The Folksmen -- Interview - Saturday Night Live

A behind-the-scenes interview with legendary folk group, the Folksmen. Aired 11/03/84

[moxica]

Christopher Guest is a comedic genius - the ability of these three to improvise against each other like this is something I could never get tired of. Tap, Folksmen, or otherwise...

[davidleedutton]

The Folksmen once opened for Spinal Tap at a concert, and the audience booed them. I wish I had been there for that.

[dLimboStick]

This was aired the same year that Spinal Tap was released. And almost 20 years before A Mighty Wind was released.

[prisonersforprofit]

their humor is so subtle, i'll wake up thinking about one of their lines and want to see it again, it gets better each time you watch it.

[kidalex]

Wait? They had the Folksman idea since the 80's? That's commitment!

[zekelucente]

All three are players and so talented and funny.

[CB]

I had Barrows as a professor at Swarthmore College in 1988.

[alexandrebertrand-lafleur]

Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Chris Guest as the Folksmen (Jerry Palter, Mark Shubb and Alan Barrows) before A Mighty Wind.

[stevehughes]

Mark Shubb was brave when he came out later on, I was impressed with that, him keeping up with the latest trends n 'all, wearing ladies things y'know !!

[gregorymoore]

There are songs about mining disasters and there are songs about train disasters. The Folksmen said let's do both in one song.

[cambiata]

I like how the audience has no idea how to react to this.

[krisscanlon]

Guest in character is hilarious and scary at the same time lol

[rolfdejonge]

#TheFolksmen@ can hardly be overrated, that's how good they are!✌️😜💥🌟

[lanolinlight]

SCTV-level subtlety. No punchlines, just character.

[DJVMFVME]

“I teach a yoga class on the side.”
“It’s good to see all of us.”

[TheAyeAye]

They were better than most of the actual folk singers in the Sixties.

[andyhostetter]

The best part of this, is the audience just can’t quite grasp what’s going on.

[sashek]

the Spanish civil war thing never gets old 😂 I didn’t even realize the joke was this old

[MarkSquires-bq]

How many peoples heads this went completely over. Just genius. And the fact they’re all actually playing the instruments makes it just more epic. Love it.

[conankudo]

When Harry used a bald cap for this character.