Wayne's World

This article is about the SNL sketch. For the films based on the sketch, seeWayne's World (film)andWayne's World 2.For other uses, seeWayne's World (disambiguation).

"Wayne's World"was originally a recurring sketch from theNBCtelevision seriesSaturday Night Live.It evolved from a segment "Wayne's Power Minute" (1987) on theCBC TelevisionseriesIt's Only Rock & Roll,as the main character first appeared in that show.A prototype of the Wayne character had appeared several years prior onCITY-TVin Toronto's overnight showCity Limits.TheSaturday Night Livesketch spawned a hit1992 film,its1993 sequel,and several catchphrases which have since entered the pop-culture lexicon. The sketch centered on a localpublic-access televisionprogram inAurora, Illinois,hosted byWayne Campbell(Mike Myers,the same actor from "Wayne's Power Minute" ), an enthusiastic long-hairedmetalhead,and his timid and sometimes high-strung, yet equally metal-loving sidekick and best friend,Garth Algar(Dana Carvey). Wayne lives with his parents and broadcasts his show "live" from the basement of their house every Friday evening at 10:30. The first "Wayne's World" sketch appeared in the 13thSaturday Night Liveepisode of the 1988–1989 season, on February 18, 1989.

Format of sketches

The show would open with Wayne and Garth singing the opening theme, accompanied by Wayne's frenetic strumming of his guitar, and Garth drumming on his lap with drumsticks. The two would introduce themselves (Garth: "Party on, Wayne." Wayne: "Party on, Garth." ) and then proceed into their various exploits, including discussions of their love of hard rock bands and "babes", as well as juvenile antics, such as the "Extreme Close-Up" (where a camera would zoom in on Wayne and Garth as they screamed) and tricking their unsuspecting guests into saying vulgar words. Garth would frequently get overexcited and lose control, upon which Wayne would have to tell him, "Take yourRitalin."

Sketches also often included dream sequences where Wayne and Garth imagine themselves in fantasy settings. The sequences were introduced with Wayne and Garth imitating afade-outby waving their arms in front of them and imitating a commonly used fade-out sound effect accompanied by an excerpt fromGary Wright's "Dream Weaver".Notable dream sequences include Wayne defeatingWayne Gretzkyin a one-on-one hockey game, upon whichJanet Jonesruns to kiss Wayne, and Wayne and Garth meetingMadonnain a spoof of herMadonna: Truth or Darefilm and controversial music video for "Justify My Love".Wayne dares Madonna to make out with him while Garth is seen dancing in a parody of the video.

In the early sketches, Wayne and Garth are high school students, and their guests on the show included their teachers (including one played byEd O'Neill,who would later play a very similar character in both films), and other students from school (such as Nancy, a "babe" played byJan Hooks). Other frequent guests included Garth's father, "Beev" (played byPhil Hartman), so named because of his teeth. He was often ridiculed by Wayne despite the fact that he was married to Hillary Algar (Candice Bergen), whom Wayne considers a babe. In later appearances Wayne and Garth appear to be young adults (although Wayne still lives with his parents—a theme which would carry over to the firstfilm), and their discussions shifted more towards current events and pop-culture phenomena, with the show featuring actual celebrity guests.

A notable sketch featured Wayne and Garth in ajam sessionwith their idols, the rock bandAerosmith,performing an extended, hard rock version of the "Wayne's World" theme song, written by Myers andSNLmusic directorG.E. Smith.Tom Hanksplayed Garth's cousin, Barry, who was an Aerosmithroadiewho checked the microphone and set up the performance. This sketch was listed as moment #1 in the TV specialSaturday Night Live: 101 Most Unforgettable Moments.

Other formats

Mattelreleased aWayne's WorldVCR Board Game in 1992. The game featured a videotape with approximately 30 minutes of new footage recorded of Myers & Carvey as Wayne & Garth.

A video gameloosely based on the first film was released in 1993 forNintendo Entertainment System(NES),Super Nintendo Entertainment System(SNES), NintendoGame Boy,andSega Genesis.There was also a PCpoint and clickadventure.

A "Wayne's World" sketchbook was also sold around the time of the premiere of the first film. It included a mail-in-offer for Wayne's trademark ballcap and showed various celebrities such asElviraandMichael Jordanmodeling the same hat Wayne wore.

"Gawain's Word",a regular segment on the children's educational showBetween the Lions,takes inspiration from both the "Wayne's World" sketch and its theme song. It was also spoofed in the filmStay Tunedwith the sketch "Duane's Underworld" (Myers and Carvey were offered the chance to cameo as their characters but were filmingWayne's Worldat the time). An episode of the sitcomStep by Stepalso featured character J.T. (Brandon Call) hosting his own show, appropriately titled "J.T.'s World", in which J.T. (with sidekick Cody) singing the theme song, which sounds similar to Wayne's theme. On a 1995 episode ofSesame Street,Telly MonsterandBig Birdhosted "Telly's Town", which featured Myers guest starring as Wayne, though portrayed as a delivery man.

The "Wayne's World" soundtrack contained the extra-long hard rock version of the theme song that was performed by Aerosmith in the famous sketch. As the song is winding down, aneaster eggcan be heard where Myers and Carvey are peppering the guitar riffs with quips from their other SNL characters such as "Isn't that special?" (Church Lady), "Don't look at my bum!" (Simon), "Not gonna do it! Not gonna do it!" (George H. W. Bush).

List ofSNLepisodes featured

1. February 18, 1989 (Leslie Nielsen)
2. March 25, 1989 (Mary Tyler Moore)
3. May 13, 1989 (Wayne Gretzky)
4. September 30, 1989 (Bruce Willis)
5. December 2, 1989 (John Goodman)
6. January 13, 1990 (Ed O'Neill)
7. February 17, 1990 (Tom Hanks) (Aerosmithguest star in this skit)
8. March 24, 1990 (Debra Winger)
9. May 19, 1990 (Candice Bergen)
10. December 1, 1990 (John Goodman)
11. January 19, 1991 (Sting)
12. March 23, 1991 (Jeremy Irons)
13. May 11, 1991 (Delta Burke) (Madonna guest stars in this skit)
14. September 28, 1991 (Michael Jordan)
15. January 18, 1992 (Chevy Chase)
16. April 11, 1992 (Sharon Stone)
17. December 5, 1992 (Tom Arnold)
18. November 20, 1993 (Nicole Kidman)
19. May 14, 1994 (Heather Locklear) (Wayne fantasizes he's inMelrose Place)
20. February 5, 2011 (Dana Carvey)
21. February 15, 2015 (Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special)

The films

The sketch was adapted into a film,Wayne's World,in 1992, and a sequel,Wayne's World 2,in 1993.

Overseas

In the United Kingdom, whereSaturday Night Liveis rarely shown,Wayne's Worldsketches were extracted fromSNLbroadcasts and individually packaged as 10-minute episodes which aired onBBC Twoas part of theDEF IIprogramming strand, simply as a tie-in with bothWayne's Worldmovies.

2008 MTV Movie Awards

Mike Myers and Dana Carvey reprised their roles as Wayne and Garth for the first time since 1994 at the2008 MTV Movie Awards.Nothing about the two seems to have changed, except both are now in their late-forties/early-fifties, and Garth has grown pubic hair. The sketch features them discussingTila Tequilaand making a list about the bestpornographic movietitles based on films from 2007 and 2008, which is reminiscent of the sketches during Myers and Carvey's years atSaturday Night Live.

2011SNLreprise

In 2011, Myers and Carvey once again reprised their roles on the February 5 edition ofSaturday Night Live,which Carvey hosted.Wayne's Worldappeared as acold open,in which the two discuss their picks for the upcomingOscars.They favor the movieWinter's Bonebecause its name lends itself to double entendres, and also joke about the Oscar hosts,James FrancoandAnne Hathaway.

Phil Hartman's "Cable 10 Public Access" introduction preceded the segment, in tradition with other reprised sketches (Church Chat,The Continental,etc.)

2015SNLreprise

In 2015, Myers and Carvey again reprised their roles for theSaturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special.In theirWayne's Worldsegment, the two gave a Top 10 list of the things they love aboutSNL.The sketch also featured a cameo appearance by musical guestKanye Westwho made the Top 5 and the duo humorously referencing Kanye's various interruptions of Myers,Taylor SwiftandBeck.Hartman's "Cable 10" introduction again preceded the segment.

2021 Super Bowl advertisements

ForSuper Bowl LV,Myers and Carvey reprised their roles for severalUber Eatsadvertisements, with the message of supporting local businesses;Cardi Bmakes an appearance in a couple of the ads.

See also

• List of recurringSaturday Night Livecharacters and sketches