Gap Girls
Adam Sandler, David Spade, and Chris Farley dressed as preppy high school/college girls, arguing over pointless things, with Sandler being the timid weepy one, Spade the self-proclaimed leader and meany, and Farley the over-bearing loudmouthed fatty. Sooo many good moments from this SNL sketch. But the one that takes the cake is when Farley starts eating Spade’s fries and Sandler starts whining, “Cindy, can you leave some for us?”, With Spade chiming in, “I thought you were trying to lose weight.” Suddenly, Cindy (Farley) grabs Spade by the throat and bellows in a deep growly voice that only Chris Farley can do, “LAY OFF ME I’M STARVIN’!!”
Few of Farley’s SNL skits are more highly remembered than his duet with Adam Sandler as the Lunch Lady. Sandler is strumming and singing a surprisingly catchy tune (he has a knack for that) about school lunch and the lunch lady. Farley is basically a lunch lady mime, making exaggerated facial expressions and dancing interpretively like only he can do. His girth and overall largeness is strangely complimentary with his fairy-like gracefulness. The whole thing is awesome, and basically, there isn’t a moment when you are dying laughing, but you are smiling and shaking your head the whole time, because…that’s Chris Farley.
El Nino
A lot of stuff Farley did didn’t make sense. Subtelty was not his strength. El Nino was no exception. If you want to see Chris Farley does what he does best in less than twenty seconds, Youtube this. The out-there costume, the boisterousness, the unabashed gloating with full-girth exposure and deep yelling absurdity makes this 15-second sketch a classic.
Fat Guy In A Little Coat
Go ahead. Sing it. No seriously, I know you want to. It’s ok, it’s to the point where people aren’t saying it as much anymore. You’re safe. But for real, this moment in Tommy Boy transcended the big man and the movie itself. Out of all the great Farley moments, this one stands out as the most often remembered, even if it wasn’t actually the funniest. (“Herbie Hancock”, “D PLUS!”, “I wish we had known each other this is a little awkward”, “Tommy want wingy, Tommy like wingy”, and all the scenes when he hasn’t yet discovered the secret of sales are all technically funnier) Every time you put a jacket on that is too small, is this not one of your first reactions? Sing it one more time.
Da Bulls & Da Bears
Farley is Todd in Bill Swerski’s “Super Fans”. Farley stands out as the funniest among everyone on the panel. He burps and pridefully claims it, “Dat was me.” Makes me laugh EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Me and my brothers would mimic line with every belch. The Wisconsin/Michigan/Chicago accent blend with Farley totally works and is hilarious. The best part: “I have a piece of Polish Sausage, lodged in the lining of my heart.” Later on, Farley stounds beating on his chest, “Just havin’ another heart attack…that makes a baker’s dozen fer me.” Top that with a DAAAAAAAA Bulls Da Bulls Da Bulls Da Bulls dance with Michael Jordan, and you have one of the Farley greats.
Without a doubt, the most underrated Farley moment ever. A loaded SNL skit with Mike Myers, Farley, and Baldwin. Farley plays an American touring Japan who unwittingly lands himself on a Japanese game show. He only knows English, and realizes half-way through the game show that wrong answers equals contestants finger’s chopped off. He luckily blurts out made-up Japanese that happens to be the correct answer to spare himself having to cut his own finger off. Unfortunately, he lands in a sticky spot when he thinks he was opening the door to the grand prize, only to find that it’s a standing electric chair. After they clip the current wires to his balls, he blurts out another possible answer. “Kwakisurpineku!” Mike Myers looks to the judges, the answer is wrong by a hair, with Myers correcting him, “Kwa-ki-surpi- PI-ku!” and pulls the lever and electrocutes him. Sooo funny and overlooked.
The Farley and Swayze Chippendale duo is one of the greatest skits of all time. The two are competing for a final spot with Chippendale’s, dancing off to “Everybody’s Workin’ On the Weekend.” (irrationally catchy tune that you sing full-heartedly in the car and you don’t care who is watching) Farley’s fat and Swayze’s abs are the night and day comparison that makes this whole thing funny. I can’t put it into words, you must watch it. Also, Farley was largely unknown at this point in his career. Enter the Chippendale skit and his career is off. This one started it all. It would be number one but there is no way I can, in good consciousne, not put this next moment as number one. I hope you agree.
Unparalleled greatness was met that night in NYC. Foley was Farley, and the union never separated. The motivational speaker who lives in a van down by the river is no doubt the big man’s best character. Hartman, Applegate, and especially Spade, all seasoned SNL vets, had trouble containing themselves throughout the entire skit. Spade had to literally cover his mouth at one point. In the climax, Farley trips and falls (NOT WRITTEN IN THE SCRIPT) onto a coffee table and crushes it under his weight. Legacy. “Dad I can’t see real good is that Bill Shakespeare?” “ Brian, from what I've heard, you're using your paper, not for writin’, but for rollin’ doobies!! You're gonna be doing a lot of doobie-rollin’ when yer livin’ in a van down by the river!” Classic.