Helena Frye
In 2007, Will Forte and Peyton Manning starred in a basketball-themed SNL sketch called Locker Room Motivation. The sketch featured Manning as a basketball player and Forte as a coach giving a rousing halftime speech to motivate his team. What followed was a series of eccentric and silly dance moves by Forte and Manning, with the song Casino Royale by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass from the 1967 James Bond film of the same name playing in the background. The sketch, which has become a cult favorite, showcased the unexpected dance skills of the two-time Super Bowl champion Manning and is considered one of Forte's favorite sketches of all time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | March 24, 2007 |
| Show | Saturday Night Live |
| Episode | Season 32 Episode 16 |
| Sketch | "Locker Room Motivation" |
| Cast | Will Forte, Peyton Manning, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, Kenan Thompson, Jason Sudeikis |
| Plot | A basketball coach gives a rousing halftime speech to a struggling team, using an unusual song choice to motivate them |
| Outcome | The players join in with the dance, and the sketch becomes a cult favorite |
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What You'll Learn
Will Forte and Peyton Manning's 'Locker Room Motivation' sketch
On March 24, 2007, two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning hosted Saturday Night Live and starred in a cult-favorite sketch called "Locker Room Motivation" alongside Will Forte. The sketch, which takes place during halftime, features Manning as a basketball player and Forte as a coach. The coach gives a rousing speech to raise the spirits of his defeated team and motivate them to turn the game around. He tells them a story about a team that was once "down by 56 points at halftime" but still managed "the biggest comeback in college basketball history". The secret to their success? The song "Casino Royale" by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, which the coach urges his team to listen to. As the song plays, the coach and Manning's character, Wally, perform eccentric and silly dance moves, with Wally even playing his leg like a guitar. Eventually, motivated by the music, the pair dance out of the locker room and back to the court.
The sketch was well-received, with Forte calling it "that rare time when a sketch comes across exactly how you want it to". He also revealed that the idea for the random soundtrack came from Late Night with Seth Meyers writer and 30 Rock actor John Lutz. Forte also shared that the version that aired was the best the sketch had ever gone, and that it was exciting to see it come together so well after a less-than-perfect dress rehearsal.
The "Locker Room Motivation" sketch is a great example of the situational silliness and zany dance moves that can make a sports sketch so entertaining. It showcases the comedic talents of both Forte and Manning, and has become a memorable moment in SNL history.
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The song 'Casino Royale' by Herb Alpert
"Casino Royale" is a song by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, an American musician and group. The song serves as the theme for the 1967 film *Casino Royale*, a James Bond spoof. The song was composed and arranged by Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by Bacharach and Hal David.
The song's lyrics centre around the arrival of James Bond, who is set to "save the world at Casino Royale". The song also mentions Bond's romantic exploits, noting that he has "got a redhead in his arms" and is "a lover". The song is upbeat and adventurous, reflecting the tone of the film.
> "Oh, he's a lover, when you're in trouble
> Have no fear, look who's here...James Bond...
> They've got us on the run…With guns…And knives...
> We're fighting for our lives...Have no fear, Bond is here...
> He's gonna save the world at Casino Royale!
> Never fear, Bond is here!
> The formula is safe with ole double-oh seven!
> He's got a redhead in his arms!"
The song is included on the film's soundtrack, which also features other songs such as "The Look of Love" by Dusty Springfield. The soundtrack provides a mix of songs from the film and instrumental cuts.
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Will Forte's favourite sketches
Will Forte is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He was a cast member and writer on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live (SNL) for eight seasons from 2002 to 2010. Forte is also known for his writing and acting in the comedy series The Last Man on Earth, for which he received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Forte has created several memorable sketches over the years, with one of his favourites being the one he did with sports star Peyton Manning. The sketch, which first aired in 2007, was about a struggling basketball team. However, it was the zany dance moves and mood-inappropriate song that made it stand out. Forte himself has described the experience of working with Manning as dance magic.
Some of Forte's other popular sketches from SNL include Potato Chip Thief, Fartface, Spelling Bee, Locker Room Coach, Jeff Montgomery, and MacGruber Sensitivity Training. Forte's character MacGruber, in particular, became so popular that it led to a feature film adaptation in 2010 and a streaming limited series in 2021.
In addition to his work on SNL, Forte has also written for several other comedy series, including 3rd Rock from the Sun and That '70s Show. He has also appeared in films such as The Lego Movie and Nebraska. Forte's talent for comedy and his versatility as a performer have made him a beloved figure in the world of sketch comedy.
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SNL's cult-favourite sketches
In 2007, Will Forte and Peyton Manning starred in a cult-favorite SNL sketch called "Locker Room Motivation". The sketch, which aired on March 24, 2007, during Season 32 Episode 16, featured a struggling basketball team and their coach (played by Forte) trying to raise their spirits during halftime. Manning played a character named Wally, who joined in with the coach's eccentric dance moves and even played his leg like a guitar. The song that inspired the dance sequence was "Casino Royale" by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, the theme from the 1967 James Bond spy film of the same name.
The sketch has been described as "dance magic" and one of Forte's favorite sketches of all time. In an interview in 2015, Forte shared that "Locker Room Motivation" was one of those rare times when a sketch turns out exactly how you wanted it to. He also revealed that the idea for the random soundtrack came from Late Night with Seth Meyers writer and 30 Rock actor John Lutz.
The success of the sketch has been attributed to the situational silliness of the song and the body-undulation that came with it. Forte himself has commented on how the sketch worked, defying description and relying on factors that had nothing to do with the script. Despite the premise not sounding particularly funny on paper, the combination of the mood-inappropriate song and the loose-limbed dance moves created a joyfully silly dance party that delighted audiences.
The "Locker Room Motivation" sketch showcased the comedic talents of both Forte and Manning, with Manning proving that sports stars can excel in comedy sketches on Saturday Night Live.
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Will Forte's dance moves
Forte has shared that this sketch is one of his favorites, and he even extended the duration of his dancing during the live show compared to dress rehearsals. Forte's dance moves were loose-limbed and full of body undulations, adding to the situational silliness of the song and the sketch. Forte's movements were so engaging that they elevated the sketch, making it even funnier than it may have seemed on paper.
Forte's dance partner in the sketch was none other than two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning, who played a basketball player named Wally. Manning joined Forte in the dance, bumping hips and even playing his leg like a guitar. Together, their dance moves brought pure magic to the sketch, creating a memorable and hilarious moment in SNL history.
The "Locker Room Motivation" sketch is a testament to Forte's comedic timing, physical comedy skills, and, of course, his unexpected but delightful dance moves. It showcases his ability to embrace the unexpected and find humor in situations that may seem ordinary on the surface. Forte's performance in this sketch, particularly his dance moves, has left a lasting impression on viewers and solidified his place in the pantheon of great SNL performers.
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Frequently asked questions
The sketch is called "Locker Room Motivation".
In the sketch, Manning joins Forte for a basketball halftime speech that turns into a dance party to the "Casino Royale" theme song from the 1967 James Bond film.
The sketch aired on March 24, 2007, during season 32, episode 16 of Saturday Night Live.
In 2015, Forte revealed that the sketch was "that rare time when a sketch comes across exactly how you want it to". He also shared that John Lutz, a writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers and actor for 30 Rock, was behind the random soundtrack.
