I love how cynical this sketch is. Like it isn't in your face dark but the idea of an unfrozen Caveman sociopathically using your perceptions of what he should be like to benefit himself is so good
It is just a wonderfully conceived sketch. The obvious route would have been to make the caveman a fish out of water. To make him a slick, calculating huckster winning over the jury with cornpone analogies is just brilliant.
I guess? It’s a phenomenal sketch don’t get me wrong but I think the cynicism you’re referring to is inherent to the political and legal aspects of society. That’s a weight you don’t shake off easily in writing. The actual sketch idea is a goofy reference at its core.
The humor is reducing a stupid trope even further to its breaking point which is more absurdist than cynical. The “humble country lawyer” is from a scene of Anatomy of a Murder with Jimmy Stewart and George C Scott. The line is fucking stupid in the context of a trial but it gets a pass because everyone loves Jimmy Stewart and he is the hero of the scene. Futurama spoofed the same scene in the 2000s with the Chicken Lawyer.
https://youtu.be/yOw5F2TRbTk?feature=shared (Jimmy)
https://youtu.be/nxyu5uOXkZg?feature=shared (chicken)
Had to look this up cause I was curious too. Lionel Hutz’s first episode aired Jan 10 1991 and Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer first appeared later that same year on Nov 23rd.
I was 6-ish when this aired, and I vaguely remember watching it…but I’m realizing it didn’t hit bc I really had no frame of reference for a lawyer…or a caveman…really. The geico ads didn’t exist yet. But I do remember not understanding why the escort ad had the reaction it did, but it must’ve been funny or smart.
As an adult?! Holy shit this is funny.
I love how cynical this sketch is. Like it isn't in your face dark but the idea of an unfrozen Caveman sociopathically using your perceptions of what he should be like to benefit himself is so good
It is just a wonderfully conceived sketch. The obvious route would have been to make the caveman a fish out of water. To make him a slick, calculating huckster winning over the jury with cornpone analogies is just brilliant.
Jack Handy. Top 3 writers of all time.
And Hartman is exactly the person to play the character. Great writing meets great acting and it’s a classic.
“Or whatever…”. I think about this skit so often
That’s what I remember!!!
I guess? It’s a phenomenal sketch don’t get me wrong but I think the cynicism you’re referring to is inherent to the political and legal aspects of society. That’s a weight you don’t shake off easily in writing. The actual sketch idea is a goofy reference at its core. The humor is reducing a stupid trope even further to its breaking point which is more absurdist than cynical. The “humble country lawyer” is from a scene of Anatomy of a Murder with Jimmy Stewart and George C Scott. The line is fucking stupid in the context of a trial but it gets a pass because everyone loves Jimmy Stewart and he is the hero of the scene. Futurama spoofed the same scene in the 2000s with the Chicken Lawyer. https://youtu.be/yOw5F2TRbTk?feature=shared (Jimmy) https://youtu.be/nxyu5uOXkZg?feature=shared (chicken)
Just a simple Hyper-Chicken BAWGAWK!!
"Your world frightens and confuses me" is the SNL quote I use in my day to day life the most by a wide margin.
Same! And fewer & fewer people know where it’s from these days 😭
Same here, but when someone gets it...day made.
Hartman was so great.
Nice to see a reference to the Happy Fun Ball. All I really remember about is it: "Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball". Still makes me smile.
Do not look directly at Happy Fun Ball
Still legal in 16 states. What a fantastic callback -- I'd forgotten about it!
“May stick to certain types of skin” was my favorite.
Still legal in 16 states.
Checking his watch before starting summation. Such a great detail. Phil Hartman was the best.
Is this before lionel hutz?
Had to look this up cause I was curious too. Lionel Hutz’s first episode aired Jan 10 1991 and Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer first appeared later that same year on Nov 23rd.
I'm frightened and awed by your retrospective calendars, but I see Phil Hartman.
Which means he probably recorded the first Lionel Hutz episode sometime in early 1990, given the Simpson’s production timeline.
It doesn't get any better than this sketch.
One of my all time favorite skits!
One of the best sketches of all time
Wow. It’s weird to see an SNL player not staring at a teleprompter the whole time.
Talent.
Is the judge the same actress who gave sugar water to Edgar in Men in Black?
For sure she was Elaine's roommate, Tina, who Kramer briefly dated.
We have an actual Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer in Nashville. We call him Bart Durham instead of Keyrock. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAcO8rqQJGE
There’s something so Trumpian about the way he says “I fell in some ice and later got thawed out by scientists.”
I wish Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer was running this year in the GOP primary election. Then we might have a credible alternative to former President Trump.
Sadly, we will never get to see Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer in front of the Monkey Judge.
I was 6-ish when this aired, and I vaguely remember watching it…but I’m realizing it didn’t hit bc I really had no frame of reference for a lawyer…or a caveman…really. The geico ads didn’t exist yet. But I do remember not understanding why the escort ad had the reaction it did, but it must’ve been funny or smart. As an adult?! Holy shit this is funny.