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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PHIL HARTMAN

post #1 of 53
9/24/10 at 4:30pm
Thread Starter 
A meager salute to a comedy great.

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post #2 of 53
9/24/10 at 4:35pm
That was anything but meager, Joshua. A fitting tribute to a true legend.

Hulu hates me because I'm international, may I ask what your favourite Simpsons moment was?
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post #3 of 53
9/24/10 at 4:38pm
Will always wonder how the Troy McClure movie would have turned out - assuming they'd have to made it.
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post #4 of 53
9/24/10 at 4:43pm
Newsradio is class. Endlessly quotable & just as sharp & brilliant as Seinfeld & Arrested Development.

Hartman's SNL Sinatra skit is 5 minutes of flawless comedic genius. Cracks me up just thinkin' about it.
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post #5 of 53
9/24/10 at 4:43pm
Great tribute. "Succinctly Speaking" remains one of my all time favorite sketches.
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post #6 of 53
9/24/10 at 4:44pm
This was a lovely read. Thanks, Joshua.

Mike, the Hulu Simpsons clip was of Troy McClure singing the Planet of the Apes musical. A choice a wholeheartedly agree with. I recently performed it at a movie karaoke night in front of a small theater of strangers. A tribute to Phil Hartman!
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post #7 of 53
9/24/10 at 4:46pm
An awesome salute. Hartman was an amazing presence. I wonder about him almost every time a Simpsons ep comes on tv.

Nice to see someone other than me enjoys Greedy. It's got a killer ensemble.
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post #8 of 53
9/24/10 at 4:48pm
So well written, man. I can remember exactly where I was, too. Sitting in the living room of my friend's apartment between classes and work when I saw the scroll on CNN. I couldn't believe it. One of my favorite performers gone, for a reason I couldn't wrap my head around. It still doesn't make any sense.

And if you can't see the genius in "Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer," you're a bad person.

ETA--My favorite Hartman line from Greedy: "I didn't like the Beatles and I don't like you."
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post #9 of 53
9/24/10 at 4:49pm
It might be his resemblance to Cranston, but I could see Hartman in a Breaking Bad type show, exhibiting more dramatic chops.

He is missed for sure.
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post #10 of 53
9/24/10 at 4:50pm
Mr Miller,

Excellent tribute to a comedian I hope will never be forgotten. I'm only 24, but I am old enough to remember Hartman before he died and to have mourned his passing when it happened. I was already into the Simpsons and loved NEWS RADIO by the time he met his tragic fate, and so it would be impossible for me to forget his unique talents and quick wit. Even in the disposable roles, where anyone really could have filled in and done just fine, he stood out and did great work (he's such a jerk in JINGLE ALL THE WAY, it's hilarious. I remember him being the only thing I liked about that movie back in '98)

Glad you took the time to spotlight his career for CHUD. I no longer identify with anyone under the age of 21, so I have no clue if the kids of today will care about Hartman or not, but they'd be missing out not to look him up. The man was pure class
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post #11 of 53
9/24/10 at 4:51pm
I don't tend to get bummed, and I mean truly bummed, over celebrity deaths. Hartman's was the exception.

The man actually managed to be funny in JINGLE ALL THE WAY. Again, he was funny in JINGLE ALL THE WAY.
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post #12 of 53
9/24/10 at 4:58pm
That. Was. Greatness. Hartman's death really teared me up that day - until Will Farrell he was always my favorite SNL cast member. Watch him almost choke on a MacMuffin playing Clinton as he yells out with his mouth full, "Warlords!" and I dare you not to laugh.
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post #13 of 53
9/24/10 at 4:59pm
We never had SNL in New Zealand (until a year or so ago) so I probably encountered him on The Simpsons first, but I didn't recognise his work until I saw him on News Radio. Like Joshua says, it never got exciting ratings but I loved it and have been (sometimes irrationally) a fan of everyone on that cast ever since.

A little while ago we had a thread on charisma and how it's often not understood or appreciated by film fans just how much of any actor's screen presence is in their voice. Actors know this of course, as do the people on the audio branch of film making, but fans (and even very skilled and experienced directors, as Wes Anderson recently admitted) are often a little too visually fixated to really grasp just how much the voice plays into persona. Luckily for us, and for Hartman, his vocal talents came to the forefront in his character work for animation and he's celebrated for it.

Thanks for doing this Joshua. You fucking rule.
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post #14 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:01pm
LOVE Phil Hartman. One of the most versatile, understated, talented comedians of the last several decades. His death genuinely upset me, and most celebrity deaths don't do that for me at all. I don't think the man was capable of being unfunny.

Thanks so much for the tribute!!
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post #15 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:01pm
Easily my favorite SNL performer ever. I really miss him.

That 'Best of Phil Hartman' DVD is a really solid collection, and it's filled with a couple of lesser known bits like 'Robot Repair' and a Peter Graves Science Special (his Peter Graves impression is a scream).
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post #16 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:02pm
Joshua keeps wooing me with these articles. This was aces. Love Phil Hartman and miss him dearly.
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post #17 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:06pm
That SNL clip reminds me of how I miss the GOOD SNL ever so much.

Great article, Josh!
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post #18 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:07pm
That was an amazing article Joshua. What a comedic loss.
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post #19 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:08pm
Great tribute to a great comedian.
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post #20 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:18pm
What a wonderful job, Josh. I remember where I was when I found out Phil Hartman died as well (I was a junior in HS) and it definitely didn't mean as much to me then as it does now. Looking back on his impressive career, we as fans missed out on so much future greatness. You are correct, his star was definitely on the rise.

Fuck Andy Dick. He should get thrown into traffic every day at 5pm until he's finally crushed by an 18-wheeler.
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post #21 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:23pm
That was the goods and so was Hartman. I still maintain that the Hartman/Carvey/Myers years of SNL were its true "Golden Age" and not the 70's era.
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post #22 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:32pm
The best part of his performances were not so much how funny he was (and he was, very), but the heart he brought to them. I remember a not-so-funny skit where he was a pawnbroker who actually paid his customers for the sentimental value their pawned items held. It was a sweet little skit, with a warmth SNL inarguably lacks these days, regardless of how funny you think it is or isn't now.
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post #23 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:33pm
Fuck the commenter who pointed out a typo instead of seeing the heart and evocative writing in your tribute. That was great. I miss Hartman, too.
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post #24 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:33pm
Phil Hartman was the first comedian outside of the Ghostbusters I actively recognized and would try to keep an eye out for in movies. Hiding an old TV in my closet so I could watch SNL growing up, Hartman was always the highlight for me. I wasn't even 14 when he died, and man oh man, I was in a foul mood the rest of the day.

I loved the way Newsradio handled his death, though. Leaving a cryptic hint that Bill might just be in hiding in Central America cracked me up. And then Stephen Root coming in with movers and joyously taking Bill's desk down to the trash can. Phil would've approved.

Was there ever any light shed on his wife murdering him and then herself, beyond "bitch was crazy?" I always felt bad that their daughter was asleep down the hall when it happened.
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post #25 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:35pm
I'm disappointed that Lorne Michaels seems to have abandoned the complete SNL boxsets, as I was looking forward to buying every Phil Hartman season (those "Best Of" discs just don't do it for me).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InF17l92Fbc
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post #26 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt M View Post
I'm disappointed that Lorne Michaels seems to have abandoned the complete SNL boxsets, as I was looking forward to buying every Phil Hartman season (those "Best Of" discs just don't do it for me).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InF17l92Fbc
Netflix just closed a deal with NBC giving Instant viewers access to SNL's entire run, including new eps the day after broadcast. So save your money.
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post #27 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Clark View Post
Was there ever any light shed on his wife murdering him and then herself, beyond "bitch was crazy?" I always felt bad that their daughter was asleep down the hall when it happened.
I think that they were separating/close to a divorce when it happened.
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post #28 of 53
9/24/10 at 5:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bendrix View Post
Netflix just closed a deal with NBC giving Instant viewers access to SNL's entire run, including new eps the day after broadcast. So save your money.
ohmygodyes
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post #29 of 53
9/24/10 at 7:07pm
That was beautifully written, Joshua. Bravo.
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post #30 of 53
9/24/10 at 7:38pm
Great tribute Joshua.

The one Hartman bit that always gets me, as obvious and broad as it might be is this one:

Lovitz: I think you stink and I get a hundred letters a day telling me the same.
Hartman (in complete earnest): What's the word on the street!


Also, does this new Netflix deal mean I will finally be able to watch the infamous Malcolm McDowell (and by extension the rest of the Doumanian season) without feeling guilty (relatively speaking) about it?
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post #31 of 53
9/24/10 at 7:44pm
It makes me happy to know that there are at least a couple other secret GREEDY fans out there. I think it has Hartman's best film performance. He looks like Jack Benny, but is so, so very angry. His relationship with his stupid son is comic gold. Plus, he smashes Michael J Fox's head through a lamp. Don't get to see that every day.

I take some minor solace in the fact that his poor, sure to be horribly fucked-up kids, are being raised in Edina, Minnesota, where I spent the first chunk of my life. Nice place for kids.
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post #32 of 53
9/24/10 at 9:15pm
I am a huge Phil Hartman fan and I too remember the exact moment when I heard he died. It still is the saddest reaction I have ever had to a celebrity's death.

I'm glad every SNL episode is going to Netflix, but I still want his complete seasons on DVD.

A few of my favorite Phil Hartman exchanges on NewsRadio.

Quote:
"Hey Bill, I'm your friend."
"Oh yeah? Where were you last night at 3 A.M. when I was watching Steel Magnolias and crying my eyes out?"
Quote:
"Read it again!"
"Well... --Bill McNeal is adequate-- I'm sorry, Bill."
"Sorry! Sorry YOU weren't single out and deemed adequate?"
"I don't think adequate is quite the superlative you think it is."
Quote:
"I'm... Well, I'm hurt... deep down inside... where I'm soft like a woman."
"I understand and I'm sorry that I hurt you... deep down inside..."
"Where?"
"...where you are soft like a woman."
"Don't mock me, Dave. Don't be a hurter."
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post #33 of 53
9/24/10 at 9:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NoahtheStud View Post
Quote:
"Read it again!"
"Well... --Bill McNeal is adequate-- I'm sorry, Bill."
"Sorry! Sorry YOU weren't single out and deemed adequate?"
"I don't think adequate is quite the superlative you think it is."

Quote:
"I'm... Well, I'm hurt... deep down inside... where I'm soft like a woman."
"I understand and I'm sorry that I hurt you... deep down inside..."
"Where?"
"...where you are soft like a woman."
"Don't mock me, Dave. Don't be a hurter."
Haha, no way! These were the exact same quotes I came here to post.


Other faves:

Bill: "Well, I'm off to astonish the world with more feats of..adequatiquaticism..."

Bill: "I'm bursting with adequatulance!"

Bill: "Don't try to confuse the issue with half truths and gorilla dust!"

Dave: "I think you're jumping to conclusions."
Bill: "Dave, I stand still, the conclusions jump to me!"

Bill: "Let him sling coffee for a few more hours. He'll get bored, realize he misses all of us, and he'll come back on his own. And when he does come crawling back, that's when you kick him away!!"
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post #34 of 53
9/24/10 at 9:29pm
I have recently been watching news radio again via netflix, and adored phil on the simpsons

such an awesome comedian

excellent choice of clip with the planet of the apes musical
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post #35 of 53
9/24/10 at 9:32pm
Man, when my Dad told me that Phil Hartman had died, it was an impact. He turned everything into gold, and like others, I loved him on Newsradio. A couple of months ago I revisited my favorite episode where he gets addicted to eating old sandwiches that were left in a vending machine.

He certainly could have done dramatic acting and been really damn good at it too.
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post #36 of 53
9/25/10 at 12:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratty View Post
That was the goods and so was Hartman. I still maintain that the Hartman/Carvey/Myers years of SNL were its true "Golden Age" and not the 70's era.
Quoted for truth. Phil Hartman was Saturday Night Live's MVP during the years he was on the show. I loved The Sinatra Group skit he did, plus his impression of Charlton Heston. Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer and Anal Retentive Chef were great. I also loved the Telly Savalas Players With Yourselves Card skit that he did. Who loves yourself, baby? I still miss him, and I wish Jon Lovitz would beat the shit out of Andy Dick again.
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post #37 of 53
9/25/10 at 12:53am
Great tribute, and it let me pass on the greatness of Hartman's anal retentive sketches to my daughter.

And another voice of love for Newsradio; I borrowed the first two seasons from the library, and was surprised how funny it was. Hartman's egotastic Bill was a huge part of its success.
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post #38 of 53
9/25/10 at 12:58am
Good stuff. I was also returning from freshman year of college, and had been out for the day. When my brother turned the 6 o'clock news on, I think it was the lead story for the day and we both dropped WTFs.
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post #39 of 53
9/25/10 at 1:15am
Excellent tribute. I don't have too terribly much to add. There was an interview with Billy West on NPR not too long ago (link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=128490848) where West talks briefly about the shared joy he and Hartman got out of "old-timey carnival shouters" or something to that effect. I don't know where it is in the interview, but it's definitely worth a listen.

On a darker note, I've read that it was Andy Dick who re-introduced Hartman's wife to cocaine, which set her off on the downward spiral. Does anyone know if this is true? Because ever since I read that, I have cultivated great hatred for Mr. Dick.
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post #40 of 53
9/25/10 at 1:29am
I heard that Jon Lovitz physically assaulted Andy Dick over that, so there might be something to it.
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post #41 of 53
9/25/10 at 1:35am
Lovitz has said as much, and their fight from years back was sparked because Lovitz really truly believes it. Dick denies it, of course.
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post #42 of 53
9/25/10 at 1:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zhukov View Post
On a darker note, I've read that it was Andy Dick who re-introduced Hartman's wife to cocaine, which set her off on the downward spiral. Does anyone know if this is true? Because ever since I read that, I have cultivated great hatred for Mr. Dick.
Actually, Andy Dick didn't exactly reintroduce her to coke as much as he likely pointed her in the direction where she could acquire some when she asked him for some (this is from Dick's conversation with Adam Carolla on his podcast).

Andy Dick is by no means an innocent with regard to her final spiral downward but it's clear that both Dick & Bree are/were longtime struggling addicts & their lives & decisions reflected that fact. Bree Hartman had also been nursing an intense bitterness that her acting career wasn't benefiting from Phil's success in the way that she'd imagined. The end result of this delusion was a final lashing out at poor Phil while he slept.

Moral of the story? Cocaine is a hell of a drug.
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post #43 of 53
9/25/10 at 1:49am
I got a bit chocked up reading this fantastic tribute...Hartman was one of the best, and Newsradio was a must watch show in my house, for all our family.
One of comedy's greatest losses, no doubt about it.
Loved the piece, just fantastic work...Still remember his SNL work, even the little sketches (The Sassiest Boys Show, anyone? That was pure genius), and whether in a movie or show, Hartman never failed to kill me with his delivery and timing.
Also would like to share some love for Lovitz and his dedication to Hartman as a friend and a colleague; hell, i still get a bit misty when Lovitz and Hartman shared the screen on two episodes, and hell if his character's debut episode was nothing but a goodbye to his friend.
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post #44 of 53
9/25/10 at 1:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Youngblood View Post
I heard that Jon Lovitz physically assaulted Andy Dick over that, so there might be something to it.
The story goes that Dick was at a club & provoked Lovitz by loudly saying that he was "gonna put the Phil Hartman curse" on him. Lovitz, sick of this junkie's shit & (rightly?) blaming him for his part in his best friend's demise, promptly kicked his ass.
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post #45 of 53
9/25/10 at 2:04am
Just wanted to say this was a great piece. Kudos.

I think I would pay at least a couple hundred dollars to have seen Lovitz kick the shit out of Andy Dick in a club.
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post #46 of 53
9/25/10 at 2:06am
I unabashedly love Phil. He was a great talent and a genuinely good guy. When I heard on the radio that he'd been murdered, it had the same impact on me as when I heard about John Lennon's death; utter shock and disbelief. There was no way Phil Hartman was going out like that....

Supposedly, before his funeral, his fellow SNL alumni were commiserating and Mike Myers said, "Let me get this straight, Phil's wife, high on cocaine, shot him in the face while he was sleeping and then she shot herself, all while their kids were just down the hall?"

Lovitz waved him off and replied, "You're making it sound worse than it was".

I love gallows humor that makes me wanna cry from laughter AND pain.

I miss Phil.

Excellent tribute, Mr. Joshua
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post #47 of 53
9/25/10 at 2:24am
Hartman's death was an absolute tragedy, one that was not self-inflicted and robbed us of a great comedic talent.

That was a beautifully written tribute.

His SNL audition is still amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X2hq...eature=related
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post #48 of 53
9/25/10 at 4:24pm
Futurama trivia for those who don't know - Fry's full name is Philip Fry; the Philip is in honor of Phil Hartman.

One great SNL bit was Lorne Michael's onstage talking about how the economy is going to force them to lay off cast members, with the exception of Phil Hartman "who is, of course, an android." Cue Hartman walking onstage, smiling, and shaking Lorne's hand in his most machine-trying-to-pass-for-human sort of way. You probably had to see it.

Merry Christmas from Tarzan, Tonto, and Frankenstein

Quote:
Originally Posted by Evi View Post

Nice to see someone other than me enjoys Greedy. It's got a killer ensemble.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joshua Miller View Post
It makes me happy to know that there are at least a couple other secret GREEDY fans out there. I think it has Hartman's best film performance. He looks like Jack Benny, but is so, so very angry. His relationship with his stupid son is comic gold. Plus, he smashes Michael J Fox's head through a lamp. Don't get to see that every day.
Yeah, I think it's a solid little flick. Plus it saves it's best, knock-down awesome gag for the very last shot.
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post #49 of 53
9/25/10 at 4:35pm
Excellent tribute. Hartman's death is still so very sad.

My favorite moment of his from News Radio...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JpwjnMFlJI

DAAAAMMMMNNNN
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post #50 of 53
9/25/10 at 9:50pm
Me and my best friend had just got to his house after getting home from school, we where just about to fire up the N64, when his mom called us into the kitchen, I remember staring at the TV both of us not saying a word except saying god damn under a breath for at least half an hour. We then went to the living room and recalled the best bits of him on SNL for a few hours. Sigh......


Any way the classiest cast member SNL ever had, and deserved a much better film career.
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