Posted on 12/06/2022 12:44:01 PM PST by nickcarraway
On Oct. 12, 1991, Kirstie Alley hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time. The experience included a sketch she’d later describe as the “most fun that I’ve ever had acting.”
Alley’s star was soaring at the time. She’d joined the cast of the hit sitcom Cheers in 1987, playing Rebecca Howe, the foil to Ted Danson’s Sam Malone. Her 1989 film Look Who’s Talking was a massive box office success, cementing Alley as a Hollywood A-lister. The actress’ SNL hosting duties got off to a strong start. The opening monologue featured surprise appearances by Cheers castmates Danson, Woody Harrelson, George Wendt and Kelsey Grammer, all of whom joined Alley in singing the sitcom’s beloved theme song. Still, the highlight of the night was yet to come.
After a fake commercial for Lonely Choice frozen dinners, the second sketch of the show was “Il Cantore.” In the scene, Alley and Kevin Nealon play a couple enjoying a night out at an Italian restaurant. The waitstaff - played by Dana Carvey, Rob Schneider, Chris Farley and Adam Sandler - are increasingly over-amorous with Alley, kissing, rubbing and even licking her.
“This is ridiculous. They’re groping all over you,” Nealon says at one point. “Oh, honey. It’s just their custom,” Alley responds. “People in Europe are just a lot more open than we are.”
The restaurant workers continue fawning over Alley, eventually serving food while wearing almost nothing. At this point, Nealon finally has enough and storms out, pulling his date along with him.
Throughout the increasingly ridiculous sketch, Alley managed to keep a straight face, impressive considering the absurdity of what was happening to her.
Decades after it aired, the actress tweeted that “Il Cantore” "was very fun to do, but I must say that probably the only person in the world that I would’ve let lick my face like that was either one of my children or Dana Carvey.” In a separate tweet, Alley referred to the sketch as the “‘most fun that I’ve ever had acting.”
Following Alley’s death on Monday, several of her “Il Cantore” castmates honored the departed star.
Schneider remembered the sketch as his “fondest memory of my time on Saturday Night Live,” describing Alley as having “natural timing and a bawdy sense of humor.” Meanwhile, Sandler described Alley as an “absolutely funny, sweet human being.”
Back when SNL could still occasionally be funny.
I remember that sketch when it first aired. SNL used to employ some funny people.
Agreed. Great cast with actual conservatives (Sandler, Spade, etc).
This skit was over the top outrageous and I’m not sure how they got away with it.
#metoo.
Soon, Biden will claim he once did an Italian restaurant skit on Saturday Night live.
I just saw it, and it was a bit uncomfortable. I have watched Italian men do the kissing thing a few too many times on attractive women.
Is kissing three times considered “not horny-induced” in their culture?
I didn’t know she died. I liked her and she was gorgeous back in the day.
I saw Dana Carvey at a private event the day Trump was inaugurated. His show was very political yet incredibly funny. He didn’t cut, he just made fun of quirks of many politicians. While he didn’t outright say anything, I got the idea he leans to the right.
Best comedian I’ve ever seen
🤣 that was hilarious!! How she played it straight is beyond me...she really was a pro.
I had forgotten that SNL used to be funny.
Bellissimo.
Ah, when it was a comedy show before they went full blown not funny leftist activist
Long time ago, in a country far far away, I was greeted by a male officer of the host country who kissed me on both cheeks.
They don’t brief you on those kinds of things.
Didn’t know what to do, hit him or kiss him back.
5.56mm
“While he didn’t outright say anything, I got the idea he leans to the right.”
Well, he sent his son to Notre Dame, so I think he’s probably a traditional Catholic kind of guy, if not an outright conservative.
Too bad Notre Dame isn’t.
Yeah, it’s been going downhill for a while but it wasn’t quite as bad when Carvey’s kid was going there, I think around the early 2000s.
I went to a Jesuit high school. They are constantly asking for money. They have never and will never get a penny from mee
"Ah, when it was a comedy show before they went full blown not funny leftist activist" Yep, and throw in Phil Hartman. The early to mid 1990's was the best years of SNL IMO.
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