Phil Hartman: too talented to be pigeonholed
September 25, 2014 11:38 AM Subscribe
"One day I was hanging out with some SNL writers and cast members in the 17th-floor conference room. It was shortly after the writers had won an Emmy Award for the 1988-89 season. Phil Hartman, who had been a writer as well as a cast member for the winning season, marched in with an 8-by-10 photo of himself. It showed him cradling his Emmy Award in one arm and his newborn child in the other. He tossed the photo down in front of his good friend Jon Lovitz and said, "Check it out, Lovitz—two things you’ll never have." (SLSlate)
I'll never forget the SNL anniversary special they did after his death. The whole cast that had worked with Hartman stood on stage and introduced a clip show tribute. Lovitz barely kept it together and Jan Hooks stood next to him and held him for emotional support.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 11:46 AM on September 25, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 11:46 AM on September 25, 2014 [7 favorites]
Every so often I think of Hartman and remember just how awful it is that he's gone. What a loss.
posted by brundlefly at 11:47 AM on September 25, 2014 [24 favorites]
posted by brundlefly at 11:47 AM on September 25, 2014 [24 favorites]
Phil Hartman did some of his best work in SNL sketches written by Jack Handey, the author of this piece, including Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, the parody of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Robot Repair.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:48 AM on September 25, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:48 AM on September 25, 2014 [5 favorites]
Screw you Andy Dick.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 11:52 AM on September 25, 2014 [30 favorites]
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 11:52 AM on September 25, 2014 [30 favorites]
"YO SHINEHEAD, GETTA HAIRCUT" Phil Hartman as Frank Sinatra yelling at Sinead. One of the best moments in SNL history.
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 11:56 AM on September 25, 2014 [12 favorites]
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 11:56 AM on September 25, 2014 [12 favorites]
"BREAD GOOD, FIRE BAD!" is also way, way up there.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 12:02 PM on September 25, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 12:02 PM on September 25, 2014 [4 favorites]
With him died the future of Newsradio, as well as the careers of many of its cast members.
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. . . . . .
posted by Apocryphon at 12:04 PM on September 25, 2014 [10 favorites]
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. . . . . .
posted by Apocryphon at 12:04 PM on September 25, 2014 [10 favorites]
I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key.
posted by dr_dank at 12:07 PM on September 25, 2014 [31 favorites]
posted by dr_dank at 12:07 PM on September 25, 2014 [31 favorites]
Adding to his list of talents, he was a skilled graphic designer, particularly this iconic cover to Poco's Legend.
posted by AzraelBrown at 12:10 PM on September 25, 2014 [15 favorites]
posted by AzraelBrown at 12:10 PM on September 25, 2014 [15 favorites]
Yeah, I still do bits from Tonto, Tarzan and Frankenstein at my poor, uncomprehending wife.
And still fondly recall Mel Gibson as Frankenstein's evil twin, who looked nothing like Frankenstein at all, but still impersonated him in a scheme to sell the Frankenstein Bread Company (motto: Bread Good) to the Japanese.
Not to derail, but Gibson was a revelation on SNL when he hosted. Despite the persona he'd built up over all those movies, he showed up on SNL and he was funny. It was sort of like the feeling I got seeing Mark Wahlberg alongside Will Ferrell in the criminally underrated The Other Guys. Ferrell is just phoning in his usual shtick, but Wahlberg is brilliant as this volcano of sheer rage that he's been plugging up his whole life and only letting out in really weird and inappropriate ways. A man who taught himself to dance ballet brilliantly as a child just so he could more effectively mock guys who danced ballet in earnest.
posted by Naberius at 12:12 PM on September 25, 2014 [10 favorites]
And still fondly recall Mel Gibson as Frankenstein's evil twin, who looked nothing like Frankenstein at all, but still impersonated him in a scheme to sell the Frankenstein Bread Company (motto: Bread Good) to the Japanese.
Not to derail, but Gibson was a revelation on SNL when he hosted. Despite the persona he'd built up over all those movies, he showed up on SNL and he was funny. It was sort of like the feeling I got seeing Mark Wahlberg alongside Will Ferrell in the criminally underrated The Other Guys. Ferrell is just phoning in his usual shtick, but Wahlberg is brilliant as this volcano of sheer rage that he's been plugging up his whole life and only letting out in really weird and inappropriate ways. A man who taught himself to dance ballet brilliantly as a child just so he could more effectively mock guys who danced ballet in earnest.
posted by Naberius at 12:12 PM on September 25, 2014 [10 favorites]
> "YO SHINEHEAD, GETTA HAIRCUT" Phil Hartman as Frank Sinatra yelling at Sinead. One of the best moments in SNL history.
Whaddaya, nuts? That was Billy Idol, not Skinhead! Sinbad don't need no stinkin' haircut, she's a fuckin' cue ball! Am I right, Steve and Edie?
posted by languagehat at 12:17 PM on September 25, 2014 [8 favorites]
Whaddaya, nuts? That was Billy Idol, not Skinhead! Sinbad don't need no stinkin' haircut, she's a fuckin' cue ball! Am I right, Steve and Edie?
posted by languagehat at 12:17 PM on September 25, 2014 [8 favorites]
Yes, you are, languagehat.
posted by entropicamericana at 12:20 PM on September 25, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 12:20 PM on September 25, 2014 [5 favorites]
Screw you Andy Dick.
I'm sorry, but that's a really shitty, ghoulish, inhuman sentiment. Andy Dick did not kill Phil Hartman, period. Even if it was his cocaine, it sure as shit wasn't his decision for her to do it. Even if it was his cocaine, it sure as shit wasn't his Zoloft she was prescribed. Even if it was his cocaine, it sure as shit wasn't his gun. Even if it was his cocaine, it sure as shit was not his intention for two of his friends to die.
Screw you, Jon Lovitz.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:21 PM on September 25, 2014 [11 favorites]
I'm sorry, but that's a really shitty, ghoulish, inhuman sentiment. Andy Dick did not kill Phil Hartman, period. Even if it was his cocaine, it sure as shit wasn't his decision for her to do it. Even if it was his cocaine, it sure as shit wasn't his Zoloft she was prescribed. Even if it was his cocaine, it sure as shit wasn't his gun. Even if it was his cocaine, it sure as shit was not his intention for two of his friends to die.
Screw you, Jon Lovitz.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:21 PM on September 25, 2014 [11 favorites]
"The Sinatra Group" is one of two SNL clips (the other being Devo's performance of "Satisfaction") that I regularly find myself looking up and rewatching. Favorite line: "You don't scare me, I got chunks of guys like you in my stool."
posted by The Tensor at 12:25 PM on September 25, 2014 [18 favorites]
posted by The Tensor at 12:25 PM on September 25, 2014 [18 favorites]
I miss Phil and think of him pretty often. I was most into SNL during the years he was on it and enjoyed him in everything he did.
With him died the future of Newsradio, as well as the careers of many of its cast members.
I disagree, they all get pretty steady work that many people trying to break into Hollywood would sell their soul for.
Stephen Root continues to be a legendary character actor.
Dave Foley appears in dozens of things a year.
Andy Dick of all people has appeareances in 7 upcoming projects on his imdb page.
Maura Tierney starred in ER for almost 200 episodes and seems to be guest starring for 10 episodes at a time for several well-regarded series since then.
Kandi Alexender was a long-time regular of CSI:Miami and then the well-regarded Treme.
Vicki Lewis seems to be getting less work than the above people, but even she's consistently getting roles, including a part in the upcoming Pixar film Finding Dory.
Joe Rogen remains a professional Joe Rogen.
Just cause an actor isn't in huge projects or is in things you're uninterested in doesn't mean they don't have "careers".
posted by Green With You at 12:32 PM on September 25, 2014 [18 favorites]
With him died the future of Newsradio, as well as the careers of many of its cast members.
I disagree, they all get pretty steady work that many people trying to break into Hollywood would sell their soul for.
Stephen Root continues to be a legendary character actor.
Dave Foley appears in dozens of things a year.
Andy Dick of all people has appeareances in 7 upcoming projects on his imdb page.
Maura Tierney starred in ER for almost 200 episodes and seems to be guest starring for 10 episodes at a time for several well-regarded series since then.
Kandi Alexender was a long-time regular of CSI:Miami and then the well-regarded Treme.
Vicki Lewis seems to be getting less work than the above people, but even she's consistently getting roles, including a part in the upcoming Pixar film Finding Dory.
Joe Rogen remains a professional Joe Rogen.
Just cause an actor isn't in huge projects or is in things you're uninterested in doesn't mean they don't have "careers".
posted by Green With You at 12:32 PM on September 25, 2014 [18 favorites]
I always wondered if "Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer" originated in some kind of cast in-joke about Dennis Miller, like:
Really, the first time I saw it, I thought it was Hartmann doing a parody of Miller, from the shape of the wig and the cut of the suit right down to the facial expressions and vocal mannerisms.
posted by Herodios at 12:37 PM on September 25, 2014 [6 favorites]
That Dennis Miller with his long hair and dark suit and beetled brow -- he looks like a -- I dunno -- a -- a caveman lawyer or sompin. . . .-- and Handey and Hartmann took it from there.
Really, the first time I saw it, I thought it was Hartmann doing a parody of Miller, from the shape of the wig and the cut of the suit right down to the facial expressions and vocal mannerisms.
posted by Herodios at 12:37 PM on September 25, 2014 [6 favorites]
When FXX did its Simpsons marathon recently I was reminded that many of the most brilliant moments were provided by characters voiced by Phil Hartman. My God: Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure. Still pure effing genius.
posted by blucevalo at 12:52 PM on September 25, 2014 [14 favorites]
posted by blucevalo at 12:52 PM on September 25, 2014 [14 favorites]
Hartman wrote the screenplay to Pee-Wee's Big Adventure with Paul Reuben and appeared in the original LA Pee-Wee Herman Show as Cap'n Carl.
Just a fantastic guy all around.
posted by Spatch at 1:00 PM on September 25, 2014 [11 favorites]
Oh, a sailor travels to many landsI remember someone saying, maybe it was on one of his retrospectives or it could very well have been said while he was alive, that one of the things about Phil was that he remembered. You'd work with him on something and get to talking and maybe mention something about your sister going in for an operation, and two years later you'd run into each other again with no contact since and he'd ask how your sister was doing.
Anywhere he pleases
But he always remembers to wash his hands
So he don't catch no diseases!
Just a fantastic guy all around.
posted by Spatch at 1:00 PM on September 25, 2014 [11 favorites]
Even if it was his cocaine, it sure as shit wasn't his decision for her to do it. Even if it was his cocaine, it sure as shit wasn't his Zoloft she was prescribed. Even if it was his cocaine, it sure as shit wasn't his gun. Even if it was his cocaine, it sure as shit was not his intention for two of his friends to die.
I'll give you all but the first of these points. Dick knew she was in recovery. If it wasn't his decision for her to do it and relapse it seems odd of him to offer? Sure, he probably didn't forsee the chain of events to follow, but it certainly was an assholish thing to do for a "friend".
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 1:11 PM on September 25, 2014 [7 favorites]
I'll give you all but the first of these points. Dick knew she was in recovery. If it wasn't his decision for her to do it and relapse it seems odd of him to offer? Sure, he probably didn't forsee the chain of events to follow, but it certainly was an assholish thing to do for a "friend".
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 1:11 PM on September 25, 2014 [7 favorites]
Don't forget his Telly Savalas "Player-with-yourselves-club... cuz players don't have time to fastforward"
posted by symbioid at 1:12 PM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by symbioid at 1:12 PM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
Why is it that it's always the good ones that go first? You just know that Victoria Jackson and Dennis Miller are destined for a very very long long life on this planet.
posted by symbioid at 1:13 PM on September 25, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by symbioid at 1:13 PM on September 25, 2014 [7 favorites]
I've just realized that Bryan Cranston must play Phil Hartman in the Phil Hartman biopic.
posted by maryr at 1:19 PM on September 25, 2014 [28 favorites]
posted by maryr at 1:19 PM on September 25, 2014 [28 favorites]
Waiit, Phil Hartman is responsible for the cover of Aja?!
Mind. Blown.
posted by I-baLL at 1:22 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Mind. Blown.
posted by I-baLL at 1:22 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Unblow your mind. Phil Hartman did not do the cover to Aja. It's a photograph by Japanese photographer Hideki Fujii.
posted by Naberius at 1:28 PM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Naberius at 1:28 PM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
Yup, just found that out through further googling. AzraelBrown's link may be a hoax.
posted by I-baLL at 1:33 PM on September 25, 2014
posted by I-baLL at 1:33 PM on September 25, 2014
Yup, just found that out through further googling. AzraelBrown's link may be a hoax.
A graphic designer doesn't necessarily produce photos. There is still text and caligraphy on the cover that presumably wasn't in the photograph
posted by Hoopo at 1:35 PM on September 25, 2014
A graphic designer doesn't necessarily produce photos. There is still text and caligraphy on the cover that presumably wasn't in the photograph
posted by Hoopo at 1:35 PM on September 25, 2014
Haha I just clicked through to Jack Handey's newest book and found this blurb:
"Are you a fan of books in which famous tourist destinations are repurposed as unlivable hellholes for no particular reason? Read on!"
Yes yes and yes yes.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:48 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
"Are you a fan of books in which famous tourist destinations are repurposed as unlivable hellholes for no particular reason? Read on!"
Yes yes and yes yes.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:48 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
"The ruins were impressive. But like so many civilizations, they forgot the rule that might have saved them: Don't let vines grow all over you."
God I love Jack Handey.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:49 PM on September 25, 2014 [12 favorites]
God I love Jack Handey.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 1:49 PM on September 25, 2014 [12 favorites]
I am 100% on the side that Andy Dick did not kill Phil Hartman but that anecdote does begin with him threatening to "put the Phil Hartman hex" on Lovitz.
posted by atoxyl at 2:12 PM on September 25, 2014
posted by atoxyl at 2:12 PM on September 25, 2014
He also did a perfect Jack Nicholson playing the air conditioner in The Brave Little Toaster. A friend of mine simply refused to believe that it wasn't really Nicholson.
And Lovitz was great too as old-timey radio guy.
posted by marsha56 at 2:27 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
And Lovitz was great too as old-timey radio guy.
posted by marsha56 at 2:27 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Here's an interview with the band Poco, who say that Hartman designed "like 5 or 6 of" their covers. Hartman designed covers for bands his brother was managing at the time. I can't find anything that actually accuses it of being a hoax?
posted by AzraelBrown at 2:34 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by AzraelBrown at 2:34 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
I think he really did covers for Poco and some others. Just not Aja, though that idea has really gained some serious traction on the Internet.
posted by Naberius at 2:55 PM on September 25, 2014
posted by Naberius at 2:55 PM on September 25, 2014
Zapp Brannigan as voiced by Phil...
posted by Apocryphon at 3:20 PM on September 25, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by Apocryphon at 3:20 PM on September 25, 2014 [4 favorites]
that anecdote does begin with him threatening to "put the Phil Hartman hex" on Lovitz.
Actually, it begins with Jon Lovitz publicly blaming Andy Dick for a horrific thing he obviously could never have foreseen.
So, yeah, oh no, he pretend threatened to put a pretend hex on an asshole. Quel horreur.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:28 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Actually, it begins with Jon Lovitz publicly blaming Andy Dick for a horrific thing he obviously could never have foreseen.
So, yeah, oh no, he pretend threatened to put a pretend hex on an asshole. Quel horreur.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:28 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
I just picked up the new biography of Phil Hartman from the library.
Also: Fuck yeah Jack Handey Tumblr
posted by readery at 3:30 PM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
Also: Fuck yeah Jack Handey Tumblr
posted by readery at 3:30 PM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
You just know that Victoria Jackson and Dennis Miller are destined for a very very long long life on this planet.
On the plus side (albeit minus side for them), they have to live those long lives as themselves, certainly a fate worse than death.
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:39 PM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
On the plus side (albeit minus side for them), they have to live those long lives as themselves, certainly a fate worse than death.
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:39 PM on September 25, 2014 [3 favorites]
If you enjoyed this piece, you'll definitely enjoy this gorgeous Grantland piece from Bryan Curtis on Hartman.
posted by workingdankoch at 3:40 PM on September 25, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by workingdankoch at 3:40 PM on September 25, 2014 [4 favorites]
Oh what the hell - here's his famous "Clinton at McDonald's" skit (but if we start linking skits it could be a mighty long thread... a mighty AWESOME thread, I mean.)
Say, you gonna finish these fries...?
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 4:37 PM on September 25, 2014 [5 favorites]
Say, you gonna finish these fries...?
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 4:37 PM on September 25, 2014 [5 favorites]
It's been 16 years and I still can't see him or hear his voice without feeling like I've been punched in the gut remembering that he's gone. Every single time.
posted by getawaysticks at 4:46 PM on September 25, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by getawaysticks at 4:46 PM on September 25, 2014 [7 favorites]
Zapf was supposed to be voiced by Hartman but was recast and voice-acted as an homage to him, while Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure were retired -- and burn all that more brightly, probably, for that.
posted by MattD at 4:57 PM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by MattD at 4:57 PM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
Naberius: Unblow your mind. Phil Hartman did not do the cover to Aja. It's a photograph by Japanese photographer Hideki Fujii.
...and whats Hideki Fujii spelled backwards? Phil Hartman!
STUDY IT OUT
posted by dr_dank at 6:58 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
...and whats Hideki Fujii spelled backwards? Phil Hartman!
STUDY IT OUT
posted by dr_dank at 6:58 PM on September 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
we can all agree that andy dick is a total asshole, yeah? he's obviously tremendously sick, but still a fuckhead of the highest order.
posted by nadawi at 9:44 PM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 9:44 PM on September 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
My kids and I just watched Kiki's Delivery Service (great movie btw) and her cat was voiced by Phil Hartman. Minor role, but he made my kids laugh like crazy even though they have no idea who Phil Hartman was.
"Excuse ME, Miss Snooty-cat!"
posted by freecellwizard at 7:27 AM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
"Excuse ME, Miss Snooty-cat!"
posted by freecellwizard at 7:27 AM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
...to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key.
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:50 AM on September 26, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:50 AM on September 26, 2014 [3 favorites]
Oh God. Phil Hartman as Judge Wapner and Lovitz as the devil.
Mr Mephistophe-...MR MEPHISTOPHELES!... You may hold dominion over the nether regions, but I run this court, is that clear?
posted by vitabellosi at 12:28 PM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
Mr Mephistophe-...MR MEPHISTOPHELES!... You may hold dominion over the nether regions, but I run this court, is that clear?
posted by vitabellosi at 12:28 PM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
Halloween Jack - I had completely forgotten about Mr. Belvedere (understandably) - that is a young Tom Hanks, what did he have, 3 movies under his belt? (And Mike Myers.) (And Adam Sandler.)
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 8:22 PM on September 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 8:22 PM on September 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
(They were all young.)
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 8:22 PM on September 29, 2014
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 8:22 PM on September 29, 2014
Pointer: Phil Hartman's greatest sketch ever: Secrets of "SNL's" perfect Clinton parody (book excerpt from You Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman by Mike Thomas.) via zarq
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 8:06 AM on October 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 8:06 AM on October 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
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