Phil Hartman- Best of Saturday Night Live

Henry Gale · 01-10-2006, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Phil Hartman was on the show for the longest. Several cast members have admitted that Phil was the backbone of the show. He more than deserves a second/third release.

This quote is from the SNL Jimmy Fallon thread. I agree with it and think Phil needs his own thread at HTF too.

I picked up the Hartman disc at WalMart for $5.50 and really was hoping for just one routine, best described as "The Two Sides of Ronald Reagan".

It's on here, but sadly it is cut short.

The first skit on the disc is "Frank Sinatra" with Luther Campbell, Steve & Edie, Sinead O'Connor and Billy Idol.
It's a great bit, the high point for me is when Frank addresses Sinaid as "Uncle Fester". It also runs it's entire lenth but much of the rest of the disc fades out of one segment and into another.
If it's really "The Best Of..." why not pick the best skits and let them play out?

dailW · 01-10-2006, 01:02 PM

yeah i got the disc some time ago. Phil was awesome. i was also bummed that the Reagan bit wasn't the full bit.

AnthonyC · 01-10-2006, 05:09 PM

I was hoping for the full Charleton Heston reading "Sex" skit (included in a very brief part) and his farewell song with Chris Farley (not included at all).

He really deserves a Vol. 2.

Jonathan_Clarke · 01-10-2006, 05:21 PM

It's the only SNL dvd I have. Found it in Target for 7 bucks.

I'd buy a second release.

Andrew Radke · 01-10-2006, 06:13 PM

It's funny how they rushed two volumes of Will Ferrell, and yet we're only given one for Phil Hartman. I have the 'best of' on VHS and I agree, it's hilarious. I'd love to see more releases dedicated to him. He was definitely one of the funniest cast members to ever grace the show.

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Mike Frezon · 01-10-2006, 09:34 PM

I don't want to derail the love for Phil Hartman...but I've wondered for a long time why there has NEVER been an SNL set for Bill Murray.

Is there some kind of rights issue? He's GOT to be one of the mose popular/successful Not Ready for Prime-Timers ever on the show (or after the leaving the show). I'd buy a Bill Murray disc (or set of discs) in a NY minute.

Henry Gale · 01-11-2006, 07:50 AM

I agree Mike, of course there should be at least a couple of Bill Murray SNL sets.
I really started this because I couldn't stand the idea of Hartman being an afterthough in a Jimmy Fallon thread.

Chris Brunner · 01-11-2006, 08:33 AM

There is definitely not enough Phil Hartman on DVD.

I believe I watched his Best Of SNL when it was broadcast on NBC. I thought it was a bit lacking with respect to his TRULY greatest bits. I did not know that the DVD could be had for such a great price. Needless to say, I'll be keeping an eye out for it. There are very few entertainers that I miss more than Phil Hartman.

A box set of PH could not hold all of his great material, but it would be a nice try.

C

streeter · 01-11-2006, 10:27 AM

The problem with these DVD releases is that they were made as TV specials. They're fine as TV specials, but as a DVD labeled 'The Best of ...' they're a bit underwhelming. The newer releases have been much better, though - some of them have additional interview footage from the First Five Years special and other features.

RoyM · 01-11-2006, 03:40 PM

Count me in as another huge fan of the comic genius of Phil Hartman, who I believe may have been the best sketch comic I have ever seen. Even in bits where he wasn't front and center, he always seemed to do interesting and memorable work.

My two favorite bits out of so many great ones he did during his SNL run, were the take-off on the barracks scene from FULL METAL JACKET when Matthew Modine hosted, and his turn as Albert Goldman as the forgotten fifth Beatle. Both were immense comedy gold, great skits in their own right made unforgettable by Phil's brilliant work.

I have skipped on the SNL Best of sets because I knew that they just could not satisfactorily capture all of the good work done by Phil (r any of the other cast members, for that matter) and would end up disappointing me. I still hold out hope that someday we will get full SNL season sets.

Jonathan_Clarke · 01-11-2006, 10:47 PM

Have there been ANY dvds of the original cast? The first five years are usually licensed separately.

Mike Frezon · 01-11-2006, 11:27 PM

Yeah. There was just a big bunch of releases with Dan Ackoyd, John Belushi and Gilda Radner. I think a Chevy Chase set has already been done, too...but I'm not sure.

I see an Alec Baldwin set is about to be released. At this rate, Garrett Morris will get his own set before Bill Murray!