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Ernestine Tomlin.

Started by Kenny C, June 24, 2011, 04:22:58 PM

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Kenny C

I just Found her on YouTube. I think this is hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON6do9j5SSI&feature=related
In memory of
  Marie B.
1926-2010

deedubya3800


Greg G.

The actress's name was Lily Tomlin, the character was just Ernestine.  Her skits as Ernestine are funny, but she as a person is not. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9KDZ_DLNQo
The idea that a four-year degree is the only path to worthwhile knowledge is insane.
- Mike Row
e

deedubya3800

In this particular one, her character did identify herself as Ernestine Tomlin. ;D

Willytx


Willytx

The video for this uses to be on YouTube, but NBC/Universal must have had it pulled for licensing reasons. So just do the voice in your head as you read along:

"Here at the Phone Company we handle eighty-four billion calls a year. Serving everyone from presidents and kings to scum of the earth. (snort) We realize that every so often you can't get an operator, for no apparent reason your phone goes out of order [snatches plug out of switchboard], or perhaps you get charged for a call you didn't make. We don't care. Watch this [bangs on a switch panel like a cheap piano] just lost Peoria. (snort) You see, this phone system consists of a multibillion-dollar matrix of space-age technology that is so sophisticated, even we can't handle it. But that's your problem, isn't it ? Next time you complain about your phone service, why don't you try using two Dixie cups with a string. We don't care. We don't have to. (snort) We're the Phone Company!"

-- Lily Tomlin from "Saturday Night Live: The First 20 Years" (1994 Cader Company).

bingster

Quote from: Brinybay on June 24, 2011, 05:16:23 PM
The actress's name was Lily Tomlin, the character was just Ernestine.  Her skits as Ernestine are funny, but she as a person is not.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9KDZ_DLNQo

I don't get it.  Nobody in that video is Lily Tomlin.  
= DARRIN =



Willytx

Quote from: bingster on June 27, 2011, 02:09:54 AM
Quote from: Brinybay on June 24, 2011, 05:16:23 PM
The actress's name was Lily Tomlin, the character was just Ernestine.  Her skits as Ernestine are funny, but she as a person is not.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9KDZ_DLNQo

I don't get it.  Nobody in that video is Lily Tomlin.  


I think it is a dramatic reading of this incident:

http://youtu.be/A8NztyYiFxQ

Greg G.

Quote from: bingster on June 27, 2011, 02:09:54 AM
Quote from: Brinybay on June 24, 2011, 05:16:23 PM
The actress's name was Lily Tomlin, the character was just Ernestine.  Her skits as Ernestine are funny, but she as a person is not.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9KDZ_DLNQo

I don't get it.  Nobody in that video is Lily Tomlin.  


You're right.  Apparently it's a re-enactment of this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMVILMo1Cq0&feature=related.

Why they would want to re-enact adults acting like 2yos have temper tantrums is beyond me.
The idea that a four-year degree is the only path to worthwhile knowledge is insane.
- Mike Row
e

Dennis Markham

Those operator routines by Lilly Tomlin were from the 60's variety show called Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in (for those of you too young to remember).  I don't think they were part of Saturday Night Live skits. 

jsowers

Dennis, what Willy first posted was a commercial parody Lily Tomlin did when she was guest host on Saturday Night Live on Season 2, Episode 1. She was dressed as Ernestine the operator. I remember seeing it and the full transcript is here. She pushes a button and says "We just lost Peoria."  :)

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/76/76aphonecompany.phtml

It was a parody of the Bell System commercials from the era that bragged about their technology advances, etc. This was pre-divestiture, from 9-18-76.

What I always loved from Laugh-In was the way Ernestine used to mangle names, like operators sometimes did. She would ask "is this the party to whom I am speaking" and then address him as "Mr. Veedol" or "Mr. Fubbuckley." Those were Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley. Lily had a hand in writing those scripts and they were often topical and very funny. And yes, 90% of Ernestine was from Laugh-In. Lily also had a few records with Ernestine on them. I have one.
Jonathan

Willytx


Here it is, NBC/Universal pulled everything from You Tube so it would only be on their Hulu.com site.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/4163/saturday-night-live-ernestine

And yes, I do know the difference between Laugh-in and Saturday Night Live. I just didn't realize Lily Tomlin did SNL in 1976. I need to go like down.

Dennis Markham

Quote from: Willytx on June 28, 2011, 12:14:06 PM
And yes, I do know the difference between Laugh-in and Saturday Night Live. I just didn't realize Lily Tomlin did SNL in 1976. I need to go like down.

Sorry Willytx,   I guess I didn't pay close enough attention to the start of the topic.  Thanks Jonathan for pointing that out for me.   :-[

Greg G.

Quote from: Willytx on June 28, 2011, 12:14:06 PM

Here it is, NBC/Universal pulled everything from You Tube so it would only be on their Hulu.com site.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/4163/saturday-night-live-ernestine


I'm old enough to remember her on the old Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In show.  I liked her skits as Ernestine.  But I never cared for the "comedy" team of Dan Rowan & Dick Martin. 
The idea that a four-year degree is the only path to worthwhile knowledge is insane.
- Mike Row
e

AE_Collector

Say "Goodnight" Dick ....