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  • Patrick Swayze’s “Chippendales” SNL Sketch Made Chris Farley a Star


    In the weeks leading up to February 16’s three-hour 50th anniversary celebration on NBC, the team behind Saturday Night Live has selected one sketch from every single season — 50 seasons in 50 days — to reflect the show’s rich legacy across five decades. Presenting the sketch chosen to represent Season 16: “Chippendales Audition” starring Host Patrick Swayze and Season 16 cast members Chris Farley, Kevin Nealon, Mike Myers, and Jan Hooks.

    How to Watch

    Watch Saturday Night Live Saturdays at 11:30/10:30c on NBC and Peacock, streaming next day on Peacock.

    Chris Farley was a tour de force whirlwind of comedic talent during his five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and the star of many unforgettable sketches.

    Case in point: “Chippendales Audition,” starring Chris Farley and October 27, 1990, Host Patrick Swayze, fresh off of starring in the 1990 box office hit Ghost. The two played hopeful dancers competing to be the newest member of the infamous mens’ dance troupe.

    Incredibly, “Chippendales Audition” was only Farley’s fourth sketch — and the very first one that he starred in.

    RELATED: Chris Farley’s “Explosively Funny” in SNL’s “Matt Foley: Van Down by the River”

    SNL‘s “Chippendales” sketch was written by Jim Downey

    “Chippendales” was written by Jim Downey, a longtime SNL writer and sometime sketch performer responsible for sketches like “First Citywide Change Bank.”

    The judges panel (played by Season 16 cast members Kevin Nealon, Mike Myers, and Jan Hooks) exposit that the two dancers — Adrian (Patrick Swayze) and Barney (Chris Farley) — have already gone through a five hour audition and three callbacks, but they only have the budget to hire one of them.

    Adrian and Barney are called out onstage to show off their moves, dancing to “Working for the Weekend” by Loverboy. Eventually ripping off their shirts, they mesmerize the judges with hip thrusts, spins, and head-banging — all while still sporting Chippendales’ signature bowties, of course.

    The judges unsurprisingly decide to hire Adrian — but they admit that it was a close call between the two, despite the dancers’ obvious physical differences.

    Lorne Michaels called Chris Farley “an athlete”

    The sketch premiered almost 35 years ago, but it is still regarded as one of the show’s most iconic, with more than 9.7 million views on SNL‘s YouTube. In The Chris Farley Show, a 2009 oral history of Farley’s life produced by Tanner Colby and and Chris Farley’s brother Tom Farley Jr., SNL writer Robert Smigel said (quotes via The Ringer), “I’d say it’s one of the funniest sketches in the history of the show.”

    RELATED: Mark Your Calendar for These SNL 50 Anniversary Events, Specials, and Episodes

    Farley died in 1997, and in a 1998 Rolling Stone posthumous feature about Farley, SNL creator Lorne Michaels called him “an athlete.”

    “He knew how to use his body,” Michaels explained. “He was incredibly funny with it, and, as they say in football, he could play hurt.”

    Smigel also compared Farley’s gifts to those of an athlete. In an April 2021 interview on The Howard Stern Show, the longtime SNL writer said “What was amazing about the sketch and what people forget is that Farley was incredibly nimble.”

    “He was an athlete, and he danced incredibly well in that sketch, actually. And he had this fantastic energy. And in a way, it was like a very empowering sketch. I think that’s what people felt the first time they watched it, like, ‘Look at this guy go and be completely proud, just unashamed and going for it,” Smigel told Howard Stern when he brought up “Chippendale’s Audition.”

    “He’s an amazing physical comedian! He was the most explosively funny person,” Smigel continued. “I think most people who worked [at SNL] at that time would agree with that.”

    Mike Myers knew “a star was born” during “Chippendales Audition” rehearsal

    In The Chris Farley Show oral history, Nealon admitted that it was hard to keep a straight face while Farley dance in the sketch.

    “I played one of the judges, and my experience was the same as anyone who’s seen it on television,” recalled Nealon. “I can’t even think of the word to describe it. Incredulous, maybe? I did everything I could to keep a straight face.”

    As for Downey, he admitted, “We didn’t know it was going to be as popular as it was. You never do. In read-through Chris is just sitting fully-clothed at the table while Lorne reads stage directions. We didn’t know until he did it at dress,” while Myers said, “I knew in rehearsal that a star was born.”

    “Chippendales Audition” was a star-making moment for the new SNL cast member.

    What is the song in the SNL “Chippendales Audition” sketch?

    Patrick Swayze and Chris Farley dance to “Working for the Weekend” by Loverboy. The song was originally released in 1981.



    In the history of Saturday Night Live, there have been countless memorable sketches and characters that have left a lasting impact on audiences. One such sketch that helped launch a comedic career is Patrick Swayze’s “Chippendales” sketch, which made Chris Farley a star.

    In the sketch, Swayze and Farley play auditioning dancers for the Chippendales male strip club. Swayze, known for his suave and sexy persona, effortlessly shows off his dance moves and charm. Farley, on the other hand, is the complete opposite – he is overweight, awkward, and lacking in dance skills. However, Farley’s enthusiasm and comedic timing steal the show, as he hilariously gyrates and shakes his way into the audience’s hearts.

    The juxtaposition of Swayze’s smooth moves and Farley’s clumsy antics is pure comedic gold. Farley’s fearless physical comedy and willingness to make a fool of himself endeared him to viewers, and the sketch instantly became a fan-favorite. It showcased Farley’s ability to make people laugh with his larger-than-life personality and impeccable timing.

    The success of the “Chippendales” sketch helped propel Farley to stardom on SNL and beyond. He went on to create iconic characters like motivational speaker Matt Foley and “The Chris Farley Show” host, solidifying his status as a comedy legend. Tragically, Farley’s career was cut short when he passed away in 1997, but his impact on the world of comedy lives on.

    So, the next time you watch the “Chippendales” sketch, remember that it was not only a hilarious moment in SNL history but also the moment that made Chris Farley a star.

    Tags:

    Patrick Swayze, Chippendales, SNL sketch, Chris Farley, star, comedy, iconic moment, Saturday Night Live, hilarious, comedian, 90s television, classic skit, pop culture, entertainment, funny, viral video

    #Patrick #Swayzes #Chippendales #SNL #Sketch #Chris #Farley #Star

  • Justin Timberlake Dressed Up Like Beyoncé to Convince Her to Do 2008 SNL Sketch


    Justin Timberlake says that, in order to convince Beyoncé to participate in a now-legendary 2008 sketch on Saturday Night Live, he had to dress up like the superstar, leotard and all.

    The sketch, which aired on the Nov. 18, 2008, episode hosted by Paul Rudd, depicted three “backup dancers,” played by Timberlake and SNL cast members Andy Samberg and Bobby Moynihan.

    In the bit, Rudd played the director of Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” music video, telling her he “hand-picked” the backup dancers, whom she hadn’t yet met.

    “Oh look, don’t worry about the other dancers, B-Town,” Rudd says in the sketch. “These guys are pros.”

    The SNL Single Ladies sketch in 2008.

    Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty


    Timberlake, Samberg and Moynihan then make their entrance, each clad in a black leotard with tights and high heels.

    “Hiiii, we’re the dancers,” they say, before the music is queued up and the routine begins.

    As the song starts, Beyoncé begins her now-iconic dance, while the three men try to keep up.

    Eventually, it comes to light that the men are Rudd’s stepsons, with his character saying, “My wife said I need to spend more time with them.”

    The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

    Timberlake, who has hosted SNL five times, told the story of how the sketch came to be in Questlove’s new documentary Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music, which premiered on NBC on Jan. 27 and is streaming now on Peacock.

    According to Timberlake, it was Moynihan who had the idea for the sketch, which would take place while Rudd hosted and Beyoncé served as musical guest.

    Timberlake had no plans to appear in the episode, until friend Samberg sent him a text, asking if he’d participate.

    “He said Bobby Moynihan has this great idea for a sketch about you, me and him being Beyoncé’s background dancers that never made the cut,” Timberlake recounts in the documentary. “I was like ‘Full leotard’? And he’s like, ‘Yeah.’ I was like, ‘This is too funny. We have to do this.’ “

    But Beyoncé herself wasn’t keen on the idea.

    “She was very polite about it, but she was very hesitant. And when I say hesitant, I mean like, she was not having it,” Timberlake says. “I’m like: Does she know how funny this is gonna be? How beloved this whole moment will be?”

    So, in a bid to convince her, Timberlake dressed up in the costume he and the others would be wearing.

    “I put the leotard and the heels and the hose on and everything, and put a robe on,” he says. “I walked and knocked on her door, I threw the robe down and put my hands on my hips and she was like, ‘No you didn’t!’ ”

    Speaking to David Spade and Dana Carvey on their Fly in the Wall podcast in 2024, Samberg said they encouraged Timberlake to be the one to ask her because “he’s very famous [and] she’s very famous so that would go better. And also it’s him being like, ‘I’m going to be in a leotard, we’re celebrating you.’ But she was delightful. She is such a sweet-hearted person, in my limited interaction with her. But that one was fun because we were like, there’s no way people are going to be mad at this.”

    The rest, as they say, is history, with the sketch going on to delight audiences and become one of the most well-known to feature a musical guest.

    Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music is available now on Peacock.



    Justin Timberlake surprised fans this past weekend by dressing up as Beyoncé in an attempt to convince her to join him for a throwback sketch on Saturday Night Live. The sketch in question? The infamous “Single Ladies” dance routine from 2008.

    In a hilarious Instagram post, Timberlake shared a photo of himself in full Beyoncé attire, complete with a sparkly bodysuit and long blonde wig. He captioned the post, “Just trying to convince Queen B to join me for a little SNL throwback. Who’s in?”

    Fans went wild over the post, with many commenting that they would love to see Beyoncé and Timberlake recreate the iconic sketch. The pair famously performed the “Single Ladies” routine on SNL over a decade ago, and fans have been clamoring for a reunion ever since.

    While it’s uncertain if Beyoncé will agree to Timberlake’s plea, one thing is for sure – fans would love to see these two superstars come together once again for a hilarious and unforgettable performance. Here’s hoping Beyoncé says yes!

    Tags:

    Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, SNL, celebrity impersonation, comedy sketch, 2008, Saturday Night Live, pop culture, entertainment industry, celebrity news, Justin Timberlake impersonates Beyoncé, behind the scenes, iconic TV moment.

    #Justin #Timberlake #Dressed #Beyoncé #Convince #SNL #Sketch

  • Etch A Sketch, Classic Red Drawing Toy with Magic Screen, for Ages 3 and Up



    Etch A Sketch, Classic Red Drawing Toy with Magic Screen, for Ages 3 and Up

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    Unleash your creativity with the timeless Etch A Sketch drawing toy! This classic red toy features a magic screen that allows you to draw, erase, and draw again with just a twist of the knobs. Perfect for children ages 3 and up, the Etch A Sketch is a fun and engaging way to inspire imagination and artistic expression. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, this iconic toy is sure to bring hours of entertainment and endless possibilities. Get your hands on the Etch A Sketch today and let your inner artist shine!
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  • Ann Taylor Floral Sketch Tee Women’s Medium White & Orange Cotton Stretch Top



    Ann Taylor Floral Sketch Tee Women’s Medium White & Orange Cotton Stretch Top

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    Looking for the perfect top to add a pop of color to your wardrobe? Look no further than this Ann Taylor Floral Sketch Tee in a women’s size medium. This white and orange cotton stretch top features a beautiful floral print that is sure to turn heads. Whether you dress it up with a skirt or keep it casual with jeans, this versatile top is perfect for any occasion. Don’t miss out on adding this stylish piece to your collection! #anntaylor #floraltee #womensfashion #cottonstretchtop
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  • 3 copy lot Age of Ultron vs. Marvel Zombies #1 BLANK sketch COVER VARIANT



    3 copy lot Age of Ultron vs. Marvel Zombies #1 BLANK sketch COVER VARIANT

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    Limited edition Age of Ultron vs. Marvel Zombies #1 BLANK sketch COVER VARIANT! Get your hands on this rare collectible featuring an action-packed battle between two iconic Marvel universes. Only 3 copies available, so don’t miss out on owning a piece of comic book history. Order yours now before they’re gone! #Marvel #AgeofUltron #MarvelZombies #SketchCoverVariant #LimitedEdition
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  • How Justin Timberlake Talked Beyoncé Into SNL’s “Single Ladies” Sketch


    When Beyoncé appeared as a Musical Guest on Saturday Night Live over 15 years ago, anyone and everyone was listening to her third studio album, I Am… Sasha Fierce. Her black and white music video for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” was everywhere — and SNL’s writers expertly captured this pop culture moment with a side-splitting sketch, featuring four dudes. 

    How to Watch

    Watch Ladies & Gentlemen … 50 Years of SNL Music on Monday, January 27 at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock. 

    Starring November 18, 2008 Host Paul Rudd, Season 34 cast members Andy Samberg and Bobby Moynihan, and special guest Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé played herself in the “Single Ladies” sketch — and according to Timberlake, it took some convincing from her “Until the End of Time” collaborator himself. In fact, Timberlake truly had to walk the walk (in heels) to make it happen.

    The SNL Five-Timers Club member told the tale in Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music, Questlove and Oz Rodriguez’s documentary, which debuted on NBC on January 27.

    RELATED: Maya Rudolph’s Masterful Beyoncé Hot Ones Parody Earned Her an Emmy

    Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” sketch first aired in 2008

    Rudd plays the director of her “Single Ladies” music video, who introduces Bey to her new backup dancers. “Beyoncé! Oh my gosh, I’m so psyched to do this new video with you!” he tells Beyoncé as she enters the scene. 

    “Me too! You know, there’s one thing. I haven’t met the other dancers,” Bey says as a makeup artist powders her face. “Are we gonna have time to rehearse?”

    “Oh look, don’t worry about the other dancers, B-Town,” Rudd says. “I hand-picked them myself, these guys are pros.”

    “Hiiii, we’re the dancers,” Timberlake, Samberg, and Moynihan say in unison as the audience erupts in laughter.

    “Are you guys warmed up?” Rudd asks.

    “Oh, we’re warmed up,” Samberg says. Moynihan quickly adds, “Yeah, we’re warmed up like biscuits.”

    “Yeah, dance biscuits,” Timberlake says, while staring directly into the camera. 

    “Alright, let’s turn this mother out!” Rudd says as the guys stretch their legs and wiggle their hips.

    RELATED: Every Celebrity in Questlove’s Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music Documentary

    The first cut starts with Beyoncé doing her signature “Single Ladies” dance, as the new backup dancers sharply try to keep up.

    “What’s the beef, BK?” Rudd asks after Beyoncé calls cut. Reluctantly, Beyoncé goes for another take as the dancers pat each other on the butt. The three hilariously try to keep up with Bey’s dance moves while also doing the absolute most.

    “Enough! I’m not feeling this, can we stop please?” Beyoncé says. “What were you clowns doing?”

    “We were grinding,” Samberg says with Timberlake adding, “I thought that was obvious.” All three then strike a Charlie’s Angels pose. 

    RELATED: All of the Songs in Questlove’s Six-Minute SNL Music Documentary Intro

    “Alright, I’m not gonna lie. They’re my stepsons,” Rudd’s character admits. “My wife said I need to spend more time with them.”

    “Aww, I didn’t know these were your sons,” Beyoncé says. “That’s very noble of you.”

    “So you’ll let them be in your music video?” Rudd asks, to which Bey promptly replies, “Hell no.” 

    Justin Timberlake dressed up “Single Ladies” style to sell Beyoncé on the SNL sketch

    Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music, a new documentary co-directed by Questlove and Oz Rodriguez, provided a behind-the-scenes look at how the now-iconic sketch came to be. 

    Timberlake said it started with a text from Samberg asking if he was in town. “He said Bobby Moynihan has this great idea for a sketch about you, me, and him being Beyoncé’s background dancers that never made the cut,” he says in the documentary. “I was like ‘full leotard’? And he’s like, ‘yeah.’ I was like, ‘This is too funny. We have to do this.’”

    “When you pitch a sketch that the Musical Guest is involved in potentially, it can always go wrong,” SNL cast member Bowen Yang adds in the documentary. “There are a million reasons why they might say no. It is your job to respectfully convince them.”

    When it came to this sketch idea with Beyoncé, Timberlake said she was not initially on board.

    “She was very polite about it, but she was very hesitant. And when I say hesitant, I mean like, she was not having it,” he recalled. “I’m like: Does she know how funny this is gonna be? How beloved this whole moment will be?”

    RELATED: Every Celebrity in Questlove’s Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music Documentary

    So Timberlake decided to get into character to convince her. “I put the leotard and the heels and the hose on and everything, and put a robe on,” he said. “I walked and knocked on her door, I threw the robe down and put my hands on my hips and she was like, ‘No you didn’t!’”

    And voila, an iconic moment was born. And Beyoncé did perform “Single Ladies” as a Musical Guest that night (this time with fully-qualified backup dancers).  

    How to watch Ladies & Gentlemen … 50 Years of SNL Music

    Ladies & Gentlemen … 50 Years of SNL Music premieres Monday, January 27, on NBC at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The three-hour documentary will be available to stream the next-day on Peacock. 



    Justin Timberlake is known for his smooth moves and charming personality, but did you know he played a key role in convincing Beyoncé to participate in the iconic “Single Ladies” sketch on Saturday Night Live? In this post, we’ll delve into how Timberlake worked his magic to get Queen Bey on board for one of the most memorable moments in SNL history. Stay tuned for all the juicy details!

    Tags:

    Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, SNL, Single Ladies, sketch, comedy, Saturday Night Live, music, pop culture, funny, behind the scenes, viral video, celebrity, collaboration, dance, entertainment

    #Justin #Timberlake #Talked #Beyoncé #SNLs #Single #Ladies #Sketch

  • Damon Wayans Explains Why He Did ‘SNL’ Sketch Stunt That Got Him Fired


    Damon Wayans said in a recent episode of the “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night” docuseries that he sabotaged his stint on “Saturday Night Live” in frustration over the sketch roles he was being offered. (Watch the video below.)

    The matter came to a boil when Wayans went rogue during a sketch called “Mr. Monopoly” in 1986. Wayans played his cop character as an effeminate gay cliche, which was not what was rehearsed.

    “I snapped. I just did not care. I purposefully did that because I wanted [Lorne Michaels] to fire me,” he said, per Deadline on Thursday.

    Entertainment Weekly reported that Griffin Dunne, who appeared in the skit, said of the off-script stunt, “I thought it was weird, but people still laughed.”

    Michaels said he canned him midseason because “it had to be done,” EW noted.

    Before his unauthorized improv, Wayans said in the doc he was warned by “SNL” great Eddie Murphy that as a Black man he would be pigeonholed into certain characters, so he’d better write his own, Deadline reported.

    But his attempts were rejected and he was given parts that would embarrass him in front of his mother, he said.

    The hard feelings didn’t last forever. Wayans was invited back to do standup in the 1985-86 season finale and returned as a guest host in 1995.

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    “Lorne is a very forgiving man and I think he just wanted to let me know that he believed in me,” Wayans added, per the Independent.

    Wayans of course went on to star in the groundbreaking sketch series “In Living Color.” He now has a new sitcom on CBS called “Poppa’s House.”


    Sign up for Peacock to stream NBCU shows.





    Damon Wayans has finally opened up about the controversial stunt he pulled during his time on Saturday Night Live that ultimately led to his firing from the show. In a recent interview, the comedian explained the reasoning behind his decision to go off-script and improvise during a sketch, which ultimately crossed the line and resulted in his dismissal.

    Wayans revealed that he felt constrained by the limitations of the show and wanted to push boundaries and take risks in his comedy. He saw the opportunity to break free from the constraints of the script and deliver something unexpected and memorable to the audience. While he acknowledged that his actions were reckless and ultimately led to his firing, Wayans stood by his decision to take a chance and make a statement with his performance.

    Despite the consequences of his actions, Wayans remains unapologetic for his decision and views it as a learning experience that helped shape his comedic style and approach to his work. He expressed gratitude for his time on SNL and the opportunities it provided him, but ultimately felt that he needed to take a stand and assert his creative freedom.

    While the incident may have cost Wayans his job on SNL, it also solidified his reputation as a bold and daring comedian willing to take risks and challenge the status quo in pursuit of his craft. Ultimately, Wayans’ decision to push boundaries and defy expectations may have been controversial, but it also cemented his place as a groundbreaking and influential figure in the world of comedy.

    Tags:

    Damon Wayans, SNL, sketch stunt, fired, comedian, Saturday Night Live, controversy, explanation, behind the scenes

    #Damon #Wayans #Explains #SNL #Sketch #Stunt #Fired

  • SNL’s “More Cowbell” Sketch: Is Gene Frenkle a Real Person?


    From the moment of its electric debut in April 8, 2000, Will Ferrell‘s “More Cowbell” sketch became an iconic part of Saturday Night Live‘s 50-season history. Also starring Host Christopher Walken and Season 25 cast members Chris Parnell, Chris Kattan, Horatio Sanz, and a fresh face named Jimmy Fallon, Ferrell portrayed the titular cowbell-banger himself: Blue Oyster Cult member named Gene Frenkle.

    How to Watch

    Watch Saturday Night Live Saturdays at 11:30/10:30c on NBC and Peacock, streaming next day on Peacock.

    Offset by Walken’s own zany energy as record producer “THE Bruce Dickinson,” Ferrell’s Frenkle obeys Bruce’s request to “really explore” the studio space — and how! — as he adds ever more percussion to “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper.”

    25 years and countless Gene Frenkle Halloween costumes later, he remains one of Ferrell’s most memorable characters — and “More Cowbell” is now the subject of an entire episode of Peacock’s four-part SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night docuseries. But was Gene Frenkle a real guy?

    Below, everything you need to know about the origin of Ferrell’s “More Cowbell” character, and whether he was an actual member of Blue Oyster Cult.

    RELATED: Mark Your Calendar for These SNL 50 Anniversary Events, Specials, and Episodes

    Who plays Gene Frenkle in SNL’s “More Cowbell” sketch?

    Will Ferrell, who was an SNL cast member from 1995-2002.

    In the “More Cowbell” installment of Beyond Saturday Night, Ferrell explains that he got the idea for the sketch from his longtime fixation with the cowbell sound in “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper.” 

    “It’s the perfect calibration of loud and not-too-loud,” he says. “It’s really kind of impotent in the background — it’s just, ‘don’t listen to me!””

    “And I had a thought, even as a kid: What is the life of the guy playing the cowbell,” Ferrell continued. Decades later, his brain re-presented the idea and it became a sketch.

    Is Gene Frenkle a real person?

    “Anyway, Gene Frenkle is totally made up,” Ferrell clarifies in the documentary. (Hilariously, Kattan admits in Beyond Saturday Night that he only just then learned that Frenkle was a fictional invention for the sketch.)

    This, of course, means Gene Frenkle didn’t actually die and the “in memoriam” at the end of the sketch is another joke.

    The real Blue Oyster Cult, who enjoyed their biggest success in the 1970s with the release of the 1976 hit single, is led by founding members Buck Dharma and Eric Bloom, who also appear in Peacock’s documentary. While they’ve had a revolving lineup, absolutely none of their bandmates were named Gene Frenkle.

    As the real band’s members explain in the “More Cowbell” documentary, the sketch’s cast weren’t a one-to-one recreation of the real band, but Bloom insists that Gene Frenkle’s look is based on him back in the ’70s — and the side-by-side evidence is compelling.

    RELATED: Seth Meyers and Steve Higgins Wrote “SNL 40: Celebrity Jeopardy” for a Legendary Cast

    And by the by, Bruce Dickinson wasn’t the real producer of “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” either. The song’s actual producers, David Lucas and Murray Krugman, say in the doc that they believe Walken’s Dickinson was either a fictionalized version of themself (per Lucas) or an “amalgam” (per Krugman).

    However, a record company employee named Bruce Dickinson had a credit in the liner notes of the Blue Oyster Cult album, so Ferrell says he borrowed it.

    Chad Smith plays Will Ferrell’s Gene Frenkle in Peacock’s SNL documentary

    Bringing Gene Frenkle to life in Beyond Saturday Night is Chad Smith, longtime drummer for Red Hot Chili Peppers. Smith’s playful Frenkle cosplay in the doc is a nod to the resemblance fans see between Will Ferrell and Chad Smith, which has been previously leveraged in a fake Tonight Show that culminated in a 2014 drum-off between the two.

    RELATED: Will Ferrell and Chad Smith’s Twin Drum-Off Belongs in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

    Gene Frenkle made a second appearance with Musical Guest Queens of the Stone Age 

    Ferrell revived his Gene Frenkle to bang the cowbell once more on Saturday Night Live in 2005, when the Five-Timers Club member returned to host for his first time.

    Staying in character, Ferrell gave the cowbell hell during QOTSA’s performance of “Little Sister” — and according to the band’s frontman Josh Homme, Ferrell himself asked to join in.

    “My response was, ‘Are you kidding me? Of course!” Homme says in Beyond Saturday Night. 



    If you’re a fan of Saturday Night Live, chances are you’ve seen the iconic “More Cowbell” sketch featuring Will Ferrell as fictional cowbell player Gene Frenkle. But have you ever wondered if Gene Frenkle is based on a real person?

    The answer is no, Gene Frenkle is not a real person. He was created by the SNL writers as a hilarious and over-the-top character for the sketch, which originally aired in 2000. The sketch, which also features Christopher Walken as the fictional producer, Bruce Dickinson, has since become one of the most beloved and quoted sketches in SNL history.

    So next time you watch the “More Cowbell” sketch, just remember that Gene Frenkle may not be a real person, but he will always hold a special place in the hearts of SNL fans everywhere.

    Tags:

    SNL, More Cowbell sketch, Gene Frenkle, Christopher Walken, Will Ferrell, Saturday Night Live, comedy, classic sketch, music, Blue Oyster Cult, fictional character, behind the scenes, iconic moment

    #SNLs #Cowbell #Sketch #Gene #Frenkle #Real #Person

  • Christopher Walken Told Will Ferrell ‘More Cowbell’ Sketch on ‘SNL’ Had ‘Ruined My Life’


    April 5, 2000 was a momentous day in comedy history. That night, “Saturday Night Live” paid tribute to Blue Oyster Cult’s 1976 jam “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and one iconic bit of percussion.

    The cowbell.

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    The hit song, a latter-day bit of psychedelia, infamously had a repeated cowbell on the track. In the sketch, which of course anyone reading this has seen, Christopher Walken’s supposedly legendary producer “Bruce Dickerson” keeps beseeching cowbell player Gene Frenkle (Will Ferrell, in a too-tight shirt) to play more emphatically: “I gotta a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell.”

    In Peacock’s “SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night” docuseries (via the New York Post), Ferrell, who wrote the “More Cowbell” sketch, opens up about how much Walken has come to resent the ubiquity of it. It all came out when Ferrell visited Walken when the actor was appearing in Martin McDonagh’s “A Behanding in Spokane” on Broadway in 2010.

    “I went to see [Walken] backstage, and he’s like, ‘You know, you’ve ruined my life… every show, people bring cowbells for the curtain call and bang them,” Ferrell said. “It’s quite disconcerting.’”

    For what it’s worth, Walken did not appear in the installment of “SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night” focused on “More Cowbell.” But he has separately said, “I don’t understand why it follows me around like it does…. It’s kind of run its course.”

    Jimmy Fallon, who, bearded and spaced out played one of the Oyster Cult band members, elaborated that the extremity of the sketch was really pushed in the live, on-air performance far beyond anything they had attempted in the dress rehearsal. “[Walken] upped his game,” Fallon added. “He was almost doing an impersonation of Christopher Walken. He was talking like how no human being would talk, ever.”

    For Ferrell, the sketch emerged organically from ruminations he’d had since the song came out. “I had the thought even as a kid, ‘What is the life of the guy playing the cowbell?’ I guess that was germinating for decades in my head.”

    As far as the original track is concerned, there are conflicting accounts of who actually played the cowbell, which was overdubbed into the recording. At least two members of the band, as well as the producer David Lucas, claim that they played it. But lead guitarist and band co-founder Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser is a fan of “More Cowbell.”

    “We all thought it was phenomenal,” Roeser told the Washington Post in 2005. “We’re huge Christopher Walken fans. I’ve probably seen it 20 times and I’m still not tired of it.”

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    In a recent interview, Christopher Walken revealed that the iconic “More Cowbell” sketch on Saturday Night Live had “ruined” his life. The sketch, which featured Walken as a record producer urging the band to add more cowbell to their song, has become a classic moment in SNL history.

    Walken explained that he is constantly approached by fans who quote lines from the sketch to him, leading him to feel like he can never escape the shadow of the cowbell. He jokingly lamented, “I can’t walk into a music store without someone handing me a cowbell and asking me to sign it.”

    Despite the sketch’s impact on his life, Walken admitted that he still finds it funny and appreciates the lasting impact it has had on pop culture. And while he may never fully escape the cowbell, he remains grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a beloved SNL moment.

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