Police Wire - SNL

A criminal (Danny DeVito) meets with the mafia wearing a police wire and ends up incriminating himself. [Season 12, 1987]
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[@Nickel138]

This was a genius sketch. I can’t believe I’ve never seen it before. Underrated sketch.

[@PapaLu08]

Same, I love all the mafia movies and can’t believe I’m just now seeing it too.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

I love how he starts coughing, singing and blowing his nose when they're squealing on him.

[@turbo8628]

Was thinking the exact same thing!

[@brianshaker1885]

Yeah it is... I was wondering how they were going to do such a common theme, especially from thay era. And they pleasantly surprised. Very funny concept, executed well.

[@KidoRus]

​@@PapaLu08цц

[@Mr7o4]

...I still remember the headlines - "Cop with eight kids slain"

[@torridd]

What a manhunt that was!

[@strokesdogs]

@@torridd Mammanaaaaa hahüüü!

[@nebulousisgod]

That was upsetting. Damn Devito is such a great actor, even in a sketch.

[@davidjohns7321]

Devito gave an Emmy worthy performance.

[@Lootroq]

Tell me your avatar isn't Lil Kev zoomed in?

[@nebulousisgod]

Lootroq You’re damn right, it is

[@BlazingOwnager]

How is this sketch not considered one of SNL's all time greats? It's far and away better than their normal stuff and the concept is great. Also how has it not been ripped off a hundred ways in nearly 40 years?

[@frankkoshel9318]

Simpsons ripped it off on an episode where Homer wears a wire

[@riotpoliceTRELL]

Ah the old days where people actually memorized their lines or at least weren't just visibly staring directly at the cue cards

[@Robocoppat]

You are so right. The only funny people on SNL today is Chris Redd and Kate McKinnon.

[@Somebody-Somewhere-]

@@Robocoppat Cecily Strong is pretty good to.

[@llVIU]

I'll say... on every single SNL nowadays, every single actor has to read the cards

[@Robocoppat]

@juhoismi I don't think Kenan is funny at all. And never has been.

[@greenAbbot]

I’m old. I can’t just enjoy something from my time without having to whine about how bad kids are these days, with their cue cards and their hopping and hopping (not even music) and their saggy pants. And why don’t they ever visit?

[@lostpear]

Stil holds up! Such a great sketch!

[@sethburro6031]

Oh shit young Devito, the greatest, the taxi man.

[@applejax1984]

The sketches back then seemed more like an actual movie skit today just seems so proppy and cheap idk if that makes sense

[@stevenferruzza7928]

Your above reason could be a reason snl skits are not as funny as it used to be. Don't focus on the props focus on the script, rehearsal, writing, and time. It shouldn't matter how famous or not the movie star is. Now In my opinion the only funny parts are the cold open and weekend update. The last funny opening monologue was fred armisen. A few years back and maybe adam Sandler this past season.

[@applejax1984]

Steven Ferruzza well for one my comment was not intended to be mean or what not i have a dry and sarcastic sense of humor I know what type of humor I enjoy but if something doesn’t make me laugh or entertains me why would I watch it?! So of course I’m going to focus on what I prefer to watch 🤨 famous or not I’d still watch it but let’s be real these are classic stars that back then weren’t as known as they are now sooooo

[@Met182]

Exactly! And also, did it look at any point in this sketch that someone didn't remember their line, was reading from a cue card or wasn't totally in character? Nope. These days some of the people on SNL aren't even looking at the person they're supposed to be talking to because they're looking dead ahead at the cue card they're reading from.

[@p-squash7341]

It makes complete sense. Snl sucks now. It's unwatchable

[@elloowu6293]

I agree and I think it might have a little to do with the older cast and writers going on to be big names in TV and movies. Also our newer TVs give shows that glossy SOAP OPERA look. That's why newer SNL looks so fake. We're watching a sketch show on HD.

[@THECLARENCES]

Long live the memory of the late, great Phil Hartman. xoxo The Clarences

[@skxlter5747]

The skits back then were like a mini sitcom why can't snl come back to these days

[@超虎生活]

I love Tony Danza. He sure has changed a lot since Who's the Boss!

[@reeemoooo8356]

Gar An Tony Danza? lOl where?

[@michealkelly9441]

Surprising he hasnt hosted since then with his Sunny success

[@TheSlashTraxNetwork]

he hosted at least once in the 90's when chris kattan was on there

[@Ryan-on5on]

Talented as this regular SNL ensemble is, in this sketch, Danny DeVito takes them to school in the art of acting and then some. It's like watching a cast of community theatre actors do a scene with a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company!

[@JK..INFX.D....]

This must have been when Frank decided to move his operation to Nam.

[@youtubeobserverz]

Jon Lovitz will ALWAYS be for me, "Yeah, that's the ticket!" 🤣

[@radiogilligan]

This was a great of all-times sketch!!!

[@cupcakes7015]

Bill Brasky Likewise 😭 9/6/19

[@tonydalcon]

A classic sketch I never saw at the time!

[@JarrettWilliams99]

FYI you can still declare income earned through illegal means without specifying where it's from.

[@BlazingOwnager]

After this, he had to fly to Burma and start Wolf Cola.

[@rwfrench66GenX]

Awesome concept and pure balls to do that live in New York City!

[@Sportshotrumorsdebates]

no one reading their lines. remembering everything

[@Paul-s1h]

This should be a sitcom on TV.

[@Gonewith]

Its funny, this reminds of trumps lawyers at the senate trial. They keep incriminating themselves.

[@ivan4087]

yeah leftist lying idiot

[@Gonewith]

@@ivan4087 Hey Bud, Do not hate facts. They literally did this. How can you deny Fact?

[@deadweight7334]

Lol, i'd love to see that, is there a link?

[@Goldenowl66]

It's so refreshing to see the old cast members and guest actors, act and not read cue cards.

[@andreo.7633]

The desperate handkerchief noseblowing was hysterical

[@willt.9654]

Looks like he’s got two more cops to take care of

[@blueskye6372]

Great sketch and quite telling. 📺📽️🎬🎭

[@jspurs22]

That wasn’t me, I had a little help there Emm Emm 😂😂

[@Bdb83]

This is the smartest sketch in comedy history. It doesn't get more clever than this boys and girls!!!!!!

[@tonymora9441]

Y can't comedy be like this again

[@stephenison5703]

We bought out the judge for you 💯🤦

[@StarkIller-df7gw]

Love this sketch! 😂😂😂

[@rooseveltaiken7718]

So funny. They put the wire on the worst person in the group lol

[@ozieflo9715]

Lmao classic

[@zenica12]

ha,ha just great!!!

[@deneshbhaskar]

This was gold LOL

[@TuanDinhVu]

Great skit!

[@Lucky_Chase]

This is gold.

[@nelcanhwarari7152]

Fucking hilarious 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@alihersey8324]

Brilliant.

[@tonkadriver1833]

No good deed goes unpunished!

[@mihaimarchidann5067]

the sketch just started and I presume all of them are wearing wire

[@curtisbrown5939]

Guliani of course

[@joshuataft5541]

They did this same but with deniro years later

[@angelocastaneda6423]

That was good! Bought out the judge but damn they sure said a lot that had nothing to do with his case 😂

[@TheFrenchPug]

Definitely can't write skits like they use to. That was awesome.

[@massimosquecco203]

Never bring a Fiasco to Italians folks: it could become the methafore of your own demise! ( this is also why you almost cannot find fiascos on the market anymore...)

[@bradfromthevalley3469]

lucchese Sun Valley

[@allwise3608]

Frank Reynolds ain't no snitch

[@MissLlah]

Classic when SNL was funny.

[@godofspacetime333]

If they had mentioned some sweat shop in Vietnam I would have shit.

[@marioiacolucci]

Hey devito

[@Dave-ji1yp]

LOL..😂😂

[@markkulyas2418]

And kids this is how America really works.

[@Ryan-bk3ig]

It's dannnnnyy devito

[@Ghost-Of-Kyiv-]

🤣🤣🤣

[@tylermunro371]

anyone else recognise Troy McClure's voice and have to do a quick google search :')

[@SpooksMcGhie]

Lol

[@nazaretsalinas9997]

This was back when the actors didn't look stupid while reading the cue cards

[@ankeetkumar7734]

Which song they sing in the end?

[@michealkelly9441]

Shit that was great

[@DAJANEM99]

They don’t make funny shit like this anymore. Pete Davidson WHO!

classic

[@JabberCT]

Whoever wrote that and came up with the idea deserves a lot of credit.

[@eatgarbage4649]

@juhoismi Conan was hired a few episodes before this, so it's entirely possible. But so was Greg Daniel's and Bob Odenkirk, and that's just the new hires. I would love to know who wrote it though! As a sheer guess, I'm going say A.Whitney Brown since he appears in the sketch? I will take any counter offer though

[@Kurewt]

@BANNED WTF are you talking about. You couldnt make this better.

[@chrisdeep8417]

Occasionally you get one of these good ones.

[@h.e.pennypacker4567]

Foggetaboutittt!!!

[@何智勇士官長]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pajToHtoodSMntU

[@isaiahpero7837]

Angelo was then forced into the Witness Protection Program, assumed the name Frank Reynolds and moved to Philadelphia.

[@isaiahpero7837]

@@michaeltozzi3112 Yeah. No wonder he had do many connections for illegal sweat shops, drugs, meats, and various other illegal activities over the years to make all his money.

[@michaeltozzi3112]

@@isaiahpero7837 I heard a lot of good people died in that sweat shop.

[@gibbsm]

he was also at chappaquiddick

[@Lucky_Chase]

My thoughts exactly!!😂😂😂

[@bryanaa196]

Makes a lot of sense.

[@onlirier2993]

I love the look on his face when they tell him they bought off the judge.

[@MundiaKamau]

Priceless, right?

[@lancelotto475]

*Curb Your Enthusiasm theme plays*

[@randybailin4902]

"Don Marcese, what is this, a big drug move?" "No, if this was a drug move we'd go straight to you."

[@oitallef1]

🤣🤣🤣

[@jasonbenoit1888]

Whole thing was an exercise in demonstrating how it can go, if you feel like your back is to the wall, you make ignorant decisions in a panic, and then try to hard. Like a set of keys lying on the coffee table and you've already made at least a round or two through the house looking.

[@ketamineastronaut6095]

"I finally get to meet the guy who shot Lt. Patrick Ryan, NYPD, oh boy..."

[@BoyAditya]

So this is fat Tony's story before he moved to Springfield, right

[@birdmantd]

Fat Tony, is that you? Fat Tony?

[@eskimoto4417]

lololololol

[@b.a.samuels]

Danny Devito made that feel real. Thats gravity none of the other actors had. The man is a treasure from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Taxi, Always Sunny, comedy, drama...he is the man.

[@Inlinetodie]

...Twins...the Bear...

[@sybotrybo1609]

Death to Smoochy!

[@Mike-zy8in]

The Penguin my guy...go KZbin - are you a good person by living waters

[@jack1394]

That’s Martin Weir you’re talking about. 😆

[@Taylor.Dude.]

The Van (1977.) Maybe not an Oscar winning movie but Danny was good in it. Probably opened the door to his Taxi role.

[@torridd]

"You done so many, you losing track?" LOL!

[@Mike-zy8in]

lol bro go KZbin - are you a good person by Living Waters

[@BigSwarz]

I love how he coughs into the wire everytime they incriminate him LOL

[@HarlemWorld45]

Big Swarzarelli's House facts 😂😂😂

[@Gynecologist]

I noticed that too

[@CraigChristism]

That's.... that's the joke...

[@ORam...]

@@CraigChristism I thought I was the only one thinking that.

[@lydialillico7596]

Very funny

[@saaketh83]

One of the best written sketches of all time

[@alvexok5523]

Yeah, lol, it is funny

[@MundiaKamau]

I agree. Brilliant skit. Regards, Michael M Kamau, Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa, 29th November 2023.

[@charliecili]

@@MundiaKamauyou don’t have to sign off every comment.

[@ftswarbill]

Holy shit that was an amazingly awesome sketch. I think that has to be my most favorite to date.

[@only257]

Bill Randolph it's a great skit😜

[@ftswarbill]

@@only257 HAHAHA crap you are correct!

[@IcelanderUSer]

You’re able to find even an ounce of humor and you call it the best ever. That’s the state of snl. Totally boring and not funny.

[@mrchopsticks3]

Not my favorite, but very good. The late 80s is when SNL was at it's best, even better than the 70s.

[@lino580nunya5]

It’s way up there 😂😂😂

[@verdatum]

This is an unusually clever sketch. It holds up really well.

[@MundiaKamau]

Absolutely.

[@CuriousGoodsJessica]

I still get teary eyed every time I see a Phil Hartman sketch, clip, old Simpsons episode... I loved everything I saw or heard him do and still think of how unfair his kids' lives became that day. I was watching the news and praying it wasn't really happening. 🙏

[@Slop_Dogg]

A true tragedy. He’s forever appreciated & missed.

[@VenusNouveau2005]

nothin' fails like prayer!

[@sdivine13]

​@alexaldrich3997 I dunno, theres always the freak occurrence where they're answered and all ends well, unlike internet atheists who die in their mommies basement

[@angelvillarreal3648]

This is one of the best skits SNL has ever done. So perfect.

[@MundiaKamau]

I agree. Brilliant skit. Regards, Michael M Kamau, Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa, 29th November 2023.

[@joemasters2270]

The late 80s were awesome years for SNL. Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Jon Lovitz, Mike Myers, etc...

[@TheodoreRizzo]

The 90’s were another great line up of comedians as well

[@Blueguitar007]

Back when they didn't stare at que cards the whole time.

[@rastaba4529]

JJWalker exactly

[@elmud]

Cue.

[@lukenel29]

you know I just gotta put it out there, that 3 years of prison time doesn't seem that bad compared to death.

[@Blingchachink]

mark janson yeah

[@AngryTurds]

Sure, if you’re into sodomy! All the sex you can handle. And then some. Then more. So they tell me. 😅

[@uverpro3598]

Naw he’d serve his time in a much more cush Federal prison. But that’s also part of the joke, he flipped over a short term stint (which his friends got him out of anyways) and ended up getting in far worse trouble. So he wasn’t desperate, which makes him more sympathetic, he was just stupid. Which is funny.

[@seangregory1314]

3 years for multiple counts of murder/drug trafficking...I gotta meet your lawyer lol

[@lulzalfest]

@@seangregory1314 originally it was just 3 years for tax evasion.

[@postaffe]

That's the darkest SNL skit I've ever seen, also one of the best

[@kingflappy4827]

Absolutely brilliant the best. SNl i have seen

[@only257]

postaffe agreed but it's funny though 😊

[@admiralman1472]

That was dark to you? Not only that....the darkest?

[@siddhantdash9894]

see the most evil invention by the rock snl

[@josephmitma520]

@@siddhantdash9894 yes!!!

[@Ericwvb2]

This is so good. Just the looks on Danny DeVito's face are amazing.

[@Hashbeast]

That's what I say every time I watch IASIP

[@ReportTheHackers]

back when cast members actually practiced and remembered their lines

[@jumwill1456]

Stop stealing comments😂😂😂

[@alvexok5523]

DeVito was funny, in SNL and in Twins and Ruthless people

[@el34glo59]

Stop it. Devito screwed up like 10 times

[@mydude8731]

Back when snl wasn't so woke

[@ReportTheHackers]

@@mydude8731 Oh man, everywhere snowflakes from both sides vomiting crap from cable news du jour. Left or right, you can all go eat sh1t. If you don’t like something don’t watch it. Spend all your damn time complaining about it like its a team sport. Get a real hobby dipsh1t.

[@truvizion25]

When Angelo breaks out in song, it was too much lol

[@Know_Your_Enemy]

What an absolute MASTER CLASS is COMEDY WRITING!! This Sketch could’ve Very easily been made into a Mob Comedy/Drama Movie!

[@Gynecologist]

Lol. He busts out into full opera and no one bats an eye😂😂😂😂. 3:42

[@realQuestion]

killer slow burn from DeVito in this bit. they'd never try a sketch with this pacing today

[@romanramirez7847]

While I like modern SNL, I do agree. If they did do a sketch like this today, it would suffer from the Mikey Day/Streeter Seidell sketch template of explaining the joke to the audience rather then us figuring it out ourselves.

[@clarklarewjones]

😂😂😂

[@travisolson4556]

This is a good point. I enjoy the sketches of today, but I don't think an audience would sit through a setup, long enough for a good payoff. It seems like comedy today is hit after hit after hit and no setup.

[@smashgarage]

It can actually be perceived as a serious matter if you consider that those mobsters were tipped off about Danny Devito wearing a wire and set him up.

[@williamlancaster5136]

That would have been one heck of a plot twist if the skit had gone on a little longer.

[@curtis3524]

Remember that time you made cat soup for your sweatshop workers in Vietnam?

[@MCWaffles2003-1]

Pepperidge Farm remembers

[@kevinwalter2674]

Guy dies, put him in the soup!

[@bryantcurtis2665]

I found me another Curtis can’t believe it.

[@wvman2374]

hey! a lot of good men died in that sweatshop

[@txjet6]

I was making money hand over foot. Literally!

[@MichelleAnnM]

Gotta love how Phil Hartman starts to sound like Bela Lugosi by the midway point of this sketch.

[@lokisbuddy5165]

That was Classic! But I still miss Phil Hartman, even after all these years :o(. Such a talented comic - Phil was one of the best, wouldn't you all agree?

[@robertcarldecker]

Loki's Buddy totally. Gone too soon😭

[@liama4199]

He’ll always remind me of Houseguest and Jingle all the way. It’s crazy about his wife. I had no idea.

[@TotallyRadical]

He was one of my favorites! The man was a comedic genius. I always think about the time he got into Rap Music on NewsRadio or when he did the Malt Liquor advertisement. 🤣🤣🤣👍RIP

[@bwelb7567]

Loki's Buddy absolutely

[@tonibauer2949]

I just loved him. Was sick when he died so unfairly and prematurely. I think unfrozen caveman lawyer was brilliant, and maybe my fave skits of his.

[@Bolgernow]

This is such a great sketch. The writing & acting are so kick ass!

[@MundiaKamau]

I agree. Brilliant skit. Regards, Michael M Kamau, Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa, 29th November 2023.

[@markmorris76]

Back when SNL was about beibg funny instead of pushing agendas.

[@TotallyRadical]

It still upsets me to this day that Phil Hartman was murdered. Dude was a comedic genius. Had perfect comedic timing. One of my favorite SNL alums. 😢🤣♥️

[@saturnocyrus1873]

You hit the nail on the head. Hartman was brilliant. I even liked HOUSEGUEST that he did with Sinbad. I watch a lot of Joe Rogan who of course worked with Phil on the show News Radio and he has always maintained that Phil was an extremely nice guy in real life. Apparently his marriage was as bad as it could be. Joe has said that woman treated Phil like shit all the time even demeaning him in front of his friends and colleagues to the point of making people uncomfortable.

[@TotallyRadical]

@@saturnocyrus1873 I like Houseguest too! Phil and Sinbad were HILARIOUS. I'm not surprised about his wife. Based on the stuff I read back when it happened she sounded crazy...which I guess you have to be to do the horrible shit she did. RIP Phil 😢♥️

[@phillipmorgenthaler]

Also an amazing voice actor, Troy Mcclour was one of the best Simpsons characters ever

[@tonibauer2949]

I know. It still actually hurts in my gut and makes me tear and angry to think of the unfairness and terrible loss.

[@lulzalfest]

@@Aven-Sharma1991 okay, incel.

[@RobSKIDDY]

Cop with 8 kids.. only unsolved cop murder.. 😆😆😆 Snl was so good back then

[@VoidSurfer9]

Seeing Lovitz & Hartman plus Nealon & Carvey is what I remember as a child. Sadly, no child growing up now will have such fond memories

[@Karlsfrostedtips]

Imagine all the comedy we will never see with Phil Hartman!

[@kari7403]

So true. I'm glad we got what we did from the guy. He certainly left his mark on the comedic world. One can only speculate on what kind of giggles, chuckles, guffaw, and drinks spit from mouths in sudden, unexpected moments of hilarity, that we are missing out on, because of an insane woman. At least he was sleeping when it happened, amd didn't have to suffer the unimaginable terror of seeing his inevitable death. 😣😢 RIP Phil Hartman. It may have been over 21 years since the murder, but you're far from forgotten. Thanks for the laughs.

[@aliarshad3012]

You fucking ignorant cockroach

[@fruitypeebils]

@@aliarshad3012 wait wut

[@feurigerStern]

Classic! Everything rocks with Danny DeVito.

[@dibutler9151]

The GREAT Phil Hartman. RIP.

[@ScottsBranch]

The worse wire tap ever...... poor Angelo