Toonces the Driving Cat: Driver's Test - SNL

Toonces' owners (Steve Martin, Victoria Jackson) discover he can drive a car, but not very well. They worry when he goes to take his driver's test with Kevin Nealon. Aired 05/20/89
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[@TheatricsOfTheAbsurd]

SNL Should Bring Back Toonces As A Uber Driver.

[@melissaschwalk2576]

I could see Keenan being the perfect passenger.

[@freddiehall6433]

Hell yes

[@richardnixon2469]

Didn't I see Toomces on a Happy Tree Friends episode or did I dream that?

[@AlisaForestHillsBrigades]

It was the best

[@thebenandfridayshow]

Ha ha ha

[@richardsiciliano7117]

To this day, still one of my all-time favorite SNL skits. So simple, so stupid, so funny.

[@TRJ2241987]

I have no idea if this was written/created by Conan O'Brien or not, but I've always assumed it was. It just feels like it.

[@lsubeastmode]

Mine as well....this was the best SNL era. Mid 90s was 2nd best with Will and Jimmy.

[@jimcharles9705]

First of all, Toonces was a beautiful cat. Second, he had different dads as it went on. I think Steve Martin was his first "dad", then Dana Carvey. Lastly, Toonces was, in real life, one of several cats kept at Radio City (SNL studios) to control the rodent population in the building. Someone on the staff got the idea to use him as Toonces, and a star was born. Not sure how much money Toonces made, nor if his estate still receives residual checks from the old episodes.

[@jedijones]

@@TRJ2241987 No, Jack Handey created him. Mr. Deep Thoughts.

[@GrantTarredus]

@@jimcharles9705 Jesus! Coming from a broken home without knowing who his father was and then being forced into labor at an early age, it’s no wonder the poor guy wasn’t smooth behind the wheel. We should never judge.

[@codergirl1518]

The greatest part about this skit was whenever he crashed, it was always the same cliff footage.

[@TRJ2241987]

Billy Madison had a similar cliff accident scene in it when the O'Doyle family drove over the banana peel, but I'm guessing it was considered too dark in context of the movie and it got cut. I remember the first time I saw the movie as a kid seeing that scene and thinking it looked like the footage of the end of the scene got edited out, years later I realized I was right

[@salsasoul4112]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@RAYTHEONGAMING]

I miss this snl

[@DoveLady]

seriously, they cut that part? omg that was one of the funniest sketches in that movie next to the decathlon 😭

[@spadinnerxylaphone2622]

And they somehow survived.

[@englishlanguagewithnina5965]

RIP Toonces T. My parents named our cat, Toonces. He lived 21 happy years

[@mikelouis9389]

Because you never let him take the wheel.

[@4Namaste]

I had a Toonces, as well!

[@tavern2468]

This is the reason I call my cat toonces. She has the same coloring. She only has her permit for now.

[@tavern2468]

@N1ckstur damn homie. I missed an opportunity.

[@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113]

Are "Purrmits"" Kit-Kat Bar shaped?

[@cincinnatiking8008]

Me too

[@koshar44]

For meow?

[@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113]

@@koshar44 Meow AND Later. Nine Lives, you know. 7.

[@RCaIabraro]

"I assumed he could drive." "Anybody would think that."

[@Dwell_In_Magic_369]

Ahhh, now connecting the dots that “Laser Cats” skits were probably a nod to SNL history. Cool.

[@YoshsWorld]

*I* would

[@chessmentor63]

After the cat passed his test, he opened up "Toonces' School of Driving". You can tell by all the graduates you encounter out on the roads.

[@smokinnplatez1426]

Stupid and not funny

[@winning3329]

Some of toonces graduates are here in san fernando valley.

[@nomadcowatbk]

@@winning3329 and in St Louis

[@ChandlerTingle]

USA#1 !! 😂😂

[@DamnAdriane]

Lots of “Toonces” on the road

[@mertzie31]

This is gold. The cats facial expressions when he drives off the cliff 😂

[@BusyMEOW]

🙀 😲😟

[@CitizenKang]

His little face as he screams always makes me laugh.

[@RoeLuv1]

Definitely my favorite part.

[@RTDavis0503]

The cat screaming cracks me up lol

[@magnumbrown78]

THATS THE FUNNIEST PART!!! 😂😂😂😂

[@veltonmeade1057]

Cracks me up too. My friends and I would laugh and cry at this scene.

[@NobleNobbler]

ikr

[@mrcreosote100]

My favorite part is when Toonces looks back at them as he’s driving off

[@martinez-shaffer]

😂🤣🤣

[@Fluffypro]

As a child I vaguely remember a cat driving people off a cliff... I guess it was real.

[@MrDanty64]

Fluffypro Sounds like "Deep Thoughts" to me.

[@slmeucalesa1]

Daily Affirmations.......lol

[@annabienkowski5072]

Fluffypro OMG SAME

[@leejackson4724]

Fluffypro if your cat offers to drive you anywhere don't take him up on it, this is part of the cats plan for world domination😀

[@richardnixon2469]

Shut Up! You've been binging on Happy Tree Friends way too much today!!!!!!

[@Loverrover]

The look on Toonces face when he crashes!!

[@lucyinthesky4682]

I love it at the end when Toonces screams. It's how I imagine what cats feel like when we drive them to the vet's office.

[@robertjensen1048]

1:40 Pretty sure narrator's voice is Phil Hartman. RIP Phil, you were awesome.

[@jamesanthony8438]

It was. He was part of the cast between '86 and '94.

[@nhmooytis7058]

Yes he was!

[@joantully3989]

It was the great Phil Hartman's voice,.

[@bobdavis4848]

@@joantully3989 "Now that's Sass-yyyy!" R.I.P.

[@007Julie]

Whenever I feel down I come back to this sketch and all it’s right with the world again. Thank you Toonces!!

[@tiedyehobo]

Really? I mean really? When you get back to your senses. Ask Jesus in your life and you'll be saved.

[@j.d.contreras392]

@@tiedyehobo I love Taco Bell too. I also love Wendy's and Arby's with extra Arby's sauce.

[@dlittle39dl]

The same crash scene and that look of in pending "doom" on Toonce's face........priceless....... lmao 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂👍👍👍👍👍

[@jeffmcdermott3193]

I giggle like a schoolgirl every time I see that stock footage as they scream. This is like the David S. Pumpkins sketch - weird on paper but execution that makes it immortal.

[@BMoney8600]

Steve Martin was perfect for this

[@TheNoiseySpectator]

BMoney8600 - I think he thought of this. IDK for certain, but it seems exactly like his style; it is very silly, it involves a pet and an everyday situation that varies in some way, etc.

[@wvman2374]

yeah the whole skit revolves around the "just not very well" line, which is pure Steve Martin style comedy

[@MrBlueSkyof1607]

I thought he was Leslie Nielsen.

[@jS-qt5su]

@@wvman2374 its written by Jack Handy, who was a writing partner of Steve Martin, Steve actually suggested for Lorne to hire him as a writer for SNL.

[@Windupchronic]

I don't know why, but I loved this skit and still talk about it all the time.

[@Saltine_American]

ShadowCat Me too! And I use the name Toonces as a term of endearment for the infants and toddlers I work with. I must sound nuts!

[@nancymesek]

ShadowCat I love these old clips. Takes me back to my teens.

[@LeeGinSing]

Because it's a classic sketch! One of the best. :D

[@larrygarland3728]

It reminds me of Neil Young's Cat (singing) from Howard's show years ago.

[@Loverrover]

me too ! takes me back to Jr High school!

[@rubedogg6969]

Hi I'm Troy McClure and you might remember me from such movies as Toonces the cat that could drive a car!

[@007Julie]

Ruben Delgadillo I totally read your comment in Phil Hartman's voice. RIP. 🙁

[@peacockblue8407]

elmo~ so did i!! 😰

[@dugroz]

@@007Julie - how could you not?!?!

[@jimb.7523]

I'm still looking for a bootleg copy of "Gladys the Groovy Mule."

[@srldwg]

Jim B. Me too!

[@ThisIsKarley]

thank God they finally uploaded this masterpiece. my brothers and i used to watch the hell out of this VHS when we were children at my grandmother's house. we lost that precious gem in hurricane katrina but thank God it's here. now we just need zaptu and mondo.

[@cynthiawhite8868]

Loove THIS SOO MUCH

[@jamesmclean18]

>when we were children at my grandmother's house. we lost that precious gem in hurricane katrina Aw, poor grandma

[@jinglejazz7537]

I have a cat named Toonces, I remember this from 89, hillarious, saw the tv special with him, I call my cat Tooncinator, great mouser

[@AdamSmithChill]

i remember me and my friend watching this at like 5 years old and we couldn't stop laughing for like 15 minutes straight. i thought i was gonna die from laughing so hard.

[@theoriginalspur]

Thanks Space Ice for this classic reference 😂😂😂

[@chomosuke0720]

I see you're a man of culture as well

[@theoriginalspur]

@@chomosuke0720 indeed. Only the finest needs blockbuster hit movies are consumed by my eyes

[@phillymamba2791]

Please bring Toonces back its was too funny 🤣🤣🤣 Especially when he rode off the cliff

[@Praetor_Fenix420]

Fun fact: Toonces did his own stunts! What a great driving cat.

[@YoshsWorld]

i was thinking that he really looked like himself in the crash

[@jameysingletonvideos]

Funny story (I hope) I loved this sketch so much when I was in middle school that I kept asking my teachers if they watched SNL over the weekend to see Toonces. They always said no. We had teams back then, so I had 4 teachers for my main courses, kept asking each one every week. One day while in music -- so not a team class -- one of my teachers, the most serious one we had knocked on the door to the music room and asked if she could see me down the hall. Everyone went "oooohhhh" and I just knew I was in trouble. Didn't know what it was but it didn't look good lol. So I got up and she made me follow her down the hallway, looking stern and mad, not saying a word... she leads me to the science teachers room, which I thought was weird bc she was thr English teacher, it wasnt her room -- where all four of my main teachers were huddled together. They had the TV/VCR unit on. My social studies teacher said, "We just wanted you to know that we're finally Watching Saturday Night Live (one of them made a point to tape it) and Toonces came on, so we paused it so you could watch it with us!" I was so relieved. And to a 7th grader, it was surreal to see your teachers watching anything funny and silly like that. One of my favorite memories. 😍

[@marioncirishioli-cochran2249]

We still crack up watching this and showed our grandkids!! One of the best skits!

[@erictoniaschwab1009]

I haven’t seen this in close to 30 years. I don’t know why it’s hilarious, but it is😀🤣😹

[@okiban1]

No matter what car Toonces drove in a sketch, it was the same damn car taking a header off the cliff. And I loved every sec. of it.

[@haileyshannon7548]

Now, why can't SNL be like this anymore!

[@jheriking5585]

The cats face before he crashes always killed me.

[@teresasmith4529]

OMG, My favorite thing is Toonces " non scream"! When his mouth drops open, it just kills me, too funny!

[@Ameritard]

Did Steve Martin always look the same

[@SecretAgentBartFargo]

Ameritard Yes

[@happydayz7857]

His hair went white at a relatively young age so yeah.

[@lisamurphy4282]

Ameritard even in his 20’s. I remember in 8th grade my Dad finally allowed me and my brother to stay up and watch. (We normally would watch “creature feature”) The first show we saw is still very vivid. I think Sissy Spacek was hosting. When weekend update started-there she was, Rosanne Rosanna Danna. We laughed hysterically. That same year Steve had a massive live album-“wild and crazy guy”-OMG we wore that record out!! Just joyful fun. Funny without being profane. He used a couple of mild dirty words: “Grandpa Bought A Rubber!” Hilarious🤪😆

[@garycobiak5926]

Yuh

[@SweetGinRickey]

If by "the same" you mean totally smoking hot then, yes, he has always looked this gorgeous.

[@juanelorriaga2840]

This is so stupid and silly yet works I love toonces! Brings me back to those great SNL years of my youth

[@angelajohnson4590]

seems like it became a cat tastrophe

[@thecheese4255]

Well, someone had to do it

[@TS-ev1bl]

One might even say cat aclysmic

[@davidfarley7285]

Well, it does give me paws.

[@zsazsastratton]

💜🐾🐾💜

[@willhaslem]

I miss the 80's.

Wasn't this 90s?

[@TS-ev1bl]

@ It was both. It says in the video description that this episode aired 5/20/89, but this was one of the first Toonces episodes, if not THE first. They got a little more "out there" as they went on, such as "The Tooncinator" episode.

[@gimmelmom]

This was 90's

[@bargaintuesday812]

@@gimmelmom Nope.

[@thisclownshadahardday5263]

Fart

[@happydayz7857]

Toonces is so chill up until the last moment and then 😮

[@rhosigma2388]

This was a classic that still makes me laugh. This was definitely Steve's sketch.

[@martinez-shaffer]

Robert Smigel helped, I believe!

[@jjett7422]

i loved all the Toonces skits! LOL.

[@thegood9]

Our all time favorite skit series and SNL character for my wife and I. Watched them all while dating and they always cracked us up!

[@MyNamesHopper]

Classic SNL with one of the best Steve Martin! Alway's loved the Toonces sketches.

[@notetoself5474]

Hahaha what's wrong with me? I was laughing so hard as the car went over the cliff!

[@shawndaheisser3585]

kravin moorhead I know right? I remember laughing just as hard when I seen it on SNL!

[@robertaxel]

I used to laugh out loud at the cat 'screaming'...

[@euphemiarahming]

Me too

[@richardnixon2469]

@@shawndaheisser3585 yes! ....they should have toonces drive John Cena.

[@RM-vf7fl]

And it's always the same crash 😂

[@Jean721]

My husband and I call our cat, Frankie , "Toonces", as his nickname. This cat is a riot, and quite amazing. He steals my Cadi at least twice a week and tools around the neighborhood picking up his feline friends. And...he's never crashed yet!

[@joshgellis3292]

lol. Toonces drives with an expression of competence! 😹👍🏻

[@DavidWonn]

I loved all the Toonces skits when I was a kid. Please bring back the Tooncinator skit too!

[@GregBedard]

I remember watching this when it came out freaking hilarious !I still can't stop laughing !!!!

[@richardnixon2469]

If you are still laughing now go to the doctor!

[@randomheadful7190]

I had to look this up today because I thought of it and just started laughing out loud. I’m sure everyone at work thinks I’m losing it lol.

[@cloud5buster]

Victoria Jackson and Steve Martin are two of my favorites.

[@JulianKlimczyk]

"How does he reach the pedals"

[@sandykimmett2879]

Julian Klimczyk wow never thought of that , he must have wicked long hind legs !

[@aliciasciarrillo1022]

Julian Klimczyk the pedals have been modified

[@roberthernandez782]

Julian Klimczyk cats gotta long tail

[@Razpado66]

Toonces just does! No reason, he just does!

[@banno6938]

With his dick.

[@honey_bee65]

TOONCES was always one of my favs growing up! Thanks for sharing SNL! Keep 'em coming!

[@jedijones]

Jack Handey wrote this sketch. I wonder if it started out as a Deep Thought... "Wouldn't it be amazing if there was a cat who could drive a car? Unless he drove it off a cliff."

[@drk9011]

Toonces and Land Shark were two of my favorite SNL skits as a kid. Mr Bill was pretty funny too.

[@Rob_Kates]

It's funny since it is the same stock footage every time with the car going over the cliff.

[@coolcat6303]

Rob Kates Yep and Toonce’s sure had alot of Rolls Royces. Haha.

[@Razpado66]

That same car crash is what made it funny

[@richardnixon2469]

@@Razpado66 ...how many lives is toonces down to?

[@TS-ev1bl]

@@coolcat6303 It was a 1960s Jaguar. A Mk II, I believe.

[@CamilleNadia]

This was such a stupid skit, but I loved it

[@grasmereguy5116]

If they'd made an SNL movie featuring Toonces, I'd have totally gone to see it in the movie theater.

[@psychoholiday-ju1cp]

I love how the cat SCREAMS IN HORROR (along with the passenger) as it's about to crash into another near-fatal situation

[@ryanhoskins458]

*This is Monty Python level greatness & where'n what would comedy even be without the legendary Steve Martin*

[@keithpurduecroft]

Toonces was my favorite TV cat.

[@southsideman4891]

Mine too. He could drive!

[@e.a.m.6382]

Indeed he was a terrific actor, but my personal favorite remains Top Cat.

[@RickMartinYouTube]

LOL, that's what I was thinking...kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5fZpHyqjb6asM0

[@thatsright4194]

I remember when SNL used to be funny too.

[@kurtbaumann7686]

I remember ask it and when she rode the mechanical bull. I wonder if he crashed it.

[@blueseanomad7435]

I knew what was going to happen, but I still got a laugh. Good writing ladies and gentlemen!

[@bozsongz3652]

I hate to say it, but i think he's working for Uber!

[@jordanthomas7304]

Toonces is dead!

[@thetravelinsagittarian1316]

Lol! 😂

[@chickenwhales]

I get it!!!!!! Uber drivers are funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@richardnixon2469]

@Sound of Jesus No but Jethro Bondine delivers food through Uber....but don't order from him he eats all the food before it's delivered!!!

[@richardnixon2469]

To save money Cash Taxi converts to Uber!

[@maritimus17]

I love the transition from real adorable cat to maniacal looking cat puppet

[@GadgetMsGadget]

IKR 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@RoeLuv1]

Such a smooth transition 🤣😂

[@jimb.7523]

SNL from the late 80s, early 90s was the best!

[@AlexMcGillvrey]

We need more Toonces sketches on the SNL KZbin page.

[@Bakazmann74]

That look on Toonces face every time they about to crash priceless 😂😂😂

[@Isoviaergatis]

Toonces is a serial killer cat! I love Toonces!

[@gilwood7530]

All cats are serial killers...thats why we love them :)

[@jameson6930]

Wow still makes me laugh after all these years.

[@Tragedyking]

one of my favorite pieces because it is just absolute absurdist humor

[@kaptainwarp]

Yeah, and the fake paws on the steering wheel

[@lsubeastmode]

The best days of SNL!

[@powerswish]

There's a cliff right next to the DMV?

[@rivotrich7]

Yeah it’s part of the test....I guess Toonces didn’t pass 🙀

[@fleafrier1]

In California there might be

[@rivotrich7]

Especially the one at Calif highway one (costal highway)

[@PublicCommerce]

Well they're giving a driving test to a cat so clearly their judgement isn't too good.

[@dugroz]

Apparently the same cliff that's near the house where Toonces' family lives.

[@jmag579]

I know they keep a lot of props from back in the day. I wonder if they still have toonces. He should make a comeback. He could be Barbara Dedrews personal driver or something. 🤣🤣 😸🚙

[@TheNoiseySpectator]

Joe Maggi - Absolutely, bring him back once in awhile! 😺👍 Some one else commented that he is probably driving for Uber, that could be a new skit, too.

[@MrDanty64]

wy can't we have it so he's driving for Lyft!!

[@jeanmcgee8603]

Another possibility would be that he's Trump's new driver (because all the human drivers quit)

[@MrDanty64]

@@jeanmcgee8603 maybe...just...maybe..there is a way to nail this dude. Something like an Uber or a Lyft driver....you know its not that far off...things like what we want start that way, its just like Deep Throat said, work from the outside and then go...

[@scvcebc]

I named my Tesla Toonces. It can drive itself, just not very well!

[@lilysogs6965]

this one makes me laugh. Not all Snl skits do that for me

[@jazzybelle2619]

This skit was EVERYTHING to me! 🤣

[@terriok1]

Wonderful kitty! Smart! No so coordinated! LOL! Steve Martin ALWAYS makes me laugh!

[@bestboy138]

It’s against the law in most states to allow your cat to drive a car.

[@naturesfinest4871]

Or your goldfish.

[@l.salisbury1253]

That's species discrimination!

[@richardnixon2469]

. .. WHAT about you mother in law?...is it against the law to let her drive???......???.....

[@richardnixon2469]

Is it against the law in Jamaica to let your cat drive a Uber?

[@germaxicus6670]

In California we will give anyone a license! I'm sure Toonces could vote too!

[@alecaquino4306]

RIP Toonces. You were truly the greatest!

[@marciamorris6626]

Toonces Rocks ! Long live Toonces !! Bring him back ! one if the best skits ever . Also bring back Ed Grimley and his triangle

[@ewizzle2]

Toonces funnier than all current SNL cast members combined 😂

[@greenAbbot]

You are officially old.

[@conniekaye5633]

also the falcon

[@lk5388]

​@@greenAbbotat least he knows comedy

[@gilwood7530]

Victoria was so adorable !

[@soneilrn2623]

My dad brought 5his up last year and we have been making up random sketches where he is a bus driver, driving a boat, a getaway drive and more. Best show ever!

[@johnnyssik]

I taught my cat to drive because of this skit! He still won't pick me at the airport..

[@lilysogs6965]

I have a mug of Toonces the driving cat I got in early 90's from Rockefeller center since SNL is from NBC

[@allysonchen4286]

So jelly

[@thecheese4255]

Whoever made that cat puppet is a freakin’ under appreciated artist!

[@terriok1]

Cheeses, no, that’s no puppet! Toonces is a real kitty!

[@dillasdallas3556]

My dad had a vhs tape that he made a compilation out of these skits and I loved them so much. I have a cat named Tuna, I call him Toonces all the time🖤

[@stevenrichards3699]

Damn ! That Victoria Jackson was a HOTTIE !

[@seananderssohn1871]

Lol... agreed

[@richardnixon2469]

Why do they let a pussy drive for? They should make Silvester the cat teach toonces to drive.

[@misstantrix]

@@davidm.919 I was just going to say that!

[@newera5238]

Real talk...lol

[@89horizon]

1989: Cat who could drive a car 2019: Woman yelling at cat

[@toneloc7910]

Every time, you know how it is going to end, but it is still hilarious.

[@elpp1973]

Today my daughter told me "dad, cats don't know how to drive cars". Now she's been corrected 😁

[@funk3nst3in]

his little eyes at the end. cat squints just crack me up for some reason

[@wolfiethedog76]

My hero: Toonces😻😺

[@JDR501]

I LOVE TOONCES! Thanks for posting!

[@ashleyo5002]

I remember this skit from when i was a child.......My father recorded a bunch of older SNL Shows on VHS tapes, so i was able to see some that i would have otherwise not seen. Im 33 years old so i remember quite a bit, and know pretty much every actor that has been on the show. My favorite cast was with phil hartman and chris farley, so the early 90s to mid 90s. Miss those days.........

[@chuckwilli2]

I used to almost piss myself watching these! 🤣🤣🤣

[@egypt9723]

Love this series 💜 bring it back please 🙏🐈🐾

[@lizwebster1521]

I love Toonces. Bring bach Toonces

[@MadamPrez328]

Toonces screaming is before the fall got me dying :53 The way it shakes it head 😂😂😂

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

The funniest part is the opening shot with an actual cat in the car, it just looks goofy

[@JillcantChill]

im not kidding i swear cross my heart i actually named my cat toonces...

[@foxfire9124]

ikr

[@mikeharbison6727]

me too.

[@jasonholt1853]

Miss you Phil

[@A55563]

He drove off a cliff 8 times and kept coming back for his last cliff dive. He enjoyed a last supper consisting of all the 9 lives favorite tasty meals.

[@theTrend7]

The way this cat looks like its so focused on the road. If an animal could drive it would be a cat .🤣😂🤣😂