Ernestine's House Call - Saturday Night Live 

Those kids got to grow up and tell their friends they were manhandled by Lily Tomlin for a phone company monopoly gag. Lucky.

Mary Gross was one of the best platoon hitters in SNL history. Put her in the right skit with the right character and she hits the mark. Every time.

Lily's my Girl! Love her! My sister used to love Mary Hartman!!

They just described Amazon

Love both Mary and Lily

We laugh now, but I'm old enough to remember when Ma Bell truly had a monopoly on EVERYTHING phone. Local, long distance, hardware. Imagine nowadays if Facebook, Google, Apple and Microsoft were to merge. That'll keep you up at night.

This character to me is still the best!

This sketch came around the time of the AT&T divestiture.

For historical reference: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakup_of_the_Bell_System

As true now as then, if not moreso.

Bravo Ernestine!

Brilliant on multiple levels!

The curly red haired girl appeared in a few other skits in the 80’s.

Was that the couch from Cosby Show?

and that was one take live! Get to know the master that is Lily Tomlin.

I don't care what critics say: the "Doumanian Years" of SNL remain THE EDGIEST in the show's entire history - this sketch is Exhibit A.

In this skit, Mary Gross dons a Louise Brooks hairdo.

At about the time of the ATT breakup, the phone company charged for lots of stuff. Longer cord? Extra Bought a phone and it actually rang? The phone company charged for an extension bc they provided the electricity to ring the extra bell! To avoid the "ringer equivalecy charge," you had to disconnect the bell in the phone you bought *_because the phone system detected and reported the extra electricity used to ring the extra bell_*

I actually saw the game, maybe only played it once. Not something I could understand. So.. Thanks.

AT&T is still around

❤

iklei