Valerie Bertinelli Recalls Being Reprimanded by Phil Hartman During anSNLSketch: 'That Sticks Out'

Mar. 15, 2025

Valerie Bertinelli; Phil Hartman.Photo:Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock; Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock; Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Phil Hartmanwasn’t afraid of givingValerie Bertinellisome advice while they were filmingSaturday Night Livetogether in the ’80s.

While speaking toEntertainment Weekly, Bertinelli, 64 — whohosted the NBC show in 1987— recalled working with the late Hartman on a sketch titled “Dinner at the Van Halens.”

The celebrity chef told the outlet of filming the skit, “I remember Phil Hartman. I loved him."

“[The script] didn’t have me say a name [for him], but I was like, ‘And, Phil,’ and he goes, ‘No, don’t call me Phil in this. My character’s name is [blank],'" she remembered.

Valerie Bertinelli and Phil Hartman on ‘SNL’ in 1987.Al Levine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

Al Levine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

Bertinelli noted Hartman’s request straight away, telling the publication, “I’m like, ‘Oh, okay, you have a character name.’ I remember him just reprimanding me like, ‘No, I’m not Phil here.’ I don’t know why that sticks out. He was digging deep for that particular skit."

Elsewhere during herEWinterview, Bertinelli spoke more about her “very funny” sketch with Hartman, telling the outlet, “We’re having a dinner party, and Ed had his roadies there taking care of the dinner instead of waiters and waitresses and being wait staff, which we would never have anyways. It’s like, so not us.”

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Valerie Bertinelli hosts ‘SNL’ in 1987.Al Levine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

Al Levine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

The skit included multiple funny moments, including the roadies shining torches on Bertinelli’s new highlights, answering phones like they were testing microphones, and crouching down in the shadows in the corners waiting for their next move.

“I want to have a personal life, can I please just have a personal life?” Bertinelli screamed at one point in the clip, after telling the roadies it was a dinner, not a concert.

“Sorry, I’ve had a rough day. I think maybe I should just go to bed for the night if you don’t mind,” Bertinelli insisted as the roadies prepped her entrance into the bedroom.

Bertinelli and Van Halen were married from 1981 until 2007. Themusician diedon Oct. 6, 2020, at age 65 from throat cancer.

source: people.com