It can be done, but only THE JO-TEL can do it.

Most people are familiar with the iconic Farrell SNL skit “Get Off the Shed”. It was actually his first ever skit on the show, which makes it the Van Halen of debut skits. It involves a yuppie birthday party that is interrupted by Farrell yelling at his kids to get off the shed. Hilarious. But the skit was marred by the presence of Christine Boranski, who floundered in her attempt match Farrell’s intensity.

Less people know about the Boranski-less follow up though: “Get Back on the Base”. I personally had only seen it once– but its greatness indelibly impressed itself on me. This time Farrell played a yuppie little league dad discussing the topics of the day in the stands with other parents while yelling at his kid to stop leading off from first base. My problem was that the skit was omitted from the Farrell greatest hits collections. Moreover, it was, at least me, un-findable on the internet. When I finally sent out a plea-for-help email a few days ago, Mini-Shark returned with a link to the skit. Props.

First off, the skit is actually “Get on the Bag”, so that might explain why my searches for “Get Back on the Base” turned up so fruitless. Anyway, before I get to the skit– the search for this skit has a history on this blog. Here are the previous posts germane to the skit and it availability issues.

From PETE:

An Open Letter to SNL

Dear Compilers of SNL “Best Of” DVDs,

I am writing this letter to express my disappointment pertaining to some GLARING omissions in my recently purchased “The Best Of Will Ferrell: Volume 2? DVD.

Though I had my problems with Volume 1 assuming it was to stand alone as the only collection of Will Ferrell’s work, my fears were mostly allayed when I heard that a second volume would indeed be forthcoming. Unfortunately however, Volume 2 is total shit. What a disgraceful tribute to the comedic genius of Will Ferrell it must be in which you cannot cull from a brilliant seven season career a second 75 minutes of even remotely amusing material. If you were to show me this DVD, and divulge only that it was a Best Of Will Ferrell, but omit the volume number, I would guess probably volume 26… maybe 28. Only a day departed from my initial viewing I struggle to remember a single funny sketch, save for one in which he emerges from the uterus of Rachel Dratch a full grown 37 year old man (”Doc, could you clamp me off? Lets get the show on the road”) and immediately departs for Atlantic City with Charlie Sheen (gold).

However, my main question is this: how in the FUCK could you make two whole volumes of Will Ferrell: Best Of without including a single “GET OFF THE SHED!!” sketch? It truly boggles the mind. (I also just learned that this was his first EVER SNL sketch,,, you guys really fucked up) Yes… I understand that on the Volume 1 extras you included his original audition for the show in which he does a truncated GOTS performance but this is not sufficient. A full sketch is necessary, perhaps two, as I would consider the seminal “GET BACK ON THE BASE!!” in a class by itself. Instead you present me with an endless string of worthless chaff, in which Mr. Ferrell is coddled by Shaq (hilarious!) or plays a frat boy who informs Colin Quinn the he “rules” (he does not). Pathetic.

I will restrain myself from going further, and only mention that you ALSO failed to include the commercial for Wade Blasingame: Dog Lawyer which should have been played twice, back to back in Volume 1, as well as the Shirtless Bible Salesmen, and the horse glue thing. You are truly a hack, sir and I wish painful sores upon your privates.

Sincerely,

PETE

PS Eat Shit.

From me:

Transvaluation of All Values III
…

#8

Anyone who has comprehensively reviewed our archives this month (…) will notice that the Will Farrell “Crazy Boss Skit” is “no longer available” on Youtube. This is not just a glitch. All SNL material has been systematically removed from Youtube after vigorous protest by Lorn Michaels and SNL. And I’m not writing this to go off on Youtube. I suppose I can understand their financial and ethical justification for caving to SNL. In addition, potential Youtube-directed anger is mitigated by the fact that other, lesser known video sites are now popping up where these types of videos can be seen. Ask Hip E for the names, I don’t know them off the top of my head. I’m writing today to just place some minor, focused vitriol upon SNL. Unlike former diatribes against Apple, whose vitriol I would compare to napalming a North Vietnamese village, the vitriol in this rant against SNL is more aptly compared to lightly kicking someone from behind at the knee joint right when they are putting weight on that joint so that they quickly fall to the ground. Good. Times.

Okay, here’s the deal: the “Crazy Boss Skit” and the “Get Off the Shed”/ “Get Back on the Base” skits ARE NOT included on the Will Farrell Best Of DVD!! PETE has already addressed the insanity of this. My point is this: how the hell am I supposed to be able to watch these skits, if they’re not available on the DVD? Am I supposed to just start watching SNL and hope that a re-run with one of these skits comes on?? I don’t have that kind of time. And I don’t think ANYONE has the kind of time to watch any more that three Jimmy Fallon skits, which is undoubtedly what you would have to do if you wanted to try to find an old classic like “Get Back on the Base”. And as far as I know, complete seasons of SNL are not available, completing SNL’s moratorium on these skits. Please help.

Sincerely,
Get Back on the Base-less in Seattle

And here’s the skit, at long last:

Will Ferrell-get on the bag – Watch more