Valerie Bertinelli’s Shocking Encounter with Phil Hartman’s SNL Preparation!

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The 50th anniversary celebration of Saturday Night Live didn’t stop with the big homecoming event last month. As the TV schedule for 2025 fills up with an array of upcoming SNL hosts, this milestone year promises to be extraordinary. Reflections on past cast members like the late Phil Hartman are effortlessly brought to mind as a consequence.

Valerie Bertinelli, who previously appeared as a guest star, shared a memorable anecdote about her role on NBC’s late-night classic. In an interview with EW, she reminisced about a sketch titled “Dinner at the Van Halens,” which was part of a 1987 episode. During this skit, Valerie and her then-husband Eddie Van Halen hosted a small dinner party. The preparation for this event, however, proved to be a bit challenging for the comedy legend.

Even though it’s not widely recognized as one of the top SNL clips on the internet, it’s still a humorous skit worth watching if you have a Peacock subscription. In this skit, Hartman and Victoria Jackson played another couple, making it an entertaining piece to find and watch. The creation of this 1987 sketch resulted in this reminiscence from Bertinelli:

I recall Phil Hartman vividly. I adored him. Although his character didn’t require a mention of his name in the script, I found myself saying, “And, Phil,” to which he responded, “No, don’t call me Phil here. My character’s name is [blank].” I remember him gently scolding me, “I’m not Phil here.” It seems odd that this interaction stands out, but it was clear that he was giving his all for that specific skit.

This account of the comedian from Newsradio aligns well with his unique approach to humor. As a member of the Groundlings improv group who made it to Saturday Night Live’s 1986 lineup, Phil Hartman often struck a balance between seriousness and laughter with his characters. Therefore, this reprimand appears fitting for him, as it reflects his style, yet remains moderate in its tone.

After sharing her memories of “Dinner at the Van Halens,” Valerie Bertinelli expressed even greater affection for this skit, with Dana Carvey, Kevin Nealon, and Dennis Miller in the cast. These comedians played the roles of an overly zealous road crew, contributing to the storyline that Bertinelli recalls:

At the dinner gathering we hosted, it was quite amusing to see that instead of conventional waiters and waitresses, Ed’s crew took care of serving the food – a unique twist that perfectly suited our unconventional style.

Over the course of Saturday Night Live’s long history, there have been and will continue to be instances where guests and cast members engage in playful exchanges. These interactions can sometimes result in anecdotes reminiscent of Martin Short’s signature wit, while at other times they offer a peek behind the curtain, revealing how actors like Phil Hartman meticulously maintain their character consistency, as demonstrated by Valerie Bertinelli’s insightful moments.

We haven’t quite reached the finale of this milestone season yet, but many have already expressed their preferred sketch from Season 50 of SNL. This could range from the widely popular Domingo saga to the more recent success like the “Pip” segment featuring Lady Gaga. There’s always something for every viewer on the show. It’s all made possible by long-time performers such as Phil Hartman and special guests like Valerie Bertinelli delivering exceptional performances each week.

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2025-03-10 20:07