Sprockets was a recurring fictional West German television talk show skit created by actor, writer and comedian Mike Myers for the American sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. Myers played Dieter, a bored, dissolute West German expressionist and minimalist who would interview celebrities in whom he was barely interested and always bring the discussion around to his "limited" monkey Klaus. The sketch made fun of German art culture in the 1980s. Appearing asexual or effeminate, Myers' costume consisted of tight black leotards; round, wire-rimmed glasses; and, slicked-back hair. This article is about the actor. ... For information about The Sketch Show TV programme, see The Sketch Show. ... Saturday Night Live (SNL) is a weekly late night 90-minute American comedy-variety show based in New York City which has been broadcast by NBC on Saturday nights since October 11, 1975. ... West Germany was the informal but almost universally used name for the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 until 1990, during which years the Federal Republic did not yet include East Germany. ... On White II by Wassily Kandinsky, 1923. ... For other uses, see Minimalism (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Monkey (disambiguation). ... This article is about human asexuality; asexual reproduction is a separate topic. ... Effeminacy is character trait of a male showing femininity, unmanliness, womanliness, weakness, softness and/or a delicacy, which contradicts traditional masculine, male gender roles. ...

The theme song for the sketch as heard on SNL is Kraftwerk's 1986 single Electric Café. The song was sped up by playing the 33⅓ rpm album at 45 rpm, then it was remixed. Kraftwerk (pronounced [], German for power station) is a German musical group which has made significant contributions to the development of experimental and electronic music. ... Electric Café is a music album by the group Kraftwerk. ... A remix is an alternative version of a song, different from the original version. ...

Some later skits featured Dieter outside of his talk show environment starring in parodies of game shows, TV dance parties, and art films.

Karl-Heinz (Kyle McLachlan) and Dieter (Mike Myers)

The sketch was to be made into a film in 2000, featuring Myers and David Hasselhoff. However, Myers backed out using a script-approval clause in his contract, stipulating he did not approve of the script. (This despite having written the script himself.) This resulted in a major lawsuit against Myers for breach of contract. Myers has said that he would one day like to make the film, however. Image File history File links Dieter_mit_kyle_mclaglen. ... Image File history File links Dieter_mit_kyle_mclaglen. ... David Michael Hasselhoff (born July 17, 1952 in Baltimore, Maryland), nicknamed The Hoff, is a tall (64) American actor, singer and songwriter who is best known for his lead roles on Knight Rider and Baywatch. ...

Quotes and catch-phrases

• "I am filled with anticipation (remorse), and it is most delicious."
• "Would you like to touch my monkey? Touch him! Touch my monkey!"
• "His agony was gorgeous. I need to be slapped."
• "Rühren mein Affe. Lieben meine Affe-monkey!" (excite/agitate my ape. love my ape-monkey!)
• "Now is the time on Sprockets when we dance."
• "It was Twyla Tharp, or was it Vic Tayback, who once said of him: 'He is dance'."
• "It had a good beat and was easy to dance to; I give it a fourteen."
• "Now I am as happy as a little girl!" (spoken while pinching the fabric of his shirt at the nipples and pulling it away from his body)
• "Sadly, Klaus is limited. But he is beautiful, is he not?"
• "Your story (questions, setup, et al) has become tiresome."
• "I appreciate a warm hand on my opening."
• "Karl-Heinz, you are beautiful and angular; and if you were a gas, you'd be inert."
• "I am emotionally obliterated."
• "Gregor Voss, your presence intimidates me to the point of humiliation. Would you care to strike me?"
• "Textures intrigue me."
• "I simply adore Lego. They are like a thousand toys in one."
• "Why is it that the truly brilliant are doomed to a life of obscurity, surrounded by a sea of mediocrity, only to end up covered by sores in a pool of their own filth? Oh well, the beat goes on."
• "You have disturbed me almost to the point of insanity...There. I am insane now."
• "Whore. Nun. Whorenun."
• "Your anger is delicious."
• "I feel spent, like a man who is forced to wear his genitals around his neck like a pendant."
• "That book (film, poem, et al) pulls down my pants and taunts me. But not in a mean-spirited way."
• "You will leggo my Eggo. Now."
• "In your film, Irritant #4, the only two images were a baby's head and a toilet. Did you mean for me to scream?"
• "That book (film, poem, et al) looks at me when I'm naked and calls its friends."
• "You are a master of exposing tedium."
• "I love going to Oktoberfest, because they drink a lot there, and afterward you can skate home in other people's sick."

Categories: Stub | American actors | Television actors | Cinema actors | 1930 births | 1990 deaths ...

List of SNL episodes featuring Dieter

All appearances were in the form of "Sprockets" shows, except where indicated.

• April 15, 1989 host: Dolly Parton
• May 20, 1989 host: Steve Martin
• September 30, 1989 host: Bruce Willis
• November 18, 1989 host: Woody Harrelson
• December 16, 1989 (in "Dieter In Space") host: Andie MacDowell
• March 17, 1990 (in "Dieter's Dance Party") host: Rob Lowe
• September 29, 1990 host: Kyle MacLachlan
• December 15, 1990 host: Dennis Quaid
• April 13, 1991 host: Catherine O'Hara
• February 15, 1992 (in "Love Werks") host: Jason Priestley
• May 16, 1992 host: Woody Harrelson
• March 20, 1993 (in "Dieter's Dream") host: Miranda Richardson
• November 20, 1993 (in "Das Ist Jeopardy!") host: Nicole Kidman
• March 22, 1997 host: Mike Myers

April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American Grammy-winning and Academy Award-nominated country singer, songwriter, composer, author, actress, and philanthropist. ... May 20 is the 140th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (141st in leap years). ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American comedian, writer, producer, actor, musician and composer. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bruce Willis (born Walter Bruce Willis on March 19, 1955) is an American actor and singer. ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Impromptu shot of Woody Harrelson in Eugene, Oregon, 2004 Woodrow Tracy Harrelson (born July 23, 1961), better known as Woody Harrelson, is an American television and film actor. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Rosalie Anderson Andie MacDowell (born April 21, 1958 in Gaffney, South Carolina) is an American actress and former fashion model. ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (77th in leap years). ... 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other persons named Robert Lowe, see Robert Lowe (disambiguation). ... September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kyle MacLachlan as Agent Cooper in Twin Peaks Dune (1984) Kyle MacLachlan (born February 22, 1959 in Yakima, Washington) is an American actor of Scottish descent, best known for his work with American film director David Lynch. ... December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dennis Quaid Dennis William Quaid (born April 9, 1954) is an American actor. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Catherine O Hara (2005) Catherine OHara (born March 4, 1954 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian actress and comedian. ... February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Priestley at the 1992 Emmy ceremony. ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (137th in leap years). ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Impromptu shot of Woody Harrelson in Eugene, Oregon, 2004 Woodrow Tracy Harrelson (born July 23, 1961), better known as Woody Harrelson, is an American television and film actor. ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in leap years). ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Miranda Richardson as Queenie in Blackadder II (1986) Miranda Richardson (born 3 March 1958, in Southport, Merseyside) is an English actress, noted for her distinctive ability to deeply delve into the minds of the characters she plays. ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Nicole Mary Kidman AC (born June 20, 1967) is an Australian [2][3] Academy Award-winning actress who, in 2006, became the highest paid actress in the film industry. ... March 22 is the 81st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (82nd in leap years). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the actor. ...

See also

• Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches