New guy Jay Pharoah does Will Smith - and our Jay Pharoah blog

Check out our new Jay Pharoah news and videos blog:

http://jaypharoah.blogspot.com/ 

Will Smith's offspring can do anything.

So here we see new guy Jay Pharoah literally becoming Will Smith. He also did Chris Tucker. The dude has skills. If he can do characters this well, then he's going to take over the show.



Enjoy!

New SNL Promo - Bill Hader & Bryan Cranston

Bryan Cranston hosts SNL October 2 with musical guest Kanye West!



I didn't find these funny; did you?

Are you interested in Bryan hosting this week?

Enjoy!

Andy Samberg & Justin Timberlake in Actor to Actor (SNL)

Hahahaha. I'm glad Andy got to do SOMETHING with Justin when Justin appeared in this episode.

Andy interviews Justin Timberlake on his method of acting.



Boom. Andy tells it like it is!

The voice is done by Maya Rudolph (who also guested to do Bronx Beat with Amy).

This is so funny that I watched it several times. Definitely worthy of being the featured Andy video for this week.

Did you like it?

Enjoy!

Andy Samberg is Boogerman (SNL Digital Short)

Originally posted 9/26/10.

Update: Rai made a good point in the comments that this was a personal joke.

Here's Rai's take on it:

The theme from "Boogerman" is performed at the Emmys. Shy Ronnie was nominated for an Emmy. The theme from "Boogerman" is outlandish, and Bill Hader assumes that it's a pile of dog [doodoo]. Many Emmy voters probably made similar assumptions about Shy Ronnie. Randy Newman beats the theme from "Boogerman." Randy Newman beat the Lonely Island at the Emmys.

I don't think the Digital Short was supposed to be laugh out loud funny. I think it was supposed to be a critique of Emmy voters who voted for a "safe" and "typical" Randy Newman song, while ignoring Shy Ronnie because it looked stupid.

That's not bad, but I think you might have that wrong a little. I don't think Bill called it dog feces because the Emmy voters assumed it was dog feces when it was truly amazing. I think Andy and the dudes were calling it bad because they have no idea how it got nominated for an Emmy in the first place. So I think this was more their way of laughing at themselves than complaining against the Emmy voters.

What do you think? Was this an inside joke or was it a whiny way to complain?

=========================================

A musical tribute to one of the year's most talked about films.



SNL Digital Short: Boogerman

Katy Perry
Fred Armisen ... villain
Paul Brittain ... guy
Bill Hader ... presenter
Taran Killam ... guy
Bobby Moynihan ... scientist
Jay Pharoah ... Jamaican
Amy Poehler ... girlfriend
Andy Samberg ... dancer
Jason Sudeikis ... general
Kenan Thompson ... guy
Kristen Wiig ... girl



Booo! What a waste of Katy Perry and Amy Poehler! This is the kind of idea that sounds amusing until you do it. =^)

Andy's promos were funnier than this. Just this title alone could have inspired a funnier skit.

What do you think?

Enjoy!

Andy Samberg is Stanley Tucci on The Lean Years (SNL skit)

Amy Poehler has a secret in Showtime's 'The Lean Years.'



Commercial The Lean Years

Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler ... Amber
Paul Brittain ... nurse
Abby Elliott ... Laura Linney
Bill Hader ... announcer (voice)
Nasim Pedrad ... Edie Falco
Andy Samberg ... Stanley Tucci
Kristen Wiig ... Mary-Louise Parker

Didn't really find it funny. Did you?

Enjoy!

Andy Samberg on Maternity Matters

The show that normally addresses all the questions about being an expectant mother.



Show Maternity Matters

Amy Poehler ... Terri Facials
Fred Armisen ... Roger Brush
Abby Elliott ... Sheila Whitehead
Bill Hader ... Leonard
Andy Samberg ... John Joseph Darapont
Kristen Wiig ... Kanya Donahue
Kristen Wiig ... announcer (voice)



Does anybody else find this Fred show unfunny? 3 of them, really?

Enjoy!

SNL promo with Amy Poehler, Kenan, and Katy Perry

Amy Poehler hosts the season premiere of SNL, with musical guest Katy Perry.

====================

Hello Ryan!

Note that it sounds like y'all prefer these NBC video embeds (over Hulu) since you can see them outside the US. Is that correct?

Connie, do NBC videos work in IE?

By the way, this was just a reference to Katy's first hit song with the lyrics, "I kissed a girl, and I liked it." Amy was implying that she was the girl and that Katy "more than liked it."

New SNL tonight! Can't wait!

Enjoy!

Halloween is Just Around the Corner!

Hey, all! Ryan here. For all you "Hot Rod" fans looking for information on making a great Rod Kimble stunt suit for Halloween this year, I have updated the site with some good information on where to get pieces to make your suit with as well as a nice gob of newly taken and never before seen reference photos of the actual screen used Rod Kimble suit worn by Andy Samberg in the film.



Also coming soon i'll have a vector image of the cape lettering to help with that part. I do not have the actual cape, so I went off shots from the film to create as accurate a reference as possible.

I've been getting a substantial increase in the last month of people looking at the "Making a Hot Rod Costume Replica" page and so I felt now was the time to do some long overdue updates to the page.

You can view my Hot Rod Costume Mega Resource page here.

SNL THIS WEEKEND FINALLY!!!! WOO HOO!!!! And a shout out to TAE! Long time!

Andy Samberg tries to get the dessert (photos)

Part of Andy's GQ shoot. 2008 I believe.













Enjoy!

Andy Samberg and Jack Johnson in "At or With Me" (now on YouTube)

Check out Andy Samberg vs. Jack Johnson in the official music video for "At Or With Me!"

Thanks to Shazam for the scoop!

Enjoy!

Andy Samberg and Amy Poehler - new SNL PROMO!!!

I can't stop laughing! Two random Wayne's World references. Not sure why, but it's hilarious!

I can't wait! I really hope Amy does a digital short with Andy!

Thanks to Anony and Kelsey from New Media Strategies for the scoops!

Enjoy!

Andy Samberg - one of Larry King's final guests?

Larry King has an incredible line-up this week.

Barbara Walters will appear tonight in what CNN is billing as her “final interview” for Larry King Live.

Last night he had on Jimmy Carter and tomorrow night will be Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Jerry Seinfeld is on tomorrow night and promises to reveal “one of Hollywood’s best kept secrets.”

The cast of SNL and Lorne Michaels will be the final guests.

This week is the first week in a long time that it’s worth tuning in to watch Larry King Live!

From:
http://perezhilton.com/2010-09-21-larry_king_stacks_final_week_with_incredible_guests

=========================

I believe this means the SNL cast is on Friday night.

So Andy Samberg should be on Larry's show along with Lorne and the rest of the cast. We'll wait and see!

Thanks to Anony for the scoop!

Enjoy!

Andy Samberg and Chris animated Gif (Lazy Sunday)

Enjoy!

Andy Samberg - Dancing Gif

Andy dancing after punching someone right before they eat (an SNL Digital Short):



Enjoy!

Andy Samberg Fraggle Rocks!

Anybody got any Andy news? =^)

Enjoy!

Is Andy Samberg more popular than Jimmy Fallon & the other SNL guys?

With Molly Shannon readying to throw back a few drinks onstage as Promises, Promises barfly Marge MacDougall, Broadway.com asked fans to choose which Saturday Night Live star you'd like to join Shannon on the Great White Way. The tally is complete...

[And the #1 guy is...]

Representing the SNL men in fourth place [after 3 women] came Andy Samberg. The viral video auteur landed 8% of the votes. Jimmy Fallon followed closely in fifth place with 6% of the votes. After a song-filled hosting gig on the Emmy Awards, the SNL star-turned-late night chat host is hosting a Broadway week beginning September 13 on his talk show, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.

From:
http://www.broadway.com/buzz/153515/fans-want-tina-fey-to-rock-broadway/
======================

Well, at least more people think Andy would be better on Broadway than Jimmy or the other guys would be.

Enjoy!

Should the SNL newbies stay away from Hoda Kotb?

Perez sez...

Beware Of The Hoda Curse, SNL Newbies!



So far, two different actresses have portrayed Hoda Kotb opposite Kristen Wiig as Kathie Lee on Saturday Night Live. Both of those actresses were given the axe after one year on the show. So, in what was an usual turn of events for the 17th hour of The Today Show, Kathie Lee posed an insightful question:

Is there a "Hoda Curse" on the show?

Hmm. We think it's certainly possible, but maybe if the next actress commits more to the role, they'll stay around longer. We suggest three bottles of Stoli before rehearsals and an extra one for right before show time. That should get whoever it is into character right quick!

Read More: http://perezhilton.com/2010-09-09-beware-of-the-hoda-curse-snl-newbies#ixzz0zlhmCuM8

Who's doing Hoda next? Maybe Nasim? Nasim has the best chance of doing it and sticking around.

Enjoy!

Andy Samberg and Jack Johnson - "At or With Me" music video

Here's the music video:



And here's a "making of" short and interview:



Thanks to Janey for the scoop!

Wow, they really made Andy look like the alpha male in his group, but I don't think that's the case.

Enjoy!

Andy Samberg in Mirrored Image (SNL skit)

Remember when we asked you to name this skit:

http://andysamberg.blogspot.com/2010/09/kristen-wiig-was-testing-andy-samberg.html

Well here it is:



featuring Amy Adams and Kristen Wiig...

Mirror Image

Hailey Winters.....Amy Adams
Hagley Winters.....Kristin Wiig
Mr. Heffernan.....Bill Hader
Announcer.....Paula Bell

Check out the transcript here:

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/07/07gmirror.phtml

Do you know when this was?

Air Date: March 8th, 2008

Host: Amy Adams

Musical Guest: Vampire Weekend


Enjoy!

Emma Stone's SNL dreams come true

Emma Stone was first introduced to audiences as one of the hot chicks from Superbad. The object of schlubby Jonah Hill's affection, she was the out-of-your-league girl, who in the end, didn't care about looks...

Since then, Stone has avoided the hot girl typecast, appearing in roles that have actually called for her to dumb down her beauty, in such films as The House Bunny and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past that played up her considerable comic abilities [and the just-released "Easy A"]. Now the 21-year-old actress, who recently made the movie from L.A. to New York, is slinging a shotgun in Zombieland...

You said you usually played girls, and this is the first time you’ve played woman. What makes her woman?
Well, she’s not in high school, which is a big leap. I don’t know how people can pass me off as sixteen and seventeen year-olds still. I conceivably do not—like with the way I live my life, I’m like, “How the fuck am I playing in high school still?” I went back to high school for my next film Easy A, so I’ll milk that as long as I can. I have like no goal, is that weird? Other than SNL, I have absolutely no goal.

You want to do SNL?
Don’t start me on that. It’s a dream, it’s a dream of life.

Why don’t you make that happen?
I don’t know, it’s not gonna happen. Whatever, it’s fine. It’s fine, its nothing. It’s just, no, it’s not even like—it’s like, if that ever happened then I wouldn’t have anything to dream about, and then it would all be pointless.

Why don’t you quit movies and try and become a cast member on SNL? Would you rather do that than movies?
Stop it. That’s my dream. I would rather do that than anything in the world.

Wow, I had no idea.
Yeah, I mean I’m insanely crazy about Kristen Wiig and I’m so jealous of Abby Elliott its not even funny. She’s the youngest woman that’s ever been on SNL. She’s twenty one, so we’re like the same age.

From:
http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/zombielands-emma-stone-dreams-of-snl-and-mexican-food/11382

And here we see that Emma was hiding the news that she'd be on SNL...

One of her longtime dreams is to host Saturday Night Live. When asked why she didn't pull a Betty White and campaign for a chance now that she has this big movie coming out, Stone just flashes that smile again like a giddy kid on Christmas morning and says, "I'm not saying anything." But she doesn't have to.

From:
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/livefrom/post/2010/09/trying-to-stoke-the-rumor-mill-about-emma-stone/1?csp=34

And check out Emma Stone at 2:48 telling Jimmy Fallon last night that she's hosting Saturday Night Live:



She'll host on October 23rd. It's her biggest dream.

"I'm a pretend prostitute... but take your kids!"

It's interesting because she mentions SNL generically on Jimmy Fallon. She didn't specify if she's a fan of Andy Samberg or Kristen Wiig or any of the other current or past SNL players. However, in the interview article above, she did mention that she's a big fan of Kristen Wiig and jealous of Abby Elliott.

Thanks to Rishabh for the scoop!

What do you think? Is this a good move for SNL or another young hot actor hosting like they had last year?

I'd like to see her on SNL just because she's such a huge fan and that makes me curious if she'll be any good.

Enjoy!

Meredith goes on a date with Andy Samberg (in her mind)

This is Meredith:



One of the better things I've done with my existence in the past 48 hours, besides sort my socks, is create a "Dream Date" list on Twitter.

Some are more obtainable than others - Tom Ford is lost to women, even though he is very, very good looking, and Mark Ruffalo is lost to his stupid wife. She's stupid. Then we have Andrew "Andy" Samberg. He is the trifecta: funny, cute, and celebrates the festival of lights.

Since he is on the rocks with his lame-sauce harp-playing (who plays the harp?) pale girlfriend, I figured we should go out on a date, and he acquiesced.

In my mind.

Andy was initially supposed to pick me up in a Hummer limo, with blinking rims. He was going to pop out of the sunroof like in Never Been Kissed (but only in the wonderful version, not the awful and tragic 1985 flashback). However, given both of our fame levels we decided to be more subtle. As we got onto the back of his Vespa, I encountered a problem. My custom couture Chanelgown that my good friend Karl had given me during a rousing match of bocce in St. Tropez snagged in the rear. Ooops, $20,000 down the train. Karl wasn't going to be pleased.

I held on tight to Andy's strong midsection anyway. Like a boss.

I should mention that we're in Los Angeles, because we decided the weather would be better for our falling in love and wedding in Malibu. We're at Katsuya, obviously, because those big glass doors were made for photographing. Anyone who says they're going there "to get some privacy" is a big, fat, size 2 liar.

The conversation was wonderful. I'm ribbing him about Laser Cats because I really always thought the concept would be better with Meese, and he's wondering how my date write-up is going to go and how much crap I'm going to give him for making me go to Katsuya instead of Nobu. As I'm making headway into my yellowtail sashimi, I realize that the snag is getting larger and larger. Oh well. Even though the dress now extends about 1.5 inches past my hoo-ha, this is LA. At least I'm wearing pants, unlike most people these days.

We're finishing dinner, and then I see them. The swarm of paparazzi, edging closer to my nearly-exposed ladybits. I have to make a game-time decision. Will I walk out into the flashing masses literally FLASHING the masses, or do I ask Andy to lend me his pants? Andy declines, saying that he realized Bruce Willis "was dead at the end of the Sixth Sense," rendering his pants "soiled," if you know what I mean. Crap.

I decide to grin and (bare) it all. It could have been worse, a job at Kinko's straight flippin' copies. As we walked out hand in hand into the swarm, I realized something that would distract the paparazzi off of my wardrobe malfunction. I darted back into the side left table for a second to ask a favor of an old friend.

"Britney," I said, "remember that you owe me from when I defended your hair extension overuse? I think I need to use that chit right now."

She looked dubious, but understanding. "Yeah y'all?"

"Remember that thing you were going to announce but were waiting for the right time? I really need you to do it now."

"You know I was waiting for my trip with Kate and Sarah in the wilderness, but I guess I will if it means that much to you. I know what it's like to have your poon photographed."

Britney and I strode out of the restaurant, Andy gazing in awe and admiration walking first holding my hand. I put my head down, and then Britney said it while the Valet had his mouth agape.

"Vote Spears-Palin 2012!"

From:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/meredith-fineman/fifty-first-jdates-my-dat_b_691274.html

What the???

Enjoy????

Kristen Wiig is not attractive to Andy Samberg

Here's a classic skit. Can you guess it?



“I was testin’ you, but you failed! But you’re not failing at getting my privates really sweaty”

===============

Thanks to iGummerz for clarifying that the ABC logo is part of the gag since they were parodying an ABC Family show.

Enjoy!!

Ode to Jenny Slate

Jenny Slate,

Fare thee well.

Here is Jenny's pre-SNL web comedy...







And for those of you still reading. Here is her famous SNL F-bomb:



And Seth hugged her at the closing of the show, to show that he and the SNL leadership forgave her for that slip:



We wish you well, Jenny Slate.

You can probably tell that Gabe and Jenny are hilarious together. So naturally SNL thought they could leverage Jenny's talents. But I think she needs to do things with Gabe in order to really shine. So they didn't find the right pitches and sell them the way Kristen has been able to.

Jenny, I hope you find something else to make use of your talents.

- TAE

The Bathroom Here Is Nuts - HOT ROD

Hahahaha. Andy nails this.

Enjoy!

Jennifer is obsessed with Andy Samberg

Observe:

Last night I dreamt that Andy was naked.
Yummy!

And it gets weirder from there:

I am even ashamed to admit this next bit, but I even cast a bit of a spell on Andy and Joanna. To try to break them up. But, it is almost one month on and they are still together so I guess it never worked.

Read the rest on Jennifer's blog:

http://jennifersimmonssamberg.blogspot.com/

Thanks to Anony for the scoop! Enjoy!

Andy Samberg (and Jorma and Akiva) VS Jack Johnson (the teaser)

Update: GO VOTE FOR ANDY! Jack Johnson is winning (of course, it is up on his site)! Just click this link and then click "Like" on Andy's side:

http://jackjohnsonmusic.com/sambergvsjohnson

We also added Andy Samberg's videos to the bottom of this post that parody JJ!!

Thanks to Kate for the reminder! Originally posted on 9/2/10.

=======================================



Andy Samberg vs. Jack Johnson "At Or With Me" Teaser

Check out the teaser for the upcoming Jack Johnson music video for "At Or With Me." It's Samberg vs. Johnson in this brawl!

Go to the Web site here:

http://jackjohnsonmusic.com/sambergvsjohnson
========================

"I tell the best stories!" (laughter) =^)

Thanks to Janey for the scoop!

Andy Samberg's JJ Casuals commercial (also features Dratch, Hader, and Forte):

JJ Casuals - watch more funny videos

JJ Casuals aired on...
11.12.2005
03.11.2006

I think basically Jack Johnson thinks Andy is hilarious in his JJ impressions (JJ has mentioned that on his site and even hosted some SNL clips there so people could see Andy's impressions of him). However, at the same time, JJ probably is thinking that this whole "Mellow Show" thing isn't the best image.

Andy followed up his JJ Casuals commercial with the Mellow Show. He did two episodes of it, which were on...
04.12.2008
11.21.2009

Andy Samberg's Mellow Show (one of them):



Joseph Gordon-Levitt ... Jason Mraz
Dave Matthews ... Ozzy Osbourne
Bill Hader ... Dave Matthews
Andy Samberg ... Jack Johnson
Kenan Thompson ... Boyd Tinsley
Kristen Wiig ... announcer (voice)

I don't think he blames Andy. I think he sees Andy's impressions as more of a reflection of the mass market perception of Jack Johnson. And he really wants to break away from that perception. So I think thus was born JJ's idea of having a brawl music video with Andy where JJ can try to lose the stigma that he's super mellow (or at least dampen it a little).

Given the video above, Dave Matthews is also obviously a fan of Bill's impression. =^)

Enjoy!

Andy Samberg - Hot Rod Laugh

Two minutes of Andy's most annoying laugh! =^)

Enjoy!

The Groundlings and SNL (an EDitorial)

What with the addition of Taran Killam (a long-time Groundlings member) to SNL, we wanted to take a deeper-dive look at The Groundlings, and their history with SNL.



The Groundlings are an improvisational comedy troupe based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin to produce sketches and improvised scenes.

The troupe moved into their current location on Melrose Avenue in 1979.

The Groundlings School holds new sessions every six weeks with over 300 students per session, with over 2,000 students per year going through the program. The competitive program consists of 4 levels (Basic, Intermediate, Writing Lab, and Advanced). Participants must be successfully advanced from each level by the instructor. After completing the Advanced level, one may be voted into the Sunday Company, which performs every Sunday at 7:30pm. Members of the Main Company are selected from members of the Sunday Company.

Current Groundlings main members include...

Taran Killam (signed to SNL for this coming season)
Michaela Watkins (let go from SNL before last season)

Here are SNL members who came from The Groundlings...

Abby Elliott
Jimmy Fallon
Will Ferrell
Will Forte
Ana Gasteyer
Phil Hartman
Jan Hooks
Chris Kattan
Jon Lovitz
Laraine Newman (founding member of The Groundlings & SNL)
Conan O'Brien (writer & non-credited cast)
Cheri Oteri
Chris Parnell
Maya Rudolph
Julia Sweeney
Michaela Watkins
Kristen Wiig

Other famous Groundlings alumni...

Adam Carolla
Jennifer Coolidge
Kathy Griffin (Shrek Forever After)
Cheryl Hines (RV)
Lisa Kudrow (Friends)
Phil LaMarr (MadTV)
Michael McDonald (MadTV)
Pat Morita (Karate Kid & Happy Days)
Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee Herman)
Joe Ranft (voice actor for Pixar)
Dax Shepard (Punk'd & When In Rome)


Note 1: Phil Hartman and Paul Reubens were friends during their Groundlings days, and Phil encouraged Paul to put together a pilot for Pee Wee Herman. Phil also appeared on Pee Wee Herman as a fisherman, a frequent guest.

Note 2: Will Ferrell's SNL class was composed of a lot of Groundlings alumni. They must have worked so well together in the comedy troop that it was natural for them to work together on SNL. This group included Will Ferrell, Ana Gasteyer, Chris Kattan, Cheri Oteri, and at the tail end of Will's reign on SNL, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Parnell, and Maya Rudolph. (This is similar to when Lorne hired Chevy Chase, John Belushi, and Gilda Radner from the Lampoon Show back in 1975.)



Enjoy!

Paul Brittain - New SNL Player

Here's a commercial for Paul's 2007 Improv Olympics group, Topaz:



Paul Brittain as style consultant "Markus" on Sports action team episode 8 season 1 (Paul does a mean stylist bit):



Sports Action Team- Steve Prefontaine (Paul does a mean legend):



Paul's YouTube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/pwbrittain

==================

So I see the theme in Paul's humor here: violence and pure meanness. I think there's definitely a value there, espeically since David Spade's snarky, mean attitude was so valuable to SNL and helped him launch a TV sitcom and movie career.

What do you think of Paul? Do you think he will make it and stick around?

Enjoy!

Amy Poehler to host first episode of SNL?

Episode 681 (Season 36, Episode 1)
September 25, 2010 Amy Poehler; Katy Perry Musical Guest

Episode 682 (Season 36, Episode 2)
October 2, 2010 Bryan Cranston; TBA Musical Guest

Episode 683 (Season 36, Episode 3)
October 9, 2010 Jane Lynch; TBA Musical Guest



“Saturday Night Live” will have its season premiere on Sept. 25. Amy Poehler, the “S.N.L.” alumna and “Parks and Recreation” star, will be the host, and Katy Perry will be the musical guest. The Oct. 2 episode will be hosted by Bryan Cranston of “Breaking Bad,” and the Oct. 9 episode will be hosted by Jane Lynch of “Glee.”

From:
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/07/saturday-night-live-cast-adds-four-and-loses-one-more/

Comic actress Amy Poehler returns later this month to the set of "Saturday Night Live," this time as guest host for the launch of the show's 36th season on NBC.

NBC's "Parks and Recreation" star and former "SNL" regular takes over hosting duties September 25 with Katy Perry tagging along as musical guest.

Joining Poehler -- a three-time Emmy nominee -- as "SNL" hosts this fall are Bryan Cranston of the AMC series "Breaking Bad" and Jane Lynch from Fox television's musical hit "Glee." Both stars will appear on the late-night NBC sketch comedy show in October.

From:
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=11578170
===================

This is perfect for SNL! Amy's sitcom is amazing and successful, and it's time to get her in a ton of skits!

So let's hope that Andy and Amy get in a rap digital short! One can hope, right? =^)

We found this one, but thanks also to Amy, Anony, Rishabh, and Janey for mentioning it!

What do you think of Amy hosting?

Enjoy!

Saturday Night Live loses Jenny Slate?

We called it, but it was painfully obvious... Jenny Slate didn't prove her value to the show, and according to this article, she's out.

We'll miss her funny commercials, but really? That's it? Bobby, Nasim, and Abby have been busting out the impressions and characters and Jenny just wasn't keeping up and staying competitive. Yes, it is a competion; because they're only showing so many skits, so the players need killer material to get their air time, because the writers are going to concentrate on the known elements and bits that they know the players can do. Here's the article...

========================



Jenny Slate, who recently completed her first season at “Saturday Night Live,” will not be returning to the show.

“Saturday Night Live” has finalized its cast for the coming 36th season of the NBC late-night sketch series, hiring four new featured players while dropping a performer who was added to its ensemble last year. The information was provided by a person with firsthand knowledge of planning at “Saturday Night Live” but who was not given permission by NBC to speak on the matter.

Jenny Slate, who finished her freshman year at “Saturday Night Live” in the spring, will not have her contract picked up for a second season, the source said. Ms. Slate, a veteran of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, had a bit of a trial by fire at “S.N.L.” when she accidentally used an obscene word during the first episode of the 2009 season. But after settling in at the show, Ms. Slate went on to portray quirky characters like the television pitchwoman Tina-Tina Chaneuse. She also appears in the HBO comedy “Bored to Death,” and recently had a hit viral video with “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On,” a stop-motion animated short that she wrote with its director, Dean Fleischer-Camp, and for which she provided the voice of the title character.

Read more here:
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/07/saturday-night-live-cast-adds-four-and-loses-one-more/
===================

This is interesting, because essentially Nasim and Abby get the blessing, and Vanessa Bayer replaces Jenny. With females getting let go two years in a row now, Vanessa has to hit the ground running.

We found this one, but thanks also to Becca for mentioning it!

Enjoy!

Q & A: How long has Seth Meyers been the Weekend Update Anchor?

So this question comes from an Anony...

How long has Seth Meyers been the Weekend Update Anchor?

We just so happen to know the answer (and way too much more)!!!



He's starting his 5th season (so he's only had 4 seasons), but this will be only his 2nd full season as the sole anchor (a little longer than that, cuz Amy Poehler left mid season).

Amy Poehler was co-anchor for 5 seasons. Horatio Sanz co-anchored with Amy after Tina and before Seth for 1 season (05-06). Tina Fey was co-anchor for 6 seasons. Jimmy Fallon was co-anchor for 4 seasons. Colin Quinn was the sole anchor for 3 seasons (those were terrible). Norm MacDonald was the sole anchor for 4 seasons. Kevin Nealon for 3 years. Dennis Miller for 6 years (85-91). Christopher Guest for 1 year (84-85). Brad Hall was 2 years (82-84). Mary Gross and Brian Doyle-Murray co-anchored for 1 year (81-82). Jane Curtain mostly co-anchored for 4 years (76-80). Bill Murray co-anchored for 2 years (78-80). Dan Aykroyd co-anchored for 1 year (77-78). Chevy Chase anchored for 2 years (75-76).

Jane Curtain is a complicated story. She took over for Chevy Chase when he left in 76. Then in the next season (77-78), she co-anchored with Dan Aykroyd. Then they switched from Dan to Bill Murray and Jane co-anchored with Bill. So Jane has 4 years in her, but 1 wasn't a full year and 3 were as the co-anchor.

Kevin Nealon did the Subliminal News (check it out if you haven't).



So the answer to who anchored the longest (including as co-anchor):
1. Dennis Miller (6 seasons)
1. Tina Fey (6 seasons)
2. Amy Poehler (5 seasons)
3. Jane Curtain (4 seasons)
3. Norm MacDonald (4 seasons)
3. Jimmy Fallon (4 seasons)
3. Seth Meyers (4 seasons)
4. Kevin Nealon (3 seasons)
4. Colin Quinn (3 seasons)
5. Chevy Chase (2 seasons)
5. Bill Murray (2 seasons)
5. Brad Hall (2 seasons)
6. Dan Aykroyd (1 season)
6. Mary Gross (1 season)
6. Brian Doyle-Murray (1 season)
6. Christopher Guest (1 season)
6. Horatio Sanz (1 season)



Seth needs two more seasons (including this coming one) to tie with Dennis and Tina; 3 to win. Both Dennis and Tina were co-anchors in their first season, so each was only on SNL for 6 seasons. (So Seth and most of the others have the disadvantage that their first year on SNL was not as an anchor.)

Tina Fey was the only featured player to start as an anchor. (But she was the head writer at that point, so obviously Lorne was willing to take a chance with her.)



The only family members to both be anchors were Billy Murray and Brian Doyle-Murray (brothers). There have been other relatives as players, but not anchors... Belushis, Murrays, Aykroyds, Sweeneys, and Elliotts. They were all siblings except for Chris and Abby Elliott (father/daughter).

It's interesting that a lot of people thought that having Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon co-anchor was a new idea, but that first started in 1977 (3rd season) with Jane Curtain and Dan Aykroyd and continued with Jane and Bill Murray.



So if we were going to rank them for how long they anchored only as sole anchors (not co-anchors), then we have:
1. Dennis Miller (6 seasons)
2. Norm MacDonald (4 seasons)
3. Kevin Nealon (3 seasons)
3. Colin Quinn (3 seasons)
4. Chevy Chase (2 seasons)
4. Brad Hall (2 seasons)
5. Jane Curtain (1 season)
5. Seth Meyers (1 season)
5. Christopher Guest (1 season)

So if we're going by that scale, Seth doesn't have a chance. There's no way he's got 5 more years in him. =^)

- TAE

Cute video response to Andy Samberg's Great Day SNL short

SNL fans are getting younger and younger!

Thanks to Anony for the scoop! Enjoy!

Andy Samberg - 2010 Emmy photos

Thanks to Anony for the tip!





Comedians Jorma Taccone, Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer arrives at 62nd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on August 21, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.



Enjoy!

Studio News: New animation: Pepsi VS Coke - Battle of the Century

Check out our latest animation...



From the same animator as Talking Muffins and The Phone is Ringing!

Animated by Adam from MashBrothers. Go subscribe:

http://youtube.com/MashBrothers

And check out their hilarious Sleep-o-matic commercial! It's as hilarious as a Smosh commercial parody (well more so):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=80A4LGTR74M

This is our 7th animation from Adam...

1. Talking Muffins:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tJ8hOvevoGU

2. The Phone is Ringing:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MBJaBL1VpUQ

3. An Elephant and Darth Vader
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MnZvubqAbu0

4. Breaking News - Jello Jumper:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jpePj9ANAjg

5. The Carrot and the Pea:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5GlBTWBYdWw

6. T-Time with tED (select animations):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GRzpuolQT-Y

7. Pepsi VS Coke (this one)


Enjoy!

- TAE

Is Andy Samberg going to be in this upcoming season of SNL?

Read our thoughts on the bottom.

Will Any Current Stars Get The Boot?



Even more intriguing then the addition of [four] new performers is the accompanying suggestion that producer Lorne Michaels might be giving some current SNL cast members the ol’ heave-ho. As of today, Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers, Andy Samberg, Jason Sudeikis and Kenan Thompson have yet to indicate if they were re-hired, which could mean a big shake-up is in store, as well as a hysterical tear-filled farewell to any future Samberg-Timberlake comedic gems. We hope the noobs are only an expansion, not a replacement, for the current cast. Because we will be da[rn]ned if we’ll give up “What’s Up With That?” without a fight.

Read the rest here:
http://www.thefablife.com/2010-08-30/new-snl-cast-members-announced-will-any-current-stars-get-the-boot/
===========================

So we know that Andy was planning on coming back. He said so. And we know that he has one year more on his original contract (a six year contract), because he said so.

So why would he leave this season? It wouldn't be smart to kick him off the show, especially with new blood to stir up his creativity.

So I think he has one or two more seasons in him.

What do you think?

Enjoy!

SNL News - Jay Pharoah joins the cast

For a little while now, Kenan Thompson has been the only African American SNL cast member, but it looks like that may not be true for much longer. The Comic’s Comic, a blog dedicated to everything related to stand-up/sketch comedy (and the site who actually appears to have broken the news of the previous new cast additions), says Jay Pharoah, a young stand-up comedian from Virginia’s Tidewater, may be joining the cast. Aside from the increase in racial diversity, even more exciting is the fact that Pharoah may bring a new take on President Barack Obama to the table. Though Fred Armisen has done a decent job with the impersonation, he can only do so much with a man who doesn’t really have many outstanding mannerisms or speech characteristics to embellish.



Apparently Pharoah’s casting is pretty much a done deal. (Let’s hope so after being flown to NYC twice for screen tests and meetings with Lorne Michaels.) So this coming season will bring a whole slew of new talent. Below you can check out Pharoah’s comedic stylings, including quite an array of impressions — Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, Chris Tucker, Denzel Washington, Barack Obama, Katt Williams and literally dozens more.

From:
http://www.collider.com/2010/09/02/saturday-night-live-bryan-cranston-jay-pharoah/
===========================

Jay does Denzel Washington and Will Smith complaining about each other (documentary style):



Jay does Eddie Murphy and Charlie Murphy complaining about each other:



Jay's standup (he strings together his impressions):



Good Smoegel impression. Check out his Barack Obama at 3:18. Fred has just been replaced.

I think the coolest thing about his impressions is that the dude plays himself so loose and goofy that he literally transforms into a character. I haven't seen someone do that so well since Andy Kaufman.

Thanks to Janey for the scoop!

Enjoy!

SNL News - Bryan Cranston to Host on Oct 2nd

Fresh off his Emmy win last weekend, Show Tracker reports Bryan Cranston will host the October 2nd episode (which ironically enough is the second episode of the season). Though Cranston has worked his dramatic chops as of late, let’s not forget that Cranston was previously nominated for several Emmys for his comedic work as a supporting actor on Malcolm in the Middle. Head writer Seth Meyers expressed his excitement via Twitter: this will be an episode of SNL you won’t want to miss.

From:
http://www.collider.com/2010/09/02/saturday-night-live-bryan-cranston-jay-pharoah/
=====================

Three Emmys earn Bryan Cranston a 'Saturday Night Live' guest host spot



The third time really WAS the charm for Emmy-winner Bryan Cranston.

The actor who just scored his third-consecutive Emmy for lead actor in a drama for "Breaking Bad" announced on ESPN Radio's Mason & Ireland show that he would be a guest host on "Saturday Night Live" Oct. 2. It will be the first appearance on the sketch comedy series for the actor, who starred as the buffoonish father in "Malcolm In The Middle" before his stint on the hit AMC drama, where he plays a chemistry teacher who gradually becomes a drug dealer.

"I'm so thrilled and excited," Cranston said.

Vince Gilligan, the creator of "Breaking Bad," said in an interview earlier this year that he was mystified that Cranston, whom he called a "courageous actor," had never been asked to host "SNL": If Bryan "hosted 'Saturday Night Live,' he would hit it out of the park."

Cranston said in a corresponding interview that he was philosophical about not being asked to host "Saturday Night Live": "Would I like to host 'Saturday Night Live?' Hell, yes, I'd love to. But it's not going to have a big impact on my life if it doesn't happen."

From:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/09/bryan-cranston-to-host-saturday-night-live.html
=====================

Thanks to Janey for the scoop!

Bryan will be hosting the 2nd episode, before Jane Lynch. Interestingly, they're going for new blood who are older and more experienced actors, and Emmy winners. Could this be a coincidence, or are they trying to win back the mature crowd? What do you think?

Enjoy!

Space Chimps director gets Crood

Kirk De Micco has made a fantastic career jump from Space Chimps to Crood.

Here's Kirk with Andy Samberg:


Kirk started out as a writer...

Quest for Camelot (1998) (screenplay)
Racing Stripes (2005) (story)
Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie (2005) (V) (screenplay) (story)
Casper's Scare School (2006) (TV) (story)
Space Chimps (2008) (screenplay) (story)
The Croods (2012) (post-production) (writer)


The Croods will be his second directorial effort (after Space Chimps). So somehow with Space Chimps, Kirk managed to pitch the story and script and get attached as the director. Then he nailed that film, which is what got him into DreamWorks.



Jumping from Vanguard to DreamWorks is huge, because it's like bypassing WB, Universal, Sony, Fox, and Disney. The only animation studio more successful than DW right now is Pixar.

The Croods is also directed by Chris Sanders, who directed Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon. Chris also left Disney when Lassetter demanded a reset of Bolt (which Chris was then directing).

And Kirk's not done with The Croods. He's got quite the lineup that he's writing and maybe directing after that...

Pig Scrolls
The Twits
Gil's All Fright Diner
Hong Kong Phooey

So Hong Kong Phooey is the only one that's obvious. That's a return to Warner Bros (who owns the Hannah Barbara stuff), seeing how Quest for Camelot was at WB.

Enjoy!