Saturday Night Live

"We're all at the mercy of the cowbell sketch in different ways," Buck Dharma says.

Talk show host once said the sketch show "made me famous."

These skits explore the thrill of victory ... but, far more often, the agony of defeat.

The character would become hugely popular, but his debut was less than "mahvelous."

My wife grew up in Missoula. So needless to say, when we go out to the Montana Club- we are getting the Hoagieville cheese fries. When the plate arrives, somehow I turn into Chris Farley as one of the Gap Girls from Saturday Night Live.

There were low expectations for the sketch when it debuted on Feb. 18, 1989.

He made his debut on Jan. 21, 1989, but didn't become a breakout star until later in the season.

The 1978 episode marked return of former breakout cast member, but not everyone wanted him back.

"That's what happens with live TV and with topical TV. It gets dated after a while."