"Saturday Night Live" fan knows the legendary sketch from 1990, where Patrick Swayze and Chris Farley strip down and audition for the Chippendales.
Over the years, the sketch has been criticized by some connected to the show, because they believe it was one of the things that pushed Farley into not caring about his body and health. (Chris died of a drug overdose at 33 in 1997.)
CHRIS ROCK has even said, quote, "As funny as that sketch was, and as many accolades as he got for it, it's one of the things that killed him. It really is .
. . [it was] a weird moment in Chris' life."
But legendary "SNL" writer ROBERT SMIGEL is defending the sketch. He says, quote, "What was amazing about the sketch and what people forget is that Farley was incredibly nimble, he was an athlete and he danced incredibly well.
"He had this fantastic energy and, in a way, it was a very empowering sketch and I think that's what people felt the first time they watched it. [Like] 'Look at this guy go and be completely proud, unashamed and just going for it.'"