Debbie Downer
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Debbie Downer was a character played by Rachel Dratch on the television show Saturday Night Live.
The character's name is connected to a slang phrase which refers to someone who has a persistent need to add bad news or negative feelings to a gathering, thus bringing down the mood of everyone around them. [1]
Dratch's character would make these types of negative opinions and pronouncements at every turn, making her very unpopular to be around. She was oddly and especially concerned with the epidemic of feline AIDS, which is, as she put it, "the number one killer of domestic cats".
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[edit] First appearance in 2003-2004 season
The first appearance of Debbie Downer was on 1 May 2004 with guest host Lindsay Lohan. (In that episode, her real last name was also revealed to be Metusic.) Debbie and five of her family members are eating breakfast at a very happy Disney theme park restaurant. When the family is making small talk, Debbie (who is wearing a depressing brown shirt compared to the bright colors worn by her family) makes depressing comments on current events followed by a knowing look at the camera and a "wah-wah" sound made by a muted trombone. For example, one of her comments was: "Did you guys hear about that train explosion in North Korea? ...We may never know how many people perished."
The first sketch became an instant fan favorite due to the fact that none of the actors could stifle their laughter after Debbie made one of her many depressing announcements. One line she messed up during the first sketch: "The media is so sensitive there, so secretive..." She was originally intended to say "secretive", only contributing to the giggle fit. As well, missed cues by the camera and sound effects only worsened the situation. By the end of the skit (especially upon her announcement of her being unable to have children) Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler, Dratch, Lohan, and Horatio Sanz had all broken character, with Sanz wiping away tears (with the sleeve of his yellow polo t-shirt) from laughing so hard. Fred Armisen, also in the sketch, remarkably stayed true to his character throughout the entire ordeal, although with an occasional giggle or laugh.
Two factors have been rumored as contributing to the cast nearly being unable to finish the sketch. The first is that Lohan was already in a giggly state of mind, unable to fully keep her composure in various sketches earlier in the show. The second reason rumoured is that during rehearsal, the skit was practiced without the orchestra, and the cast was not expecting the wah-wah sound to sound so... "wah-wah"-ey. Missed camera cues, orchestra cues, and Dratch's flubbed line only added to the hysterical nature of the already down-hill sketch.
[edit] 2004-2005 season
Debbie Downer appeared in another skit later that year with Ben Affleck as the guest host. The cast members who appeared in this skit were more composed and did not laugh out loud at Debbie's pronouncements. This trend continued throughout the rest of the season.
In future airings of the Affleck episode, the live Debbie Downer sketch was replaced by the dress rehearsal version, along with an opening title card explaining that the dress rehearsal "worked better." In dress, the cast all cracks up just as they did in the Lindsay Lohan episode.
The character appeared two more times in the 04-05 season; once at Thanksgiving dinner (with Luke Wilson as host), and another at the Oscars with Hilary Swank (Swank played herself). The latter sketch revealed that Debbie babysat Swank when Swank was a child.
[edit] 2005-2006 season
In 2005, the season premiere of Saturday Night Live featured a Debbie Downer skit at the end of the episode. Host Steve Carell's character, Bob Bummer, is just as depressing, and Debbie and he fall in bummed-out love. The 17 December 2005 episode hosted by Jack Black included a Christmas-themed sketch showing Debbie in her childhood during a visit from Santa Claus. This episode retcons her debut sketch as here she refers to her last name being "Downer".
On 15 April 2006, Debbie returned for her final appearance before Rachel Dratch departed the show, this time at a bachelorette party at a strip club for her friend, played by host Lindsay Lohan.
[edit] Theme Song
Every sketch opened with a prologue, then the theme song (and corresponding video) plays, followed by the body of the sketch. The sketch would ultimately close with the last line of the song played again (and one more depressing fact from Debbie).
The lyrics to the theme song are as follows:
You're enjoying your day
Everything's going your way
Then along comes Debbie Downer.
Always there to tell you 'bout a new disease
A car accident or killer bees
You'll beg her to spare you, "Debbie, Please!"
But you can't stop Debbie Downer!
The song ends with an extreme close-up of Debbie's pained expression.
The Christmas sketch began with a new, probably one-time, theme song. It featured an animated Debbie, looking much like The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and a tune similar to the Grinch's song. Steve Carell's Bob Bummer also had his own theme song.
[edit] SNL episodes featuring Debbie Downer
| Date | Host |
|---|---|
| 2004-05-01 | Lindsay Lohan |
| 2004-10-02 | Ben Affleck |
| 2004-11-20 | Luke Wilson |
| 2005-02-19 | Hilary Swank |
| 2005-10-01 | Steve Carell (as Bob Bummer) |
| 2005-12-17 | Jack Black |
| 2006-04-15 | Lindsay Lohan |
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
- New York Daily News: Cracking up 'Live on air by David Bianculli
