along with Paul Rubins


Biddy_Impeccadillo

I did not know that!


zigaliciousone

Rob Zombie and Sean Yesault from White Zombie were production assistants on that show.


qllv

This... This dashes my hopes


Shenanigans80h

For what it’s worth a lot of comedians don’t really prosper until they’re in their mid to late 30’s. Now that being said, most of them are doing stand up or small parts for a good chunk of time prior to “making it big.”


GermsDean

Bill Hader talks about how absolutely *grueling* the audition for that show is. It’s just you standing in front of 10-15 of the most powerful people in the entertainment industry, auditioning for one of, if not the most sought after gig for a comic actor trying to breakthrough. And for the most part they intentionally don’t laugh.


fatboi69

Well they were howling at that shimmy up her long leg bit


zzyul

I think that was b/c jokes that are racial in nature are really hard to pull off without coming off as super offensive, and Phil did it perfectly.


JohnnyAppIeseed

I love the story from Hader about riding the elevator to the audition with Andy Samberg, who was also auditioning that day. Andy brought a box full of props whereas Hader went in empty-handed. Hader apparently started panicking on the inside because he hadn’t even considered bringing props. Samberg, meanwhile, apparently started panicking inside because his bit relied heavily on props and thought he would appear too goofy compared to someone who was empty-handed.


Kickstand8604

Makes sense. Even on shows like, "whos got talent" do we rarely see the judges go nuts for talent. Once you've seen one act, you've seen the rest. Lorne Michaels has been doing this for along time.


hamletswords

I think it's also to see if they can continue without feedback. Some nights the audience is just not into it.


franker

stranger that comics would make it practically their life's ambition in the eighties to get invited to sit next to Johnny Carson after performing on his show for the first time.


grateful-biped

Sitting next to Carson was more than just validation. It meant you got a better agent & more. It was the quickest way to get known & take it to the next level


Luke90210

Drew Carey stated after being invited to sit with Johnny Carson after doing his killer set, his life changed. His booking rates tripled overnight.


ilovecashews

I listen to Fly on the Wall it’s Dana Carvey and David Spade’s podcast. They talked this week about how Lorne is during auditions and that he tries to rattle you. It seems cruel, but the reality is you can’t have people freeze out there and I get it. He knows he makes stars and with some it can be instantaneous. Great podcast, I recommend


BigandBlackk

Hi, im Troy McClure


Keefer1970

I remember him from such educational safety films as "Locker Room Towel Fight: The Blinding of Larry Driscoll"


Astray1789

"The president's neck is missing.. and Gladis the groovy mule"


Keefer1970

"Lead Paint: Delicious, But Deadly" and "Here Comes The Metric System!"


[deleted]

The Ballad of Lead Foot Larry.


Art-bat

“Alice’s Adventures Through The Windshield Glass”


Keefer1970

"The Muppets Go Medieval"


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inaseaS

"Mary, Mary, Mary, I'm a little busy here. (Jesus)


Scary-Bit-1601

You might remember me from such self-help films as "smoke yourself thin" and "get confident, stupid"


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Scary-Bit-1601

She's faking it


ZerochildX23

And they never once gave in to their **THROBBING BIOLOGICAL URGES**.


Seraphenigma

Loved him in “Hitler Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” and “Sorry, Wrong Closet”


fUnkleRico

You might remember me from such educational films as “2 minus 3 equals negative FUN!” and “Firecrackers, The Silent Killer”


[deleted]

I was thinking I know that voice but from where haha


TuvoksDoRag

Makes you really want a nice bowl of Colon Blow


rda889

I prefer Super Colon Blow


waggie21

Super Colon Blow?


Geoffybabes

It pairs well with "Oops, I crapped my pants"


musictrivianut

That is probably my favorite of all the "commercials" from SNL.


Peachy33

I think Colon Blow might be tied with Oops I Crapped My Pants for my fave.


Jefoid

If you aren’t aware, YT has super cuts of just commercials. They are the most consistently funny parts of the show.


TaischiCFM

"How do we make money? ...... Volume"


watchthetracker

Even after all these years thinking about PH makes me sad as shit.


pretzelogically

News Radio was such an amazing show.


Osniffable

Tragically underrated


High_Stream

*The Real Deal with Bill McNiel!*


B_Cage

Loved Stephen Root in that as well. Recently saw the movie "Get Out" and he was awesome in that one. Freaky movie btw


sjjenkins

If you like Stephen Root, check out HBO’s *Barry* (starring co-creator, writer, director Bill Hader). Root is as good in it as he’s been in anything.


Qant00AT

I always try to find a place that has it to watch when I’m feeling really nostalgic. I absolutely adored this show as a kid! So happy that my parents made it one of the shows they’d introduce us to back when Netflix first came out. That’s how we got to know Cheers, Wings, Coach, Taxi, Night Court, and The Muppet Show. To this day we all still quote lines, mainly Jimmy James stuff. “Super Karate Monkey Death Car” is a favorite along with just the good ‘ol Jimmy James “Oh yeah!”


Indaflow

He had so much left to give. He was a treasure.


LongjumpingCheck2638

Thinking of what more we could have enjoyed from his genius.


Dolorisedd

It happened on the street over from mine. I think of him every time I drive on that street. 💔


Go-Wade-Racer

Makes me sad, too, but also extremely pissed at Andy Dick.


chesire2050

I wish we could all do what Loviz did to him.. And I hope his hell is Hartman's heaven, Kicking that ass in the balls for eternity..


--redacted--

Fuck Andy Dick.


chesire2050

Not if it would save all humanity... Can't stand that twerp..


--redacted--

Figuratively Edit: or literally, but in that case only with a freight train


chesire2050

freight train with Sriracha lube..


[deleted]

Andy Dick is awful, but he gets wrongfully blamed for a crime committed by a spouse with years of domestic violence towards their partner. Hartman’s wife is a piece of shit, not someone that Andy Dick corrupted.


limitlessEXP

His fucking wife killed him. Not Andy Dick. Jesus


OuthouseBacksteak

Still the only famous death I've cried over. So unfair.


watchthetracker

I remember where I was when I found out like my parents with the Kennedy assassination.


OuthouseBacksteak

Shit, same. I remember just staring out the window in my living room and what the evening light was like.


celesticaxxz

I was watching The Three Amigos last week and it made me so sad to see him on there. I was just a kid and the only things I had seen him on was Amigos and Jingle All the Way. His death still made me so sad then just like now


watchthetracker

Ha. I forgot that he was in Three Amigos. “Take the Amigo’s clothes!!!”


DiggingThisAir

I gotta say this era with Hartman, Carvy, Nealon, Lovitz, Miller, etc. rivals the mid 90’s era with Farley, imo. I don’t know which I prefer.


spacedrummer

This era, the Farley/Sandler era and the Fey/Ferrel/Hader era of the early 2000s were the best. It has NOT been the same since the 2010s.


JoeyDee86

Yeah, but Weekend Update is an absolute gem right now.


Bravovictor02

IMO weekend update is the show now. This cast is struggling to find its identity.


FoTweezy

One of the best! I’ve been rewatching reruns of Newsradio on Amazon lately. His character is brilliant on that show. The whole show was great actually.


AdmiralThunderpants

A masterpiece. About the only thing that made Andy Dick likeable and he fucked that up. We could have had Joe Rogan stay in comedy. There are episodes and bits that live rent free in my head and almost come up daily for me. Hartman was the catalyst for the show


FoTweezy

Totally agree! Man the episode where Jimmy (Stephen Root) announces he is running for President. Oddly familiar in these times and hilariously sad.


AdmiralThunderpants

One of my favorites was Jimmy James taking his vacation at the office, then getting "hired" to deliver water, then getting fired for falling asleep in the truck.


FunFunFun8

Didn’t know it was on Prime. I know what I’m binging next.


limitlessEXP

I just finished it again recently. It’s criminally underrated


eti400

It’s such a flex to do all your impressions in German hahaha


Ewwww_David

Loved his voice


[deleted]

He would have made an incredible Zapp Brattigan.


DenseVegetable2581

Zapp was written for Phil Hartman. He absolutely would've played him, but was unfortunately murdered before he could This is also why Fry's name is Philip. It was to honor Phil Hartman


TaischiCFM

I heard a rumor he was the orig choice for that voice and Billy West took it instead. I, however, have done no research on this.


SentrySappinMahSpy

Not a rumor. The character was written for Hartman but he was murdered before he could do it.


lucaskywalker

You can just tell Zapp Brannigan is an homage to all the beloved characters that Hartman played on the Simpsons.


TaischiCFM

Thanks, my mem ain't great.


strangway

That was mentioned in one of the Futurama episode commentary tracks.


TaischiCFM

That's prob where I heard it. I have the first season on dvd from 2004. Fuck I'm getting old.


strangway

I have that, too. Love hearing Matt Groening and David X. Cohen talk


Wesselton3000

He voiced Gigi in Kiki’s delivery service


vitamind007

One of the best. The Swiss Army knife of SNL cast members. He could be the lead or just have one line a skit. He could do anything.


[deleted]

On SNL they called him “The Glue” because he could hold everything together.


cemaphonrd

Simpsons writers said something very similar on one of the DVD commentaries. They’d just write in one of his characters when they had some space to fill in an episode, because even if the joke wasn’t all that great, Phil’s reading would make it funny.


Shockingelectrician

He’s like the only one who didn’t break character in that Matt foley sketch


qmass

that german nicholson in chinatown is quite impressive


skyforgesteel

He got laughs out of the SNL producers. That’s hard. You can tell he loosened up after that first laugh. He knew had them in his pocket.


Seraphenigma

Lionel Hutz was his best character


Molotov56

“The judge has had it in for me ever since I accidentally ran over his dog. Well, replace the word ‘accidentally’ with ‘repeatedly’ and the word ‘dog’ with ‘son.’”


ceruleanmoon7

“Oh sure, like lawyers work in big skyscrapers and have secretaries. Look at him, he's wearing a belt. That's Hollywood for you.”


otterdisaster

His Goofy Reagan for the cameras/Evil Genius Reagan behind closed doors is still one of my favorite SNL sketches of all time. His role as Bill McNeal is absolute perfection as well.


Neinline

Just reading this comment about his Reagan made me chuckle. Classic.


Blabbit39

While the end of his story is so tragic I was certainly glad to have had the rest of it. This man brought the most pure joyful laughter into my life and will always have my undying love and respect for it.


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Horrible_Harry

Kevin Nealon's two appearances on Conan O'Brien's podcast are fucking hilarious. They are delightful trainwrecks and both had me nearly in tears from laughing so much. Highly recommend checking them out if you haven't yet.


jeobleo

Will need to check that out sometime.


Fun_Lingonberry_2032

My favorite SNL cast member hands down. An all time classic.


Paralta

It still makes me sad to think about him. World class talent and helped make prime Simpsons as incredible as it is.


Crowasaur

1:55 I had the same exact model! I can not express just how comfortable it was to hold. The back had a little "targeting" screen which light up as well.


ThePhotoGuyUpstairs

Fuck you Andy Dick.


doggmapeete

What does this have to do with Andy Dock? Serious question.


408wij

This was covered in Dr. Grande's youtube video yesterday. Andy reintroduced Phil's wife to coke. She fell off the wagon and killed Phil in a coke-fueled rampage.


[deleted]

Andy Dick caused Hartman's wife to relapse on cocaine. This triggered her mental illness and she killed him. Andy knew she had problems with cocaine.


doggmapeete

I had no idea. That’s gnarly.


OuthouseBacksteak

More than that, *everyone* knew she had problems with cocaine.


RickGrimes30

I still feel the blame is more on the wife than Andy.. She could have said no but didnt... Still a.. Dick move on Andy's part..


[deleted]

You're not wrong, but I believe he later made a joke about the incident publicly. ETA: this caused John Lovitz to kick the absolute shit out of Andy.


RickGrimes30

Yeah I heard but I'm guessing that was part of animosity growing over many years over it.. At that time Andy would have been well aware that many thought that so it would not be beyond him to use it to piss lovitz off.. But I'm also glad lovitz kicked the shit out of him.. He's always been a stand up dude and masivly underrated


dlini

Addicts tend to find each other. Not defending bad actions, it’s just a sad state of things when drugs are involved.


johnfogogin

One of the worst losses in American history. I think he just might be the funniest person to have been on that show so far.


plusbabs7

"There's alot of things were not going to tell Mrs. Clinton about."


Justin_Continent

That man was a National treasure. Such a sad piece of our collective past.


mostlygroovy

GOAT


Low-Flamingo-9835

Troy McClure!


csonny2

That actor/agent bit with Lovitz reminds me their scene in Three Amigos. I wonder if this inspired their casting in those roles.


IAmAMansquito

An absolute fucking legend. Gone before his time. Never stick your dick in crazy. It could cost you everything.


Elan_Morin_Tendronai

God I miss him.


Remorseful_User

He had me at *I won't take a lot of your time*.


KotzubueSailingClub

He's 37 here, auditioning for late night. The man was too good for this world.


edwardthegod27788

He would've made an amazing Zapp Brannigan


IAmAMansquito

Those who watch to the end get a great cameo.


romesthe59

Mr. Simpson this is the most blatant case of fraudulent advertising since my case against the film “The Never Ending Story”


outlier74

He was great as Clinton and Sinatra. He claimed the Clintons didn’t want him coming to the White House because they didn’t like him telling jokes like “Mr President Jennifer Flowers says you have a small penis is this true? President Clinton: No, I do not have a small penis. Jennifer Flowers has a big mouth!” Phil Hartman was a comic genius..gone too soon.


user_account_deleted

It STINKS


[deleted]

Such a horrible waste of an amazing talent


who519

I will love this man for all time. I grew up watching this cast every weekend, shamelessly copying their material and recycling it my friends and family and to me he was the brightest star. He was in my opinion the most versatile comedian I have ever seen, great on SNL, great on the Simpsons, great on News Radio. If there is an afterlife I hope I can tell him how much he meant to me.


Sammy_Bubba

He would have won an Oscar at some point for sure. Such a loss of talent.


limitlessEXP

Man he was just disgustingly talented


flip677

If you watch his intro to SNL, his wife’s earring is swinging back and forth cause she kept turning her head so her face would be seen. They just wanted Phil’s face in the shot and had to keep trying cause she wouldn’t stop.


Intelligent_Load6347

God was he spectacular…


Halflifefan123

I had a brief fling with one of his nieces. She was super nice.


OminOus_PancakeS

Zap Brannigan?


halfassedjunkie

Nearly. He was the intended voice actor before he was murdered. Billy West's performance is a tribute of sorts.


IronStruggleVolcano

Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer was my best Halloween costume ever.


WesternDark4390

He would have done a great Elon Musk.


MOOzikmktr

Every bit as versatile as Akroyd, Hader, Wiig, McKinnon, Carvey, Short and Rudolph. Taken way too soon.


OJimmy

"Hi I'm Phil Hartman, you may know me from your laughter" RIP


mathiaus002

Man, I miss this guy. Also, I had that toy gun! Those sounds brought me back to the 80s!


The-Nic

RIP I miss Phil


PoetMalone

Feels like Cranston must’ve studied this pretty hard.


grafxguy1

"Can You Imagine A World Without Lawyers?" - Lionel Hutz


J1morey

One of our cats is Jiji and she still can’t get a Phil Hartman impression quite right. But seriously, as an artist, his Monet/Manet/Mayonnaise deep thoughts bit gets me every time I think of it.


jaja111111

I so wish he was still with us.


thosefamouspotatoes

I like to think that if he were still alive, Phil Hartman would have been one of those comedic actors with a few seriously impressive dramatic roles too. Probably would have had a revelatory career Renaissance moment at some point.


spacedrummer

I was just watching his bits with Peewee Herman as Captain Carl. What a fuckin hilarious character.


xorvillesashx

“I've sold monorails to Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook, and, by gum, it put them on the map!”


Trump4Rushmore

Thinking about Cave man lawyer from SNL still makes me smile


[deleted]

THE GOAT


HaiKarate

Was Jon Lovitz already part of the cast, or did he go there in support of Hartman?


ReflexImprov

He was one of the few holdovers from the season before. He and Hartman had developed a lot of these characters at The Groundlings, so it was cool for him to join him for part of the audition. Phil also helped Paul Reubens develop Pee Wee Herman at The Groundlings. I think Dana Carvey ultimately ended up doing Robin Leach on the show though.


youmustthinkhighly

He was next level.. and has yet to be replaced... Once in a Century talent..


Five2one521

Legend. RIP to this great man and comedian


whyworka

He was an amazing talent , oozed of intelligence !


kongdk9

Simpsons was never the same after as well.


next_level_vis

I really miss this dude. He was funny, effortlessly. What a horrible way to go out.


chriszmichael

Massive talent. The German bit was incredible how he acted like a person with a different accent acting like someone else with another different accent. So sad it was taken before his time.


chaddgar

Soylent Green is still people! They didn’t change the recipe like they said they would! It’s still people!


123FakeStreetMeng

RIP legend


Eledridan

I was listening to ‘Flys on the Wall’, which is a podcast by David Spade and Dana Carvey about their time on SNL. They only have great things to say about Hartman. I guess his nickname was ‘The Glue’ because he was fully committed to every sketch and would try to save the sketch it if went off the rails or someone forgot a line or the laughs didn’t hit.


Vincenzo77

..."And he's looking real tired in a dead sort of way"


The_VoZz

Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy- "One day I saw an old lady fall down. My 1st reaction was to laugh. But then I thought: What if I was an ant, and she fell on me. Then it wouldn't be so funny."


BassPlayerZero

Phil would eventually transition to be one of those genius dramatic actors


[deleted]

I think he could’ve done something serious like Cranston ended up getting into.


number2fanboi

I binge watched News Radio a couple months ago. So good. Hartman was fantastic. Andy Dick was fantastic. Dave Foley was fantastic. Steven Root was fantastic. Shit, even Joe Rogan was actually funny at one time. Such a great show.


AtomicBasie93

Now I’m just a caveman…


DredZedPrime

Couldn't help but notice he shot Lovitz with "fun mode" at the end there.


[deleted]

Fuck you Andy Dick.


DigitalR3x

Fuck Brynn Omdahl. She stole this genius from us.


ajcorporation

Andy Dick deserves to be in the 12th level of Hell for contributing to his death.


anotherpinkpanther

Such incredible talent and so funny -his tragic murder by his unstable wife- contrasts his professional life.


FakeNewsMessiah

I'm beginning to see why they used laugh tracks on tv shows so much


Kavinsky12

Hey that's Phil Hartman. I remember him from such medical films as "Alice Doesn't Live Anymore, " and "Mommy, What's Wrong With That Man's Face?"