John Solomon Podcast

SNL & MacGruber writer John Solomon was a guest on this week's Movie B.S. podcast. He talks about writing for SNL and about MacGruber's disappointing box office returns. You can download the podcast here -
http://moviebs.pdx.fm/

So this is a little late, but here's an article about Bobby Moynihan's nerdy affection for Lost.
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/05/23/bobby-moynihan-is-a-big-lost-nerd-and-proud-of-it/


It's interesting if only for the fact that it reassures me that television nerdiness is something that people from all walks of life engage in - even SNL cast members. 

Nasim Pedrad Developing TV Show?

Is Nasim Pedrad developing a TV show? Well, possibly. That's according to Shallon Lester, star of the upcoming MTV show "Downtown Girls". 
In an interview with The Frisky Lester reveals that she is developing a TV show with Pedrad. She says -


 "I’m developing a TV show with my friend, Nasim Pedrad. She’s on “Saturday Night Live.” We went to high school together. We’ve been writing partners for years and we wrote this script, like, a year and a half ago and now it’s finally going into development. So I could do something with that — write that [show] half the year, film [“Downtown Girls”] half the year. That would be amazing. But we’ll see, these are sort of pie-in-the-sky dreams."


Well I am very much on board with this idea and I certainly hope it comes to fruition!

Kenan Thompson Presenting at CMT Music Awards

NASHVILLE – May 26, 2010 – Celebrities from all facets of the entertainment industry have lined up to present at the 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS, including celebrity cook Paula Deen, ‘American Idol’s’ Kara Dioguardi, the NFL’s Terrell Owens, actress Hayden Panettiere, NASCAR legend Richard Petty and ‘Saturday Night Live’s’ Kenan Thompson. In addition, country superstars Trisha Yearwood and Zac Brown Band are scheduled to present at the ninth-annual awards show, which will air LIVE on Wednesday, June 9 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT.

Hosted by Kid Rock, the 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will feature performances from country music’s biggest stars, including Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band, with more to be announced.
Fans can vote online at vote.CMT.com through June 8 to determine the winners. The final nominees for VIDEO OF THE YEAR will be announced at the beginning of the live show and fans can then vote at CMT.com and via text message throughout the live broadcast (ET/CT only) to determine the night’s big winner.

Amy Miles' Record "King of Girls" Released June 1

So, all you comedy nerds will know Amy Miles from her musical contributions to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, where she performed in and served as musical director of the Glee parody "6-Bee". She has also written songs for the LNWJF bits Late, Seventh Floor West and The Real Housewives of Late Night. She created the much-loved musical theatre UCB show Soundtracks Live which VH1 turned into a pilot starring Tina Fey, Will Arnett, Michael Ian Black and Paul Rudd. She's also composed music for The Baxter and The Ten, as well as composing the theme tune fand contributing music to Amy Poehler's web series Smart Girls at The Party and Poehler's Nickelodeon series The Mighty B! So you could say she's got comedy credentials.


Well, Amy Miles' new record "King Of Girls" is released June 1st and it is "filled with smart lyrics and intelligent hooks that trade on blending classic pop songs with indie rock, country and electronic flavors." Craig Wedren described Miles as a "hot freaking genius", so you know she's got to be good. I can attest that the title track "King of Girls" is insanely catchy so you guys should try get your hands on it.
Amy Miles' CD release party will be held June 1 at the Bowery Electric in New York City between 7-9 PM. 
Amazon links are as follows -
http://www.amazon.com/King-of-Girls/dp/B003DCYIX2/ref=dm_ap_alb3?ie=UTF8&qid=1275076070&sr=8-1
Or if you want to just download the track "King of Girls", which you should because it is awesome, here -
http://www.amazon.com/King-Of-Girls/dp/B003DCYIXW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1275076070&sr=8-1

Simon Rich's "Elliot Allagash" NY Times Review

Read it here
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/books/review/DeHaven-t.html


There's also an excerpt from the book here -
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/books/excerpt-.html?ref=review


Enjoy! And buy "Elliot Alagash" now!

Tina Fey Awarded Mark Twain Prize for American Humour

Congratulations to SNL alum Tina Fey who has been awarded the most prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humour. Fey will be honoured November 9 at the Kennedy Center at a ceremony which will see a host of other artists take part. The ceremony will be taped to be broadcast at a later date. 
Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein stated, "Like Mark Twain, Tina Fey offers her brilliance unconditionally. Throughout her career, she's earned legions of fans for her quick, unapologetic wit and social commentary. The Kennedy Center is pleased to celebrate her broad and successful contributions to the world of comedy."
In stating her delight at receiving said award, Fey said, "I am truly thrilled to receive this honor. I assume Betty White was disqualified for steroid use."
Past recipients of the Mark Twain Prize include distinguished luminaries such as George Carlin, Neil Simon, Steve Martin, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Lorne Michaels, Lily Tomlin, Carl Reiner, Bob Newhart, Jonathan Winters and Richard Pryor. Fey becomes the youngest recipient of the awards.

Kenan Thompson to star in web series Johnny B. Homeless

SNL's Kenan Thompson will star in a new online series called Johnny B. Homeless on Atom.com. From PR-CANADA.net -


Atom.com, the digital comedy network and COMEDY CENTRAL's anchor brand for original digital content, announced its new development slate featuring more than a dozen new Web series including top comedic talent and up-and-coming stars. Titles include the third and final season of Atom's hit comedy epic "Legend of Neil," the feline-powered, celebrity-skewering "Munchie the Agent" and the ultimate couch-surfer "Johnny B. Homeless," featuring Al Thompson and Kenan Thompson ("Saturday Night Live").


"Johnny B. Homeless": (9 episodes, debuts June 15, 2010) - Winner of the 2009 People's Choice Award for best pilot at the New York Television Festival, "Johnny B. Homeless" is the saga of the ultimate partying couch surfer. Created by and starring Al Thompson ("The Royal Tenenbaums," "A Walk to Remember") and co-starring Kenan Thompson ("Saturday Night Live").

MacGruber debuts at #6

So I guess Universal's "genius" plan to bump MacGruber's release date into the height of summer movie mania backfired as MacGruber debuted at #6 at the box office grossing just $4.1 million. I'm just going to post what I wrote when Universal announced its plan to postpone MacGruber's release date -

In a seemingly overwhelming vote of confidence in MacGruber, Universal Pictures has opted to push back MacGruber’s release date from April 23 to May 21, so as it can go up against Shrek Forever After. Y’know Shrek, that massively successful movie franchise that has a pretty good record of earning bucketloads of money? Yeah. Universal thought it’d be wise to put MacGruber i.e a movie based on an SNL sketch, which historically have not done well box-office wise, against that.

Now look, I don’t doubt that MacGruber is probably better than the likes of It’s Pat or The Ladies Man, but really Universal? You think that a movie based on a cult sketch stands a chance against Shrek? I get that they have different audiences, but you’re looking at going 2 weeks after Iron Man 2(i.e. sequel to the movie that made $320 million domestic), and 1 week before Prince Of Persia/Sex and The City 2, at which point MacGruber is doomed to get swallowed up by the incoming tide of competition. It’s like you want it to fail.

As Cinema Blend puts it, counter-programming almost never works, and I don’t envision MacGruber being as successful as The Hangover, no matter what ill thought-out strategy you apply, Universal.

Right now, all I have to say is - Oi.

I don't understand how I, a 17 year old girl, could see this coming when highly paid Universal executives couldn't. Do you know what new release MacGruber would have been up against had it been released in April as originally planned? THE LOSERS - y'know that film that flopped. MacGruber most certainly would have opened top 3 that weekend and grossed more than $4 million. 
Note to everyone that hasn't seen MacGruber - go! 

So as some of you may know, I'm an avid autograph collector. Well, One of the holy grails came today, you guys - The Dratchster! I wrote to her about six weeks ago when she was performing her play “Sylvia”. I’ve had mixed success writing to theatres outside of New York but I decided to give it a go! And boy, am I glad I did, ‘cause today I received my index card signed from Dratch AND a short letter from her on Rachel Dratch notepaper no less. Needless to say, I exclaimed a little. The letter read as follows -

Dear Amy-

Thank you so much for your letter! You are a true fan - you know all the characters! I think my favourite sketches were me and Will Ferrell in the hot tub as the professors, and the Debbie Downer sketch where we all cracked up! Don’t know if you have seen those. 

Good luck with your comedy writing career. I always recommend taking some improv classes, even if you aren’t so into performing, because it really frees up your ‘comedy brain’ - but hope it works out for you!

I’ve been to Ireland a few times and it’s a beautiful place!

Thanks again for your letter!

xo, Rachel

What even! Dying a little bit. One of my favourite comediennes and one of my favourite SNL cast members writing little ol’ me a letter on personalised notepaper! Too good, you guys. 

Going The Distance Trailer

The trailer for Going The Distance has just been released. The romantic-comedy which stars Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Charlie Day, SNL's Jason Sudeikis, Christina Applegate, Jim Gaffigan and Rob Riggle sort of looks like this year's (500) Days of Summer except it's about long-distance relationships. Sudeikis plays Box, the friend of Justin Long's character.
Check it out!