Saturday Night Live - The Best of Phil Hartman (1999)

A legend in his own right

Phil Hartman was easily one of the funniest people to be on SNL ever. Why he left to be on the less funnier Newsradio is beyond me. Ususally the best of collections dissapoint me, but I found this to be rather entertaining, You've got Clinton, Sinatra, Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, and the analretentive chef. The 5 second bits were also highly hysterical, im suprised they dont do that more on other SNL best ofs. June 11, 2008

Decent overview of his work

This DVD is certainly very enjoyable. I wish it had more of Phil's Sinatra and Donahue impersonations however. Definitely a buy for any Phil Hartman fan. May 21, 2008

SNL's MVP

4.5 stars

Hartman was a comic genius, period. He was the best supporting actor ever on SNL, hands down, able to take a walk-on in a crappy skit and turn it around with one line. He was also a fabulous impressionist; his Sinatra, Clinton, etc etc are classics.
I agree with the other reviewers here that this is NOT the best stuff he did for the show, but there are a few of his best here, and those alone make this a must.
Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer may be my all-time favorite SNL short; a perfect script and Phil milks it to the hilt.
Lots of other nuggest here; just watching Hartman's face is enough to crack me up even when he's not speaking. He was a true master of comedy.
You may also remember him as Troy McClure, star of such shows as News Radio, but some of his best moments are here.
BUT, many more of his best skits lay in the vaults; there were dozens of great ones and dozens of good ones.
Lorne Michaels should be kicked in the ass for not having a Volume Two out by now.
We miss you, Phil. You made life a lot more fun. September 23, 2007

Could Have Been So Much Better.

Anything with Phil Hartman in it is worth five stars under normal circumstances, but I think they intentionally kept some of his best material off of this DVD just as SNL did with their Will Ferrell edition. There were so many great skits left out here that I just cannot give it five stars. And that is not to say it's a function of time as some of what they left in was rather mediocre.

As for Hartman, there were few more gifted comedians in history. His impressions were masterful and an absolute joy. He had that winning combination of talent and intensity that is possessed by few others. The end of his life was a tragedy as he is one of those rare deceased celebrities who our culture actively misses. He continues to be an inspiration for the general public along with young comedians everywhere. August 3, 2007

Disappointed

I bought the DVD hoping to see one skit -- the funniest one my family had ever seen on SNL. We had it recorded on VHS many MANY years ago and somehow lost it. But we would sit and laugh until we cried watching the skit where Phil played the drill sargeant who came up with nicknames for his new recruits -- "Smiling Laughing Joking Around Man" ... "Man Who Reminds Me Of My Doggie" ... "Hair Head!" I thought for SURE that THE funniest skit in all of SNL history would be on there, but no...it was just a 20 second clip. I was SO disappointed!!

And it was quite surprising to see some of the skits they chose to show in their entirety...They just weren't funny.

On a positive note, there was a serious song and dance number at the very end of the DVD that was so sweet, it brought me to tears. And the bonus featuring Phil's audition was quite interesting. But overall, I don't recommend it.
January 9, 2007

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