{"id":238894,"date":"2021-04-30T03:51:30","date_gmt":"2021-04-30T00:51:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/howard-stern-defends-snl-sketch-that-some-think-killed-chris-farley\/"},"modified":"2021-04-30T03:51:30","modified_gmt":"2021-04-30T00:51:30","slug":"howard-stern-defends-snl-sketch-that-some-think-killed-chris-farley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/howard-stern-defends-snl-sketch-that-some-think-killed-chris-farley\/","title":{"rendered":"#Howard Stern Defends SNL Sketch That Some Think ‘Killed’ Chris Farley"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Howard Stern Defends SNL Sketch That Some Think ‘Killed’ Chris Farley
\n<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

\nHoward Stern<\/strong> is sounding off on the famous Saturday Night Live<\/em> sketch that many say led to Chris Farley<\/strong>\u2019s demise.<\/p>\n

In October 1990, the Tommy Boy<\/em> actor starred alongside guest Patrick Swayze<\/strong> in one of the most famous sketches of SNL<\/em> history that showed them competing for a Chippendales<\/strong> gig. Even those who have never seen the full sketch have likely seen a clip or reference of it at some point: the chiseled Swayze competes with a not-so-chiseled Farley as they both show off their shirtless dance moves to Loverboy<\/strong>\u2018s Working for the Weekend<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The sketch was a huge hit at the time, with audiences laughing at the fact that Farley was the complete opposite of the Adonis figures that one associates with Chippendales performers. However, it\u2019s been reevaluated in the years since Farley\u2019s overdose as not-so-funny, and has even been attributed to the start of the comedia<\/a>n\u2019s downfall.<\/p>\n

Related: Colin Jost Hilariously Crashes Scarlett Johansson\u2019s App<\/a>earance On RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race<\/i>!<\/strong><\/p>\n

But one SNL<\/em> writer still stands by it: Robert Smigel<\/strong> defended the sketch during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show<\/em>, telling the host:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great sketch and I was in a debate about it with some people who wrote Chris Farley\u2019s book, which was everybody kind of weighing in on Chris\u2019 life and what happened to him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Referencing the 2009 biography The Chris Farley Show<\/em>, Smigel added:<\/p>\n

\u201cI think someone in the book said, \u2018That sketch was the first step in killing him,\u2019 because it was like he had no respect for himself by doing that sketch.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The quote in the book actually comes from Chris Rock<\/strong>, who described the sketch as \u201ca weird moment in Chris\u2019 life,\u201d musing:<\/p>\n

\u201cAs funny as that sketch was, and as many accolades as he got for it, it\u2019s one of the things that killed him. It really is. Something happened right then<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Bob Odenkirk<\/b>, who was a writer on SNL<\/em> as well, also took issue with the Chippendales sketch, saying in the book that it was \u201cf**king lame,\u201d adding:<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe anyone liked it enough to put it on the show. F**k that sketch. He never should have done it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

During their recent conversation, Stern defended the sketch as well. The shock jock explained that while the controversy stems from critics who feel Farley is \u201cjust being made fun of because he\u2019s a fat guy,\u201d that wasn\u2019t exactly the case, because the actor \u201cwasn\u2019t just a fat guy, he was one of the greatest comics.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s true. He WAS one of the greatest comics. Still is, TBH.<\/p>\n

Smigel added:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat 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. He had this fantastic energy and, in a way, it was a very empowering sketch and I think that\u2019s what people felt the first time they watched it. \u2018Look at this guy go and be completely proud, unashamed and just going for it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Stern also mentioned how the sketch showed off what a great physical comedian Farley \u2014 who died of a drug overdose in 1997 at 33 years old \u2014 was, to which Smigel replied:<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was the most explosively funny person and I think most people who worked at that time would agree with that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Do U agree with this, Perezcious readers? Was this classic sketch really \u201cempowering,\u201d or was it just poking fun at Farley\u2019s weight? Re-watch it (below) and share your thoughts in the comments.<\/p>\n