“Mister Roberts” by Bill Murray and Christopher Guest, off National Lampoon: That’s Not Funny, That’s Sick! (1977)
a track off a 1977 album called “That’s Not Funny, That’s Sick!” by the gang at the National Lampoon Radio Hour. A takeoff on “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” entitled “Mister Roberts,” it features Christopher Guest as the prissy kiddie show host, and Murray as a jazz bass player who’s a tad too blunt for this particular gig. I almost busted a gut when I first heard this back in high school.
This is one of my all-time favorite Bill Murray performances. My friend David Mitchell played it for me in college. So hilarious:
Mr. Roberts: Tell me sometimes what you think about though when you’re playing. The images. Of course, when you’re playing, I thought about things like sheep and things like that. Candies. Special little candies. Do you think of those things too?
Bass player: Oh I Basically… I think about my financial situation. I count out every beat I play, every note I play, and I figure out how many notes I’m giving into the space. Ya know. Out into space for how much I’m getting paid - and I am working cheap.
betzistar
