1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: This episode contains content that may be disturbing to some listeners. 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: Please check the show notes for more information. 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:24,760 Speaker 2: Disgraceland is a production of Double Elvis. This is the 4 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 2: story of a larger than life comedian, of wild behavior 5 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,480 Speaker 2: by that larger than life comedian. It's about a torched home, 6 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 2: a binge with playboy bunnies, lots of drugs. It's a 7 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 2: story about Chris Farley and has hell bent desire to 8 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 2: burn as hard as his hero John Belushi. Two comedians 9 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:52,559 Speaker 2: who behaved more like rock stars. Rock stars who of 10 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 2: course would have made great music. Unlike that music I've 11 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 2: played few at the top of the show, wasn't great music? 12 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 2: That was a preset loop from my mellotron called Dead 13 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 2: before Christmas MK one. I played you that loop because 14 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 2: I can't afford the rights to Candle in the Wind 15 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 2: by Elton John. And why would I play you that 16 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 2: specific slice of recycled tribute cheese? Could I afford it? 17 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 2: Because that was the number one song in America on 18 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 2: December eighteenth, nineteen ninety seven, And that was the day 19 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 2: one of the greatest comics we've ever seen, Chris Farley, died. 20 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: Just the age of thirty three. 21 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: On this episode, Torch homes binging with playboy bunnies, burning 22 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 2: out like Belushi and one of the greatest to ever 23 00:01:47,440 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 2: do it, Chris Farley. I'm Jake Brennan in this this Disgraceland. 24 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 2: Chris Farley lined up at the fourteen yard line at 25 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 2: Chicago's Soldier Field. His castmates stood watching along with sixty 26 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 2: one thousand screaming Bears fans. It was freezing December doesn't 27 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 2: fuck around in Chicago, but Farley was sweating and just 28 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 2: his flannel shirt and his Bear's starter jacket. The Walrus 29 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 2: mustache plastered to his upper lip for the pregame show 30 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 2: was beginning to peel off, and his aviator's sunglasses had 31 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 2: fogged up. The center waited for Farley to give the 32 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 2: signal to snap the ball, but Farley wasn't ready. 33 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: He had to come up with the bit first. 34 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 2: Chris Farley was at the game and character as one 35 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 2: of the super Fans, a Saturday Night Live sketch about 36 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 2: a Chicago sports show that was a huge hit in 37 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 2: the Whitney City, Such a huge hit that Farley and 38 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 2: the others have been invited to do a pregame and 39 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 2: halftime commentary for an actual Bears game. In character, they 40 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 2: were emceeing the halftime point after kick contests along with 41 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 2: the Bear's regular announcer, when the announcer turned to Farley. 42 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 1: And said, Hey, why don't you give it a try. 43 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 2: Farley's background was an improv a comedy world where you 44 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 2: didn't say no, you said yes, and that's what the 45 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 2: improv gurus taught you. 46 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: Yes. 47 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 2: And before the other guys could respond, Farley said they 48 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 2: were in. Down on the field, Farley, beer in hand, 49 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 2: finally gave the signal. The center snapped the ball. Farley 50 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:43,119 Speaker 2: barrowed forward. 51 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: A massive momentum. 52 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 2: As he approached the ball, he tripped, landed flat on 53 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 2: his face. His body kept going. He slid across the 54 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 2: frost lick turf, his beer spilled, his aviators hung on 55 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 2: to his nose for dear life, and the crowd at 56 00:03:55,600 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 2: Soldier Field lost their shit. Farley's castmates realized they'd fucked 57 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 2: up when they let him go first. You didn't want 58 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 2: to follow Chris Farley. You didn't want to follow Chris 59 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 2: Farley on stage, and he sure shit didn't want to 60 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 2: follow Chris Farley to a second bar or a third 61 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 2: or God help you to. 62 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 1: An after party. 63 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 2: The first hour of drinking with Chris Farley was fun, 64 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:20,679 Speaker 2: and the second hour was the best hour of your life, 65 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 2: and the rest of the night was pure hell. Farley 66 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 2: hoisted beers at the game and the super fans went 67 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 2: out to dinner afterwards, where Farley packed away food and 68 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: tossed back liquor. He begged the guys to hit another bar. Instead, 69 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 2: they got in a cat with him and drove him 70 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 2: back to his hotel, and they walked him up to 71 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 2: his room told him to sleep it off tomorrow they 72 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 2: were flying back to New York. Tomorrow was the start 73 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,599 Speaker 2: of another week at SNL, and they figured that was 74 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 2: the end of Farley's night. But Chris Farley had plenty 75 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 2: of other friends at Chicago, friends from his days with 76 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,799 Speaker 2: the Second City Comedy. True, he got ahold of another 77 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 2: improvt and convinced her to meet him out at a 78 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 2: bar nearby. She didn't know what kind of mileage Farley 79 00:04:57,760 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 2: had put in that night, but she clocked it quick. 80 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 2: It wasn't long before she took Farley back to his 81 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 2: hotel for the second time that night and tried to 82 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 2: put him to bed. She didn't want to leave him alone, 83 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 2: but she didn't want to stick around either. Chris Farley 84 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 2: ripped into the minibar nips of liquor went down his 85 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:15,840 Speaker 2: throat like Godzilla, snacking on fleeing civilians, and his friend 86 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,679 Speaker 2: suggested he slowed down. But when she looked at Farley, 87 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 2: she didn't see the affable goofball who was the darling 88 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 2: of Second City in snl audiences. She saw an animal 89 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 2: couldn't get enough booze, enough food, enough sex. Chris Farley 90 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: put his head down like a raging bull and charged 91 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 2: at her with all the speed and momentum he put 92 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 2: into running at the football at Soldier Field. 93 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 1: This was no bit. 94 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:41,919 Speaker 2: She jumped out of the way as Farley kept going. 95 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 2: His legs smacked into a waste tied radiator in front 96 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 2: of a picture window that stretched up to the hotel 97 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 2: room ceiling. His upper body kept going, crashing straight through 98 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:53,840 Speaker 2: the plate glass window. Farley hung there like a rag doll, 99 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 2: dangling over a fifteen story drop blood and broken glasses everywhere. 100 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 2: His friend stood there and shot. Farley teetered on the 101 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 2: radiator before pushing himself back into the room. He looked around, dazed. 102 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 2: His shirt was drenched in blood, his arms sliced open 103 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 2: from shoulder to wrist. His friend screamed. Farley apologized, even 104 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 2: if he was too drunk to know what he was 105 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 2: apologizing for. His friend rang the front desk call an ambulance. 106 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 2: Then she threw her arms around Farley and struggled to 107 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 2: get him down to the lobby, where she assumed help 108 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 2: would be waiting. 109 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 1: But it wasn't. 110 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 2: No one had called anyone, if no one had done anything, 111 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 2: and with Farley hanging on her shoulder, she struggled to 112 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 2: make her way outside and held a cab Northwestern Hospital 113 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 2: emergency Room. A cabby could live his whole life waiting 114 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 2: for the moment he gets to be the hero, and 115 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 2: this driver stepped up. He swerved and sped through Chicago 116 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:47,280 Speaker 2: streets like he was driving a getaway car with hell 117 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:47,919 Speaker 2: on his tail. 118 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:49,600 Speaker 1: A block for the hospital. 119 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 2: Faced with the one way going the wrong way, the 120 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 2: cabby said fuck it. He shot through and skid it 121 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 2: up next to the curb in front of the emergency room. 122 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 2: They rushed Farley upstairs. He was still drunk, drunk enough 123 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,479 Speaker 2: to lift the flap a skin on his arm and 124 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 2: peer into the gash. But once they had him settled in. 125 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:07,599 Speaker 2: Orderly came by to check on him. He recognized Farley 126 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 2: right away. Shit is not the guy from Saturday Night Live. 127 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 2: It was Farley's friend. 128 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: Confirmed. 129 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 2: And you got to keep it quiet, absolutely, said the Orderly, 130 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 2: And he did, because in Chicago people looked out for 131 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 2: Chris Farley. Word of the incident never made it back 132 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 2: to New York or to Lauren Michaels, Farley's boss, but 133 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 2: it put a scare into Chris Farley, a scare big 134 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 2: enough that he kept clean for the weeks that followed. 135 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 2: When the crew had Saturday Night Live began to put 136 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 2: together their annual Christmas episode, Farley was still clean and 137 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 2: his Chicago's secret was still safe. He pitched a sketch 138 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 2: at the writer's meeting, which was rare. Farley was more 139 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: of a performer people wrote for him. Everyone liked the sketch, 140 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 2: but Farley was convinced it would flop. All anyone wanted 141 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 2: from him was to see the fat guy fall down. 142 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 2: He sulked the rest of the meeting, and when they 143 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 2: took a break, walked out of thirty Rock, hailed a cab, 144 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 2: and checked up the Hell's Kitchen to score some heroin 145 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 2: the new guys at SNL that year, Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, 146 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 2: Chris Rock and David Spade didn't get their own offices. 147 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 2: They were paired off. Spade found the drugs in Farley's desk, 148 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 2: little bags of white powder. Spade wasn't even much of 149 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 2: a drinker. He didn't know what the bags were, but 150 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 2: he knew it was shit. They shouldn't be in the office. 151 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 2: He called Farley out. Farley was high, I dare that 152 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 2: snarky little pipsqueak tell him what to do, and told 153 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,319 Speaker 2: Spade to get the fuck out of their office. Spade 154 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 2: thought Sama could talk Farley down, but Samla got the 155 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 2: same reaction. They didn't have a choice and they had 156 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:41,959 Speaker 2: to go tell the boss. Laura Michaels was torn up. 157 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 2: He loved Chris Farley. Everybody loved Chris Farley, but Michaels 158 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:47,439 Speaker 2: was the one who discovered him on a stage in 159 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 2: Chicago and brought her to New York. Just like Spade 160 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 2: and Sadler, Laura Michaels didn't have any choice. They're going 161 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 2: to have to fire him. After all, he had already 162 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,599 Speaker 2: done the fat guy and the bodybag routine once in 163 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 2: He wasn't going to do that ever again. Chris Farley 164 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 2: had two approaches when it came to girls. One was 165 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 2: the aw shuck's routine, where he scuffed his shoe on 166 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 2: the ground and said, gee, you sure are pretty until 167 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:44,479 Speaker 2: the girls decided he was a sweet teddy. 168 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 1: Bear they wanted to take home. 169 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 2: And the other approach was to make them laugh. But 170 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 2: Chris Farley didn't always know where the line was, so 171 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 2: when he had a crush on a girl down the 172 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 2: block from his house at Marquette University, he decided a 173 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 2: prank was the way into her heart. Farley's house was 174 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 2: a scene out of animal House. It was infested with rats, 175 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 2: It reeked of stale beer. Farley's room was disgusting, even 176 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 2: by the standards of the rest of the place. If 177 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 2: you saw a rat outside Farley's room, it was probably 178 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 2: on its way to Farley's room. His housemates put him 179 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 2: by the bathroom, knowing sometimes Farley was too lazy to 180 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 2: leave his room to take a piss, even proximity to 181 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 2: the john didn't do the trick. 182 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 1: Farley pissed in jars. 183 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 2: And emptied them when he was feeling up to it, 184 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 2: But anyway that crushed down the block. She'd been to 185 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 2: parties at Farley's house, and she wasn't impressed When the 186 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,199 Speaker 2: shy got bit didn't pan out, Farley decided to get 187 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 2: her attention with a joke, specifically a cherry bomb left 188 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 2: on the windowsill of the house where she and her 189 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 2: friends lived. If you know anything about cherry bombs, which 190 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 2: Farley apparently didn't, you know, they don't just smoke, They 191 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 2: spit sparks, and the sparks make the cherry bomb spin 192 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 2: spin right off the windowsill onto the couch, which caught 193 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 2: fire and took half the house along with it. Thankfully, 194 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,719 Speaker 2: no one was hurt, but Farley freaked the fuck out. 195 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 2: He fled Wisconsin, skipping out for Illinois until the cops 196 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:07,680 Speaker 2: agreed to let him off with a charge of dangerous 197 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 2: use of firearms and a light fine. But the incident 198 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 2: met Chris Farley couldn't graduate. It didn't tear him up 199 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 2: too bad, though. In addition to not being much of 200 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 2: a ladies man, Farley was less than an all star student. 201 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 2: His friend said there was only one book he ever 202 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 2: finished at college, Wired by Bob Woodward, the tawdry biography 203 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 2: of comedian John Belushi, Farley's inability to know where the 204 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 2: lines were would dog him his whole life, or whether 205 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 2: it was booze, or drugs or women. In his first 206 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 2: season on Saturday Night Live, working the Teddy Bear angle 207 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 2: got him accused of groping an extra in a sketch. 208 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:45,679 Speaker 2: It was handled in house, and Farley apologized profusely. He 209 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:49,319 Speaker 2: was famous for his apologies. The writers at SNL started 210 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 2: referring to the groping as Farley's Fatty Arbuckle incident, a 211 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 2: reference to the portly silent film comedian whose career was 212 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 2: derailed by an arrest for a depraved manslaughter. Our Buckle 213 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 2: was acquitted, but the studios wouldn't touch him for years afterward, 214 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 2: and the writers got Farley amped up about the incident, 215 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 2: convincing him he was going to get served in a 216 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 2: civil suit any day. If a stranger came up to 217 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 2: him on the streets, it was probably a process server 218 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 2: and he should take off running. They even dummied up 219 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 2: a fake subpoena and got one of the Seinfeld writers 220 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 2: to chase Farley down with it out front of thirty Rock. 221 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 2: Farley was so upset that the writers couldn't bring themselves 222 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 2: to tell him the truth for months, and when they did, 223 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:28,679 Speaker 2: they asked what he did with the fake subpoena. Crying, 224 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:29,679 Speaker 2: Farley said. 225 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: He burned it. 226 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 2: None of the writers ever brought up the Fatty Arbuckle 227 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 2: incident again. After the dishonorable discharge from college, Chris Farley 228 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 2: moved home to Madison, Wisconsin. He worked for his dad 229 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 2: in sales and frequented local improv shows. One night, he 230 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 2: got drunk enough to go up to the Troops director 231 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:49,280 Speaker 2: and barely able to stand. He mumbled that he wanted 232 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 2: to audition, and the director told Farley to come to 233 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 2: the rehearsal the next day to try out. Farley showed 234 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 2: up with a case of beer, but he was good 235 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 2: when he was clean, and he kept clean for show 236 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 2: after show, though not so much like when the director 237 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 2: was giving him notes on his performance after a show, 238 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 2: but stopped midway when he realized Farley was guzzling an 239 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 2: entire bottle of rum while they talked. Farley was with 240 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 2: the Troop in Madison for a year before he started disappearing. 241 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: On trips to Chicago. 242 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 2: Everyone knew what was up. Farley was ditching them to 243 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 2: hang out at Second City. The legendary improv troupe that 244 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 2: had launched the careers of Bill Murray, John Candy, Dan Ackroyd, 245 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 2: and of course, John Belushi. Farley eventually got a spot 246 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:30,959 Speaker 2: on Second City's farm team, where he was an instant favorite. 247 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,080 Speaker 2: It wasn't long before he joined Second City's main company. 248 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 2: Most people think of Chris Farley as the fat guy 249 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 2: taking a fall, and he could take a fall like 250 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,560 Speaker 2: nobody else. Chevy Chase, a legendary pratt fall guy in 251 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 2: his day, asked Farley what he used to break his falls. 252 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 2: Farley's answer was shocking. He didn't use anything. He just crashed. 253 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:53,559 Speaker 2: Any comedian will tell you Chris Farley was a master 254 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 2: of physical comedy. He was big, but he was mostly muscle. 255 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 2: He'd been a football player and a competitive swimmer. His 256 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 2: size hid amazing physical dexterity. At a Chicago bar with 257 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 2: the Second City cast, he chatted up some girls, asking 258 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 2: where they worked. But when they asked what Farley did, 259 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 2: he said he was an aerobics instructor. Then the girls 260 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 2: laughed at him. Surely he was kidding. Farley shrugged. It 261 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 2: wasn't the first time girls had laughed at him. He 262 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 2: launched into a perfect backflip sticking the landing. Yeah, you know, 263 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 2: aerobics instructor. Behind him, his castmates were rolling. Farley loved 264 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 2: Second City. He loved Chicago, close enough to home, but 265 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 2: a bigger pond. Eddie loved the idea that he was 266 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 2: walking in the footsteps of his idol. Farley even found 267 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 2: a pair of John Belushi's old boots in the Second 268 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 2: City Theater and wore them non stop for two years until. 269 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: I fell apart. 270 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 2: The Second City gave him the chance to work with 271 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 2: Del Close, a legendary improv director in one of Belushi's mentors. 272 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 2: Close had a simple mantra when he came to comedy, 273 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 2: try to kill the audience. Fucking kill them. I want 274 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 2: you to make them laugh so hard that they vomit 275 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 2: and choke it. As Farley rose through the ranks at 276 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 2: Second City, he kept his appetites under control. On the 277 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 2: rare occasions he showed up for a performance drunk, his 278 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 2: castmates gave him hell. Farley would come back the next 279 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 2: day with those sad eyes and apologize, and all it 280 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 2: would be forgiven. After the shows, though the brakes were off, 281 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 2: he threw chairs around at an afterparty in a drunken rage, 282 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 2: he picked up an entire couch and chucked it across 283 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 2: the room. And there was no talking to him, no 284 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 2: calming him down when he got like this, and you 285 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 2: stayed the fuck out of the way and waited for 286 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 2: the switch to flip back. When Farley finally stopped, he 287 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 2: held a chair over his head. He looked around the 288 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 2: wreckage he created. Then he looked over at his friend 289 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 2: Bob Odenkirk, a fellow Second City cast member, With those sad, 290 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 2: apologetic eyes, Odie said, do you think Beluci's in heaven? 291 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: We'll be right back after this. We're We're, We're. 292 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 2: Chris Farley had been in New York for two days 293 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 2: and he hadn't bothered to call his brother. 294 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 1: This was a bad sign. 295 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 2: Farley knew which people cared about him in New York, 296 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 2: and he also knew which people would let him get 297 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 2: away with shit, the hangers on and the so called friends. 298 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 2: So to his brother, if he hadn't called and meant 299 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 2: that Farley was hanging out with people who wanted to 300 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 2: see him feed his appetites. So Farley's brother showed up 301 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 2: at the hotel, and Farley looked happy to see him. 302 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 2: He apologized for not calling sooner. There was Illumino waiting, 303 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 2: and they were on their way to thirty Rock. 304 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 1: They just had to make one style. 305 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 2: In the limo, Farley introduced his brother to the kid 306 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 2: NBC had assigned to keep him on the straight and narrow. 307 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 2: From the frazzle look on the kid's face and the 308 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 2: manic energy coming off Farley, it clearly wasn't working. Farley 309 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 2: told the driver to take them to one hundred and 310 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 2: tenth Street, a piece of Harlem real estate so notorious 311 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 2: for drugs and prostitution. They wrote a fucking song about it, 312 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 2: and the NBC got protested. But the driver wasn't taking 313 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: orders from some kid. At the address, drugs and women 314 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 2: beckoned from every corner. Farley got out of the car. 315 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 2: This would just take a minute. He disappeared into one 316 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 2: of the buildings. Twenty minutes later, he emerged, his eyes 317 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 2: wide and his gaze sky high, a woman on each charm. 318 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 2: The NBC kid opened the door for them and they 319 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 2: squeezed into the limit between Farley and his brother. The 320 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 2: NBC kid sputtered as the driver took them to thirty Rock. 321 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 2: Farley left the women in the lobby with his brother 322 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 2: while he schmoozed with the younger SNLL cast members. Farley 323 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 2: was a hero to them. They treated him no differently 324 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,399 Speaker 2: than the fans and hangers on who encouraged Farley to 325 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 2: come out for a beer, come upstairs and blow a line, 326 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,639 Speaker 2: and come to the after party. It got so bad 327 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:42,959 Speaker 2: the show's producer called a meeting. If anyone helped Farley, 328 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,679 Speaker 2: if any of you helped Farley get drinks or liquor 329 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 2: or anything, you were going to be a part. 330 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:49,920 Speaker 1: Of helping him die. That was the message. 331 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 2: Farley's brother gave up trying to make small talk with 332 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 2: the women. He bailed, and the next day, Wednesday, he 333 00:17:57,320 --> 00:18:00,639 Speaker 2: showed up at Farley's hotel to stage and intervention. Farley 334 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 2: refused to come down and see him. He put a 335 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 2: do not disturb order on his phone. Chris Farley didn't 336 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 2: know it then, but he would never see his brother again. 337 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 2: Up in Studio eight, h Lauren Michaels was busy trying 338 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:16,439 Speaker 2: to save Chris Farley's life. That was the idea when 339 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:20,199 Speaker 2: he invited Farley back to host Saturday Night Live. It 340 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 2: was nineteen ninety seven, after the box office success of 341 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 2: his Buddy comedy Tommy Boy. Farley left SNL to pursue 342 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:30,440 Speaker 2: his film career, but his most recent two films, Black 343 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 2: Sheet in Beverly Hills Ninja, tanked at the box office. 344 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:37,120 Speaker 2: His struggles with drugs and alcohol were all over the press. 345 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 2: SNL was one of the few things Farley cared about. 346 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:43,719 Speaker 2: When Michaels temporarily fired Farley from the show years earlier 347 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 2: for using heroin, it served as a wake up call. 348 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 2: Farley got clean, stayed clean. He was back on the 349 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:52,679 Speaker 2: show after a few months. But now Michaels was watching 350 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 2: Farley fall apart all over again. He was sure he 351 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:57,440 Speaker 2: could bring him back from the brink if he gave 352 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 2: him a hosting slot. Farley would clean up. Chris Farley 353 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:03,120 Speaker 2: wouldn't dare fuck up an episode of Saturday Night Live. 354 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: It meant too much to him. 355 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,199 Speaker 2: And by Thursday that week, just two days before the 356 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 2: show went live, there were calls to fire Chris Farley 357 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 2: from the hosting gig. It was too late to turn back. Now, 358 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 2: the scripts were written, the sets were built. The Lord 359 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,920 Speaker 2: Michaels refused. Farley would pull it out. Michaels was sure 360 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:21,120 Speaker 2: of it, and if he didn't, the shock of seeing 361 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 2: himself fuck up on live television would scare him back 362 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 2: into rehab. Michaels was willing to take an episode of 363 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,239 Speaker 2: SNL to save Chris Farley's life, but that didn't mean 364 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 2: Laura Michaels didn't call Chris Rock to fly in to 365 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 2: be on hand in case everything. 366 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: Fell apart, which it did. 367 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 2: In the opening sketch, Michael's Tim Meadows and Chevy Chase 368 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 2: debated whether Farley was in any shape to host. Cut 369 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 2: to Farley passed out in a dressing room, drenched and 370 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 2: flopped sweat, his voice a weak croak after an uncomfortable 371 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 2: bit where he groped a younger cast member and eerie 372 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 2: echo of his Fatty Arbuckle incident. Farley burst onto the 373 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 2: stage ally to find they've called in Chris Rock to 374 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:04,439 Speaker 2: host the show. Rock grinned and introduced his friend to 375 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 2: wild applause. Rock stood by as Farley flubbed his lines 376 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 2: into the sad imitation of one of his old bits. 377 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 2: The sketch was cut from reruns, one of only a 378 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 2: handful of SNL sketches erased after they aired live. The 379 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,359 Speaker 2: rest of the show didn't fare much better. Farley missed 380 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 2: more lines he seemed listless after a sketch that required 381 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 2: Farley to perform on an exercise bike. Norm McDonald had 382 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 2: a stretch out weekend update way too long, begging the 383 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 2: audience to laugh at a bomb joke. It helps Farley 384 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 2: have a little rest, Norm smirked at the after party. 385 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 2: Chris Farley sought out Lorm Michaels. I was funny tonight, 386 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:42,640 Speaker 2: I wasn't I boss? Lorm Michaels lied, Yes, you were, 387 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 2: like Michaels predicted. Farley got a wake up call after 388 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:48,919 Speaker 2: the SNL debacle. He tried to keep his shit together. 389 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 2: He was in and out of AA and overeaters. Anonymous, 390 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 2: food and booze were linked for him. If he slipped 391 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 2: up and ate too much, he said fuck it and 392 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 2: fell off the wagon. He hired sobriety guards to just 393 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:02,240 Speaker 2: fallow around and make sure he didn't get drunk. But 394 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 2: everywhere he went people wanted to get drunk and high 395 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:07,439 Speaker 2: with him. They wanted the cartoon version of Chris Farley. 396 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 2: But he couldn't be that guy anymore unless somebody asked, 397 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 2: really nice, Chris Farley was clean the day he ran 398 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 2: into David Spade in a hotel restaurant in la The 399 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,200 Speaker 2: two had a falling out a year earlier when Farley 400 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 2: started dating a girl Spade liked. Farley was trying to 401 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 2: mend fences. 402 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 1: He said they. 403 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:29,200 Speaker 2: Should work together again. All anybody wanted from him was 404 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 2: another Tommy boy. Farley wanted more serious roles, but he 405 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,640 Speaker 2: also needed to work. Work was the only thing keeping 406 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 2: him off the drugs and the booze. Spade was in 407 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 2: a good mood. He couldn't stay. 408 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:41,440 Speaker 1: Mad at Farley. No one could. 409 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 2: Farley sent his sobriety guard to the hall so he 410 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 2: in Spade could talk in private, and the conversation didn't 411 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,199 Speaker 2: get far before a couple of women came over to 412 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 2: the table, not just any women, playboy models doing a 413 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:56,159 Speaker 2: shoot in the hotel. They asked Farley in Spade to 414 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 2: come up and party, and Spade said no, He'd never 415 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 2: been a party guy, not even when he was in 416 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:04,639 Speaker 2: SNL bad Boy. Farley looked at Spade, eyes pleading. They 417 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:06,960 Speaker 2: both looked over to the hallway, where the sobriety guard 418 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 2: checked his watch. 419 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 1: Gone. Spade told him, I can buy you a couple minutes. 420 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,639 Speaker 2: In a surprising burst of speed, Farley was out the 421 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:17,679 Speaker 2: door with the models gone before his keeper noticed. The 422 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:19,399 Speaker 2: sobriety guard came back to the table. 423 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 1: Where is he? 424 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:23,200 Speaker 2: Spade played dumb. I think he went to the bathroom, 425 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 2: which one Spade shrugged. The sobriety guard glared at him, 426 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 2: You fucked this. Spade knew the guy was right, he 427 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 2: didn't know how right, because they couldn't find Chris Farley anywhere. 428 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 2: He wasn't in the hotel, he was gone. The next 429 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 2: day he called his dad from Hawaii. He actually bought 430 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 2: plane tickets for himself and the models and flew off 431 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:46,479 Speaker 2: to Paradise for a blacked out bing, which the lasted 432 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 2: days and cost him thousands. When he woke back up 433 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 2: in Chicago with no memory of where he'd been, Farley 434 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 2: went into rehab, and then he broke out a rehab. 435 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:58,639 Speaker 2: He ended up in a Chicago psych warder, and when 436 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 2: a friend came to see him, he was starting lines 437 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 2: of cocaine off a paper towel rack. The orderlies had 438 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:05,880 Speaker 2: smuggled it in for him. They didn't give a shit 439 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 2: about Farley's health. They wanted The wild Man, the cartoon version. 440 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 2: All anyone wanted from Chris Farley was to see the. 441 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 1: Fat guy fall down. 442 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:39,400 Speaker 2: Nothing says be list celebrity like appearing at a Planet 443 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:44,359 Speaker 2: Hollywood opening in Indianapolis on a Monday night, a tourist 444 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,480 Speaker 2: trap for movie buffs. The chain was launched in nineteen 445 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:51,639 Speaker 2: ninety one by Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Demi Moore, and 446 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:55,960 Speaker 2: Sylvester Stallone, but six years later, in nineteen ninety seven, 447 00:23:56,200 --> 00:24:00,080 Speaker 2: the glips and glamour were long gone. Still, ten one 448 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 2: thousand people waited behind barricades on North Illinois Street, pressed 449 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 2: up against. 450 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: One another in the heat, hoping to catch a glimpse. 451 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 2: Of Hollywood's finest, and they were treated to a harmonica 452 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:13,840 Speaker 2: performance by Bruce Willis aka Bruno for all you fans 453 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 2: of Bruce's short lived Motown Records career free t shirts 454 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:20,800 Speaker 2: handed out by aging rocker Stephen Stills. In the very 455 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 2: public explosion of Chris Farley. Farley was a hit celebrity 456 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 2: pregame party, goofing around with Luke Perry and Stephen Baldwin, 457 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:31,640 Speaker 2: mugging for the cameras in a bright red Planet Hollywood 458 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 2: racing jacket. But by the time he got to the 459 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 2: actual opening, he'd been doing lines of coke and shots 460 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 2: of his fellow celebs for hours, sweating bullets and gack 461 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:43,040 Speaker 2: to the gills. Farley tried his drunken best to give 462 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:45,920 Speaker 2: the crowd what he thought they wanted. He did pratfalls. 463 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,399 Speaker 2: He shouted till he was red in the face, and 464 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 2: as the night wore on, the pratfalls became less scripted 465 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 2: and more accidental. The shouting lost its playful side. Exploitives 466 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:59,400 Speaker 2: crept in along with that mean, violent edge Farley got 467 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:02,239 Speaker 2: in the Depths binge, the crowd was getting what they 468 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:04,720 Speaker 2: came for. But Farley's friends saw the things had gotten 469 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 2: out of control and no one could pull him away. 470 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:08,680 Speaker 1: He was out a fox to give. 471 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 2: He brushed them all off with a line that was 472 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 2: cornier than the Hollywood memorabilia behind glass on the restaurant walls. 473 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,399 Speaker 2: I want to live fast and die young. And the 474 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:21,479 Speaker 2: tabloids heard the whole thing, and they painted a picture 475 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:24,680 Speaker 2: of a star on a suicidal binge, and that embarrassing 476 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 2: performance hosting Saturday Night Live confirmed it. But Farley wasn't 477 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:32,680 Speaker 2: exactly barrowing down the field toward death. He had periods 478 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 2: where he was clean, and he recorded lines for a 479 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 2: new animated feature called Shrek. 480 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's right. 481 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 2: Chris Farley was originally cast to be the voice of Shrek, 482 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:44,879 Speaker 2: long before Mike Myers came on board. The film's title 483 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 2: Ogre was even inspired by Farley, a monster tired of 484 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:50,959 Speaker 2: being type cast for the way he looked. And there 485 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:55,119 Speaker 2: was another project too, Farley's dream project. Earlier that year, 486 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 2: he had a meeting with David Mammon, the legendary Chicago 487 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:01,439 Speaker 2: screenwriter and playwright. Mim had had an idea about a 488 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:05,360 Speaker 2: biopic of Fatty Arbuckle. He wrote the film screenplay for Farley. 489 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 2: It would be the dramatic role Farley had wanted ever 490 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 2: since he left SNL, but the scene had planned Hollywood 491 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 2: in the SNL performance convinced studios that Farley was unhiable. 492 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:17,959 Speaker 2: He had only gotten the voice work on Shrek by 493 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 2: agreeing to be constantly shadowed by a sobriety guard. No 494 00:26:21,359 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 2: one could get an insurance company to underwrite a movie 495 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 2: with such an unreliable star. As nineteen ninety seven wound down, 496 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:31,159 Speaker 2: Farley and the studio reached an agreement they would make 497 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:33,720 Speaker 2: the Fatty Arbuckle film once Farley could prove he'd been 498 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 2: sober for two years. Farley was ready to do it. 499 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:40,160 Speaker 2: This film meant everything to him. New Year's Day, he said, 500 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:45,000 Speaker 2: clean and sober, but first he was entitled to one 501 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 2: more binge. He came home to Chicago in mid December 502 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 2: and spent time with friends. He went to mass, big 503 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:56,360 Speaker 2: Christmas cookies. He even went to an AA meeting. As 504 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:59,159 Speaker 2: the week went on, however, he missed plans with friends. 505 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 2: On Sunday, December fourteenth, he was playing to his audience 506 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 2: in Chicago's bar scene. He did shots with bears, fans, 507 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 2: and frat boys who could quote Tommy Boy in Black 508 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:11,679 Speaker 2: Sheep until last call and wanted to keep partying with 509 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:14,639 Speaker 2: Farley all night. He was scheduled for a haircut with 510 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 2: a friend, but he blew it off. Instead, he did 511 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:21,640 Speaker 2: more shots, tossed back beers, ate massive meals, and let 512 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 2: strippers drape themselves all over him. His real friends called 513 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:28,040 Speaker 2: him up, begging him not to go out. Farley said, okay, 514 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,680 Speaker 2: it'd stay in that night, said he was done, said 515 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 2: he'd see them soon, and he said he was sorry. 516 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:38,000 Speaker 2: On Wednesday morning, after doing coke all night in the 517 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:40,879 Speaker 2: Financial District, Farley was set up with a sex worker 518 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,200 Speaker 2: named Heidi. They smoked crack and snorted heroin at her 519 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:46,919 Speaker 2: place all day. Then they tried to go out to dinner. 520 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 2: Heidi determined Farley was in no shape to eat in 521 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:53,639 Speaker 2: a restaurant anyway, who was hungry? Heidi and Farley went 522 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 2: back to his place in the Hancock Center. The Hancock 523 00:27:57,000 --> 00:28:00,159 Speaker 2: was once a swinging Chicago scene back in the sixties. 524 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:03,320 Speaker 2: Now Farley's neighbors who were too old to care about 525 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 2: his celebrity, and they barely interacted with him except a 526 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 2: bang on the walls when his apartment got too rowdy. 527 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:11,239 Speaker 2: From the decor, Farley's place could have belonged to one 528 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 2: of those formerly swinging senior citizens, like Planet Hollywood. It 529 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 2: was decked out in memorabilia Chicago Bears, Jersey, paintings of clowns, 530 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 2: a picture of Farley and Paul McCartney from the former 531 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:23,920 Speaker 2: Beatles appearance on SNL. 532 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:26,600 Speaker 1: Remember that that was awesome. 533 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 2: Farley hadn't slept in four days. 534 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 1: He and Heide he kept. 535 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 2: Drinking, kept snouting heroin and cocaine, and they argued over 536 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:37,119 Speaker 2: the cost of what had become a twenty four hour session, 537 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,719 Speaker 2: not to mention the cost of the drugs. Heidi got 538 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 2: upset decided to leave Chris stood up to follow her. 539 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 2: He tried to convince her stay, but he collapsed to 540 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 2: his knees, wheezing. He rolled under the floor and Heidi 541 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:51,400 Speaker 2: walked back over. She stood over him as he panted 542 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 2: for breath. Don't leave me, Farley gasped. He passed out. 543 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 2: Heidi slid the watch off Farley's wrist and slipped. 544 00:28:58,720 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 1: It in her pocket. 545 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:02,959 Speaker 2: On her way out, she stopped to leave him. Note 546 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 2: he was so much fun. 547 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: Thanks for a lovely time. 548 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 2: The next day, Chris Farley's body was found dead of 549 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 2: a speedball overdose, just like his hero John Belushi, two 550 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:21,360 Speaker 2: months shy of his thirty fourth birthday, he even managed 551 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 2: to die at the same age. No drugs were found 552 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 2: in Farley's apartment, as far as the press was concerned. Anyway, 553 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:32,520 Speaker 2: Farley's personal assistant was there when the Chicago police searched 554 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 2: the apartment. 555 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 1: How whenever a cop found something. 556 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 2: Illegal, they passed it off to Farley's assistant and just 557 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:44,480 Speaker 2: said here Chicago looked after its own, and Farley belonged to. 558 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:45,240 Speaker 1: The second City. 559 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:50,480 Speaker 2: However, the truth surrounding Chris Farley's cause of death would 560 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:55,040 Speaker 2: ultimately come to light. Another rock star sized comedic talent 561 00:29:55,600 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 2: dead from drugs, just like Belushi, another unfortunate disgrace. I'm 562 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 2: Jake Brennan and this is Disgraceland. All right, guys, hope 563 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:24,800 Speaker 2: you dug this episode. I miss Farley. I think you 564 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:28,200 Speaker 2: guys probably do as well. This week's question of the Week, 565 00:30:28,240 --> 00:30:31,880 Speaker 2: I want to know your favorite SNL performer? Which performer 566 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 2: from which era made you laugh the hardest? How did 567 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:37,080 Speaker 2: you and your friends watch. 568 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: SNL back in the day? Where what were you up to? 569 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:41,840 Speaker 2: Let me know six one seven nine oh six six 570 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:44,040 Speaker 2: six three eight, Leave me a voicemail, send me a 571 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 2: text and let me know. You can also reach me 572 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:49,160 Speaker 2: at disgrace lamdpod as well on Instagram, Facebook, and the X. 573 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 1: Leave a review for the. 574 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 2: Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and win some free merch. 575 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:54,600 Speaker 1: Here comes some credits. 576 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:58,320 Speaker 2: Disgraceland was created by Yours Truly and is produced in 577 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 2: partnership with Double Elvis. Credits for this episode can be 578 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:05,440 Speaker 2: found on the show notes page at disgracelampod dot com. 579 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:08,600 Speaker 2: If you're listening as a Disgraceland All Access member, thank 580 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:11,320 Speaker 2: you for supporting the show. We really appreciate it, and 581 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 2: if not, you can become a member right now. By 582 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:18,360 Speaker 2: going to disgracelampod dot com Slash membership, members can listen 583 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:22,160 Speaker 2: to every episode of Disgraceland ad free. Plus you'll get 584 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:27,000 Speaker 2: one brand new exclusive episode every month, weekly unscripted bonus episodes, 585 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:30,960 Speaker 2: special audio collections, and early access to merchandise and events. 586 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:35,920 Speaker 2: Visit disgracelampod dot com Slash membership for details, rate and 587 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:38,560 Speaker 2: review the show, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, 588 00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 2: and Facebook at disgracelampod and on YouTube at YouTube dot 589 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 2: com slash at Disgracelandpod. 590 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:51,920 Speaker 1: Rock a Rolla, He's ann