It was a sketch where several founding fathers, Ben Franklin, Jefferson etc., are brought to the future and say incredibly embarrassing and politically incorrect things like, “…occasionally bedding a negro wench” much to the horror of present day reporters.
I’ve read the info from the SNL Script Database about this episode, but was wondering if video of it exists anywhere? Either YouTube et al. or if it’s included in any SNL compilation DVD?
It’s available via Hulu Plus.
Reporter #3: Yes, uh, this is for Mr. Jefferson. I read somewhere that during the Revolutionary War you avoided serving in the Continental Army.
Jefferson: Yes, I thought I could be of more use in the Virginia legislature.
Reporter #3: Well, then how can you expect the American people to trust you?
Jefferson: I’m Thomas Jefferson.
This was my favorite exchange during the entire skit. Tim Robbins as a perplexed Thomas Jefferson saying “I’m Thomas Jefferson” as if that should explain everything was fantastic.
Hulu Plus has the full episode available, but you have to pay for it. (Well, they never have the full episode; they cut a lot of crap out, especially music for licensing reasons, but sketches should be in there.)
Unfortunately season 18 does not look to be out on DVD yet.
On a related note, if you’ve never seen Mr. Show’s “Founding Fathers” sketch, it’s absolutely worth hunting out simply for Tom Kinney’s amazing, amazing portrayal of Abe Lincoln.
I do remember a Weekend Update segment with --James Madison? – played by female (forget which one), accounted for small size by period undernourishment, was fascinated by the swivel chair, and asked, “I say! Do you know where I could find some lodgings and a whore?!” (Jimmy Fallon muttered an address.)
I’ve always wanted to open a meeting the way Thomas Jefferson did in that sketch:
“Gentlemen! What a bunch of assholes!”
Well, this gave me a reason to finally try Hulu, and color me unimpressed. It works ok, but even after I upped to the paid version there are fucking ads before and during everything! And like, a lot of them. In between the individual SNL sketches there were 30-second ads! Are you kidding me?! For the free version, ok, but even at only $8/month I’m not sitting thru that many ads. Banner ads are fine but not unskippable video.
And to top it all off, they had that Tim Robbins episode of SNL, but it didn’t include the Founding Fathers sketch!! Me thinks maybe the NBC network PC Police want it erased from history, although that would be ironic considering flaming commie-pinko Robbins was in it.
At least they let you cancel without having to friggin’ call them on the phone. Guess I’ll have to just keep searching…
Btw, the way the Fathers come to our time is that Ben Franklin invented a time machine. Ben was played by Phil Hartman.
This has been up since 2006, so I guess there’s a good chance it’ll still be there by the time people try to view it…
Are you sure you got the right episode? I believe Tim Robbins has hosted more than once.
Yeah, the SNL database has pictures and words (but no video). But I do love the face Hartman is making as Franklin!