The chants and shouts of pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted the entry to the Washington Hilton for this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, but once inside, attendees were greeted with what has become the usual scene: Celebrities on the red carpet, a crush for the security line and glitterati packed into a cavernous ballroom.
“I want to thank my wife for enduring lots of jokes and for agreeing to individually meet everyone in this room right after the ceremony,” the evening’s featured entertainer, Colin Jost, quipped about Scarlett Johansson, who posed for photos with a non-stop stream of attendees. She continued to do so later in the evening, at the Comcast-nbcu after party at the French ambassador’s residence.
Joe Biden laughs at Colin Jost as he entertains at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
The protests outside — now ubiquitous at any public event, much less one that mixes politics,...
“I want to thank my wife for enduring lots of jokes and for agreeing to individually meet everyone in this room right after the ceremony,” the evening’s featured entertainer, Colin Jost, quipped about Scarlett Johansson, who posed for photos with a non-stop stream of attendees. She continued to do so later in the evening, at the Comcast-nbcu after party at the French ambassador’s residence.
Joe Biden laughs at Colin Jost as he entertains at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
The protests outside — now ubiquitous at any public event, much less one that mixes politics,...
- 4/28/2024
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
"You are the one that left." "For my career." "I don't buy that." Brainstorm Media has revealed the trailer for an indie comedy titled Cora Bora, the latest from indie filmmaker Hannah Pearl Utt. This premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival and it also played at the Provincetown, Frameline, Outfest LA, and Stockholm Film Festivals last year. Now set for a release in June in limited theaters. Cora Bora stars Hack's standout talent Meg Stalter as Cora. After a floundering music career, she goes back home to win her girlfriend back but will realize that it's much more than her love life that needs salvaging. The ensemble cast includes Jojo T. Gibbs, Manny Jacinto, Ayden Mayeri, Thomas Mann, Chrissie Fit, Andre Hyland, Margaret Cho, with Chelsea Peretti and Darrell Hammond. This looks light and screwy and funny. Might be fun. // Continue Reading ›...
- 4/25/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Megan StalterScreenshot: YouTube
Anyone who’s watched a few episodes of HBO’s excellent, very funny Hacks has already been exposed to the comedic wrecking ball style of Megan Stalter, who manages to steal pretty much every scene she shows up in as devotedly incompetent agents’ assistant/boss’ daughter Kayla.
Anyone who’s watched a few episodes of HBO’s excellent, very funny Hacks has already been exposed to the comedic wrecking ball style of Megan Stalter, who manages to steal pretty much every scene she shows up in as devotedly incompetent agents’ assistant/boss’ daughter Kayla.
- 4/25/2024
- by William Hughes
- avclub.com
Meg Stalter is taking the lead in her latest feature “Cora Bora.”
The comedy, which premiered at the 2023 SXSW Festival, stars the “Hacks” breakout actress as the titular musician who goes home to win back her girlfriend only to realize it’s much more than her love life that needs salvaging.
Hannah Pearl Utt directs the comedy from a script by Rhianon Jones. The cast includes Jojo T. Gibbs, Manny Jacinto, Ayden Mayeri, Thomas Mann, Chrissie Fit, Andre Hyland, Margaret Cho, Chelsea Peretti, and Darrell Hammond. The film features original music and a score composed by indie artist Miya Folick.
“I’m thrilled for audiences to get to see Meg in a leading role and to fall for her character the way I have,” director Utt said in a press statement.
The IndieWire review called Stalter a “whirlwind and a universe unto herself” who boasts “her unique brand of uncomfortably confident loser” onscreen.
The comedy, which premiered at the 2023 SXSW Festival, stars the “Hacks” breakout actress as the titular musician who goes home to win back her girlfriend only to realize it’s much more than her love life that needs salvaging.
Hannah Pearl Utt directs the comedy from a script by Rhianon Jones. The cast includes Jojo T. Gibbs, Manny Jacinto, Ayden Mayeri, Thomas Mann, Chrissie Fit, Andre Hyland, Margaret Cho, Chelsea Peretti, and Darrell Hammond. The film features original music and a score composed by indie artist Miya Folick.
“I’m thrilled for audiences to get to see Meg in a leading role and to fall for her character the way I have,” director Utt said in a press statement.
The IndieWire review called Stalter a “whirlwind and a universe unto herself” who boasts “her unique brand of uncomfortably confident loser” onscreen.
- 4/25/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Lorne Michaels is an expert at celebrating the legacy of “Saturday Night Live.” The show’s creator has produced variety specials for the NBC program’s 15th anniversary, 25th anniversary and 40th anniversary, so the upcoming 50th season should have a highly entertaining spectacle. Nothing less than a three-hour event would be expected, but how else should “SNL” celebrate the golden anniversary season, which would begin in the autumn of 2024 and continue through May, 2025?
Here is our exciting, fun suggestion for a way to go above and beyond for the live special. Over the course of a 20-22 episode season, NBC would certainly have almost every episode featuring the current cast along with hot guest hosts and musical guests. However, for the other five episodes spread out over several months, devote an entire 90 minutes to each previous decade. Invite back the biggest cast members from a decade along with well-known guest hosts and music stars.
Here is our exciting, fun suggestion for a way to go above and beyond for the live special. Over the course of a 20-22 episode season, NBC would certainly have almost every episode featuring the current cast along with hot guest hosts and musical guests. However, for the other five episodes spread out over several months, devote an entire 90 minutes to each previous decade. Invite back the biggest cast members from a decade along with well-known guest hosts and music stars.
- 4/3/2024
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
For decades, the Menendez brothers’ case has captivated Americans. In 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents, José and Kitty Menendez. The brothers are now serving life sentences. Over the years, new details, evidence, and theories have circulated, keeping the case in the headlines. Now, Fox’s streaming service, Fox Nation, tells another side to this wild story. A new four-part docuseries, “Menendez Brothers: Victims or Villains,” begins streaming exclusively on Fox Nation on Monday, March 25. You can watch with a 60-Day Free Trial of Fox Nation.
How to Watch 'Menendez Brothers: Victims or Villains' When: Monday, March 25, 2024 Where: Fox Nation Stream: Watch with a 60-Day Free Trial of Fox Nation. 60-Day Free Trial$5.99+ / month fox nation via directv stream About 'Menendez Brothers: Victims or Villains'
“Menendez Brothers: Victims or Villains” raises questions about whether Lyle and Erik killed their parents as an act of self-defense. The men’s lawyers...
How to Watch 'Menendez Brothers: Victims or Villains' When: Monday, March 25, 2024 Where: Fox Nation Stream: Watch with a 60-Day Free Trial of Fox Nation. 60-Day Free Trial$5.99+ / month fox nation via directv stream About 'Menendez Brothers: Victims or Villains'
“Menendez Brothers: Victims or Villains” raises questions about whether Lyle and Erik killed their parents as an act of self-defense. The men’s lawyers...
- 3/25/2024
- by Aubrey Chorpenning
- The Streamable
If you didn't know Quentin Tarantino hosted "Saturday Night Live" in the 1990s, and had to guess when he took the Studio 8H stage, your best options would be early 1995 (when the zeitgeisty "Pulp Fiction" was speeding toward an Academy Awards showdown with "Forrest Gump"), early 1996 (to promote "From Dusk till Dawn") or late 1997/early 1998 (in support of "Jackie Brown"). None of these would be correct.
No, the brash indie filmmaking sensation guested on November 11, 1995, with nothing to promote but himself. This might seem peculiar now, but it made perfect sense at the time because, after the Oscars, Tarantino was hitting the talk show circuit harder than Don Rickles. Could you blame him? He'd skyrocketed from know-it-all video store clerk to generational filmmaking genius. The problem here was that Tarantino knew he was a genius before critics and fans started telling him so. As a result, he felt free to...
No, the brash indie filmmaking sensation guested on November 11, 1995, with nothing to promote but himself. This might seem peculiar now, but it made perfect sense at the time because, after the Oscars, Tarantino was hitting the talk show circuit harder than Don Rickles. Could you blame him? He'd skyrocketed from know-it-all video store clerk to generational filmmaking genius. The problem here was that Tarantino knew he was a genius before critics and fans started telling him so. As a result, he felt free to...
- 2/19/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
This oughta make his son C.J. Rossitano proud: Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost has been tapped to serve as the featured entertainer at the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.
The Whca’s annual shindig, which is broadcast by C-span, is set for Saturday, April 27 — so, assume SNL will be in rerun mode that evening.
More from TVLineS.W.A.T. Moves Two Vets to Recurring in Final Season, EP Promises a 'Proper Curtain Call' for Each (Exclusive)TVLine Items: The Chi Return Date, We're Here Season 4 Premiere and MoreThe Regime: HBO Releases Official Trailer For Kate Winslet Limited...
The Whca’s annual shindig, which is broadcast by C-span, is set for Saturday, April 27 — so, assume SNL will be in rerun mode that evening.
More from TVLineS.W.A.T. Moves Two Vets to Recurring in Final Season, EP Promises a 'Proper Curtain Call' for Each (Exclusive)TVLine Items: The Chi Return Date, We're Here Season 4 Premiere and MoreThe Regime: HBO Releases Official Trailer For Kate Winslet Limited...
- 2/9/2024
- by Ryan Schwartz
- TVLine.com
What is ‘Poor Things’? Emma Stone has been applying to be a contestant on Jeopardy! for years and has yet to make the cut. Sure, Ken Jennings would likely welcome her on Celebrity Jeopardy! with open arms, and she could likely pillory the guy from Wings or the other guy who was on The Mindy Project with her intellect, but she told Variety on Wednesday that she wants to compete on the real deal.
“That’s my favorite show,” she said. “That’s my dream. You know, I apply every June.
“That’s my favorite show,” she said. “That’s my dream. You know, I apply every June.
- 1/12/2024
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Political satire has long been a staple of Saturday Night Live, with its uncanny impersonations of public figures becoming a hallmark of the show. The portrayal of GOP lawmakers, in particular, has provided not only entertainment but also a peculiar mirror to American politics. In this article, we’ll rank some of the most memorable SNL impersonations of GOP lawmakers, considering their accuracy, comedic value, and cultural impact. 1. Darrell Hammond as Dick Cheney Darrell Hammond’s portrayal of former Vice President Dick Cheney stands out for its meticulous attention to detail. Hammond captured Cheney’s stoic demeanor and distinct vocal cadence, bringing...
- 12/23/2023
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
The 49th season of “Saturday Night Live” premiered on October 14, 2023, just a couple of weeks later than usual due to the writers’ strike and actors’ strike. In a move of solidarity, none of the cast members from last year’s truncated 48th cycle departed. The one addition to this year’s cast is Chloe Troast, a comedian, writer and actress who has worked with “SNL” writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins and Ben Marshall of the comedy group “Please Don’t Destroy.”
Scroll through our photo gallery below to see the full “Saturday Night Live” Season 49 cast for “SNL” 2023-24. Brand new episodes of NBC’s late night sketch comedy series will air live coast-to-coast this season on Saturday evenings at 11:30 Et/ 10:30 Ct/ 9:30 Mt/ 8:30 Pt. Darrell Hammond returns again as the show’s announcer, while Lorne Michaels still serves as the showrunner and executive producer.
Scroll through our photo gallery below to see the full “Saturday Night Live” Season 49 cast for “SNL” 2023-24. Brand new episodes of NBC’s late night sketch comedy series will air live coast-to-coast this season on Saturday evenings at 11:30 Et/ 10:30 Ct/ 9:30 Mt/ 8:30 Pt. Darrell Hammond returns again as the show’s announcer, while Lorne Michaels still serves as the showrunner and executive producer.
- 10/20/2023
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
After "Saturday Night Live" ended season 48 a little prematurely back in the spring due to the Hollywood strikes beginning, the late night sketch comedy show returned for season 49 this weekend. Despite the fact that the Screen Actors Guild is still on strike while negotiating for a new deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), SAG-AFTRA gave its full support for the cast of "SNL" to return to work, which meant former cast member Pete Davidson finally got to make his hosting debut.
While it might seem like a quick turnaround for Davidson to return as host so soon after leaving at the end of season 47, plenty of other more recent cast members have come back to the show as host just as quickly, such as Kristen Wiig, Andy Samberg, and Bill Hader. However, since Davidson wasn't exactly known for many recurring characters or impressions, it didn't...
While it might seem like a quick turnaround for Davidson to return as host so soon after leaving at the end of season 47, plenty of other more recent cast members have come back to the show as host just as quickly, such as Kristen Wiig, Andy Samberg, and Bill Hader. However, since Davidson wasn't exactly known for many recurring characters or impressions, it didn't...
- 10/15/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
“Saturday Night Live” premiered October 11, 1975 on NBC with a group of fresh-faced cast members known as the “Not Ready For Prime-Time Players.” None of those original stars lasted for more than five seasons, but they all made their mark on the late night sketch series that is still going strong nearly five decades later.
Over the past 49 seasons (and counting), who are “SNL’s” longest-running cast members ever? Kenan Thompson currently holds the record at a whopping 21 seasons. His closest competition is Darrell Hammond, who starred for 14 seasons before leaving and then returning as the show’s announcer. Scroll through our “Saturday Night Live” photo gallery below to see more long-time cast members. Originally published January 2023.
Over the past 49 seasons (and counting), who are “SNL’s” longest-running cast members ever? Kenan Thompson currently holds the record at a whopping 21 seasons. His closest competition is Darrell Hammond, who starred for 14 seasons before leaving and then returning as the show’s announcer. Scroll through our “Saturday Night Live” photo gallery below to see more long-time cast members. Originally published January 2023.
- 10/13/2023
- by Marcus James Dixon and Misty Holland
- Gold Derby
The 49th season of “Saturday Night Live” will premiere on October 14, 2023, just a couple of weeks later than usual due to the writers’ strike and actors’ strike. In a move of solidarity, none of the cast members from last year’s truncated 48th cycle have departed. The one addition to this year’s cast is Chloe Troast, a comedian, writer and actress who has worked with “SNL” writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins and Ben Marshall of the comedy group “Please Don’t Destroy.” (NBC is expected release Troast’s photo and bio in the coming days.)
Scroll through our photo gallery above (or click here for direct access) to see the full “Saturday Night Live” Season 49 cast for “SNL” 2023-24. Brand new episodes of NBC’s late night sketch comedy series will air live coast-to-coast this season on Saturday evenings at 11:30 Et/ 10:30 Ct/ 9:30 Mt/ 8:30 Pt. Darrell Hammond...
Scroll through our photo gallery above (or click here for direct access) to see the full “Saturday Night Live” Season 49 cast for “SNL” 2023-24. Brand new episodes of NBC’s late night sketch comedy series will air live coast-to-coast this season on Saturday evenings at 11:30 Et/ 10:30 Ct/ 9:30 Mt/ 8:30 Pt. Darrell Hammond...
- 10/4/2023
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
To hear Jason Sudeikis talk about it, "Saturday Night Live" is the best thing that can happen to a comedian, and also the worst. Public exposure, he once felt, came at a great price.
Before he wrote for "SNL," Sudeikis was working with the Las Vegas branch of Chicago's celebrated Second City comedy troupe. The Second-City-to-"SNL" pipeline has always been quite direct, and many alumni from Chicago would go on to become well-known names in Lorne Michaels' famed New York TV program. Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Chris Farley, Tim Meadows, Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Aidy Bryant are all Second City veterans.
While Sudeikis began writing for "SNL" in the early 2000s and was brought on as a cast member in 2005, he admits he initially felt hostile toward the show. He knew that being involved with "SNL" would be a great career move, but being...
Before he wrote for "SNL," Sudeikis was working with the Las Vegas branch of Chicago's celebrated Second City comedy troupe. The Second-City-to-"SNL" pipeline has always been quite direct, and many alumni from Chicago would go on to become well-known names in Lorne Michaels' famed New York TV program. Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Chris Farley, Tim Meadows, Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Aidy Bryant are all Second City veterans.
While Sudeikis began writing for "SNL" in the early 2000s and was brought on as a cast member in 2005, he admits he initially felt hostile toward the show. He knew that being involved with "SNL" would be a great career move, but being...
- 3/30/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Having transformed his body to play superhero Kingo in Marvel's "Eternals," then reinventing himself for Hulu's "Welcome To Chippendales" series, Kumail Nanjiani has truly ascended to star status. Since his 2017 autobiographical rom-com "The Big Sick" became a hit, Nanjiani has proven himself a versatile actor, capable of much more than the stereotypical roles he was previously offered. As he told GQ, "With brown people, there are very specific roles that we used to get. Either we're terrified or we're causing terror." Now, having become Marvel's first South Asian superhero and having consistently subverted Hollywood stereotypes, Nanjiani has come a long way.
But before he ascended in such spectacular fashion, Nanjiani spent many years as a standup comedian trying to break into the industry upon which he'd eventually have such an impact. Having moved to the states from his native Pakistan in the late '90s, the aspiring comedian eventually...
But before he ascended in such spectacular fashion, Nanjiani spent many years as a standup comedian trying to break into the industry upon which he'd eventually have such an impact. Having moved to the states from his native Pakistan in the late '90s, the aspiring comedian eventually...
- 3/25/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Ever since her breakout role on the Hollywood insider comedy “Hacks,” comedian Meg Stalter has pretty much cornered the market on lovably annoying characters. She pretty handily steals the whole show as incompetent assistant from hell Kayla on the Emmy-winning HBO comedy, turning blasé clueless rich girl into an archetype, a lifestyle, and a personal brand. It was only a matter of time before some enterprising writers gave her a star vehicle of her own, and she proves herself just as funny as the main character in “Cora Bora.”
A conventional quirky comedy about a struggling musician trying to win her girlfriend back, “Cora Bora” follows a fairly predictable formula, right down to a kooky detour at an orgiastic poly commune. Stalter is a whirlwind and a universe unto herself, and the other players merely respond to whatever zaniness she throws down. Though reliably funny, her unique brand of uncomfortably...
A conventional quirky comedy about a struggling musician trying to win her girlfriend back, “Cora Bora” follows a fairly predictable formula, right down to a kooky detour at an orgiastic poly commune. Stalter is a whirlwind and a universe unto herself, and the other players merely respond to whatever zaniness she throws down. Though reliably funny, her unique brand of uncomfortably...
- 3/13/2023
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
The first episode of "Saturday Night Live" to feature its now-famous "Celebrity Jeopardy!" sketch aired on December 7, 1996. The episode's guest host, Martin Short, played Jerry Lewis. Norm McDonald played Burt Reynolds. Most notoriously, Darren Hammond played Sean Connery. The central gag of "Celebrity Jeopardy!" is that the celebrities are all kind of dumb, to the point that they don't seem to perceive that they are on a game show. Alex Trebek (Will Farrell) can barely mask his annoyance with their outward idiocy. "Celebrity Jeopardy!" also gained a lot of traction in allowing SNL's guest hosts to do their worst celebrity impersonations. Tobey Maguire, for instance, doesn't look or sound very much like Keanu Reeves, nor does Jimmy Fallon resemble Hilary Swank, but they ere impersonated anyway. In one notable twist, Tom Hanks played himself, only he was a version of himself that was too dumb to get his hand out of a pickle jar.
- 3/13/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
South by Southwest on Wednesday revealed the second half of its lineup for this year’s edition, set for March 10-19.
This includes Visions, the Global section presented by Mubi, 24 Beats, and Festival Favorites plus numerous additions to the Headliners, TV Premieres, Narrative and Documentary Spotlight and other sections.
‘Swarm’
New on the sked is Janine Nabers and Donald Glover’s Amazon Studios series Swarm and Lee Sung Jin’s Beef, respectively the opening- and closing-night TV premieres. They join the previously announced opening-night world premiere of Paramount’s Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
This year’s closing-night film will be announced closer to the event. In addition, there is another movie to be announced for the fest’s Monday, March 13 slot. Given the Oscars on March 12 (note the festival sets their dates five years in advance), I understand that evening’s lineup will ease a bit with amped-up...
This includes Visions, the Global section presented by Mubi, 24 Beats, and Festival Favorites plus numerous additions to the Headliners, TV Premieres, Narrative and Documentary Spotlight and other sections.
‘Swarm’
New on the sked is Janine Nabers and Donald Glover’s Amazon Studios series Swarm and Lee Sung Jin’s Beef, respectively the opening- and closing-night TV premieres. They join the previously announced opening-night world premiere of Paramount’s Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
This year’s closing-night film will be announced closer to the event. In addition, there is another movie to be announced for the fest’s Monday, March 13 slot. Given the Oscars on March 12 (note the festival sets their dates five years in advance), I understand that evening’s lineup will ease a bit with amped-up...
- 2/1/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
South by Southwest Conference and Festivals is nearly upon us, as it runs from March 10-19 in beautiful Austin, Texas. And as such, the second wave of the 2023 Film & TV Festival Lineup including all Visions, Global presented by Mubi, 24 Beats, and Festival Favorites plus numerous additions to Headliners, TV Premieres, Narrative and Documentary Spotlight, and other sections, have been announced.
Additionally, SXSW also announced that Janine Nabers and Donald Glover’s “Swarm” and Lee Sung Jin’s “Beef” will be the Opening and Closing Night TV premieres. The Film & TV Festival’s opening night film is the previously announced “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.” This year’s Closing Night Film will be announced closer to the event. (What will it be?)
Where else can you see the world premiere of a Hollywood blockbuster like “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” as well as documentaries on the Blackberry smart phone and Canadian music channel MuchMusic?...
Additionally, SXSW also announced that Janine Nabers and Donald Glover’s “Swarm” and Lee Sung Jin’s “Beef” will be the Opening and Closing Night TV premieres. The Film & TV Festival’s opening night film is the previously announced “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.” This year’s Closing Night Film will be announced closer to the event. (What will it be?)
Where else can you see the world premiere of a Hollywood blockbuster like “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” as well as documentaries on the Blackberry smart phone and Canadian music channel MuchMusic?...
- 2/1/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Donald Glover’s Amazon show Swarm, Apple’s making-of Tetris movie and Disney+ series American Born Chinese are among the new additions to the TV and film lineup at the upcoming SXSW festival.
The Elizabeth Banks-produced MGM movie Bottoms, from the team behind Shiva Baby, is set for the headliners section, joining the Taron Egerton-fronted Tetris and previously announced titles Problemista, from A24, franchise flick Evil Dead Rise, and Eva Longoria’s directorial debut, Flamin’ Hot. Dungeons & Dragons will open the fest.
As for TV premieres, in addition to Swarm and American Born Chinese, Lee Sung Jin’s Beef, and David E. Kelley’s Love & Death will screen at the festival. Also notable on the TV front: The fest will screen Demascus, which was recently axed by network AMC amid an ongoing shake-up at the network and its hope to write down around 400 million of content...
The Elizabeth Banks-produced MGM movie Bottoms, from the team behind Shiva Baby, is set for the headliners section, joining the Taron Egerton-fronted Tetris and previously announced titles Problemista, from A24, franchise flick Evil Dead Rise, and Eva Longoria’s directorial debut, Flamin’ Hot. Dungeons & Dragons will open the fest.
As for TV premieres, in addition to Swarm and American Born Chinese, Lee Sung Jin’s Beef, and David E. Kelley’s Love & Death will screen at the festival. Also notable on the TV front: The fest will screen Demascus, which was recently axed by network AMC amid an ongoing shake-up at the network and its hope to write down around 400 million of content...
- 2/1/2023
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Saturday Night Live” premiered October 11, 1975 on NBC with a group of fresh-faced cast members known as the “Not Ready For Prime-Time Players.” None of those original stars lasted for more than five seasons, but they all made their mark on the late night sketch series that is still going strong nearly five decades later.
Over the past 48 seasons (and counting), who are “SNL’s” longest-running cast members ever? Kenan Thompson currently holds the record at a whopping 20 seasons. His closest competition is Darrell Hammond, who starred for 14 seasons before leaving and then returning as the show’s announcer. Scroll through our “Saturday Night Live” photo gallery above (or click here for direct access) to see more long-time cast members.
SEE1st ‘Saturday Night Live’ guest hosts for 2023 are Aubrey Plaza, Michael B. Jordan
Kenan Thompson
20 seasons (2003-Present)
Popular characters: Diondre Cole, Steve Harvey, Darnell Hayes, Bill Cosby, Diner Lobster, Lorenzo...
Over the past 48 seasons (and counting), who are “SNL’s” longest-running cast members ever? Kenan Thompson currently holds the record at a whopping 20 seasons. His closest competition is Darrell Hammond, who starred for 14 seasons before leaving and then returning as the show’s announcer. Scroll through our “Saturday Night Live” photo gallery above (or click here for direct access) to see more long-time cast members.
SEE1st ‘Saturday Night Live’ guest hosts for 2023 are Aubrey Plaza, Michael B. Jordan
Kenan Thompson
20 seasons (2003-Present)
Popular characters: Diondre Cole, Steve Harvey, Darnell Hayes, Bill Cosby, Diner Lobster, Lorenzo...
- 1/7/2023
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
The May 2022 finale turned out to be the end of the road for popular “Saturday Night Live” cast members Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney and Pete Davidson. In September 2022, four more stars — Alex Moffat, Melissa Villasenor, Aristotle Athari and Chris Redd — left the program. Despite those eight departures, there are still 13 “SNL” returnees on the call sheet and all of them* returned to Studio 8H on October 1 for the 48th season premiere.
In addition, four newbies joined the roster of Not Ready for Prime Time Players during the October 2022 premiere. Scroll through our photo gallery below to see the full “Saturday Night Live” Season 48 cast for “SNL” 2022-23. Brand new episodes of the late night sketch comedy series will air live coast-to-coast this season on Saturday evenings at 11:30 Et/ 10:30 Ct/ 9:30 Mt/ 8:30 Pt. Darrell Hammond returns as full-time announcer and Lorne Michaels still serves as an executive producer.
In addition, four newbies joined the roster of Not Ready for Prime Time Players during the October 2022 premiere. Scroll through our photo gallery below to see the full “Saturday Night Live” Season 48 cast for “SNL” 2022-23. Brand new episodes of the late night sketch comedy series will air live coast-to-coast this season on Saturday evenings at 11:30 Et/ 10:30 Ct/ 9:30 Mt/ 8:30 Pt. Darrell Hammond returns as full-time announcer and Lorne Michaels still serves as an executive producer.
- 12/23/2022
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Kenan Thompson — 18 seasons and counting (2003- ) Thompson, who first broke out in the 1990s Nickelodeon sketch series “All That” and co-starred with Kel Mitchell in the 1996-2000 sitcom “Kenan & Kel,” joined “SNL” in 2003. After two years as a featured player, he was promoted in 2005 — and has cemented his reputation as the longest-serving cast member in the show’s history. Best characters: Diondre Hall, host of “What’s Up With That”; Steve Harvey; “Cinema Classics” host Reese De’What; Al Sharpton
Darrell Hammond — 14 seasons (1995-2009) The gifted impressionist who impersonated more than 100 people on the show used to hold the record for the longest-serving cast member — though he could reclaim the title since he served as the show’s announcer after Don Pardo died in 2015. Best characters: Bill Clinton, Sean Connery, Jay Leno, Donald Trump
Seth Meyers — 13 seasons (2001-2014) Meyers joined the cast with Amy Poehler and enjoyed a record...
Darrell Hammond — 14 seasons (1995-2009) The gifted impressionist who impersonated more than 100 people on the show used to hold the record for the longest-serving cast member — though he could reclaim the title since he served as the show’s announcer after Don Pardo died in 2015. Best characters: Bill Clinton, Sean Connery, Jay Leno, Donald Trump
Seth Meyers — 13 seasons (2001-2014) Meyers joined the cast with Amy Poehler and enjoyed a record...
- 12/18/2022
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
Click here to read the full article.
As Lorne Michaels tells it, Saturday Night Live’s most significant cast shakeup in a generation is a product of the pandemic.
In interviews after the Emmy Awards and with The New York Times, Michaels noted that in normal times, the likes of Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant and Pete Davidson might have left SNL in 2020 or 2021 to pursue other work.
“The pandemic had put us in this position where no one could really leave because there were no jobs,” Michaels told the Times, echoing his post-Emmys comments that there “was no place to go” for long-serving cast members who might otherwise have left beforehand.
Regardless of the cause, Saturday’s 48th season opener will be the first show after one of the largest cast shake-ups in its history. The show did a near-total overhaul prior to the 1985-86 season, and a similar one...
As Lorne Michaels tells it, Saturday Night Live’s most significant cast shakeup in a generation is a product of the pandemic.
In interviews after the Emmy Awards and with The New York Times, Michaels noted that in normal times, the likes of Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant and Pete Davidson might have left SNL in 2020 or 2021 to pursue other work.
“The pandemic had put us in this position where no one could really leave because there were no jobs,” Michaels told the Times, echoing his post-Emmys comments that there “was no place to go” for long-serving cast members who might otherwise have left beforehand.
Regardless of the cause, Saturday’s 48th season opener will be the first show after one of the largest cast shake-ups in its history. The show did a near-total overhaul prior to the 1985-86 season, and a similar one...
- 9/30/2022
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Saturday Night Live” star Kenan Thompson has been a member of the NBC family for two decades now, which is why he was the perfect choice to host the Primetime Emmy Awards on September 12. While the ceremony itself was controversial thanks to cheesy interpretive dancing and too many speeches being cut off, Thompson was heralded in his first-ever hosting gig. In fact, a leading 37 of Emmy viewers voted that he was “brilliant” as the ceremony’s ringleader. Here are the complete host poll results from Gold Derby users who graded his performance:
37 — A — Brilliant from start to finish!
27 — B — I rather liked him
14 — C — He was just okay
11 — D — Somewhat forgettable
11 — F — Awful, awful, awful
See 2022 Primetime Emmys: Complete list of winners in all 25 categories
During his review of the ceremony, Gold Derby’s Tony Ruiz noted how Thompson’s short monologue was “charming, funny and occasionally cutting without being mean.
37 — A — Brilliant from start to finish!
27 — B — I rather liked him
14 — C — He was just okay
11 — D — Somewhat forgettable
11 — F — Awful, awful, awful
See 2022 Primetime Emmys: Complete list of winners in all 25 categories
During his review of the ceremony, Gold Derby’s Tony Ruiz noted how Thompson’s short monologue was “charming, funny and occasionally cutting without being mean.
- 9/13/2022
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Monday night on NBC, Kenan Thompson took his first stab at hosting the Primetime Emmy Awards. While the “Saturday Night Live” star never emceed TV’s biggest night, he does know a thing or two about hosting awards shows as he served as ringleader of the 47th Annual People’s Choice Awards, Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2021 and NHL Awards 2019. Now that we’ve seen Kenan Thompson as 2022 Emmys host, how do You think he did? Grade his performance in our poll below.
Thompson is the longest-serving “SNL” cast member in the show’s 48-year-history, appearing for 19 seasons in a row since 2003. For comparison sake, the next closest is Darrell Hammond at 14 seasons and Seth Meyers at 13 seasons. Some of Thompson’s most memorable “Saturday Night Live” characters through the years include “What Up With That” host Diondre Cole, “Cinema Classics” narrator Reese De’What, “Family Feud” star Steve Harvey and “The View” moderator Whoopi Goldberg.
Thompson is the longest-serving “SNL” cast member in the show’s 48-year-history, appearing for 19 seasons in a row since 2003. For comparison sake, the next closest is Darrell Hammond at 14 seasons and Seth Meyers at 13 seasons. Some of Thompson’s most memorable “Saturday Night Live” characters through the years include “What Up With That” host Diondre Cole, “Cinema Classics” narrator Reese De’What, “Family Feud” star Steve Harvey and “The View” moderator Whoopi Goldberg.
- 9/13/2022
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
A popular standup TV franchise is making a comeback. Scott Koondel’s Sox Entertainment has acquired global rights to Caroline’s Comedy Hour, which ran on A&e Network from 1989-96. Koondel, former CBS Chief Content and Licensing Officer, plans to produce new installments, which he will shop alongside 100 library episodes from the show’s original run as a lower-cost comedy programming alternative for cable networks and streamers.
Koondel was retained to distribute the package of new and old episodes by Caroline’s owner Caroline Hirsch.
The A&e series was hosted by Carol Leifer, Colin Quinn and Rich Jeni and featured acts appearing at Hirsch’s New York comedy club, including Marc Maron, Bill Hicks, Joy Behar, Denis Leary, Jon Stewart, Louis Ck, Richard Belzer, Judy Tenuta, Susie Essman, Mario Cantone, Ray Romano, Colin Quinn, Larry Miller, Jeff Foxworthy, Lewis Black, George Lopez, Al Franklin, Kevin James, Norm MacDonald,...
Koondel was retained to distribute the package of new and old episodes by Caroline’s owner Caroline Hirsch.
The A&e series was hosted by Carol Leifer, Colin Quinn and Rich Jeni and featured acts appearing at Hirsch’s New York comedy club, including Marc Maron, Bill Hicks, Joy Behar, Denis Leary, Jon Stewart, Louis Ck, Richard Belzer, Judy Tenuta, Susie Essman, Mario Cantone, Ray Romano, Colin Quinn, Larry Miller, Jeff Foxworthy, Lewis Black, George Lopez, Al Franklin, Kevin James, Norm MacDonald,...
- 8/18/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
“Saturday Night Live” veteran Kate McKinnon has finally broken her silence about her recent departure from the NBC sketch comedy series.
McKinnon explained after 11 — long and incredible — years, her body reached its breaking point pushing the comedian to a point of exhaustion. The “SNL” member joined in 2012, and became one of the show’s most frequent sketch performers throughout her 11 seasons. As “SNL’s” only ever Emmy winner for a comedy performance, McKinnon made history by scoring two Emmys and nine nominations, with her final nomination for the variety show this year.
McKinnon said on “Live With Kelly and Ryan,” why she decided to leave the series, “I thought about it for a very long time, and it was very, very hard. All I ever wanted to do in my whole life was be on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ So, I did, I loved it, I had the best decade, and then I was just like,...
McKinnon explained after 11 — long and incredible — years, her body reached its breaking point pushing the comedian to a point of exhaustion. The “SNL” member joined in 2012, and became one of the show’s most frequent sketch performers throughout her 11 seasons. As “SNL’s” only ever Emmy winner for a comedy performance, McKinnon made history by scoring two Emmys and nine nominations, with her final nomination for the variety show this year.
McKinnon said on “Live With Kelly and Ryan,” why she decided to leave the series, “I thought about it for a very long time, and it was very, very hard. All I ever wanted to do in my whole life was be on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ So, I did, I loved it, I had the best decade, and then I was just like,...
- 7/21/2022
- by Charna Flam
- The Wrap
When Rachel Dratch makes her entrance in the Broadway, all-female ensemble farce Potus: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, audiences respond with an enthusiasm that feels like the greeting of an old friend. Best known for the 1999 to 2006 stint on NBC’s Saturday Night Live that saw her holding her own among some of the show’s most popular casts – Will Farrell, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers and Darrell Hammond were just a few of the all-stars during those seasons – Dratch created one of SNL’s most enduring characters with in Debbie Downer, a never look on the bright side type who could sink even the happiest occasion with a gloomy observation. “Did you factor in the loss of life at the hands of the African diamond industry?”, Debbie might say to a newly engaged family member, at Thanksgiving no less.
- 5/20/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Jeopardy! is heading to primetime once again this fall as ABC announced plans for a special series run of Celebrity Jeopardy!. Similar to the network’s recent run of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, this latest competition will pit celebrity contestants against one another for a chance to win money for a charity of their choice. The format has been done in the past on the game show which will be helmed by primetime host Mayim Bialik. Celebrity Jeopardy! has become well-known in pop culture, not just from the game show, but from the Saturday Night Live spoof that often featured Will Ferrell as Alex Trebek and Darrell Hammond as Sean Connery. Currently in its 38th season, Jeopardy!‘s syndicated run has featured Bialik and Ken Jennings as alternating hosts. Similar to the syndicated show, Michael Davies is slated to serve as an executive producer on this latest primetime special which...
- 5/17/2022
- TV Insider
This week’s “Saturday Night Live” brought back a past host in “Ambulance” star Jake Gyllenhaal. Having hosted “SNL” 15 years ago, while Gyllenhaal wasn’t able to slot himself into this season’s first-timer narrative — though, just to be clear, if Maggie were to host, she would be a first-time — he was able to give a strong return performance.
Host: Jake Gyllenhaal
As mentioned, Gyllenhaal last hosted “SNL” 15 years ago — in 2007, when he made his debut. A quick rundown of the episode truly captured how dated this “topical” live sketch comedy show can be in the blink of the eye — as has always been the case, not just something that has become apparent in recent years. The monologue wasn’t funny, as it was pretty devoid of jokes, and the jokes that were there didn’t quite hit due to Gyllenhaal’s pacing.
Funnily enough, Gyllenhaal’s bit in the...
Host: Jake Gyllenhaal
As mentioned, Gyllenhaal last hosted “SNL” 15 years ago — in 2007, when he made his debut. A quick rundown of the episode truly captured how dated this “topical” live sketch comedy show can be in the blink of the eye — as has always been the case, not just something that has become apparent in recent years. The monologue wasn’t funny, as it was pretty devoid of jokes, and the jokes that were there didn’t quite hit due to Gyllenhaal’s pacing.
Funnily enough, Gyllenhaal’s bit in the...
- 4/10/2022
- by LaToya Ferguson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Dana Carvey and David Spade have teamed up to launch their own weekly talk show podcast about Saturday Night Live.
The comedians, who both previously featured on the NBC late-night comedy, are launching Fly on the Wall with podcast company Cadence13.
The series will see them sit down with past and present cast, hosts, writers, and musical guests to reminisce about their favorite moments, memories, and sketches.
Carvey, best known for starring as Garth in SNL spinoff film Wayne’s World, was a cast member between 1986 and 1993, while Spade started as a writer in 1990 before becoming a cast member and stayed on the show through 1996.
Each week, the pair will take listeners behind the scenes and share never-before told stories about their careers and time on the long-running sketch comedy and variety show. They’ll discuss the stories behind their favorite characters and impressions, the jokes behind the jokes, life on and off the set,...
The comedians, who both previously featured on the NBC late-night comedy, are launching Fly on the Wall with podcast company Cadence13.
The series will see them sit down with past and present cast, hosts, writers, and musical guests to reminisce about their favorite moments, memories, and sketches.
Carvey, best known for starring as Garth in SNL spinoff film Wayne’s World, was a cast member between 1986 and 1993, while Spade started as a writer in 1990 before becoming a cast member and stayed on the show through 1996.
Each week, the pair will take listeners behind the scenes and share never-before told stories about their careers and time on the long-running sketch comedy and variety show. They’ll discuss the stories behind their favorite characters and impressions, the jokes behind the jokes, life on and off the set,...
- 1/11/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
James Austin Johnson only just joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” this fall, but he’s already made a big impression. The comedian not only played President Joe Biden in the opening sketch of the season but he’s also portrayed the former president, Donald Trump, to rave reviews. After decades of Trump impersonations on the late-night sketch series, fans have voiced their overwhelming support for the most recent one.
SEEJason Sudeikis is the best ‘SNL’ Joe Biden, according to you [Poll Results]
Johnson collected the vast majority of votes in our “best ‘SNL’ Trump” poll results, with a whopping 61% of the vote. The actor has only played him twice on “SNL,” though he has cultivated his impression of Trump for many years through viral videos. In a distant second place, Alec Baldwin collected 22% of the vote. Baldwin played Trump through his turbulent presidency and even won an Emmy for his...
SEEJason Sudeikis is the best ‘SNL’ Joe Biden, according to you [Poll Results]
Johnson collected the vast majority of votes in our “best ‘SNL’ Trump” poll results, with a whopping 61% of the vote. The actor has only played him twice on “SNL,” though he has cultivated his impression of Trump for many years through viral videos. In a distant second place, Alec Baldwin collected 22% of the vote. Baldwin played Trump through his turbulent presidency and even won an Emmy for his...
- 11/28/2021
- by Kevin Jacobsen
- Gold Derby
Donald Trump continues to be an easy target for spoofing on “Saturday Night Live,” even after he’s been out of office. The former president was first parodied way back in 1988 by cast member Phil Hartman, when Trump was still married to Ivana. About a decade later, Darrell Hammond took over and became the show’s definitive Trump impressionist until 2016. Alec Baldwin then started playing him ahead of the 2016 election and recurred all the way through his presidency. Recently, new cast member James Austin Johnson assumed the role with a scarily accurate impression. Who do you consider the best “SNL” Trump impressionist? Vote in our new poll here:
See ‘Saturday Night Live’ for November: Kieran Culkin, Ed Sheeran, Jonathan Majors, Taylor Swift, Simu Liu, Saweetie
Hartman would play Trump four times from 1988-90, becoming more accurate in replicating his unique mannerisms and speech patterns with each sketch. Hammond briefly played...
See ‘Saturday Night Live’ for November: Kieran Culkin, Ed Sheeran, Jonathan Majors, Taylor Swift, Simu Liu, Saweetie
Hartman would play Trump four times from 1988-90, becoming more accurate in replicating his unique mannerisms and speech patterns with each sketch. Hammond briefly played...
- 11/13/2021
- by Kevin Jacobsen
- Gold Derby
It’s a longstanding Saturday Night Live tradition for celebrity guests to appear alongside the cast member that impersonates them on the show. Previous pairings have included Mick Jagger and Jimmy Fallon, Hillary Clinton and both Amy Poehler and Kate McKinnon, Sarah Palin and Tina Fey as well as Donald Trump and Darrell Hammond. Rami Malek and Pete Davidson, who has portrayed him on the NBC program, took that a step further by swapping personalities during Malek’s SNL hosting stint.
In a skit titled Celeb School Game Show, Malek plays Davidson and Davidson takes on Malek.
“It’s like the soul of a Victorian child is trapped in his eyes,” Malek’s Davidson says about Davidson’s Malek at one point.
Watch above the sketch, which also includes a spot-on Melissa Villaseñor impersonation of Kristen Wiig, Chloe Fineman as Jennifer Coolidge, Mikey Day as John Oliver, Bowen Yang as...
In a skit titled Celeb School Game Show, Malek plays Davidson and Davidson takes on Malek.
“It’s like the soul of a Victorian child is trapped in his eyes,” Malek’s Davidson says about Davidson’s Malek at one point.
Watch above the sketch, which also includes a spot-on Melissa Villaseñor impersonation of Kristen Wiig, Chloe Fineman as Jennifer Coolidge, Mikey Day as John Oliver, Bowen Yang as...
- 10/17/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Norm Macdonald always had a way of making mundane, everyday things — the habits of a moth, Germans’ inexplicable love of David Hasselhoff, crime in New York City — absolutely hilarious. Unlike other comics, he wasn’t prone to exaggeration or absurdity; he simply presented the world as he saw it, pragmatically, in his nasal, sandpapery voice. His fundamental stance: Everyone around him had gone mad while he remained sane.
Looking back at his stand-up routines, “Weekend Update” segments, and talk-show appearances offers a potent reminder that Macdonald could knock a room...
Looking back at his stand-up routines, “Weekend Update” segments, and talk-show appearances offers a potent reminder that Macdonald could knock a room...
- 9/15/2021
- by David Fear, Kory Grow, Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Andrea Marks and Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
Norm Macdonald, one of the most famous cast members on “Saturday Night Live,” died Tuesday after a nine-year battle with cancer, according to his management firm. He was 61.
Macdonald was best known during his run on “SNL” from 1993-98 as the anchor of “Weekend Update.” During a tenure that ran through the O.J. Simpson trial and the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, Macdonald was key in turning the news parody segment into one with a more political tone. His relentless jokes at the expense of Simpson were believed by the comedian to be a major reason why he was shockingly fired from the show, as NBC exec Don Ohlmeyer was a friend of the disgraced Buffalo Bills football star.
Macdonald was also known for starring alongside Will Ferrell and Darrell Hammond in the popular “Celebrity Jeopardy!” sketches, where he impersonated Burt Reynolds. While Hammond’s Sean Connery directly antagonized Ferrell’s Alex Trebek...
Macdonald was best known during his run on “SNL” from 1993-98 as the anchor of “Weekend Update.” During a tenure that ran through the O.J. Simpson trial and the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, Macdonald was key in turning the news parody segment into one with a more political tone. His relentless jokes at the expense of Simpson were believed by the comedian to be a major reason why he was shockingly fired from the show, as NBC exec Don Ohlmeyer was a friend of the disgraced Buffalo Bills football star.
Macdonald was also known for starring alongside Will Ferrell and Darrell Hammond in the popular “Celebrity Jeopardy!” sketches, where he impersonated Burt Reynolds. While Hammond’s Sean Connery directly antagonized Ferrell’s Alex Trebek...
- 9/14/2021
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
John Lutz is very frank about the fact that the short-form series he co-created, “Mapleworth Murders,” came about because of writer’s block. “I was trying to come up with an idea for myself and I just couldn’t come up with anything. Then my wife, who’s also a writer and an actress said, well, why don’t you write something for Paula Pell,” he tells us in our recent webchat (watch the video above). This led to him going off, brainstorming several ideas and then landing on a spoof of the iconic mystery series, “Murder, She Wrote.” “It just clicked and then it was like, you could immediately see Paula in an outfit, walking around Cabot Cove, solving all these crimes and then I asked Paula and fortunately she said yes.”
After netting seven Emmy nominations as a writer for “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers,...
After netting seven Emmy nominations as a writer for “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers,...
- 8/24/2021
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Donald Rumsfeld, a Washington D.C. fixture who served in Congress and as Secretary of Defense for Presidents Gerald Ford and George W. Bush, has died at the age of 88.
His family confirmed the news on Wednesday with a statement that says at the time of his death, Rumsfeld was “surrounded by family in his beloved Taos, New Mexico. History may remember him for his extraordinary accomplishments over six decades of public service, but for those who knew him best and whose lives were forever changed as a result, we will remember his unwavering love for his wife Joyce, his family and friends,...
His family confirmed the news on Wednesday with a statement that says at the time of his death, Rumsfeld was “surrounded by family in his beloved Taos, New Mexico. History may remember him for his extraordinary accomplishments over six decades of public service, but for those who knew him best and whose lives were forever changed as a result, we will remember his unwavering love for his wife Joyce, his family and friends,...
- 6/30/2021
- by Dave Nemetz
- TVLine.com
The hosts of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” could not stop laughing Wednesday while discussing a Tuesday report that former president Donald Trump wanted the government to stop “Saturday Night Live” from making fun of him.
“This is really unbelievable,” observed co-host Mika Brzezinski.
According to a Daily Beast article published Tuesday, Trump didn’t just want the Federal Communications Commission to probe “SNL” — where Alec Baldwin played him for years — for lampooning his single-term administration. He asked his advisers and lawyers if the Department of Justice could somehow intervene on his behalf, too.
The report noted he also wondered whether the court system could do something about the late-night shows’ jabs at him. And while that might sound like serious overreach, one of the Beast’s anonymous sources said, “It was more annoying than alarming, to be honest with you.”
Trump denied the report on Tuesday, offering a lengthy statement...
“This is really unbelievable,” observed co-host Mika Brzezinski.
According to a Daily Beast article published Tuesday, Trump didn’t just want the Federal Communications Commission to probe “SNL” — where Alec Baldwin played him for years — for lampooning his single-term administration. He asked his advisers and lawyers if the Department of Justice could somehow intervene on his behalf, too.
The report noted he also wondered whether the court system could do something about the late-night shows’ jabs at him. And while that might sound like serious overreach, one of the Beast’s anonymous sources said, “It was more annoying than alarming, to be honest with you.”
Trump denied the report on Tuesday, offering a lengthy statement...
- 6/23/2021
- by Lindsey Ellefson
- The Wrap
Donald Trump issued a statement denying a report in The Daily Beast that he was so upset over his portrayal on Saturday Night Live that he inquired with advisers whether the Justice Department or the FCC could take action.
In a statement, the former president said, “The story that I asked the Department of Justice to go after ratings challenged (without Trump) Saturday Night Live, and other late night losers, is total Fake News. It was fabricated, there were no sources, and yet the Lamestream Media goes with it.”
The Daily Beast didn’t go as far as reporting that Trump asked the DOJ to go after SNL but that the then-president asked about it. The Beast cited two unnamed sources in reporting that in 2019, Trump asked advisers and lawyers whether the government entities “could do to probe or mitigate SNL, Jimmy Kimmel, and other late-night comedy mischief-makers.”
Trump’s...
In a statement, the former president said, “The story that I asked the Department of Justice to go after ratings challenged (without Trump) Saturday Night Live, and other late night losers, is total Fake News. It was fabricated, there were no sources, and yet the Lamestream Media goes with it.”
The Daily Beast didn’t go as far as reporting that Trump asked the DOJ to go after SNL but that the then-president asked about it. The Beast cited two unnamed sources in reporting that in 2019, Trump asked advisers and lawyers whether the government entities “could do to probe or mitigate SNL, Jimmy Kimmel, and other late-night comedy mischief-makers.”
Trump’s...
- 6/22/2021
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
You don’t have to be perpetually “live, from New York” to flourish these days at “Saturday Night Live.”
In years past, the show’s cast members focused their all on the venerable late-night program and, when outside opportunity knocked or contracts ran out or media economics forced a tightening of the group, they left. This season has provided the clearest indication yet that those rules are changing: cast members are increasingly taking on new projects even as they continue with the NBC show.
On Thursday, HBO Max will launch a six-episode comedy-sketch series led by Michael Che, who also happens to be one of the head writers at “SNL” and a co-host of the program’s long-running “Weekend Update” segment. “That Damn Michael Che” will feature appearances by other “SNL” cast members, including Cecily Strong, Heidi Gardner and Colin Jost. How did Che launch his own series and keep...
In years past, the show’s cast members focused their all on the venerable late-night program and, when outside opportunity knocked or contracts ran out or media economics forced a tightening of the group, they left. This season has provided the clearest indication yet that those rules are changing: cast members are increasingly taking on new projects even as they continue with the NBC show.
On Thursday, HBO Max will launch a six-episode comedy-sketch series led by Michael Che, who also happens to be one of the head writers at “SNL” and a co-host of the program’s long-running “Weekend Update” segment. “That Damn Michael Che” will feature appearances by other “SNL” cast members, including Cecily Strong, Heidi Gardner and Colin Jost. How did Che launch his own series and keep...
- 5/3/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Kenan Thompson was working on the Warner Bros. lot one afternoon in the early 2000s when he spotted “Friends” star Matthew Perry zooming out of the studio gates in a BMW convertible.
“The sun was shining, he had his sunglasses on and he looked like he could not have been happier,” Thompson recalls. “It was like 2 o’clock in the afternoon. And he was done for the day. It just looked like the sweetest existence I’ve ever seen. That shit sticks out in my mind. Like, he was fucking beaming.”
Thompson, now 42, was no stranger to TV comedy at that point, having been a part of the late 1990s Nickelodeon ensemble sketch series “All That” and then joining with Kel Mitchell to topline the spinoff “Kenan & Kel.” But as those shows came to an end, the young Thompson’s ambitions only grew larger.
“Especially for anybody that’s...
“The sun was shining, he had his sunglasses on and he looked like he could not have been happier,” Thompson recalls. “It was like 2 o’clock in the afternoon. And he was done for the day. It just looked like the sweetest existence I’ve ever seen. That shit sticks out in my mind. Like, he was fucking beaming.”
Thompson, now 42, was no stranger to TV comedy at that point, having been a part of the late 1990s Nickelodeon ensemble sketch series “All That” and then joining with Kel Mitchell to topline the spinoff “Kenan & Kel.” But as those shows came to an end, the young Thompson’s ambitions only grew larger.
“Especially for anybody that’s...
- 2/10/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
The latest actor to portray KFC founder Colonel Sanders is none other than Mario Lopez. But rather than a commercial, Lopez will star in a Lifetime movie called “A Recipe For Seduction” that mixes the Colonel’s secret herbs and spices with romance.
And yes, “A Recipe For Seduction” is a definitely real movie that exists, and there’s even a trailer to prove it. The 15-minute bite-sized film will debut on Lifetime on Sunday, December 13 at 12 p.m. Et/Pt.
Lopez plays Colonel Harland Sanders in the film, who has a steamy (and savory?) love affair with a young heiress who must choose between her young chef with a dream of fried chicken glory and a wealthy, duplicitous suitor handpicked by her mother.
“He has a secret recipe that’s going to change the world,” Lopez’s love interest says in the trailer. “We all have our secrets.”
“A...
And yes, “A Recipe For Seduction” is a definitely real movie that exists, and there’s even a trailer to prove it. The 15-minute bite-sized film will debut on Lifetime on Sunday, December 13 at 12 p.m. Et/Pt.
Lopez plays Colonel Harland Sanders in the film, who has a steamy (and savory?) love affair with a young heiress who must choose between her young chef with a dream of fried chicken glory and a wealthy, duplicitous suitor handpicked by her mother.
“He has a secret recipe that’s going to change the world,” Lopez’s love interest says in the trailer. “We all have our secrets.”
“A...
- 12/7/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Jason Bateman returned to Studio 8H on Saturday to host Saturday Night Live for the second time. However, the experiences from his first hosting stint still stick with him, Bateman joked during his opening monologue.
The Ozark star referenced a skit from 2005 where he starred alongside a chimpanzee who threw waste at celebrities, played by various SNL cast members including Darrell Hammond, Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler and Kenan Thompson.
While Bateman wasn’t among the stars getting hit with the scat, he shared that his time with the primate left its mark. He shared that the last time at the SNL studio, his co-star chimp nearly bit his face off during the curtain call.
“I am smiling but inside I’m thinking a monkey just attacked me and nobody cares,” he remembered. “They’re just hugging.”
While he joked that the chimp was “destroyed” later that night, he topped off...
The Ozark star referenced a skit from 2005 where he starred alongside a chimpanzee who threw waste at celebrities, played by various SNL cast members including Darrell Hammond, Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler and Kenan Thompson.
While Bateman wasn’t among the stars getting hit with the scat, he shared that his time with the primate left its mark. He shared that the last time at the SNL studio, his co-star chimp nearly bit his face off during the curtain call.
“I am smiling but inside I’m thinking a monkey just attacked me and nobody cares,” he remembered. “They’re just hugging.”
While he joked that the chimp was “destroyed” later that night, he topped off...
- 12/6/2020
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
We always watched “Jeopardy!” in my house when I was growing up. We watched Art Fleming do it when Don Pardo was the Vo. We used to play the home game. Later, when Alex Trebek hosted, my brother was on the show and lost, which was hilarious. He’s a comedian, and the Final Jeopardy! category was “Comedians.” And he lost.
So it was always a part of my life for as long as I can remember.
Trebek was a great host because of his confidence. You could easily be a smug jerk in that job, knowing all the answers and reading them off cards. But so rarely did he do that. He was so unassailably nice. That’s what was fun about Sean Connery and Burt Reynolds hating him so much in the “Celebrity Jeopardy!” sketch on “Saturday Night Live” — not really hating him so much as just wanting to fuck with him.
So it was always a part of my life for as long as I can remember.
Trebek was a great host because of his confidence. You could easily be a smug jerk in that job, knowing all the answers and reading them off cards. But so rarely did he do that. He was so unassailably nice. That’s what was fun about Sean Connery and Burt Reynolds hating him so much in the “Celebrity Jeopardy!” sketch on “Saturday Night Live” — not really hating him so much as just wanting to fuck with him.
- 11/11/2020
- by Steve Higgins
- Variety Film + TV
Alec Baldwin and 11 Other Actors Who’ve Played Donald Trump on Screen (Photos)
Phil Hartman, “Saturday Night Live” (1988-1990)
Long before Alec Baldwin donned a blond wig, the late Phil Hartman played Donald Trump in a series of sketches. The first mocked Donald and Ivana Trump (Jan Hooks) as out-of-touch rich people at Christmas-time, while later skits depicted the couple’s tabloid divorce.
Darrell Hammond, “Saturday Night Live” (1999-2011)
Before Baldwin, Hammond was the go-to impersonator of Trump, starting with two sketches in 1989 and then off and on in multiple sketches over the next decade. He even returned to don a too-long red tie when Trump was guest host in 2015.
Louis Ferreira, “Trump Unauthorized” (2005)
The Portugese-born actor — best known for his work on TV series like “Stargate Universe,” “Breaking Bad” and “S.W.A.T.” — starred as the real estate mogul-turned reality star in a 2005 ABC movie.
Jason Sudeikis, “Saturday Night Live” (2012)
In...
Phil Hartman, “Saturday Night Live” (1988-1990)
Long before Alec Baldwin donned a blond wig, the late Phil Hartman played Donald Trump in a series of sketches. The first mocked Donald and Ivana Trump (Jan Hooks) as out-of-touch rich people at Christmas-time, while later skits depicted the couple’s tabloid divorce.
Darrell Hammond, “Saturday Night Live” (1999-2011)
Before Baldwin, Hammond was the go-to impersonator of Trump, starting with two sketches in 1989 and then off and on in multiple sketches over the next decade. He even returned to don a too-long red tie when Trump was guest host in 2015.
Louis Ferreira, “Trump Unauthorized” (2005)
The Portugese-born actor — best known for his work on TV series like “Stargate Universe,” “Breaking Bad” and “S.W.A.T.” — starred as the real estate mogul-turned reality star in a 2005 ABC movie.
Jason Sudeikis, “Saturday Night Live” (2012)
In...
- 11/7/2020
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
by Josh Bierman
When I heard about our 1987 retrospective I wanted to choose a film that I had never seen. I’ve been striving to cover blindspots in my film viewing history since the start of quarantine. I looked at the list of movies released in that year and when I saw The Untouchables the choice became obvious. At my home film festival, Cinema Quarantino, I’ve fallen in love with Kevin Costner as if it was 1991. I’ve also been really drawn to the films of Brian De Palma. All of that fell by the wayside when I woke up on Saturday morning to the news of Sean Connery’s passing.
We’re all friends here, so please don’t judge when I say in keeping with the theme of having serious blind spots, the only other Sean Connery movie I’d seen is Murder on the Orient Express.
When I heard about our 1987 retrospective I wanted to choose a film that I had never seen. I’ve been striving to cover blindspots in my film viewing history since the start of quarantine. I looked at the list of movies released in that year and when I saw The Untouchables the choice became obvious. At my home film festival, Cinema Quarantino, I’ve fallen in love with Kevin Costner as if it was 1991. I’ve also been really drawn to the films of Brian De Palma. All of that fell by the wayside when I woke up on Saturday morning to the news of Sean Connery’s passing.
We’re all friends here, so please don’t judge when I say in keeping with the theme of having serious blind spots, the only other Sean Connery movie I’d seen is Murder on the Orient Express.
- 11/6/2020
- by Josh Bierman
- FilmExperience
James Bond made him a major star, The Untouchables made him an Oscar winner and Saturday Night Live made Sean Connery a late-night regular.
Portrayed by Darrell Hammond, Connery was a constant fixture on the popular sketch “Celebrity Jeopardy,” where he had an uncanny ability for lewd misreadings of categories (“I’ll take ‘Anal Bum Cover’ for $7,000″) and an inexplicable bone to pick with host Alex Trebek, played by Will Ferrell.
Hammond talked to The Hollywood Reporter about his well-known impression of Connery, who died on Saturday at the age of 90: “It’s one of these ...
Portrayed by Darrell Hammond, Connery was a constant fixture on the popular sketch “Celebrity Jeopardy,” where he had an uncanny ability for lewd misreadings of categories (“I’ll take ‘Anal Bum Cover’ for $7,000″) and an inexplicable bone to pick with host Alex Trebek, played by Will Ferrell.
Hammond talked to The Hollywood Reporter about his well-known impression of Connery, who died on Saturday at the age of 90: “It’s one of these ...
- 11/2/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.