Carrie Fisher monologue/Beach Blanket Bingo from Outer Space
Nov. 18, 1978
Carrie Fisher could have tried to break free from her role as Princess Leia when she hosted “SNL” in 1978.
Instead, she embraced it — wearing her Leia outfit and hair buns to deliver her monologue.
The monologue featured direction from “the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi,” instructing her to tell an elaborate Star Wars joke.
“I felt a little awkward coming out in my Princess Leia costume, because it might seem like I’m exploiting Star Wars. But, you know, I went along with it because if I came out as myself, who would recognize me?” she said. “I really didn’t know what to do. I felt real weird. So I went to the one person who I know I can trust, someone who’s always been there for me in the past. Well, you’ve probably heard of him: it’s Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
Midway through the monologue, Fisher wondered aloud if a space movie from the 1950s would have the same impact as Star Wars, and there she was in the center of “Beach Blanket Bingo from Outer Space,” a spoof of the 1965 beach party film starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello (played by Bill Murray and Gilda Radner).
Within a few minutes Fisher is singing and wearing a gold swimsuit (not that one), winning over the “Beach Blanket Bingo” crew and showcasing the range of talent that would wow audiences for decades to come.
“Saturday Night Live” hilariously spoofed its “Obi-Wan” voiceover in 1993 for Luke Perry — “It works for anyone named Luke, Luke” — with Phil Hartman providing sage advice about using “the force” (cue cards) and instructing him to beat up an audience member.
“You’re bombing Luke, bail out,” Obi-Wan says.