Talks to Watch

Matt Foley: Van Down By The River - SNL

36.3M views · Sep 25, 2013 · 6:21 · 0 HN recommenders · 4 mentions · discussed 2019–2022

The classic SNL sketch in which motivational speaker Matt Foley, played by Chris Farley, warns teens they will end up living in a van down by the river.

Why Hacker News points people here: HN mostly drops it as a joke in threads about vans, van life or career failure.

What Hacker News said 4

JokeflossballFeb 2019
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Be like motivational speaker Matt Foley - this video In all seriousness, it is cool as long as you have another place that is home. Traveling for a living gets too much after awhile.

in “Vanlife: Build your own van to live on the road” · view on HN
JokebigmattystylesFeb 2021
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Glad the person landed on their feet. Can’t help but think this could have been titled ‘from a van down by the river’ this video

in “A new chapter – full-time working from a van in a forest” · view on HN
JokegiardiniDec 2021
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Article is far too optimistic. They get laid off before reaching retirement or vesting their pension and are replaced by younger and less expensive workers. They live in a van by the river and take such odd jobs as"motivational speaker": this video

in “What happens to developers who never go into management?” · view on HN
JokemaxfurmanNov 2022

“Pretty funny, although I suppose I've spoiled it for you.”

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There's an old Saturday Night Live bit[0] about a motivational speaker who eventually admits that his life sucks and he lives in a van down by the river. Pretty funny, although I suppose I've spoiled it for you. [0] this video

in “Want to live in a van down by the river? Ford has a new vehicle for that” · view on HN