60 Minutes - Saturday Night Live

[@michaelwilson2340]

I haven't seen this one in decades. It holds up so well. Seeing Christopher Guest and Billy Crystal together reminds me of This Is Spinal Tap. "Mime is money!".

[@philipterzian4581]

For me, the humor in this is Harry Shearer's verson of Mike Wallace, which is diabolical. His lines -- which, admittedly, may have been written by others -- capture the shopworn '60 Minutes' formula that Wallace could probably recite in his sleep. And the delivery -- the timbre of his voice, the word emphasis, the physical movements and facial tics -- is uncanny, letter-perfect, and riotous.

[@KoolKatDave]

Exactly, and when he says, ‘well, let me finish,’ is total Mike Wallace!

[@tishtashtishtash]

Unfortunately, TPTBs weren’t very partial to Shearer’s genius, and shuttered him away.

[@randymillhouse791]

"I HAVE read it."

[@joeeastwood3795]

Yes he was spot on.

[@tomsauer3830]

Their humor back then was actually a compliment.

[@billspangler2556]

This, in my opinion, is the best SNL off-set sketch. Absolute genius. From Shearer's Mike Wallace to the interviews to the "data" and "evidence", and the R & D lab with the whoopee cushion tester.... Genius. My wife and I still refer to Roger Vernon of Garry, Indiana or Ping E. Lee when we need a fictitious name.

[@randymillhouse791]

LOL!

[@SaintD382]

I agree, this is an absolutely brilliant short. One of my all-time faves.

[@sabrinaphillips916]

It’s just incredibly brilliant right down to the pictures of Ping E. Lee on the streets of Hong Kong😂

[@mplsmark222]

The current writers could never come up with anything this good. With little exception they don’t have actors to pull it off either. The best they can come up with is stupid lyrics to hip hop crap.

[@charlesbird781]

Harry Shearer’s Mike Wallace is spot on! If it wasn’t for the laughter, this would sound like an authentic 60 minutes segment.

[@isacece1334]

Sounds JUST like him!

[@matthewwoelfle5533]

It's his Kent Brockman voice.

[@justinfleming5119]

It's very savvy. There's even a motive written in for the Minkmans who generated the news lead in pursuit of legislation to protect their market share.

[@randymillhouse791]

"She suffered 3rd degree burns on her UPPER THIGHS from sitting on one of your defective whoopee cushions."

[@thomasthomas2418]

This sketch appeared shortly after CBS had lost a big court case revolving around their faulty research. Hence, Nathan Thurm saying, "...do a little more reading, less time in court maybe...." Priceless!

[@Spacejockey426]

I remember that, yes, at the time CBS and Mike Wallace were being sued by General William Westmoreland over one of their stories not on 60 Minutes, but for a Vietnam special aired in January 1982.....No one lost, they actually seetled before the jury was empaneled three years later.

[@jrsmith1008]

​@@Spacejockey426 I know this is totally off topic but one of those news shows faked how a GM pickup truck gas tank would ignite in an accident I don't know if they got sued or not but they staged the event and I can remember the issue

[@KeoniPhoenix]

@@jrsmith1008 Ironically that was done by Dateline NBC, the same network that produces SNL. GM won and humiliated NBC as they had to air a contraction and apology soon after.

[@11sfr]

​@KeoniPhoenix yeah, but it was CBS/60 Minutes who rigged an Audi to make it seem like it could slip into Drive while idling in Park and surge forward on its own, and claimed it was an actual recording of a real defect in action

[@randymillhouse791]

@@jrsmith1008 That was the Ford Pinto.

[@lpquagmire3621]

Best SNL sketch ever! "It looks like any other office, until you open the door..." LOL!

[@johnpelletier7641]

Billy Crystal, Martin Short, Chris Guest, Harry Shearer - in the same sketch - and Nathan Thurm. As good as it got. Incredible.

[@tharp42]

Best cast, but there was a reason for it, if i have my facts straight here. Lorne Michaels had actually quit as producer, and Dick Ebersol was put in charge. Ebersol was mainly a sports guy and didn't know shit about comedy, so rather than hire unknowns to groom (which is what Michaels always did), he assembled a cast of veteran comedic actors. Most of these guys were already well-known, but it ended up paying off, as SNL did some of its best work during this time. Just look at this sketch. Goes to show you that experience matters.

[@isacece1334]

Old school classic right there... I remember watching this episode when it came out. ALWAYS loved N. Thurm!!

[@isacece1334]

@@tharp42 So THAT explains it!! Makes so much sense now...thank you

[@jamesfeldman4234]

Right. Every performer in this sketch is a gifted comic talent, working in perfect comic harmony together. You won't see a lineup of this caliber on SNL ever again.

[@Isalala3000]

@@tharp42 It's like a whole different show, thanks that makes sense now.

[@isaacs3822]

“I’m not being defensive, you’re being defensive!” Martin Short is a national treasure 😂

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

Total lej

[@juanelorriaga2840]

“Is it me?”

[@thesouthernerwithadhd2710]

He's technically an international treasure.

[@jsmith1746]

Well, a Canadian national treasure.

[@ImaDogTrainer]

Why would you think I'm defensive? I find it hilarious you think I'm defensive.

[@jamesclapp6832]

That crash test whoopie cushion dummy broke me. A genius sketch from start to finish.

[@wdunovant]

I remember this from when i was a teenager. Over 50 now, such a masterpiece!

[@Singnlow98]

By my count, Martin Short blinked ONCE the entire time he was on screen! The way he commits to a character is unparalleled.

[@alyserendipity]

Holy shit I didn’t even realize that. He’s incredible!

[@scottnielsen1553]

also I love the way he smokes and never flicks the ash

[@stephaniestanley8041]

❤😂oh he didn't blink

[@randymillhouse791]

I know that, why wouldn't I know that? Why are you wasting time commenting on something that doesn't need commenting?

[@kooale]

@@randymillhouse791 😂😂😂😂😂

[@shinigami146]

Everything about this sketch is great. So much money and talent went into it. This was a very underrated year of SNL IMO.

[@tacoscamp]

I was in 8th or 9th grade when this aired and we laughed about it all the next week at school. And for years we'd say, "Is it me? It's him, right?" in honor of this sketch.

[@Spacejockey426]

I knew that.... it's so funny that you think I wouldn't know that....

[@borgullet3376]

Lol, yup Scott, 9th grade.. " It's a Minkmen " Also I think that year Guest and Crystal did the Security Guard skit too - another classic.

[@jessejordache1869]

Same with me, only it was "I think you're being defensive. Why is it always the other person being defensive?"

[@gaipontiff2]

Same here, junior high a friend of mine and myself in English class every Monday morning.

[@jessejordache1869]

@@borgullet3376 Is that the "I hate it when that happens" skit?

[@michaelreeves3637]

Maybe one of the most intelligent sketches I have ever seen on SNL. I guess that’s to be expected when you have mature talents such as Harry, Christopher, Billy and Martin. This is an absolute gem.

[@zibberebbiz]

I know that! You think I don't know that?

[@michaelreeves3637]

Is it me? It's him, right?

[@JohnSmith-op1tc]

It's so funny to me that you would think that!

[@JFmK-sh5nh]

"We flew to Hong Kong on a hunch." 😂

[@NoTeaBaggers]

I loved that line.

[@rjg7112]

Martin Short at his best, and he is always funny.

[@gerrydooley951]

yep, so was Harry

[@chrisolivo6591]

“I know that? You don’t think I know that?”

[@rjg7112]

@@chrisolivo6591 You seem defensive

[@MrUndersolo]

I used to stay up too late as a little kid watching these back in the day and I still remember this one... Brilliant!

[@billybatson22]

THE most underrated segment in SNL history...

[@dreamdawg3187]

I could not agree more. It's truly a classic bit.

[@Watery_Tart]

I think it gets forgotten in the mire of mediocre crap from that season.

[@MTVCOPS]

Perfect season

[@tgs1766]

It’s been featured on best of compilations since the days of VHS. Hardly underrated.

[@bold810]

Top 3 for sure. (however, harry shearer... !😖😁

[@Chris.T.Ortez138]

Oh my GOSH.. I had this episode recorded on VHS and watched it over and over as a kid! I memorized the entire bit.

[@deputay]

You and me both!

[@JCDofNYC]

As did I. Seamless writing.

[@Dr0p0fahat]

Same here!

[@blairmcmillen2816]

me too. on Beta, no less. I remember the ep, it had George Carlin and also Jim Belushi as a chess coach

[@tonyfromconey2164]

Me too!

[@dmreeoogdaq]

My favorite season and cast of SNL. It was the smartest stuff that show ever did.

[@tharp42]

For sure.

[@Chris.T.Ortez138]

I totally agree! So weird how difficult its been to find this particular era available on streamers or otherwise.

[@assmane999]

It definitely wasn’t my favourite season, but those guys are fucking brilliant

[@canaisyoung3601]

Too bad it didn't last. Season ten (the 1984-1985 season) was beset by a writer's strike and NBC deciding that SNL wasn't worth saving at the time and almost pulling the plug on it until Lorne Michaels' "The New Show" tanked and he decided to come back and save his show. Why he couldn't keep this cast for season 11 is beyond me.

[@Spacejockey426]

@@Chris.T.Ortez138 Not weird. This was the Dick Ebersol Era. Unfortunately the unfunny Lorne Michael's came back, and he must have some control over what gets out there, even when he wasn't producing the show. I have been waiting for a season 10 complete set for decades!

[@williamstone1536]

Pure gold! Total genius!! Laughed my ass of at this when I was a kid. The "I'm not being defensive, you're being defensive" is a line my wife and I used on each other constantly, lol. And my gawd, Harry Shearer's take on Mike Wallace is un-cannily awesome, lol.

[@fearlessstudios1]

The writing..the acting...the characters...all comedy gold..If this was done today it would be an Emmy for everyone involved

[@johnhock44]

For years afterwards, a common refrain among me and my friends was, "I'm not being defensive; you're the one who's being defensive."

[@grawakendream8980]

lol

[@davidh.-realestatebroker1515]

Totally. Still quoting this one to this day. (And their synchronized swimmers sketch)

[@asheard23]

I know that. You don’t think I know that? Is it me? It’s him, right?

[@isacece1334]

Me and my dad too. We'd always say, "Is it me? It's not me...it's him!"

[@grawakendream8980]

@@isacece1334 haha, that's fun

[@ronbzoom8531]

It's absurd yet kind of brilliant. They really nailed the gotcha 60 Minutes piece from that time. I haven't seen this short since it came out. Gotta love (love-hate?) Nathan Thurm!

[@zenpaganwarrior]

Shearer's Wallace impression is absolutely spot-on. I love that these three who starred (Crystal co-starred) in Spinal Tap migrated to SNL in one of its very best seasons! Short as the weasely Thurm is also perfect.

[@robertjennings6421]

Billy Crystal played a mime....Not really "co-star"....More like a brief cameo shot.

[@MarkBertoia]

@@robertjennings6421mime is money 😂

[@garylobo348]

We flew to Hong Kong on a hunch... Who does that? Couldn't stop laughing from that one throw-away line. And... We saw your people making pirate Minkman schnozzes. I just lost it. What brilliant comedy. Bravo boys!

[@latvguy1]

This gem of a season had some amazing pre-taped sketches.

[@OrdnanceTV]

I am genuinely blown away by the raw talent and quality of everything in this sketch. Right down to Martin's anxiety as the lawyer and overzealously saying he knew the afadavit was an afadavit. Little details like that were in all the sketches back then.

[@davidh.-realestatebroker1515]

Turning the younger gen onto this type of genius… priceless. “It’s a Minkman”

[@voidandnon-2530]

Martin Short is so amazing with that character.

[@TralfazConstruction]

Yes, absolutely right. Seeing this now took me back a lot of years. I remember discussing this sketch with my wife during the commercial and she was still laughing over Martin Short's nervous mannerisms. I went into the kitchen to put more ice into my wife's iced tea. The novelty of that was that Sears had just delivered and set-up a new refrigerator on Thursday and the automatic ice maker was making and dropping ice cubes. Each time we heard those cubes fall into the bin we clapped or cheered. It was our first automatic ice maker and it felt like we had really arrived. Amazing. My "muscle memory" can feel how it was to open that freezer door (on top) grab the ice tongs and put a few cubes into the glass. This memory of mine is going on thirty-seven years old but this sketch had me feeling like it was just last night.

[@Kaneseb]

"This is an affidavit..." "I know that!" LMAO!

[@MackeyWilliams]

Well let me finish...

[@Spaceman640]

You read it…well I have read it…..well why do I have to read it😂

[@MarkBertoia]

“It’s my company…I’m well aware of that…” 😂

[@Domvav1215]

Martin short is a Comedy legend ! Damn he’s funny

[@bfwetzel]

Haven't seen this in years. Literally one of my favorite sketches of all time.

[@MrTaxiRob]

this is an insanely good Mike Wallace impression

[@jackswint8258]

I could watch this a million times and it would never get old it's so sooo good Martin short absolutely genius love it

[@paulsummers2640]

Shearer's impersonation of Mike Wallace is the best I have ever seen and heard.

[@MackeyWilliams]

Agree 100 percent. Absolutely peerless. The way he says "dribble glass" kills me every time.

[@garylobo348]

@@MackeyWilliams And schnozzz...

[@garylobo3]

Who else even had the balls to attempt a Mike Wallace impression? And Shearer hit it out of the park his first try.

[@angeloiodice9304]

So intelligent, meticulously acted, hilariously funny. This is a masterpiece. Martin Short is bizarrely surreal with his Nathan Thurm. Actually, I never really laugh at this skit. I just sit, observe and find myself in awe of such talent.

[@sabrinaphillips916]

I feel the same!! I’m laughing but don’t want to miss a thing and just in awe of how absolutely amazing this skit is!

[@BAYAREA-kd1ig]

Amazed that SNL posted something from the 1984-85 season, that Ensemble was talented that year.

[@fromtherubble6890]

Greatest SNL season... These short films were the highlight

[@MosEisleySpacePort1138]

This is my favorite Martin Short character. And my favorite performance of Thurm. The amount of gaslighting is brilliant here.

[@dougmaclennan8654]

Lorne Michaels is loathe to admit it, but this was the best season in SNL history.

[@Therealgordongekko]

Martin Short’s absolute BEST PERFORMANCE EVER!

[@kooale]

Glick is pretty fing speshul!

[@wholderby]

Absolutely awesome Mike Wallace impression my god I had forgotten how great that was......

[@theBaron0530]

YES! The origin of Nathan Thurm! So glad someone uploaded this!

[@julianherrera7547]

Shearer: "This is an affadavit" Short: "I know that" Shearer: "Well let me finish" That seemed improvised, and it is completely genius!!! 😂

[@zakeden1353]

My favorite part!! Gets me every time!

[@funkster007]

All-star cast of comedic actors. Closest SNL ever got to the genius style of SCTV. Miss this era.

[@sha11235]

This was probably to me the last best one.

[@ColonelNickSteel]

And Martin Short was also on SCTV.

[@RapidTopography]

Such a classic skit. So well done.

[@nickstrapko7549]

Very Elaborate segment. Loved it. Nothing can compare to it

[@MichaelJohnson-composer]

This was THEE BEST SNL cast. No cue cards, rich characters, non-ironic impressions.

[@ChrisDavis-ps8me]

Brilliant! To this day, perhaps the best TV comedy piece ever produced. Thanks KZbin for providing joy and laughter to (a now) old man. You are preserving a true video “Minkman.”

[@M1000-y8b]

Nothing short of genius comedy

[@bradwooldidge6979]

This was by far the most talented cast ever.

[@UnopinionatedBystander2393]

I concur!

[@mattkaustickomments]

The 84-85 season was a definite high point in SNL history.

[@Denver_Risley]

You can imagine the euphoria a 10-year-old boy experiences seeing that whoopie-cushion tester. I had to be revived with a defibrillator.

[@davidh.-realestatebroker1515]

Lols same. Saw this as a kid. Would re enact the whole sketch for years.

[@randymillhouse791]

Was it a Minkman by chance?

[@stephenkohan1776]

Kate and Ali says it all. Brilliant!! Synchronized swimming scetch is side splitting.

[@clarkwright7525]

It's hard to believe that SNL once had the brilliant minds of Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, Martin Short, and Harry Shearer.

[@reggieongoogle3583]

Maybe a perfect comedy skit? The woman testing whoopee cushions @5:41...those kinds of non-verbal 'atmospherics' are perfectly written and shot.

[@JohnSmith-zr3yz]

I love the nervous, sweaty, defensive lawyer! 🤣😂

[@Chaotheawesome]

I love how Martin Short is slightly sweatier in each shot

[@adkny98]

Christopher Guest, Billy Crystal, Martian Short and Harry Shearer

[@susanbartlett-ye6476]

One of my favorite sketches of all time!!!

[@PowerGlove79]

Nathan Thurm is one of the greatest comedic inventions ever

[@randymillhouse791]

I know that!

[@RobertBurke-e1n]

I know he is.Why wouldn't I know that of course, I know that I know.Great company when I see it.Why would you think I wouldn't know that😊

[@kawahawk76]

Perhaps one of the smartest and most effective comedy sketches I've seen from any show on American television, and I am including Lucile Ball and Sid Caesar's work in this statement. I need time to reflect on this statement, but can't think of why I would backdown from it.

[@maestroclassico5801]

One of the most underrated comedy performers EVER: Harry Shearer.

[@grawakendream8980]

i know that. don't you think i know that.

[@StanleyKewbeb1]

His Mike Wallace is uncanny.

[@KOSMICKEN09]

Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap too 😂

[@maestroclassico5801]

@@KOSMICKEN09 absolutely....and of course.....Mr Burns AND Smithers!

[@sha11235]

Harry did two years on this show and neither one was very productive for him.

[@stephaniecarrow4898]

Love the golden chicken award on the wall. To this day, when I remind myself of something I need to do, I then think, "I know that. You think I don't know that?"

[@slares111]

Martin Short is beyond hysterical !

[@roberttosa2560]

Better than most 60 Minutes stories. And way better than most SNL skits.

[@RB..1]

“Counterfeit articles of amusement.” That’s gold Jerry!

[@christopherpederson1021]

The greatest skit ever in the history of skits.

[@stevepeterson5943]

If i remember right from an interview, they put a wire in that cigarette so the ash would stay in place as it burned down. Also, they made Martin's upper lip all sweaty to look like Nixon's. These guys were born funny!

[@candybanks8717]

I don't know if it's possible to do a more accurate Mike Wallace. Harry Shearer is absolutely stunning. My family and I probably watched this skit 80 times back then because he thought seasons '83-'85 were worth recording.

[@machtnichtsseimann]

This video has only 8K views? Is it me? It's all those who haven't seen it, right?

[@grawakendream8980]

i know that it has 8000 views. don't you think i know it has 8000 views? its my video, i should know that it has 8000 views.

[@machtnichtsseimann]

@@grawakendream8980 - Let me finish. Here is an affidavit from a woman who got severe brain damage from watching one of YOUR videos. Here, read it.

[@grawakendream8980]

@@machtnichtsseimann why should i read that. i know what it says. why do you feel like you can't finish your thoughts, i'm letting you finish why wouldn't i let you finish. that doesn't make sense

[@randymillhouse791]

@@grawakendream8980 It's him, not you.

[@grawakendream8980]

@@randymillhouse791 thx

[@shizzy35]

The way Harry Shearer captures Mike Wallace to a T is beyond brilliant.

[@Steve-nb9kg]

I remember watching this when it aired and marveled at the similarity to 60 minutes and Mike Wallace. So glad for KZbin to be able to watch it again years later.

[@StooGP]

The Dick Ebersol era spawned some amazingly hilarious sketches and talent. People forget that this and even the Eddie era was not produced by Lorne Michaels.

[@BAYAREA-kd1ig]

Agreed, Dick Ebersol never gets the credit for rescuing a sinking franchise. He kept it afloat for 4 years before MIchaels came back.

[@chrisolivo6591]

Lorne Michaels is so overrated as SNL is the same crap every week that relies on political humor. Dick Ebersol SNL era was more original like skits like this and rarely did political skits.

[@MerkinMuffly]

Shearer nails Mike Wallace, that's what you call a quality impression, not the half ass impressions they do today.

[@gerrydooley951]

It is an unbelievable impression

[@TheBlip01]

That's because, MerkinMuffly, that impression is a Minkman.

[@canaisyoung3601]

Didn't Shearer do his Mike Wallace impression on an episode of The Simpsons? I know his Ronald Reagan is basically Mr. Burns and his Vin Scully is Kent Brockman, but did he ever use his Mike Wallace for anything on The Simpsons?

[@StanleyKewbeb1]

Best voice actor around.

[@Anthony-ou2ok]

Are you 115? That may be in the shittiest old man comment I’ve ever heard

[@firepower782]

This era of SNL is highly underrated to me. I was 14 when this came out and I couldn't wait to watch SNL every Saturday night back then.

[@michaelcovel3793]

Word, I was in junior high and recorded it every week with our new...VCR!! when they didn't return for the next season, I was gutted!

[@firepower782]

Michael Covel Oh man yeah I felt the same way.

[@KOSMICKEN09]

I was 14 too fond memories

[@sabrinaphillips916]

Same here! Born in 1970 and was in junior high when this aired. I never missed an SNL back then. It was truly its greatest season !

[@stephaniestanley8041]

...these guys were every Jewelry vendor in NYC.

[@tmac4317]

There is more talent, wit, and craft in this single sketch than can be found in an entire season of SNL these days.

[@tacoscamp]

I would hang my head in shame if I was an SNL writer and I watched this. Our standards for humor are too low to even be measured anymore.

[@JesseWright68]

Someone pissing and moaning about how SNL has gone downhill. How novel.

[@dannynysus]

Perhaps...perhaps not. Perhaps you should be asking yourself why that is. Is it a crime to have a slightly lesser quality of production? I know that, it's so funny of you to think that I wouldn't know that

[@dale4853]

Actually, skit is t really funny. It’s vey predictable.

[@invictusinvidia]

It’s a minkman skit

[@williammudloff5543]

All of these guys were gifted geniuses, ALL OF THEM!

[@larryshackley8074]

This was the best SNL season hands down. Too bad they couldn't keep the gang together. I love watching Nathan Thurm's cigarette ash get longer and longer.

[@bridgetjoyce469]

This is excellent humor, skit is superb.

[@archie34734]

Best Mike Wallace impression EVER!

[@cjthrill]

One of my favorites from my golden age of snl. Great cast!

[@CuriousEarthMan]

This quality is so much higher than what they air today.

[@gmaddox562]

Martin Short was my favorite on SNL loved this sketch. “I know that.. what makes you think I don’t know that” is him right? “ looking at the camera. Hahah!

[@FrancisDrake-q3j]

Brilliant. Still holds up. Great writing.

[@AT-sd9qq]

Season 10 of SNL is seriously the most underrated season of any show ever.

[@georgematthews2987]

The funniest SNL I've watched in ages.

[@erichall4548]

This is the best sketch in SNL history.... I swear...

[@howarddyer5493]

Genius. Absolutely perfect.

[@BlueEyes-gp8lg]

Absolutely one of the greatest sketches in SNL history. Their current crap writing staff can't come up with five seconds of material as good as this.

[@bradhart6487]

As amazingly funny as this sketch is, it's funny how it doesn't really end, it just stops. It's weird they didn't write a Mike Wallace wrap around ending.

[@Sshooter444]

I agree they didn't polish it

[@andyrose5616]

That's the way most 60 Minutes segments end... abruptly with a cut back to the stopwatch.

[@LionsDenAudioTheatre]

These men are absolute chameleons. Brilliant work.

[@hcanderson3787]

I can't believe this is here! Thanks for posting

[@slide4180]

Shearer's Mike Wallace is one of the best impersonations of anyone, any time, anywhere.

[@TheElusiveCav]

This still, and will always make me laugh out loud 😆

[@dewittsnyder4212]

Harry Shearer is probably one of the most underrated writers performers, yada yada love you Harry

[@kooale]

GOLD! All solid gold!

[@moryan6447]

Thurm the Gaslighter...would fit right in now