Tag Archives: Saturday Night Live

‘SNL’ season 39 cast locked in (6 new members!), Cecily Strong to co-anchor ‘Weekend Update’

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Later this month Saturday Night Live kicks off its 39th season and fans of the late-night sketch comedy show are bracing for a major overhaul in terms of talent. After veterans Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Jason Sudeikis moved on from the show last season, SNL creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels was tasked with finding a new crop of potential stars who have the comedic chops to rock Studio 8H.

This August report has been confirmed: Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney, Noël Wells, John Milhiser, and SNL writer Michael Patrick O’Brien are all being added to the cast. Also confirmed is stand-up comedian Brooks Wheelan, a contributing writer at CollegeHumor. A grand total of six new comics are joining the SNL cast this season, and Lorne Michaels is well aware of the importance of finding the right mix of people to fill his cast.

“You can’t be famous before you’re famous,” he told The New York Times. “It’s one thing to be on a stage in Chicago or L.A.; it’s another thing to be standing in 8H. It’s like standing in Yankee Stadium. They can all play baseball, but this is something different. And the weight of all that was just more palpable to me this summer, more than ever before.”

In addition to confirming the six new cast members, Michaels dropped an even bigger bomb: in only her second year on the show, breakout featured player Cecily Strong is joining Seth Meyers at the Weekend Update desk as co-anchor. Famous for her Weekend Update character “The Girl You Wished You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With at a Party,” Strong will join Meyers at the desk in the upcoming season premiere. Michaels makes it seem like the decision was an easy one: “Cecily, from the first show, was right there,” he said. “She exploded.”

If all goes according to plan, Strong will take over as the sole Weekend Update anchor when Meyers departs SNL to host Late Night when Jimmy Fallon departs his show to run The Tonight Show. Michaels hopes, however, that Meyers will stay in his seat for the entirety of this transition season before relinquishing his title to Strong. Technically Meyers can pull double duty–Late Night only shoots Monday through Thursday leaving Friday and Saturday open for Meyers to write and anchor. As it stands, Meyers is poised to leave SNL in late February when his own late night show takes off.

Elsewhere, last year’s rookie Tim Robinson is stepping off the stage to contribute behind the scenes in the writer’s room and Colin Jost and Rob Klein will share the head writer title, the job formally held by Meyers.

SNL premieres September 29 on NBC with host Tina Fey and musical guest Arcade Fire.

[Via NYT]

‘SNL’ finds its new featured players for season 39

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Out with the old, in with the new, as the saying goes. It has been confirmed that SNL vets Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Jason Sudeikis will not be returning to Studio 8H in September, and we know that Weekend Update host and head writer Seth Myers will be bowing out in the new year as he transitions to Late Night. Fresh blood is a needed this year as much as any and if recent reports prove true, Lorne Michaels has found his (potential) new stars.

Meet Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney, Noël Wells, John Milhiser, and Michael Patrick O’Brien. The first four hail from the Upright Citizens Brigade, the well-established comedy house that fostered talent like Bobby Moynihan and Kate McKinnon. O’Brien, who might seem familiar to you, has been an SNL writer for four years now and he’s been featured in numerous sketches over the years in minor roles.

Thanks to the Internet, you can get to know the new SNL featured players by watching their sketches and improv on YouTube. Bennet and Mooney are part of a sketch comedy group called Good Neighbor; their video “Is my roommate gay?” is one to watch. You might recognize Bennet from those AT&T commercials with kids; fun fact: Lonely Island member and former SNL writer Jorma Taccone directs those spots. Wells is a great impressionist; watch her do Zooey Deschanel and Dana from Homeland. Milhiser can portray a wide range of emotions and like Mooney he’s great at being super weird; watch is encompassing acting reel and this subtle yet hysterical sketch called “Dress Code.” Thanks to his direct connection to SNL, O’Brien was able to make a really entertaining web series called 7 Minutes in Heaven and each episode features him improving with celebrities.

And there you have it. The four featured players coming to Saturday Night Live in its 39th season this fall. What do you think of the new crop of talent?

Kanye West performs new material off upcoming album ‘Yeezus’ (video inside)

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Kanye West is about to explode onto the music scene once again, this time with his upcoming sixth studio album and the followup to his critically acclaimed 2011 release My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Over the past few months ‘Ye has been working hard on the album at an undisclosed recording studio in Paris, France. It was only until very recently that the rapper resurfaced with new material. His most public debut of two brand new tracks came last night when he performed “New Slaves” and “Black Skinhead” on Saturday Night Live. The album titled Yeezus has an overall dark tone according to those few who’ve heard samples from it already, and that description is immediately apparent upon hearing the new tracks. ‘Ye embodies a form of rage with distinct political flair here, a quality fans of the genre would typically attribute to Lupe Fiasco. See for yourself in the SNL performances embedded after the break.

A day before his visit to Studio 8H, Kanye tweeted a link to his website that provided fans with a map of highlighted cities around the world; 66 buildings located in cities like New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Berlin were specially marked for fans to flock to to get a first listen of ‘Ye’s new sound. A giant image of Kanye’s face was projected onto these buildings, looping the fresh track “New Slaves.” Though it hasn’t been confirmed, sources say Frank Ocean is featured singing towards the end of the track. See how the unique fan experience went down in a clip posted after the break.

Yeezus is expected to drop June 18. For a sneak peek at the “golden” album artwork, you know where to look. Continue reading Kanye West performs new material off upcoming album ‘Yeezus’ (video inside) →

Bill Hader to depart ‘SNL’ this week, Fred Armisen & Jason Sudeikis may follow

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A trio of SNL veterans may be departing Studio 8H this weekend when the late-night sketch comedy show closes its 38th season. One is definitely confirmed to make an exit and that’s Bill Hader. The talented comedian-actor joined the cast of SNL as a featured player in 2005 and a year later he became a main member of the cast. After eights years of so many laughs (his wildly outrageous Weekend Update character Stefon will forever remain in our hearts) Hader is ready to leave his game-show host personas and impressive impersonations (James Carville and Clint Eastwood come to mind) behind.

“It was a hard decision, but it has to happen at some point,” Hader told The New York Times. “It got to a point where I said, ‘Maybe it’s just time to go.’ ”

This Saturday’s episode will be Hader’s last. But what about Jason Sudeikis, who has been fiddling with the idea of leaving the show since last year, and Fred Armisen, a 10-year vet? A New York Post article claims they will be joining Hader on the outs, but the report has not been confirmed by the actors or SNL boss Lorne Michaels.

Michaels praised Hader’s tenure with the Times. “He was so completely committed to the art of it, and enough a student of it, that there’s something strikingly original. He didn’t explode onto the air, but gradually he found his voice, and that became a huge thing.” He also commented on the rumors involving Sudeikis and Armisen. “I think they’re making their decisions, and we’ll know soon enough. I’ve said what I wanted to say to both. You never keep anybody there who doesn’t want to be there, and there is a right time to leave, but it’s more about where they are in their lives.”

Bill is one of the best talents to grace 30 Rock’s Studio 8H and he will sorely be missed next season. And if Fred and Jason leave too, next year one will be one of transition for the long-running sketch show. Also departing in early 2014 is Seth Meyers who is leaving the Weekend Update desk to take over NBC’s Late Night when Jimmy Fallon moves to The Tonight Show.

Update: Armisen and Sudeikis are joining Hader in not returning to SNL next season.

‘SNL’s Seth Meyers to take over Late Night

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Last month it was announced that Jay Leno is going to re-retire as host of The Tonight Show in the spring 2014. His successor, Jimmy Fallon. With Fallon leaving his Late Night post, rumors began to swirl as to who would take over that soon-to-be vacant position. All signs pointed to SNL cast member, head writer, and anchor of Weekend Update Seth Meyers. The signs pointed the right direction.

Today NBC made it official that Seth Meyers, who has spent twelve seasons with SNL (eight as head writer, seven as Weekend Update anchor), will become the next host of Late Night after Jimmy Fallon transitions to The Tonight Show. Lorne Michaels will executive produce Late Night with Seth Meyers, along with The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and Saturday Night Live. Michael Shoemaker will remain with Late Night as a producer.

“We think Seth is one of the brightest, most insightful comedy writers and performers of his generation,” said NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt. “His years at SNL‘s Weekend Update desk, not to mention being head writer of the show for many seasons, helped him hone a topical brand of comedy that is perfect for the Late Night franchise. We couldn’t be happier that Seth and Jimmy Fallon will be continuing their careers at NBC after growing up in this network’s late night legacy.”

Added Meyers, “I only have to work for Lorne for five more years before I pay him back for the time I totaled his car. 12:30 on NBC has long been incredible real estate. I hope I can do it justice.”

Both Meyers and Fallon made the successful transition from the SNL Weekend Update desk to a late night host; so now the big question remains: who will replace Myers as Weekend Update anchor? Make sure to tune into SNL next Saturday (with host Ben Affleck and musical guest Kanye West) to watch what may very well be Meyers’ final go at the desk.

[Via Deadline]

The Lonely Island returns with “YOLO” (Featuring Adam Levine)

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Andy Samberg made a surprise return to Saturday Night Live last weekend, and he brought with him his Lonely Island pals. Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer teamed up with host Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and NBC’s The Voice and musical guest and up-and-coming rapper Kendrick Lamar to cook up a new music video called “YOLO.” It’s some of their best work yet. Watch it here. And like most of TLI’s clips you’ll have it on repeat in no time.

‘SNL’ parodies ‘Homeland’ with over-exaggeration and spot-on impersonation

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It was only a matter of time before Saturday Night Live produced a sketch parodying the uber-popular Showtime series Homeland. Anne Hathaway proved that she’s got what it takes to over-exaggerate Claire Danes’ “crazy” Carrie Matheson, Bill Hader can add yet another spot-on impersonation to his list with his subtle portrayal of Mandy Patinkin’s Saul Berenson, and Taran Killam has the look and just the right sized mouth to pull off a believable Nicholas Brody; Kenan served as David Estes and Nasim popped in at the end for a brief but effective poke at Brody’s annoying daughter Dana. From the re-creation of the opening credits sequence to Carrie’s obsession with corkboards and her quivering chin, SNL did a stand-up job parodying the show that’s on everyone’s DVRs. Though they had the opportunity to do so much more with it (where was Saul’s ruler and peanut butter…anyone?), it’s an instant classic in my book.

‘SNL’ adds three featured players, Jason Sudeikis staying on (for now)

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As we inch ever so close to the 38th season premiere of Saturday Night Live, it’s been confirmed that three new featured players will take the place of the departed Kristin Wiig, Andy Samberg, and Abby Elliot. They are Aidy Bryant, Tim Robinson, and Cecily Strong and they all hail from Chicago’s Second City improv comedy club.

In other SNL news, although the most recent reports had Jason Sudeikis eyeing an exit from the late-night NBC show, head honcho Lorne Michaels informs us that the actor will remain on the show “at least until January” so that he can reprise his roles as presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Vice President Joe Biden as we head into election season.

And there’s one more thing: Michaels has shared that featured player Jay Pharoah will be replacing Fred Armisen as President Obama on the show this season. In an interview with the New York Times Michaels said, “Jay has been doing Obama in his act this summer, and Jay is coming into his own. I just thought it might be time to shake it up.”

SNL returns to NBC’s lineup this Saturday night (9/15) at 11:35PM with host Seth MacFarlane and musical guest Frank Ocean.

[Via EW; NYT 1, 2]