Sketch o’the Week- Garrett Morris!

Last but not least of my sketches of famous characters played by the original cast of Saturday Night Live is the multitalented Garrett Morris as “Chico Escuela”, a retired professional baseball player from the Dominican Republic turned sports newscaster. Morris first appeared as Chico in a 1978 ensemble sketch set at a Knight’s of Columbus spaghetti dinner banquet, but the character then became a correspondent on Weekend Update, appearing a total of ten times from 1978-1980. He was also known for his tell all book Bad Stuff ‘Bout the Mets. During the 1979 season they also did a couple of pieces about Chico’s failed attempt at a comeback in baseball. Most of the humor revolving around the character was based on his speaking halting and heavily accented English and his oft repeated catchphrase “beisbol been berra berra good to me”, and making fun of the Mets. During the height of his fame in baseball, Sammy Sosa repeated that catchphrase for laughs in interviews, but he didn’t have to fake the heavy South American accent. I guess steroids also boost your sense of humor.