Saturday, March 14, 2009
Abby Elliott in People Magazine
Here's a brief excerpt from an interview with Abby & her father Chris Elliott.
Did you always know Abby was destined for showbiz?
Chris: In middle school she was in The King and I.
Abby: Lady Thiang, the King's head wife. Which was very dramatic for 13. (laughs) Chris: She had such a presence, and I remember thinking, 'Oh my God. You’re going to be a star.' But we pushed her. I wanted you to follow in my footsteps. It was all planned before you were born. I just thought you were going to be a boy.
Abby: And be bald?
Chris: You still will be, honey. I lost mine at 22. You've got a year.
Abby, did you go to college?
Abby: I didn't even last a semester. The school part was doable, but the living situation – there were mice crawling up the desk in my dorm room, which was on top of a YMCA. So you started working with comedy troupes like the Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade.
How did you land SNL?
Abby: I just kept sending in tapes. 'Look, I can play a yoga instructor and stand on my head!' One character, then four. When they called me to audition, I couldn't speak.
Chris: Her audition was great.
Abby: I did five minutes of impressions: Drew Barrymore, Joan Cusack, Katie Holmes.
Chris: She's always been a good mimic. Angelina Jolie I think you started doing when you were 12.
Abby: When she came out with that whole Gothic thing, with Billy Bob [Thornton]. I started doing her face before the voice, the eyes, the moving.
Has your dad given you any advice?
Abby: Not a lot of advice, but a lot of support, a lot of letting me know that I can do anything that I want. You couldn't ask for a better family.
Chris: Well, you could ask, but you're not going to get it. This is as good as it gets.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20262837,00.html
The rest of the interview is in this week's People magazine, I do believe.
Did you always know Abby was destined for showbiz?
Chris: In middle school she was in The King and I.
Abby: Lady Thiang, the King's head wife. Which was very dramatic for 13. (laughs) Chris: She had such a presence, and I remember thinking, 'Oh my God. You’re going to be a star.' But we pushed her. I wanted you to follow in my footsteps. It was all planned before you were born. I just thought you were going to be a boy.
Abby: And be bald?
Chris: You still will be, honey. I lost mine at 22. You've got a year.
Abby, did you go to college?
Abby: I didn't even last a semester. The school part was doable, but the living situation – there were mice crawling up the desk in my dorm room, which was on top of a YMCA. So you started working with comedy troupes like the Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade.
How did you land SNL?
Abby: I just kept sending in tapes. 'Look, I can play a yoga instructor and stand on my head!' One character, then four. When they called me to audition, I couldn't speak.
Chris: Her audition was great.
Abby: I did five minutes of impressions: Drew Barrymore, Joan Cusack, Katie Holmes.
Chris: She's always been a good mimic. Angelina Jolie I think you started doing when you were 12.
Abby: When she came out with that whole Gothic thing, with Billy Bob [Thornton]. I started doing her face before the voice, the eyes, the moving.
Has your dad given you any advice?
Abby: Not a lot of advice, but a lot of support, a lot of letting me know that I can do anything that I want. You couldn't ask for a better family.
Chris: Well, you could ask, but you're not going to get it. This is as good as it gets.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20262837,00.html
The rest of the interview is in this week's People magazine, I do believe.
Fred Armisen Interviews Lonely Island
The funniest thing you'll see all day!
If the video doesn't work, go here:
www.prefixmag.com/news/fred-armisen-interviews-the-lonely-island-for-pitc/26855/
Friday, March 13, 2009
Victoria Jackson Is Back!
SNL alum Victoria Jackson managed to get onto Sean Hannity's show to once again claim that Obama is a communist. Here is one of my favourite excerpts from the article I read:
She said her research included reading George Orwell's book 1984 -- twice -- and said seeing Obama's picture on the cover of every magazine in an airport bookstore reminded her of "Castro, or the guy in China."
Wow, that's a helluva lot of research. Especially seeing as she couldn't name Chairman Mao, who I am assuming "the guy in China" is.
So, who would Jackson like to see run America?
Jackson said she would like to see Hannity run the country, along with conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the failed GOP vice-presidential nominee.
Wow, that's a super idea, having two conservative commentators, and a tried-and-tested failure run America.
I feel your pain Victoria. I long for the day when we can say the words President Rush Limbaugh, but unfortunately I just don't think the communists would let a sexist, racist, ignorant idiot would allow that to happen.
But who wouldn't want this guy running the country?
-For two weeks in 1989, on his Sacramento radio show, Limbaugh performed "caller abortions" where he would end a call suddenly to the sounds of a vacuum cleaner and a scream.
-Limbaugh is critical of feminism, saying that "Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society."He also popularized the term "feminazi", referring to radical feminists "to whom the most important thing in life is ensuring that as many abortions as possible occur."
And my favourite:
On the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal, Limbaugh said, "This is no different than what happens at the Skull and Bones initiation... And we're going to ruin people's lives over it and we're going to hamper our military effort, and then we are going to really hammer them because they had a good time. You know, these people are being fired at every day [referring to the U.S. Military service members]. I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release?"
I too think that torturing prisoners is just having a good time, but tell that to the communists/socialists.
Did I mention Rush Limbaugh didn't go to college? The liberal elite are too snotty to ever go for that, Victoria. But hopefully one day people will see past the bigotry and stupidity, and they will see that Hannity & Limbaugh are the smartest men in America, and ought to run the country.
And maybe Victoria, they'll let you entertain the troops with your handstands, and reciting 1984 at the same time!
She said her research included reading George Orwell's book 1984 -- twice -- and said seeing Obama's picture on the cover of every magazine in an airport bookstore reminded her of "Castro, or the guy in China."
Wow, that's a helluva lot of research. Especially seeing as she couldn't name Chairman Mao, who I am assuming "the guy in China" is.
So, who would Jackson like to see run America?
Jackson said she would like to see Hannity run the country, along with conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the failed GOP vice-presidential nominee.
Wow, that's a super idea, having two conservative commentators, and a tried-and-tested failure run America.
I feel your pain Victoria. I long for the day when we can say the words President Rush Limbaugh, but unfortunately I just don't think the communists would let a sexist, racist, ignorant idiot would allow that to happen.
But who wouldn't want this guy running the country?
-For two weeks in 1989, on his Sacramento radio show, Limbaugh performed "caller abortions" where he would end a call suddenly to the sounds of a vacuum cleaner and a scream.
-Limbaugh is critical of feminism, saying that "Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society."He also popularized the term "feminazi", referring to radical feminists "to whom the most important thing in life is ensuring that as many abortions as possible occur."
And my favourite:
On the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal, Limbaugh said, "This is no different than what happens at the Skull and Bones initiation... And we're going to ruin people's lives over it and we're going to hamper our military effort, and then we are going to really hammer them because they had a good time. You know, these people are being fired at every day [referring to the U.S. Military service members]. I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release?"
I too think that torturing prisoners is just having a good time, but tell that to the communists/socialists.
Did I mention Rush Limbaugh didn't go to college? The liberal elite are too snotty to ever go for that, Victoria. But hopefully one day people will see past the bigotry and stupidity, and they will see that Hannity & Limbaugh are the smartest men in America, and ought to run the country.
And maybe Victoria, they'll let you entertain the troops with your handstands, and reciting 1984 at the same time!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Dwayne Johnson/Ray LaMontagne Review
Cold Open: This sketch featured Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (Will Forte) seeking ideas from the public as to how best deal with the financial crisis. Funny & clever premise, and it was good to see SNL prove that they can make fun of Democrats in equal measure.
8/10
Opening Monologue: I always love a good song and dance, and when it features Dwayne Johnson belting out a big number like Tough Guy, as he did here - well, hilarity ensues! I loved it, loved it, loved it. And it was great to see Abby featured in the monologue!
9/10
MacGruber 1 - When is MacGruber not good? Never. When is MacGruber excellent? When Richard Dean Anderson reprises his role as MacGyver, and it's revealed that he's MacGruber's father. Hilarious.
9/10
The Rock Obama - Firstly, I love Andy's impression of Rahm Emmanuel (who is one of the creepiest politicians I've ever seen on television) so I was super excited to see him featured here. Johnson did a terrific job here, and even did a decent Obama impression (who he happens to sound like anyway).
"Show yourself out of window."
Yes, Obama talking like a caveman/Hulk will always be funny to me.
9/10
MacGruber 2 - Not as funny as the first one. Here it is revealed that MacGyver left MacGruber and his mother for a stripper named Lacy. Amusing, but not as laugh out loud funny.
7/10
Activia Commercial - I think I'm in the minority when I say I didn't enjoy the first one that much. It was amusing and all, but a little one-note. But I have to say I liked this one. Probably because it featured more people, like Abby Elliott & Jason Sudeikis. My favourite line?
"You know when one person yawns.."
Also, nice cameo from SNL writer/comedian John Mulaney as the cameraman!
7/10
Hawaii Honeymoon - I really enjoyed this one. My heart goes out to people who live in tourist areas such as Hawaii, and I thought this sketch was a really funny send up of how much some locals must hate the tourist industry. The line about Obama being from Hawaii was great, and I loved when Johnson knocked over the drinks of Sudeikis & Thompson.
8/10
MacGruber 3 - Funnier than MacGruber 2, not as funny as MacGruber 1. I loved the final scene where MacGruber was fulfilling his earlier promise of scattering MacGyver's ashes in the toilet. And, we got to see some of Will Forte's ass again, so it's all good.
8/10
Ray LaMontagne 1 - Nice to hear a musical guest who can manage not to "sound like ass" on SNL. I really enjoyed this. Very lovely.
8/10
Weekend Update: The high standard that WU set itself earlier in the season, is slowly beginning to slip unfortunately. The jokes have gotten a little bit more predictable, although I did enjoy the quip about Brad Pitt meeting Obama, and everything being okay. Also a clever dig at Iran is always a winner.
The characters meanwhile fared a little better. I enjoyed Kenan's Michael Steele, and thought that segment was pretty well written. Cathy was fine, but it was Timberlake and Biel that really saved that segment. Meanwhile Jon Bovi were funny, but the joke went on a little too long. It ended on a high note : "I like tiny dongs.."
7/10
Game Time with Dave and Greg: Pretty good, solid sketch. Bill Hader was pretty fantastic in this sketch, but once he started freaking out the sight of water, I kind of began to lose interest. Would have preferred it had he just kept up the vomiting of lines he'd heard used before. "That's my taxi cab."
7/10
Apprentice Commercial Shoot: As I've said on many occasions, I always love impression-orientated sketches. And this one was no different. It was great to see Hammond featured in a sketch, playing someone other than John McCain. Everyone was funny in this, and I particularly loved Fred's creepy Tom Green impression.
8/10
Ray LaMontagne 2: Loved this. Really gorgeous performance.
9/10
Lighthouse Date: This was a decent sketch. The double entendres were pretty funny, but I think funnier lines from the stranded crewmen really would have elevated the sketch. Props to the set designers and lighting people for this sketch though. They did a pretty great job of making it look like the guys were stranded on rocks.
6/10
Overall:
Overall, I enjoyed the show. It was good & solid, and Johnson did a great job of hosting. I enjoyed the first half more, as I feel like the sketches in the second half weren't tight enough. On the plus side, it was great to see most cast members featured tonight, and no over-concentration of Kristen Wiig.
I have to comment on Casey Wilson's virtual absence from the show though. I mean, she had one or two lines in one sketch. I know sketches get cut, and what have you, but can the writers not muster up more lines or appearances for her?
Enjoyed the cameos tonight, and I have a feeling JT will be making many more appearances, now that he's living in NY.
Disappointed that there was no digital short, but I guess three MacGruber shorts does make up for it.
7.5/10
Next week - Tracy Morgan/Kelly Clarkson. Wonder if we'll see any cameos from 30 Rock peeps?
Stray Observations:
-Justin Timberlake looked hot-to-trot at the goodbyes.
-I want to see more writer cameos!
-The bumper photos are getting better and better!
-A lot of Abby Elliott, little Watkins, Wilson or Moynihan. Favouritism perhaps?
8/10
Opening Monologue: I always love a good song and dance, and when it features Dwayne Johnson belting out a big number like Tough Guy, as he did here - well, hilarity ensues! I loved it, loved it, loved it. And it was great to see Abby featured in the monologue!
9/10
MacGruber 1 - When is MacGruber not good? Never. When is MacGruber excellent? When Richard Dean Anderson reprises his role as MacGyver, and it's revealed that he's MacGruber's father. Hilarious.
9/10
The Rock Obama - Firstly, I love Andy's impression of Rahm Emmanuel (who is one of the creepiest politicians I've ever seen on television) so I was super excited to see him featured here. Johnson did a terrific job here, and even did a decent Obama impression (who he happens to sound like anyway).
"Show yourself out of window."
Yes, Obama talking like a caveman/Hulk will always be funny to me.
9/10
MacGruber 2 - Not as funny as the first one. Here it is revealed that MacGyver left MacGruber and his mother for a stripper named Lacy. Amusing, but not as laugh out loud funny.
7/10
Activia Commercial - I think I'm in the minority when I say I didn't enjoy the first one that much. It was amusing and all, but a little one-note. But I have to say I liked this one. Probably because it featured more people, like Abby Elliott & Jason Sudeikis. My favourite line?
"You know when one person yawns.."
Also, nice cameo from SNL writer/comedian John Mulaney as the cameraman!
7/10
Hawaii Honeymoon - I really enjoyed this one. My heart goes out to people who live in tourist areas such as Hawaii, and I thought this sketch was a really funny send up of how much some locals must hate the tourist industry. The line about Obama being from Hawaii was great, and I loved when Johnson knocked over the drinks of Sudeikis & Thompson.
8/10
MacGruber 3 - Funnier than MacGruber 2, not as funny as MacGruber 1. I loved the final scene where MacGruber was fulfilling his earlier promise of scattering MacGyver's ashes in the toilet. And, we got to see some of Will Forte's ass again, so it's all good.
8/10
Ray LaMontagne 1 - Nice to hear a musical guest who can manage not to "sound like ass" on SNL. I really enjoyed this. Very lovely.
8/10
Weekend Update: The high standard that WU set itself earlier in the season, is slowly beginning to slip unfortunately. The jokes have gotten a little bit more predictable, although I did enjoy the quip about Brad Pitt meeting Obama, and everything being okay. Also a clever dig at Iran is always a winner.
The characters meanwhile fared a little better. I enjoyed Kenan's Michael Steele, and thought that segment was pretty well written. Cathy was fine, but it was Timberlake and Biel that really saved that segment. Meanwhile Jon Bovi were funny, but the joke went on a little too long. It ended on a high note : "I like tiny dongs.."
7/10
Game Time with Dave and Greg: Pretty good, solid sketch. Bill Hader was pretty fantastic in this sketch, but once he started freaking out the sight of water, I kind of began to lose interest. Would have preferred it had he just kept up the vomiting of lines he'd heard used before. "That's my taxi cab."
7/10
Apprentice Commercial Shoot: As I've said on many occasions, I always love impression-orientated sketches. And this one was no different. It was great to see Hammond featured in a sketch, playing someone other than John McCain. Everyone was funny in this, and I particularly loved Fred's creepy Tom Green impression.
8/10
Ray LaMontagne 2: Loved this. Really gorgeous performance.
9/10
Lighthouse Date: This was a decent sketch. The double entendres were pretty funny, but I think funnier lines from the stranded crewmen really would have elevated the sketch. Props to the set designers and lighting people for this sketch though. They did a pretty great job of making it look like the guys were stranded on rocks.
6/10
Overall:
Overall, I enjoyed the show. It was good & solid, and Johnson did a great job of hosting. I enjoyed the first half more, as I feel like the sketches in the second half weren't tight enough. On the plus side, it was great to see most cast members featured tonight, and no over-concentration of Kristen Wiig.
I have to comment on Casey Wilson's virtual absence from the show though. I mean, she had one or two lines in one sketch. I know sketches get cut, and what have you, but can the writers not muster up more lines or appearances for her?
Enjoyed the cameos tonight, and I have a feeling JT will be making many more appearances, now that he's living in NY.
Disappointed that there was no digital short, but I guess three MacGruber shorts does make up for it.
7.5/10
Next week - Tracy Morgan/Kelly Clarkson. Wonder if we'll see any cameos from 30 Rock peeps?
Stray Observations:
-Justin Timberlake looked hot-to-trot at the goodbyes.
-I want to see more writer cameos!
-The bumper photos are getting better and better!
-A lot of Abby Elliott, little Watkins, Wilson or Moynihan. Favouritism perhaps?
Tune In Tonight For...
-SNL Game Show Parodies
-Just Commercials
I Hour Specials Tonight on NBC at 7&8PM.
-Just Commercials
I Hour Specials Tonight on NBC at 7&8PM.
Bill Hader in NY Times
Check out this article, where the NY Times profile TV stars who are tomorrow's big screen stars.
http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2009/03/08/style/t/index.html#pagewanted=5&pageName=08coverw&
Bill Hader is mentioned in it, and there is a rather dashing picture of him featured in the article.
Enjoy!
http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2009/03/08/style/t/index.html#pagewanted=5&pageName=08coverw&
Bill Hader is mentioned in it, and there is a rather dashing picture of him featured in the article.
Enjoy!
Dwayne Johnson/Ray LaMontagne
I've read nothing but good things on the internet about this episode, but what did you think?
Best sketch of the night? How was LaMontagne?
Go ahead, comment, comment, comment!
Best sketch of the night? How was LaMontagne?
Go ahead, comment, comment, comment!
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