SNL in the Media

[Irlandesa]

I am perplexed by the qualifier of #30 ("which made up for the odd choice of having Aidy Bryant in several of scenarios"). Are they just anti-Aidy on principle and think it requires no explanation?

I could be wrong but I think they were confused that Aidy appeared in multiple scenarios as opposed to everyone just appearing in one as is the norm.

 

However, Kate McKinnon also appeared in multiple scenarios.  I'm just wondering if they didn't realize that.  It would seem like an odd place to throw shade if it were truly anti-Aidy.

[nowandlater]

Sasheer vs. Rihanna

http://www.etonline.com/news/165108_saturday_night_live_sasheer_zamata_talks_meeting_with_rihanna_after_impersonating_her/

[Joimiaroxeu]

Sasheer vs. Rihanna

 

Wonder why Sasheer found it necessary to make a few minor headlines for herself by climbing on Rihanna's back? IMO, she's the one who's ended up looking bad in this little episode.

[helenamonster]

Scrolled past that article while I was at work today. Ok, Sasheer.

[VCRTracking]

At the Hollywood Reporter:

 

Lena Dunham, Amy Schumer and Comedy Actress A-List in Raunchy, R-Rated Roundtable

 

Six of TV's most provocative female comedians — including Ellie Kemper, Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez and Tracee Ellis Ross — talk sexism, sex scenes, penis bags and why women need to stop apologizing: "I think people hate women. I don't think they want to hear a woman talk for too long. A lot of people project their mom yelling at them

 

 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lena-dunham-amy-schumer-comedy-797861,"says Schumer.

[helenamonster]

They talked a lot about gender and race, but I wonder if they talked at all about sexuality, seeing as how Kate is a lesbian (not sure about any of the other ladies, any of them could be bi, idk). I know it's not something that Kate talks about a lot, and it's a little bit easier to "hide" sexuality as an actor, whereas that's not the case with race or gender, but I'd be interested to hear what kind of effect, if any, her sexuality has had on her career.

 

Overall, I thought it was a really great round-table. There are so many brilliant women in comedy, I can't take anyone seriously who makes a blanket statement about women not being funny.

[Spartan Girl]

Chris Farley documentary to air on Aug 10 on Spike

 

This should be worth watching.

[vb68]

This is a pretty good story.  I guess Norm never liked Chris Kattan.  I just wish Jim Breuer could say the whole thing.

[LADreamr]

Overall, I thought it was a really great round-table. There are so many brilliant women in comedy, I can't take anyone seriously who makes a blanket statement about women not being funny.

Especially when there are so many male comics who aren't funny.

[absnow54]

Has anyone checked out the SNL Exhibition? I guess it only opened up a few days ago. I was thinking about checking it out, but was wondering if it was worth it.

[editorgrrl]

Has anyone checked out the SNL Exhibition? I guess it only opened up a few days ago. I was thinking about checking it out, but was wondering if it was worth it.

 

The Daily News took an in-depth look at what it's like:

"Saturday Night Live: The Exhibition” is more than just a museum show, but a behind-the-scenes look at a typical week in the variety program’s production cycle. Creators of the exhibit spent months watching the real-life cast and crew at work, and then set about to recreate their workweek.

 

The exhibit begins with a walk-through recreation of the entrance to 30 Rockefeller Center, and a welcome video hosted by [Alec] Baldwin, who has hosted “SNL” 16 times, the most of anyone.

 

The exhibit then follows the seven-day cycle. “Monday” is a remade version of “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels' office as it looked when the show was born. The room labeled “Tuesday” is dominated by a ticking clock that counts off the minutes as the writers feverishly compose their sketches. “Wednesday” consists of a recreation of the read-though, where Michaels typically listens to 40 proposed skits and then decides which 12 or 13 will be produced. Thursday and Friday's rooms are about set building and prop and costume making.

 

Then visitors are led into “Saturday,” first through a recreated control room and then into a full mock-up of Studio 8H, the home of “SNL.”

[helenamonster]

Has anyone checked out the SNL Exhibition? I guess it only opened up a few days ago. I was thinking about checking it out, but was wondering if it was worth it.

 

My mom is coming up next weekend and I was thinking about suggesting it as something for us to do. If we end up going, I shall report back here with how it was.

[absnow54]

Thanks! I wasn't sure if it was interactive or not, and it looks like it is!

[vb68]

Wasn't sure where to put this, but this is supposedly the schedule for the summer.

 

 6/13: Martin Freeman / Charli XCX

 6/20 - Blake Shelton 

6/27 - J.K. Simmons/D'Angelo
7/4- Amy Adams/One Direction 
7/11- Bill Hader/Hozier 
7/18- Kevin Hart/Sia 
7/25 - Chris Hemsworth/Zac Brown Band 

8/1 - Reese Witherspoon/Florence + The Machine
8/8- Jim Carrey/Iggy Azalea 
8/15- Scarlett Johansson/Wiz Khalifa
8/22- Michael Keaton/Carly Rae Jepsen
8/29- Taraji P. Henson/Mumford and Sons
9/5 - Woody Harrelson/Kendrick Lamar 

9/12- Chris Rock/Prince 
9/19 - Louis C.K./Rihanna

Edited June 10, 2015 by vb68

[helenamonster]

So my mom and I did go to that SNL exhibit, and it was well worth our time and money (this is coming from someone who has been ripped off by these kinds of things before). The way the exhibit was set up was really original (going through a typical week) and while I felt I knew everything I needed to know about the show after reading Live from New York, there were still a couple things I learned, especially regarding set-building. There were a ton of costumes, props, and set-pieces, some of which you could actually touch and/or sit on. There were pictures, videos...the whole thing was just really well put-together. My mom and I did a little damage in the gift shop, too. I got a Stefon t-shirt and she got a mug that says "SNL...established 1975" and a cowbell because she's super cool and hip.

 

Also...THIS HAPPENED.

 

 

It was the REAL WU desk and I don't even care that Tina is merely photoshopped in I AM TOO EXCITED.

[nowandlater]

I realize this is a weird complaint, but I'm not sure I like that SNL has been releasing cut sketches over the summer months.

 

Like this one:

 

 

Pratt did that sketch 9 months ago, an eternity.

 

I don't like the idea of SNL holding that obviously buzzworthy sketch -- one that should've made broadcast -- for almost an entire year so that the show could get some viral buzz while it's off.

 

Why do I have a problem with it? Because Season 40 is over... and these sketches make it seem like it's not over.

 

As I said, this is a weird complaint. We should be lucky we're even getting to see cut sketches these days.

 

I can't wait to watch the cut sketches from the Season 41 premiere in 12 months.

[Princess Sparkle]

I've seen them do that, and I actually think it's pretty smart. I don't actually agree that the sketch is buzzworthy or should've made it to broadcast - you can clearly see him stumbling over the words, and it's not really all that funny.

But what it does do is keep people thinking about SNL in the months that it's off, and they released it right after Chris Pratt had two monster weekends at the box office, almost in a "see, we had him first" kind of way.

Edited July 1, 2015 by Princess Sparkle

[biakbiak]

Great interview with Michael Che on Pete Holmes podcast the SNL specific starts about an hour ten but the whole thing is interesting and funny.

Edited July 4, 2015 by biakbiak

[Janimo]

YAY to Kate for her Emmy nom for "Supporting Actress Comedy" for SNL!!!   (Y)
All nominations below:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/emmys/emmy-award-nominations-full-list-of-2015-emmy-nominees/ar-AAd42iJ?ocid=ansVariety11

[helenamonster]

KATE, YUS. So many of my faves got noms, it's been a great day for me.

 

Also, Bill Hader and Louis C.K. were nominated for Guest Actor in a Comedy. Meh, I guess they were fine. Let's just say I won't cry if Jon Hamm edges them out for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

[possibilities]

This is not a new article, but I only just now read it. It's an analysis of Kate MacKinnon's Hillary Clinton impersonation. Also compares it to other SNL impersonations, especially Amy Poehler's Hillary, but also a little bit with Tina Fey's Palin and some of the Dude Prez ones.

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/kate-mckinnons-genius-hillary-impersonation

[VCRTracking]

Video of Kate McKinnon at the GQ photoshoot:

 

http://video.gq.com/watch/kate-mckinnon-snl-best-kisser

[helenamonster]

This disgusting, unclean earth does not deserve Kate McKinnon.

[possibilities]

http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/07/29/427190143/on-wyatt-cenac-key-peele-and-being-the-only-one-in-the-room

 

 

Talks about "being the only one in the room"-- refers to SNL cast members.

Edited August 2, 2015 by possibilities

[VCRTracking]

The new Ghostbusters cast visits Boston Children's Hospital in full costume.

 

[nowandlater]

I can't tell if this is Fred Armisen or a Fred Armisen impersonator.

 

[Janimo]

I think it's an Armisen impersonator. The "woman" is actor/drag performer Willam Belli, who is pretty awesome in his own right.

[editorgrrl]

The "woman" is actor/drag performer Willam Belli, who is pretty awesome in his own right.

Willam is Willam Belli, and Roy is Roy Haylock (aka Bianca Del Rio). I don't recognize Drew or Misty.

"The Wehoans" is a reference to West Hollywood.

Edited to add that I cross-posted the video to the RuPaul's Drag Race board, and we have a third ID:

Drew is played by model Max Emerson, (who is also the eye candy of Adore Delano's "DTF" video), but I couldn't tell who Misty was.

Edited August 18, 2015 by editorgrrl

[Janimo]

Thanks, editorgrrl. I didn't recognize Roy (Bianca) 'cause I didn't watch that season of RuPaul's Drag Race. lol Obviously, I watched Willam's season.

[vb68]

We've got news!

 

Miley, Amy Schumer, and Tracy Morgan will be hosting in October!

 

The Tracy episode will be a big deal for sure.

Edited August 17, 2015 by vb68

[cpcathy]

I rewatched Jimmy Fallon's Christmas episode from 2011 on DVR (because I truly adore it) and was just thinking of Tracy, after the reboot of "I Wish it Was Christmas Today." I've always enjoyed him on the show. I hope we get some Astronaut Jones!

[helenamonster]

 

I miss this cinnamon roll so much.

[vb68]

This is supposedly the schedule for the season, courtesy of SNL aficionados at another board.

 

 10/3, 10/10, 10/17

11/7, 11/14, 11/21
12/5, 12/12, 12/19
1/16, 1/23
2/6, 2/13
3/5, 3/12
4/2, 4/9, 4/16
5/7, 5/14, 5/21

 

The schedule always looks light to me from January- April.    I don't know why they never do 22 episodes anymore.  I think it would be good if they had one more episode in the heat of primary season sometime in February or March.

Edited August 20, 2015 by vb68

[Princess Sparkle]

I rewatched Jimmy Fallon's Christmas episode from 2011 on DVR (because I truly adore it) and was just thinking of Tracy, after the reboot of "I Wish it Was Christmas Today." I've always enjoyed him on the show. I hope we get some Astronaut Jones!

This is tangentially related to your post, but I love that episode too.  The song and dance that the whole cast did in the beginning of the ep, capped by them all ice skating at the end, are the kind of shots I love - the ones where you can see the cast happy and goofing off with each other.  It's one of the reasons that one of my sentimental favorite SNL moments is the whole first season cast singing Walking in a Winter Wonderland; it's just so nice to see. 

 

And to bring this back to SNL in the media, here's my SNL boyfriend Bobby talking about his role in Colin's movie, and some of the characters they write together on WU.  I knew that they wrote Drunk Uncle together; I had no idea they also wrote Anthony Crispino together.   

[cpcathy]

Bobby told Seth Meyers that Anthony Crispino is based on someone named....Anthony Crispino.

[Princess Sparkle]

Yeah; he mentioned that in the article.  Apparently, it's the name of someone Colin is friends with from back home.  I guess Bobby met the actual Anthony Crispino when he was in Staten Island filming the movie.

[Ruby25]

I'm surprised they're not doing a Halloween episode this year. Does anyone know why they don't do the full 22 episodes anymore?

[helenamonster]

I'm guessing the 10/17 episode will be the Halloween one, if they have one at all. Halloween is on a Saturday this year so I can understand them not wanting to do a show that week, but there is still 10/24...although that would either force them to do four shows in a row or to have two shows, a week off, another show, and then a week off after that. Idk, my guess is that the schedule is mandated by the network based on ratings mumbo jumbo. Perhaps NBC feels that only doing 20 new shows a season is more profitable than doing 22.

[vb68]

 

although that would either force them to do four shows in a row or to have two shows, a week off, another show, and then a week off after that. Idk,

 

I don't think they have ever done just one show and then go dark.  It's always at minimum in two episode blocks.   I guess there are budgetary reasons for that.

 

I honestly don't know how much control Lorne has over the schedule.   I'm sure he has a great deal of say, but whether he has the final say or not, I'm not really sure. 

[ajsnaves]

I don't think they have done 22 episodes for years.  It is probably the same reason they don't do 4 episodes in a row if they can avoid it.  The burn out level is tremendous the extra shows would probably suck.  Sometimes I also wonder if sometimes they have trouble finding hosts.  It seems like they are announcing hosts closer and closer to when the episodes air, particularly in the January/February episodes.

[Ruby25]

The last time they did 22 was the 2011-2012 season. Then they just stopped for some reason. So it really hasn't been that long.

[ajsnaves]

I stand corrected on the number of episodes issue.  I could have sworn 20 episodes was standard for the last 30 years at least, but it look like for a number of years recently it was 22.  I still think it is a quality, energy issue, and those extra episodes are just not worth it.  Then again, it is not like the quality has been phenomenally high lately to begin with.

[vb68]

I think they originally went up to 22 episodes to make up for the last season with the writer's strike when they only did a handful of episodes.

[helenamonster]

The determination of scheduling is probably some kind of balance between Lorne/the other producers and the network. Lorne has enough clout with the network that I could see him devising a preferred schedule and giving it to the network to ok, but he couldn't possibly have total control over the schedule because that's not how TV works (like how SNL goes on a hiatus when the Winter Olympics are on; that is not Lorne's decision). All the network cares about is the bottom line, and I'm sure there's some kind of science to determine which weeks would be more profitable in terms of making a new episode as opposed to simply saving money on the production cost and airing a rerun. It's the same logic as why most shows don't air new episodes over the holidays; most people aren't watching TV because they're on vacation or spending time with family or whatever, so why waste the money on producing new episodes?

 

There's also the element of corporate synergy that goes into a show like SNL, where many times a host is coming on to promote a project that is under the NBCUniversal umbrella. There has to be a certain strategy in making sure a new show is being produced the same weekend that a potential blockbuster film opens or whatever. So I guess while the schedule might not make sense to us, it probably makes sense from a network standpoint.

[VCRTracking]

Melissa McCarthy instagrammed:

 

3 cheers to @theellenshow from all the remarkable women of #ghostbusters. When we stand together we are unstoppable! #girlpower

 

[nowandlater]

They barely crossed paths, but it's good to hear that Sasheer and Brooks Wheelan are hanging out.

 

https://instagram.com/p/65K-KduutQ/

[helenamonster]

Oh my God, I am cackling at that first comment.

[helenamonster]

Musical guests have been announced:

 

Miley Cyrus will be pulling double duty for the premiere. (Oh, Show. Who hurt you so badly? Did no one on staff see her VMA trainwreck?)

 

The Weeknd will be performing on the Amy Schumer episode.

 

Demi Lovato is scheduled for the Tracy Morgan episode.

[nowandlater]

Well, SNL is back at work, spending 3 weeks on that hilarious sketch we'll see in the premiere.

https://instagram.com/p/7Y0iu_SokM/

[hendersonrocks]

Alex Trebek says Turd Ferguson on Jeopardy. For real!

 

This woman deserves alllllll the glory.