Results tagged “snl”

In an exclusive interview with NY1, Governor Paterson discussed his 2010 prospects and revealed that he wouldn't mind appearing on Saturday Night Live, which has skewered him repeatedly. In fact, Paterson also dissed the show, "I've offered to come on 'Saturday Night Live' because I thought I would help them get the ratings. Because clearly that humor that they had when they first had Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi... has gone [with] this [current] cast of characters. I thought I would show some benevolence as governor and help them out a little bit."

It's been a year since Tina Fey's spot-on version of Sarah Palin hit the small screen on Saturday Night Live, and now word is she's bringing it back this season... maybe.

Last night, Fred Armisen reappeared on Saturday Night Live's Thursday Weekend Update as a now-mustachioed Governor Paterson. If you don't remember, his schtick was complete with references to President Obama (allegedly) asking him to step aside in 2010—"It’s like the pope calling a local priest and telling him to go to Hell"—his blindness, and his hatred of New Jersey!

"Brooklyn comedy" might officially be (back) on the map today with news that comedian Jenny Slate will join the cast of Saturday Night Live when it premieres with Megan Fox and U2 September 26th. Slate is best known around town as the co-host of Big Terrific, the weekly free stand-up show that has been drawing big names into small spaces in Williamsburg for the last two years. Slate, who talked to us a couple months back, performed her show Dead Millionaire at the UCB Theater this past spring. With the other new cast member Nasim Pedrad having performed at UCB LA, the theater continues to show its dominance over the comedy scene this decade. Last year UCB's Bobby Moynihan (the pride of Yonkers) joined the cast and in recent years, the theater has funneled through Abby Elliott, Casey Wilson, Rob Riggle and of course, UCB founding member, Amy Poehler. As for Big Terrific, co-host Max Silvestri says, "Jenny will be back at Big T soon to tell lots of showbiz stories about what Megan Fox smells like and how Ted Danson always has mints handy or whatever."

Tracy Morgan was back in the building last night to relive his SNL glory days as host of the show he was a cast member on for seven years. But getting through that NBC security has become no easy task since the anthrax scare of 2001. Just as he does with sometimes questionable material though, Morgan somehow found a way to make it work. Here's last night's SNL cold opening, which reminded us a little of Alec Donaghy's Hulu ad, and had cameos from WWE Superstar John Cena (who the audience didn't recognize) and Tina Fey (who now may have topped Jon Lovitz for most appearances by a former cast member in one season).

Saturday Night Live took on some of the more overlooked victims of the economic crisis this weekend: the suffering stars of closing Broadway shows. It was one of those SNL sketches that's hard to hate because it gives just about each member of the cast a chance to have fun with whoever they want to play (unless, of course, they were looking to break out their Piv).

If Fred Armisen plays any black politician, please let it be NY Governor David Paterson! His impression of our "accidental" governor debuted on Weekend Update last night and it absolutely killed. For reference, we've placed a photograph of Paterson above—compare it to the SNL bit below:

"You thought I was gone, didn't you?" That was the opening line on last night's SNL as Amy Poehler proved reports wrong that she would be leaving the show following the delivery of her baby and the end of the election season. Seeing a svelte Poehler in the cold open as new Secretary of State Clinton as well as back in her Weekend Update chair was a welcome sight after the show had a rough last outing with previous host Tim McGraw.

We wondered if last week SNL's Joe Biden cold opening might be signaling the end of Fred Armisen's tenure as Barack Obama. Now word comes that Lorne Michaels is in fact auditioning four black comedians to take over the role. Speculation is that the four contenders are The Colbert Report's Jordan Carlos, The Daily Show's Wyatt Cenac, (recently canceled) MAD TV's Jordan Peele and 30 Rock writer/Derrick Comedy's Donald Glover. There's no word if casting for an ebony comedienne to portray Michelle is likely to follow. But with Armisen out as Barack, that's one less politically incorrect hurdle for the show. As for SNL being called out for their recent "homoverload," the show's guy-on-guy action probably isn't going away any time soon. We realized this upon stumbling upon a famous NY Mag cover story on the show from 1995 where then cast member Janeane Garofalo said, “They love the anal sex here. That’s considered incredibly funny.”

SNL Head Writer and Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers told the LGBT-related magazine The Advocate that he "stands behind everything that happened" on last Saturday's show that has many critics crying foul over its reliance of gay jokes in almost every sketch of the night. Meyers takes the "I have plenty of black friends" defense by pointing out that there are gay writers on the show and that SNL is "on the right side of the issue." He also compared the abundance of gay-related sketches to come out of a week involving a lot of Prop 8-related discussion to this week's show where "we are having the same issue this week with Thanksgiving." The blog Defamer has been the harshest in its criticisms of the episode calling it "a gay minstrel show" and equating a sketch with two closeted mechanics to "a Yes on 8 ad." Meyers said that he generally avoids the blogosphere but that, "People on our 'side' take it far more personally when they feel offended because they feel like it is a betrayal."

Williams has performed at the theater before at the ASSSSCAT 3000 show alongside more high-profile regulars like Poehler and other stars of SNL and 30 Rock who improvise every Sunday. But when he showed up last night at the theater, members of Bangs really had to improvise when they learned just before going on that he wished to join them on stage. The audience ate up what sounds like the sort of wildcard performance you'd expect from Williams and word from the team is that the star was nothing but friendly and gracious to them.

If Saturday Night Live couldn't find a way to live up to their promise "to have Michael Phelps shirtless in every sketch" earlier this year, it seemed a little more likely that they could get us some Shirts-Off Time with good sport Paul Rudd hosting last night. They went even further than that in the digital short that featured Rudd in the buff being painted by Andy Samberg.

Barack Obama, John McCain, Sarah Palin and even Cindy McCain all appeared on Saturday Night Live during the campaign season...poor 'ol Joe Biden never got the invite though. Until now! Politico talked to the show's head writer, Seth Meyers, who told them: "Joe Biden is my biggest regret. I really wanted some quality Biden time. The door is still open, Joe." Meyers also added that on Tuesday night he "had an hour of goose bumps and then my natural cynicism kicked in. It’s not a great time to start being President." As for what happens to SNL now that the election is over (they got their highest ratings over the last month), there's good news and bad news -- Meyers says that viewers shouldn't expect any more Tina Fey cameos ("We all have to let her go back to her regular life now") but he pads the harsh reality by adding there will be "Lots and lots of MacGruber.”

There's some "odd couple" news coming from the gossip pages--NYMag is shedding some light on a NY Post print edition item calling out Kristen Wiig for allegedly canoodling with Joe...the (uncertified, republican) Plumber! That's right, folks, "Joe Wurzelbacher, better known as 'Joe the Plumber' was seen at the 'Saturday Night Live' after party 'canoodling' with cast member Kristen Wiig," and (perhaps even more disturbing) "chatting up a major Hollywood agent about starring the in next season of The Bachelor." One witness who saw Joe at his hotel the next day said, "it wouldn’t surprise me if someone got her drain snaked last night...I ran into Joe this morning at the hotel...and ever the gentleman, he refused to reveal more than his mile-wide grin." UPDATE: Psych! NYMag just updated saying this is all a total hoax. Phew! But we hear that Tina Fey and Cindy McCain totally accidentally touched hands at the end of last week's episode.

John McCain may have been more involved during his appearance on SNL, but his running mate Sarah Palin is still stealing his thunder. While she got the show its highest ratings in 14 years (15 million viewers), McCain's appearance only drew 12 million. Overall, however, the Daily News reports that Saturday's show had its "second highest audience in Nielsen's sample of major markets in 11 years" (whatever that means), and "Saturday's telecast was up 73% when compared to a year ago." Perhaps an Obama appearance would have delivered SNL its highest ratings ever, but he chose to spread the wealth with his network-spanning informercial. Meanwhile, NBC points out though McCain can take a joke, the Palin ones can bother him, which might "explain... 'frosty' chemistry between Tina Fey and McCain." Good thing they didn't refer to that prank call.

With less than 48 hours left before the election, John McCain stopping into Saturday Night Live to perform in a couple of sketches seems like it should be huge news. But with so much attention being showered on the show this year throughout the campaign season, somehow it just felt par for course at this point in a period that Tina Fey for one calls "the weirdest time in my life."

In 2002 John McCain was the first Senator to host Saturday Night Live. Since then he's returned to the studio to make appearances, and the Huffington Post now reports that he'll be back three days before the presidential election. His aides say he'll "make a detour from battleground states to the late-night weekend show," which he last appeared on in May. Expect lots of Joe the Plumber jokes, and an awkward McCain-Feylin skit. Earlier this month it was rumored that Barack Obama would make an appearance on the same night, so this could get catty!

Tina Fey has been making her 30 Rock promo rounds (the season premiere airs tomorrow) and appeared on Conan last night, where the first segment was all about that other show: SNL. (She says her recent stints at her old gig have been akin to "moving back in with your parents.")

Last night's Saturday Night Live had its work cut out for it after the last few weeks. Weaving in actual Mad Men stars Elisabeth Moss and John Slattery alongside host Jon Hamm was a nice touch, but this is a week after the show featured cameos from Sarah Palin, Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin. And it was a welcome return for Maya Rudolph, stopping in as expected to play Michelle Obama and sing a duet with Kenan Thompson dedicated to Amy Poehler's new baby. But that came on the heels of former cast members Bill Murray, Will Ferrell and of course Tina Fey all making high profile returns in recent weeks.

Weekend Update, the longtime staple of Saturday Night Live that sends up the news stories of the week, began last night with a breaking exclusive of its own: co-anchor Amy Poehler had just given birth to a baby boy. Alongside husband Will Arnett, Poehler delivered her first child "Archie" early Saturday evening. Archie Arnett came in at 8 pounds, 1 ounce and both mother and child are reported to be in good health. Poehler was not expecting to miss last night's show and had been rehearsing up until Friday. Her delivery means in all likelihood that her final episode of SNL was last week, where Poehler got the opportunity to shine with a rap number alongside a dancing Sarah Palin on a night that scored the highest ratings for the show in fourteen years.

Good news and bad news for SNL fans this weekend. Tina Fey allegedly will not return in her role as Sarah Palin (though she did last night), but former cast member Maya Rudolph will return to play the role of Michelle Obama, TMZ reports. Does that mean Barack Obama himself will appear to accompany his faux-Michelle, or will Maya return the weekend before the election, when he's rumored to be making an appearance? SNL will likely pull out all the stops through Election Day, as their ratings are sure to go down afterwards.

Will Ferrell—who will be appearing in a one man show on Broadway in January called You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush—turned up for the cold opening of Saturday Night Live's election special last night. Portraying a 'see-no-evil' Dubya who has declared the Oval Office "a bummer-free zone," Ferrell joined Tina Fey as Palin and Darrell Hammond as McCain. But with McCain on the run from Bush's endorsement (last seen "travelin' on foot through the Adirondacks"), Dubya focused on Palin first:

FERRELL AS BUSH – "My God you are folksy."

Continue reading "Will Ferrell, as Bush, Endorses Palin-McCain on SNL"

No word on how (and if) Sarah Palin's appearance on Saturday Night Live will help out the Republican's campaign, but it certainly helped out Lorne & Co. Word is that the show saw its highest household ratings in more than 14 years (to be more specific: since March 12, 1994, when Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan hosted). To put it in a more recent perspective, ABC reports that the ratings were up 47% compared to the October 4th episode. Somewhere, Marky Mark is crediting himself for this. Meanwhile, in the D.C./Northern Virginia market, Obama aired a new television spot during Saturday's episode, targeting women and focuses on "McCain's position on women's compensation, health care, Social Security and abortion rights." McCain told a Virginia crowd on Saturday that he thought Palin and Fey were "separated at birth."

After weeks of speculation and buildup, Sarah Palin finally appeared on Saturday Night Live last night, playing herself in two separate bits on the show. Despite the star power of the cold opening that on top of Palin and Tina Fey featured appearances from Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin, the sketch fell a little flat when compared to the instant classics that Fey has been cranking out all fall.

Sarah Palin is currently at 30 Rock getting ready for her big (intentional) comedy debut tonight on SNL. There's no official word under what guise she'll appear or even if it will be alongside Tina Fey as expected, only that there were "multiple scripts" for Palin when she arrived. Those who caught Fey on The Late Show last night heard her fretting the possibility of being placed next to Palin because "she's pageant quality." And unlike the vice-presidential nominee, who finds the comedienne to be "a hoot," today a rally of supporters booed Fey when John McCain brought up her name. Palin may be wondering if Fey supporters in Studio 8H will give her as warm of a welcome tonight.

Even though he's made up with John McCain, David Letterman still hasn't been able to get Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin on his show yet. However, tonight Letterman does have Tina Fey as a guest. In this clip, she discusses how she does the Palin accent.

Not to be outshined by Obama's roasting of McCain, or Tina Fey's spot-on impersonation of her, Sarah Palin might be making a cameo on SNL this weekend (after flip-flopping about appearing). The show isn't confirming anything just yet, but the Daily News notes a good fit, with the episode being hosted by Josh Brolin, who stars in Oliver Stone's film "W" about President Bush. If Palin does in fact show up, Mark Wahlberg may have a harder time getting through security. Following the parody Andy Samberg did of him last week, the actor said on Jimmy Kimmel last night: "When I see that kid, I'm gonna crack that big f*cking nose of his...and then I'm gonna tell him 'Say hi to your mother for me." He added: "I'm gonna get on a plane tomorrow, I'm gonna go down to 30 Rock or wherever the f*ck they shoot that show, he probably doesn't have a dressing room so I have to find him in the cafeteria or wherever, and I'm gonna slap him in the big nose. Tune in, I gauran-f*ckin-tee you." Looks like someone can't take a joke.

Tina Fey, whose Sarah Palin impression has been a highlight of the new Saturday Night Live season, told TV Guide that she's having a great time playing the Alaska governor, "Election time is always good for 'SNL' and this is a bonkers election. And that lady is a media star. She is a fascinating person, she's very likeable." But the prospect of cranking out that impression should John McCain win the election prompts Fey to say, "If she wins, I'm done. I can't do that for four years. And by 'I'm done,' I mean I'm leaving Earth." Related: The LA Times wonders if Palin has been wearing her hair down to "thwart" Fey and Michael Musto thinks this Palin-inspired fashion could make you "so sexy you might get pregnant and have to get married whereas your time is much better spent helping take care of your six-month brother with Down Syndrome!"

Rumors of Sarah Palin making an appearance on Saturday Night Live have been quickly put at bay by head writer Seth Meyers, who says, "Of those specific rumors, there's no truth. We do have an open door policy, but there's nothing specific yet, but our window of opportunity is before the election." With such natural comedy skills, this is surprising news! Meyers also added that, regarding the pre-election primetime Weekend Update specials, "We'd love to have her [and] we spoke to her earlier [before] the time Tina did her, and it seemed like something was going to work out." Will Palin surprise everyone with an appearance, or will the McCain campaign keep her far away from Fey & Co.? [via The Observer]