Bob Ross - Desert Village Sunset Scene - (2008) 2:50 (The Netherlands)

Am I the only that recalls a 1970's SNL spoof of Bob Ross, where he's some sort of wigged out Vietnam vet who paints stuff in "agent orange" and "napalm yellow"? Yes, I watched way too much late-night TV when I was under five how do you think I got this weird?

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Anonymous Adgrunt's picture
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Allan1's picture

Of course I remember the SNL spoof of Bob Ross. The voice, the attitude was perfect.

I even remember seeing many, many of Bob Ross's shows ("The Joy of Painting"), as his hair shrunk [:-)], and was sorry to hear when he died (1995).

Since I can't currently hear this video, I don't know how close he is to the original. He does have several of the mannerisms down.

[Bob always seemed happy, and, to some, somewhat effeminate. His 2 wives and son might disagree.

Quoting: When asked about his laid-back approach to painting and eternally calm and contented demeanor, he once commented: "I got a letter from somebody here a while back, and they said, 'Bob, everything in your world seems to be happy.' That's for sure. That's why I paint. It's because I can create the kind of world that I want, and I can make this world as happy as I want it. Shoot, if you want bad stuff, watch the news."]

argantil's picture

I've seen the SNL spoof of Bob Ross. Bob Ross is funny without the spoof.

Andreas-Udd's picture

I don't know who Bob Ross is. Clearly, I've been missing out.

RLDavies's picture

"The Joy of Painting" is shown on some satellite TV channel here. The on-screen listings always truncate it to "The Joy of Pain".

Marcus's picture

I've been looking for the SNL skit for years now...does anyone know who played Bob Ross in that Skit?

Vickie L Rugamer's picture

I always thought it was Richard Jeni, but I'm not positive about that.

Debbie's picture

Wasn't it Will Ferrell?

Dabitch's picture

Hahaha, Richard Jeni .. I don't know. I recall this as being on SNL when I was a kid, which puts it in the John Belushi / Chase/ Gilda Radner era. Richard Jeni's "cooking with the Bill the belching gourmet" is quite funny though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymgcsi0mTDA

For the same reason I don't think it's Will Ferrell.

I do know that a Seattle comedy groupd has one a *new* version now, but that was not the one I meant when I wrote the bit to this post.

I'm glad Allan1 recalls the spoof too, and since he's a teensy bit older than me, I believe, we're positive this was in the 1970/80s era.

Cris's picture

Actually, I am currently searching for that skit. That is how I arrived here. Initially, from YouTube searches, I was thinking it was Sam Kinison. Then, I saw many who believed it was from a SNL skit, but that just didn't seem correct to me. Now, I believe it might have been a Robin Williams skit. That perspective feels right to me......but I can not say with absolute certainty.

It kinda looks like a jungle.......
.......................................a jungle

I was in a jungle once.

RobbieM's picture

Richard Jeni - I remember him saying that his painting looked like a happy little jungle- then he says "You know, I was in the jungle once..." He continues to paint. So he paints a happy little villager "Asian yellow" then gets excited as de decides to splash on some Napalm Brown. Soon he's yelling "Die ! Die!" I'd live to find this clip.

Dabitch's picture

Yes I remember the colours. But I don't recall this skit being done by Richard Jeni - if we could only find the skit!

Marc's picture

I don't think this was a skit, I think it was a stand-up. Bill Hicks maybe??

Dabitch's picture

At this point this skit grows ever more mythological. I can't even remember who it might be, but Robin Williams? No, his early standup would always have me howling and know it was him, because he is or rather was quite unmistakable. I would have loved to have seen him do a kit like this though. Actually, I can picture it in my head, he fluctuates between Mrs Doubtfire and Goood Morning Vietnam types.

Britt Crowell's picture

Yes I remember it too and would love to find it. Though it was SNL but wondered if it might have been "In Living Color". If someone finds it, please post a link.

Bill F.'s picture

It's definitely Richard Jeni's stand up routine from the early 90's or so... Ya know pre YouTube, so it's proving difficult to find.

Matt C.'s picture

I remember this clip as well from when I was a kid on the 80's, maybe a teen in the 90's. I just remember it was hilarious. Wound up here searching for it too. I thought it was a stand-up skit done by someone, not SNL. Would love to be able to find it.

Dabitch's picture

It's possible the idea "Bob Ross was a PTSD vietnam vet" hit more than one creative funny-mind, and there's several versions of this out there since so many commenters have brought this up saying that they remember it as a standup.

Still haven't found the skit I remember.

Anonymous Adgrunt's picture

I swear that I remember the same skit! I've been searching all over the internet. I thought it was the SNL Era of John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin and Gilda Radner - but I couldn't figure out who portrayed Bob Ross. I searched the SNL fandom archives and got nothing. I thought that I was going nuts or had dreamt this whole thing. And here I find out THAT I AM NOT ALONE! Thank you!

Now to find who really did that skit.

Dabitch's picture

It's a mystery! Is this like a Madela effect happening? Like the Berenstain/Berenstein Bears and “Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” that actually was “Magic mirror on the wall...” ?

Anonymous Adgrunt's picture

Not at all it was a kinison bit

Dabitch's picture

In 1991, stand-up comedian Joey Kola did a whole bit on Bob Ross. "Remember, there are no mistakes, just happy accidents" , "malaria in the jungle...remember the jungle... I used to be in the jungle, I was in 'Nam. Take a little bit of Asian yellow.... LET'S TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF NAPALM BROWN! etc.

Anonymous Adgrunt's picture

That's the concept but I SWEAR I recall this as a SNL skit with a bad Bob Ross wig and I thought it was an old Sam Kenison bit.

Anonymous Adgrunt's picture

I remember a comedian doing a bit about it in his stand up routine in the 80s, but not an SNL skit.