SNL: The Current Cast Discussion

[A Boston Gal]

Amen, helenamonster. And now that you've brought up the concept, I want to give Kate an imaginary Emmy for the impersonation I envision her doing in my head.

Edited June 17, 2015 by A Boston Gal

[vb68]

I'm hoping she gets a real Emmy.  She deserves it.

[Traveller519]

Kate would be great. But I would also love to see Sasheer doing white face doing black face as the impression. The whole internet would collapse at that point, I'm 87% sure of it.

[helenamonster]

Kate would be great. But I would also love to see Sasheer doing white face doing black face as the impression. The whole internet would collapse at that point, I'm 87% sure of it.

 

The Tumblr servers would never get back up to full speed ever again.

[ktwo]

Maya beats Kate and Sasheer to the job:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/sheridanwatson/maya-rudolph-impersonated-rachel-dolezal?bftw=#.bryJ1NqqV

[BatmanBeatles]

Not to change to subject, but can we all have a moment of silence for the fact that this Rachel Dolezal nonsense is breaking now and not at a time when we could see Kate do a balls-to-the-wall batshit crazy impression?

I know what you mean. I was bummed when the Kim Kardashian "break the internet" photo came out just when Nasim left.

[BoogieBurns]

I was listening to a podcast with Beck Bennett and he said they learn if their contracts are renewed on July 17th. The featured players, not the contracted cast.

[VCRTracking]

The first time I saw Vanessa Bayer's Jennifer Aniston impression was the time Zach Galifinakis hosted and it's still funny to me:

 

[helenamonster]

I'd seen her do that bit in some stand-up from a few years ago. It's nice that she's finally polished it off...in the video I saw, she was reading the whole thing straight from a notebook, it was really weird. Not even glancing down at a notebook to remind herself what the next bit was like I've seen some comics do. Actually holding up a notebook and reading the bit from it while she performed.

[Princess Sparkle]

I didn't even realize she did standup - maybe she should started later, and that's why she was reading straight from the notebook?

 

Regardless, she should either REALLY tighten up that bit, or just stick to doing a Jennifer Aniston impression.  Because other than getting the mannerisms of Rachel down (the voice def wasn't there, just the ticks), the rest of the impressions were pretty bad.  

[ABitOFluff]

Woah, Colin Jost sporting some summer hiatus hair + radio interview.

Edited July 17, 2015 by ABitOFluff

[helenamonster]

Colin's hair actually isn't that bad when he's left to style it himself. But on the show?

 

[ABitOFluff]

Colin's hair actually isn't that bad when he's left to style it himself. But on the show?

 

Yep! I like his own style, it completely changes his look.

[vb68]

 

I was listening to a podcast with Beck Bennett and he said they learn if their contracts are renewed on July 17th. The featured players, not the contracted cast.

 

 

Anybody hinting on twitter or anything yet?

[VCRTracking]

Cecily Strong interview at EW.com about her role in Staten Island Summer, the movie Colin Jost wrote which also features Kate McKinnon, Mike O'Brien, Will Forte and Fred Armisen. Here's an interesting part of where she based a Weekend Update character on:

 

I’m risking being rude, but there’s one scene with Mary Ellen in the film that reminded me of your hilarious “Weekend Update” character, One-Dimensional Female Character From a Male-Driven Comedy. By chance, was that part of the inspiration for your SNL character?
Wow. No, it actually wasn’t. It was more different scripts that I read the summer after [filming].

 

 

[vb68]

In another interview about that movie, Colin states  it's a done deal as he understands that he and Che are coming back to Update. 

[Princess Sparkle]

Aw, I liked that interview.  It also made me feel for Colin Jost - not that I ever thought he was dumb, but he does come off as very smart, measured and self-aware about his tenure behind the desk.  I really did think that both Colin & Michael found their footing by the end of the season - they actually seem like decently good friends, or at the very least, comfortable enough around each other to tease each other.  

[helenamonster]

In another interview about that movie, Colin states  it's a done deal as he understands that he and Che are coming back to Update. 

 

[Princess Sparkle]

Anybody hinting on twitter or anything yet?

This isn't Twitter, and it's not much of a surprise, but I heard Pete Davidson on the Doug Loves Movies podcast yesterday, and he confirmed he is coming back for the next season of the show.

[vb68]

 

This isn't Twitter, and it's not much of a surprise, but I heard Pete Davidson on the Doug Loves Movies podcast yesterday, and he confirmed he is coming back for the next season of the show.

 

 

Good.  I figured he was a lock and could tell they like him.  Honestly I expect everyone back.  The question is whether they hire any newbies, maybe with the Republican  circus of people running in mind, but  I just don't think there's room.

 

The cast will also be top heavy.  Beck and Kyle will need to be bumped up to the main cast after completing the regular two years of being featured, as I think Colin and Sasheer will as well.  I believe it's a union rule or something.  

[vb68]

New castmember.

 

His stand up clip is pretty funny.  Looks like he can help play some of the 60 Republican challengers. 

[helenamonster]

Well, I can't say that I laughed once, and I don't think the show needs him, but he seems to know what he's doing and I'm willing to give him a shot.

[cpcathy]

I haven't watched the clip but I don't think the show needs any new talent unless they are very witty writers.

[vb68]

Rumor is Mike O'Brien has left the building.  Not a huge surprise.  I thought they were saving face by letting him do short films last year.

[Princess Sparkle]

That actually bums me out; his pre-taped stuff was so quirky, but so funny to me.  

[Traveller519]

Oh man. I didn't want to see Mike O'Brien go. I loved that little space he worked in. Hopefully he'll have some opportunity to spread his wings with a bit of name recognition now.

[cpcathy]

I'm disappointed too. I really looked forward to his films. Hopefully it's because he's doing something really great. I just saw him on Documentary Now!

[topanga]

Shasheer is dead weight, but you know she's not getting cut.

Sasheer is awful. I hope she chooses to move on.

 

I'm curious why you think that. I do think she's underutilized. Or I should say that she's only used for certain characters: anyone who has to dance, the sassy black woman, or impressions of Rihanna/Nikki Minaj/insert black female entertainer. Is it her or the writing? I mean, are there sketches she's been in where she was asked to play a different kind of character where she was terrible? (I'm really asking--I don't know).

[helenamonster]

I'm not the person you're quoting, topanga, but I'll throw my two cents in. I, personally, find Sasheer to be very bland. No matter what parts they give her, whether they're impressions or characters, she's just dull, and uses the same Valley Girl voice for everything. She had a bit on WU last season about there being no black emojis (which has obviously since changed) and it was just totally toothless. I recognize that this show has a diversity problem, but I don't think it would be much of a loss if she was let go.

[Fostersmom]

I'm curious why you think that. I do think she's underutilized. Or I should say that she's only used for certain characters: anyone who has to dance, the sassy black woman, or impressions of Rihanna/Nikki Minaj/insert black female entertainer. Is it her or the writing? I mean, are there sketches she's been in where she was asked to play a different kind of character where she was terrible? (I'm really asking--I don't know).

 

I'm the one who called her dead weight. And like helanamonster said, she's just bland. This is SNL, if you want it, you have to put some sort of life into even the most mundane of bits. Hell, poor Vanessa pretty much plays moms or Jacob the bar mitzvah boy, but she makes every mom bit pop. Sasheer is just bland, no matter the character, even when she's doing a well known person like Minaj who is hella hard to make bland. Minaj is basically a walking SNL character, if Sasheer could make her pop, she could have a running bit. See the above Vanessa and Miley. 

[VCRTracking]

SNL player Pete Davidson tweets tribute to firefighter father on 9/11

[Lakewood27]

New castmember.

 

His stand up clip is pretty funny.  Looks like he can help play some of the 60 Republican challengers. 

 

Lol. They're going to need all hands on deck. As it is, some of the female cast members will probably have to do drag if they do a debate sketch.

[hendersonrocks]

SNL player Pete Davidson tweets tribute to firefighter father on 9/11

 

I didn't know his dad died that day until reading the (kind of effing unbelievable) story of how comedian/actor Steve Rannazzisi has just admitted to lying about being in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Pete, rightfully, gave him hell for it - albeit in a comedic kind of way.

 

Here's a read on the whole thing.

[helenamonster]

So, what are we thinking: will Darrell Hammond play Trump or will they hand the impression over to someone else?

[BoogieBurns]

Who else could play Trump? I'm always pro-Beck for anything that will get him more recognition. It's hard when Hammond is so good and back on payroll. I don't think Taran should do it though, he's tall so they need him for Jeb or whatever other tall white guys are running. 

[helenamonster]

I agree that if they do give it to someone else, Beck would be the obvious choice. It's just that Darrell is just so damn good at his impressions that it would kind of be startling to know that he's right there in the studio and not doing it. Idk, I guess we'll see. But since they brought him back as Bill Clinton, I don't see why they wouldn't do the same from Trump.

[Fostersmom]

Well, since he's not doing the creepy Colonel Sanders anymore, he should have plenty of time to play Donald while he's there anyway. 

[vb68]

And here is the answer.   I'm pretty surprised.

[BoogieBurns]

Well, now we know. Hammond playing Bill Clinton is a good way to use him without adding him to the cast. Billy boy can come and go.

[vb68]

The question I have now is how many candidates Taran will play.  I think he was already playing Jeb and Marco Rubio.   With the way Trump constantly mocks Jeb, that could be interesting.

Edited September 20, 2015 by vb68

[helenamonster]

I guess they could Jeb to Beck? Idk, when do candidates start realizing they haven't got a snowball's chance in hell of winning the nomination and respectfully back out? I can't handle the GOP Klown Kar for much longer.

 

I'll miss Darrell, but I think Taran can handle it. He's a stellar impressionist. Even when he looks nothing like the target of his impression (Matthew McConaughey).

[BoogieBurns]

They hired a new guy. Maybe he'll be Jeb. Nah, it should be Beck. In case he stays in for a long time. I bet three more guys will be out of the race before the premiere. We've got almost two weeks of nonsense. Jay is Dr. Ben, Kyle is Rand, Bobby is Cruz and Christie. 

 

Who would have thought that SNL wouldn't have enough white dudes to cover a primary election? 

[LADreamr]

Who for Carly Fiorina?

[vb68]

 

Who for Carly Fiorina?

 

Kate

[LADreamr]

I'd really like to see her just be Hillary. There's no one else who can be Carly? (Not Kristen Wiig, not Kristen Wigg...)

[BoogieBurns]

Who for Carly Fiorina?

 

Vanessa!

[vb68]

I just meant that Kate did it last season, so I would assume she still has it.

[helenamonster]

Kate's just one of those cast members where it's like, yeah, they could give the part to someone else...but at the expense of depriving the viewing public of Kate's impression?

 

God damn it, McKinnon, can't you be terrible at something, just once?

[Janimo]

Don't know if this is the place to mention this, but I just saw Kate in another ad, this time for something for Masterpass.

The woman is so amazingly versatile.

From the article at the link (and the video)

SNL actress Kate McKinnon doesn't appreciate having to waste so much time filling out all of her personal information when she's shopping online for a new dress. With MasterPass, McKinnon can spend less time typing, and more time performing a tango with her passionate dance partner.

 

Here's the link:-http://www.ispot.tv/ad/ALdU/mastercard-masterpass-dress-featuring-kate-mckinnon

[Traveller519]

I would think Keenan would make a good Cruz. He does those characters that talk like they know what they're saying but don't have a lot going on behind to back it up pretty well (Reese de'What or Willie).

 

I hope Nasim comes back on occasion to do her Bobby Jindal.