Mike Myers returned to “Saturday Night Live” in the most classic way during the show’s 50th-anniversary special on Sunday. The comedian reprised his role as Linda Richman. Myers popularized the Linda Richman character in his beloved “Coffee Talk” sketches from 1991 to 1994. The “Shrek” actor based the character on his real-life mother-in-law when he was married to his then-wife Robin Ruzan.
Linda is a middle-aged woman who talks in a stereotypical New York accent. When Linda Richman was first introduced in a 1991 episode of “SNL,” it was through a sketch titled “Coffee Talk with Paul Baldwin.” However, Paul Baldwin was quickly written out of the sketch, and Linda replaced him as the host of “Coffee Talk.”
On ‘SNL50,’ Myers reprised the Linda Richman character through another loved “SNL” sketch, “Bronx Beat with Betty and Jodi,” which stars Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph. Initially, Betty and Jodi pulled actor Miles Teller onstage from the audience to chat with him about his profession and his role in “Top Gun: Maverick,” which they insisted on calling “Top Gun: 2.”
However, when Linda appeared, Betty and Jodi quickly shifted gears.
Linda burst onto the set, saying, “Is somebody talking about coffee?” Jodi and Betty were euphoric to see Linda. Dressed in a vibrant purple sweater, she said, “Well, I was at Zabar’s picking up a noodle kugel, and I thought I’d come up to see the girls, you know, no big whoop.”
Betty and Jodi were eager to ask Linda about Paul Baldwin. Giving an emotional update on Paul, Linda said, “Well, our dear friend Paul Baldwin is in the clinic here in the city… They flew him up from Boca Roton in an iron lung. It’s terrible; I’m telling you right now, I’m getting a little verklempt. Talk amongst yourself.”
After pulling herself together and revealing to Betty and Jodi that she’s dealing with various ailments herself, Linda declared she had some news. “Bad news, it’s raining,” she said. “But good news, it’s sweata weatha’. My favorite weatha, sweata weatha!”
Watch the full sketch below:
