Daniel Radcliffe to host SNL

It has been announced that Daniel Radcliffe will host Saturday Night Live on January 14th. This will mark the Harry Potter star's first stint as host. Up-and-coming chanteuse Lana Del Rey will serve as musical guest for the show, which is sure to attract oodles of attention and eyeballs. 

Meanwhile, Charles Barkley will host the next installment of the show on January 7th with musical guest Kelly Clarkson.

Q&A - Christine Nangle & Shelly Gossman

I had the distinct pleasure and honour of interviewing the infinitely cool, funny and talented Christine Nangle and Shelly Gossman via Skype earlier today. We covered their beginnings in comedy, some of their favourite sketches/hosts from their time at SNL and Melissa McCarthy.

I want to thank both Nangle and Gossman for taking the time out of their busy schedules to talk with me, and for being so generous and kind with their answers. Enjoy reading!

______________________________

How did you initially get into comedy?

Shelly: I was an actress in college and I had an improv class. And it really scared me and I thought I was terrible but the teacher was like, “You should pursue this!” And I moved to Chicago, got involved in the improv scene and everything that happened happened from that; the choice to study improv in Chicago.

Christine: I got started from a writing angle, just interested in that and I didn’t get started until after college. I just decided to, on a whim, audition for an improve troupe because I was always interested in it.  So I was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and so, kind of just did stuff there. Then I moved to New York to study at the Upright Citizens Brigade and it all came from there.

Who were some of your major influences growing up?

Shelly: I have a lot of favourites. I love Shirley Maclaine. Bill Murray’s my favourite of all-time.

Christine: I don’t know if you can see her Shirley Maclaine picture right up back there.

Shelly: Yeah, I’m the same. I really liked Mr. Show, which is an HBO show with Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. I really loved Bill Murray. Amy Poehler is my favourite thing in the world. She’s just the best. And, of course, Saturday Night Live.

Was it always your goal to get on Saturday Night Live? Or was it more an opportunity that presented itself to you?

Christine: For myself, I never pictured myself here. I just loved writing and I was an improviser in New York as well. And, for me, I don’t think I ever allowed myself to dream it because I wasn’t really an actress. So when it came my way, my mind was blown.

Shelly: My whole goal was to get on the main stage of Second City and when I got that, I was kind of like, “Oh, what should my new dream be?” And my first show there, I got to audition for SNL. I got flown out; I auditioned twice. It slowly became a reality that, “Oh, this might actually be possible.” It came my way before – it wasn’t my goal. Like, I guess it was one of my dreams to work creatively, so this is one of the ways to do that!

Christine: Totally. I know when I first got my contract, I was more blown away -because I was working a day job and doing comedy at night – and I was more blown away that my contract had my name and then “writer” in parentheses next to it and I was going to get paid to be creative. For me, I was like, I can’t believe that’s happening, let alone happening at SNL.

Something that really interests me is the fact that so many writers at SNL are also performers. You both have substantial backgrounds in improv and have both starred in web series. Is performing and writing something that goes hand in hand for you guys?

Shelly: I think that writing and improvisation go hand in hand and a lot of scripts written here on Tuesday night are written while sitting in a room and you just throw out jokes, so that’s the same skill as improvising. As far as being and actor and a writer, I don’t think those go hand in hand. Or being an impressionist and a writer, I don’t you necessarily are both. But I think if you’re an improviser, you can probably write.

Christine: Well, Shelly and I write together a lot. It’s really helpful to have an actress to know what kind of choices to make. I guess that’s also an improviser thing. But it’s always helpful when you’re able to do readings for things. It helps us find new dimensions for the character.

How did you get hired on Saturday Night Live? Did you submit a writing packet or audition as a performer?

Shelly: I auditioned twice and didn’t get hired. And then, the summer before last, Lorne and a bunch of the writers came to watch my Second City show in Chicago. I was on stage and you write your own stuff at Second City, so after that show, Lorne offered me the job without a writing packet. But he had seen a bunch of my writing through my audition at the Second City shows.

Christine: And I was a writer/performer at UCB and a few years ago, I had a writing class with Abby Elliott, before she was on SNL or anything. And she kind of remembered me when they were looking for some recommendations for writers. She was like, “Oh, you should look up this girl.” So they asked me for a packet and I sent in a packet. They liked it and I came in for an interview and they hired me off that, which I think is kind of the exception to the rule. A lot of people get hired off their performances.

Shelly: Or a recommendation and they’ll look at your packet. But it’s hard, I think, just to send in a packet cold.

Christine: Yeah, I’ve never heard of anyone that’s gotten hired that way.

Shelly: Ooh, I can think of one person!

Christine: Really?

Shelly: Baze. You know, just through submitting jokes.

Christine: Yeah, he knew Dratch and stuff.

Shelly: Oh, he did?

Christine: Yeah, he was in the family.

What are some of your favourite sketches that you have written or contributed to?

Christine: I wrote the Julian Assange sketches with Seth last year and they were super fun to work on, because we were allowed to play with it. Like, we would start other sketches and interrupt them with Julian Assange. It was just fun to do. It was fun to write with Seth, but it was fun to mix up what the normal SNL way of doing things is.

Shelly: Those were so good.

Christine: Thank you. And I also work with Bobby a lot and I really like doing the Kings of Catchphrase Comedy sketches. We just did our second one a couple of weeks ago and they are so fun, because the whole cast gets involved and you give them a catchphrase and then they improvise – some of them improvise their own catchphrases. And you just get to see everybody come through that day - because it takes a while to film it all – and just kind of be hilarious. You just kind of let them go and you’re reminded of how talented our cast really is.

Shelly: I would say some of my favourite sketches have not yet been the ones that I’ve written. My favourite sketch since I’ve been here was the What’s My Name game show sketch where everybody knows even peripheral celebrities, but they don’t know their doorman’s name. I love that sketch. I think it has a great social commentary. Last year I wrote maybe three monologues for female hosts and that’s something I feel proud of. Monologues are hard and I like to try to find a voice for them. Anytime you can write for women, I think it’s exciting. And I think when we have female hosts, I feel really excited.

Who did you write monologues for?

Shelly: Emma Stone, Miley and Helen Mirren’s we actually wrote together.

What are some of your favourite sketches to not make it to air?

Shelly: One of my favourites was from my second read-through with Bryan Cranston. I wrote a sketch with my friend Mike called Stepdad Class about how to be a cool stepdad---

Christine: Which still might be on the show at some point.

Shelly: Maybe. Maybe I shouldn’t talk about it. I guess in general, I like character pieces, because that’s what I like writing. They’re sometimes harder to get on than a premise-based scene. Melissa McCarthy’s show had a lot of character pieces. That’s rare.

Out of curiosity, were a lot of those her own characters that she brought?

Shelly and Christine: Two of them.

Christine: She did the one where she dances with the balloons.

Shelly: Christine helped on that.

Christine: Like, she did that at The Groundlings, but she did it a certain way and then I helped get it into an SNL mould. Because when you’re writing for live comedy theatre, you have almost no props and it’s just a blank stage. You have to be creative in figuring out how to make that work. So then when you’re dealing with camera angles, props and other actors, it’s a skill you really have to learn at SNL. It takes a while. So I just worked with her to make it into more of an SNL sketch and write in a few other characters and stuff like that. And then the taste test sketch was hers, too.

Shelly: With the ranch dressing.

That is one of my favourites of the season so far. Was she one of your favourite hosts to work with this season? Who have been some of your other favourites?

Shelly and Christine: Yeah, absolutely.

Shelly: Everyone is pretty great. Russell Brand surprised me in terms of how much I adored working with him. He is so smart, so funny – he’s brilliant. Genius.

Christine: Charlie Day was fun. I really loved Amy Poehler. That was amazing.

Shelly: Buscemi was so good.

Christine: When people come, for the most part, they want to learn and they submit themselves to the process. And they’re so nice –

Shelly: So nice.

Christine: They defer to us and they just want it to be the best show it can be. People are always really great.

Is there any host you would like to work with in the future?

Shelly: I was just saying yesterday – this is a long shot – but I wish Joan Rivers could host.

Christine: We were talking about what if Dolly Parton hosted.

They would both be fabulous. So, Jimmy Fallon is hosting this weekend? Any sneak peek of who or what might show up?

Shelly: Stay tuned!

Christine: The best thing about when people like that host is that they always bring people with them that they were on the show with and that’s always so cool to be around.

A warm and hearty congratulations to Kristen Wiig who received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy for her work in Bridesmaids. Additionally, Bridesmaids was nominated for Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy. 

Responding to the news that she had been nominated, Wiig said, "“I’m speechless. I’m ecsatatic. I’m elated. It’s hard to wrap your head around it. You set out to make a little movie and you don’t know how people are going to react to it.”

Yesterday, the entire cast of Bridesmaids was rewarded with a SAG nomination for Best Ensemble. 

Next stop - the Kodak!

Interesting Thing of the Day -

Letters penned by the likes of Alec Baldwin, Al Franken and a host of female employee at Saturday Night Live written in response to the infamous Chris Smith article "Comedy Isn't Funny" for New York Magazine. Love it!

(New York Magazine, 1995)

 

Y'all ready for this?

Taran Killam recreates Robyn's "Call Your Girlfriend" video. And it is wonderful.

“At Saturday Night Live, thank you to Lorne Michaels for rerouting my destiny; Marci Klein for discovering me; Tina Fey for making me look better at sketch comedy than I really am; Mary Ellen Matthews for the awesome cover photo; Dana Edelson for photo research; Kenny Aymong; Steve Higgins; Mike Shoemaker; Katreese Barnes; Louis Zakarian; Jodi Mancuso; Lindsay Shookus; Bettie Rogers; Will Ferrell; Tracy Morgan; Gena Rositano; and both Jimmy Fallon and Maya Rudolph for holding my baby so much.”

• Acknowledgments in Darrell Hammond’s God, If You’re Not Up There, I’m Fucked. If you still haven’t gotten your hands on a copy of this book, treat yo’ self.

Pre-order Rachel Dratch’s book, Girl Walks Into A Bar: Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters and a Midlife Miracle, on Amazon. It drops April 26th 2012.

Will Forte appears on The Mortified Sessions

This may be of interest to some of you guys!

The Sundance Channel is airing a new series, The Mortified Sessions, featuring celebrities share embarrassing stories from their childhoods. The show airs each Monday at 8PM on The Sundance Channel and this upcoming Monday's episode will feature beloved SNL alum Will Forte and Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey.

Each episode lasts thirty minutes and is presented by David Nadelberg, who guides the celebrities down memory lane and coaxes funny and embarrassing childhood anecdotes from them. 

Not to be missed!

SNL Promo: Katy Perry/Robyn

Seth Meyers attends “A Funny Affair for Autism” at The Plaza Hotel on December 5, 2011 in New York City.

Andy Samberg in "Celeste and Jesse Forever"

Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones in Celeste and Jesse Forever. 

Celeste and Jesse Forever is directed by Lee Toland Krieger from a script by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. It also stars Elijah Wood, Ari Graynor, Emma Roberts, Chris Messina and more. 

Celeste and Jesse Forever will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

Katy Perry To Host SNL 12/10

It has been announced that Katy Perry will host Saturday Night Live on December 10th with musical guest, Robyn. This marks Perry's hosting debut, having appeared as musical guest on one prior occasion last season. Likewise, Robyn will be making her SNL debut as musical guest.

Steve Buscemi To Host SNL December 3rd

Rolling Stone revealed today that Boardwalk Empire star, Steve Buscemi, will host SNL on December 3rd with musical guest, The Black Keys. This is the second SNL outing for Buscemi, who last hosted the show in 1998. Aside from starring in the critically acclaimed HBO series, Boardwalk Empire, Buscemi will be seen in the upcoming police drama Rampart and the forthcoming screen adaptation of On The Road. 

The Black Keys, meanwhile, will make their second appearance on the show in advance of the release of their seventh album, El Camino.

Promises to be a good 'un!

Have you bought this yet? No? Why not? It's an absolutely fascinating read and a very interesting take on life at SNL from one its longest-serving cast member. Do it!

ComingSoon.net has debuted the first images and poster for the upcoming Kristen Wiig vehicle, Imogene. The film centres around Imogene, a woman who stages a fake suicide attempt in order to win back her ex-boyfriend and winds up in the custody of her mother, played by Annette Bening. Directed by Shari Springer-Berman and Robert Pulcini, Imogene also stars Matt Dillon, Natasha Lyonne and Darren Criss.

Colour me excited!

(More images after the jump.)

Emma Stone returns to host SNL this week with musical guest Coldplay. Stone has had quite the year, having starred in mega-hit The Help, Crazy Stupid Love and Friends with Benefits. Meanwhile, Coldplay are currently enjoying the success of their latest album "Mylo Xyloto". All in all, it promises to be a fabulous show! Check the promo below.

SNL Promo: Emma Stone/Coldplay

 

The cast and writers file into Lorne's office for the Monday meeting with host Charlie Day.

NBC has uploaded an album of photos from behind the scenes at the show this week, which you can check out here.

Credit: Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC

Bill Hader in Rolling Stone

Bill Hader appears in the current issue of Rolling Stone as part of its annual Hot List. Hader earns the distinction of Hot Always Awesome. The latest issue is on newsstands now.

7 Minutes In Heaven w/ Mike O'Brien and Seth Meyers -

7 Minutes In Heaven w/ Mike O'Brien and Seth Meyers

"Now is the moment when the muggers are coming."

Kristen Wiig joins The Comedian

Kristen Wiig has reportedly joined the cast of Sean Penn's upcoming directorial feature, "The Comedian". Wiig will star alongside legendary thespian Robert De Niro in the film, which tells of a has-been comic sentenced to community service for headbutting a heckler. While there, he falls in love with Harmony, a woman who turns his life upside down. While it has yet to be confirmed, it is expected that Wiig will play Harmony.

Jason Sudeikis joins "Dog Fight"

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Jason Sudeikis has joined the cast for the upcoming political comedy "Dog Fight". He joins the previously announced Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis. The script comes from Shawn Harwell (Eastbound & Down) and Chris Henchy (The Other Guys) and is slated to be directed by Jay Roach (Meet The Parents). Galifiankis and Ferrell will produce the film, alongside Jay Roach and Adam McKay. Filming will start in November with a view to releasing the comedy next August.

Charlie Day to host "SNL"

It was revealed during last night's episode that It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia star Charlie Day will host SNL on November 5 with musical guest Maroon 5.  Day will reunite with his Horrible Bosses co-star Jason Sudeikis on the show.

Taran Killam To Guest Star on "Community"

Good news for all you Community fans out there - Taran Killam is set to appear on an upcoming episode of the show! TVLine reports that Killam will star as a "kooky choir director" on the Christmas installment of the NBC comedy. That role kind of seems tailor-made for Killam, so that is definitely something you should keep your eyes peeled for!

Happy birthday, Jay Pharoah!

SNL Promo: Anna Faris/Drake

SNL Promo: Anna Faris/Drake

SNL Promo: Ben Stiller/Foster The People

Rumor: Eddie Murphy to appear on 'SNL' this weekend | NY Post

The New York Post is reporting that Eddie Murphy may make a guest appearance on this weekend’s “Saturday Night Live”. The episode is slated to be hosted by Murphy’s Tower Heist co-star Ben Stiller and word is that work is going on behind the scenes to get Murphy, a former cast member, to pop up. Murphy has never previously participated in any SNL reunion, so this would be quite the get. Reps for Eddie Murphy denied that there were plans for Murphy to appear on SNL, while SNL’s reps did not comment.

Download the latest episode of “Making It w/ Riki Lindhome” which features none other than SNL writer/producer John Mulaney here.

Heads up, gang. The NBC website has uploaded a photo album containing a bunch of backstage shots from the Melissa McCarthy/Lady Antebellum show. You can check it out here.

 

Taran Killam gushing about his former Groundlings colleague and tonight’s SNL host, Melissa McCarthy. I think we’re in for a good ‘un, guys.

Ben Stiller, Anna Faris to host SNL

It has been announced that Ben Stiller and Anna Faris will host SNL this October. Ben Stiller, promoting "Tower Heist", will host October 8th with musical guests Foster The People. Anna Faris, who is starring in the upcoming romantic comedy "What's Your Number?", will host October 15th with musical guest Drake. Melissa McCarthy hosts this weekend's installment with musical guest Lady Antebellum.

It's September. It's Saturday night. And that can only mean one thing - the season premiere of SNL is finally upon us! Tonight, veteran host Alec Baldwin takes to the stage for a record sixteenth hosting stint, while British rockers Radiohead are musical guests. We've been promised some surprises by Mr. Baldwin (ahem, Steve Martin and Seth Rogen, ahem) and I think we're in for a great show. 

I want you, loyal readers, to post your thoughts on tonight's show after it has aired. Favourite sketch? MVP of the show? Thoughts on how Baldwin fared? 

Comment, comment, comment!

SNL Promo #1 -Alec Baldwin/Radiohead

SNL Promo: Alec Baldwin/Radiohead w/ Bill Hader

Hires/Fires to SNL Writing Staff

As we all know, the Saturday Night Live cast and writing staff returned to work yesterday and Splitsider is confirming several additions to the writing staff. As previously reported, Sarah Schneider of College Humor was added to the staff. Joining Schneider is Chris Kelly (Onion News Network),  Zach Kanin (The New Yorker) and Peter Schultz (UCB). Meanwhile, Simon Rich has departed Studio 8H to write a movie for Pixar. (!!)

Welcome all!

Vanessa Bayer talks about what it would be like if she went on a date with Ross from Friends and does a few impressions of ladies in Civil War reenactments. And is hilarious.

“Hey, you know when the sun’s coming in through the window? And everyone’s talking outside because everybody in the city is awake and you’re not. Get up then!”

Paul Brittain does an impression of his alarm clock.

Congratulations to SNL director Don Roy King who won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Directing of a Variety Series! This was King's second consecutive win and is the fourth Emmy for SNL this year. Unfortunately, SNL lost in the categories of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Kristen Wiig), Outstanding Variety Series and Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series.

 

Kristen Wiig and Darren Criss shooting "Imogene" in New York City. 

Rumor: Mary Faber Eyed as Possible SNL Cast Member

The Apiary is reporting that SNL is possibly looking at adding Mary Faber to its cast. While it is just a rumor at this point, sources tell The Apiary that Faber recently tested for the show. Faber is best known for her work on Broadway, where she is currently starring opposite Daniel Radcliffe in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. She has also starred in American Idiot and Avenue Q. Faber has also studied improv at UCB and The PIT.

Below is her SNL audition reel, introduced by Daniel Radcliffe, no less. In it, she displays a great knack for characters and could really bring a fun and lively energy, as well as a more theatrical sensibility (reminiscent of Ana Gasteyer, perhaps) to the show.

You betcha this is a thing.

Ben & Jerry's has teamed up with Broadway Video Enterprises to unveil a new SNL-inspired flavour entitled "Schweddy Balls". Based on the now-infamous SNL sketch featuring Molly Shannon, Ana Gasteyer and Alec Baldwin, Schweddy Balls features Fair Trade vanilla ice cream with a hint of rum and is loaded with fudge covered rum balls and milk chocolate malt balls and is available for a limited time nationwide while stocks last. 

Asked for his thoughts on the flavour, Alec Baldwin said, “For a long time, I thought that ‘Here Lies Pete Schweddy’ would end up on my tombstone. Now, thanks to Ben & Jerry's, the goodness of the Schweddy family recipe won't go with me to the great beyond.” 

Meanwhile, Ana Gasteyer said, "The Schweddy Balls sketch was a personal favorite from my SNL run, so I am pleased as holiday punch that Ben and Jerry's has taken it upon themselves to share the Schweddy Family recipe with the world. As a person and a performer, I am a sucker for holiday balls. And I have no doubt this ice cream will cause many to scream 'Good Times'." 

Get your hands on it while stocks last, guys.

Jason Sudeikis stopped by Letterman last night to talk up his latest flick, "A Good Old Fashioned Orgy" which hits theaters Friday. Here's a video of the appearance.

New episode of WTF w/ Marc Maron with special guest Jason Sudeikis. Do it!

Check out the latest edition of SNL writer Mike O'Brien's web series "7 Minutes In Heaven" where things get hot and heavy between O'Brien and SNL cast member Jason Sudeikis.

Tune into Letterman tomorrow night where Jason Sudeikis will be appearing to promote his new movie, "A Good Old Fashioned Orgy".

It was announced today that Jimmy Fallon will host the Christmas episode of Saturday Night Live with musical guest Michael Buble. Fallon had tweeted on Friday that an announcement regarding SNL was in the pipeline, prompting many to speculate that he would be hosting SNL this season. Fallon was a cast member on SNL between 1998 and 2004. This will mark his first time hosting the show. Buble previously appeared on the show during Season 35.

Jimmy Fallon To Host SNL?

I think we can take from this oh-so-mysterious tweet that SNL alum and current Late Night host Jimmy Fallon will probably be hosting SNL this season. Get ready to freak out. Watch this space for further deets.

Radiohead, Lady Antebellum to appear on SNL

It has been announced that Radiohead and Lady Antebellum will serve as musical guests for the first two episodes of the upcoming season of SNL. Radiohead will join Alec Baldwin for the first episode on September 24th, while Lady Antebellum will make their SNL debut alongside Melissa McCarthy on October 1st.

Sarah Schneider Hired As Writer

Splitsider is reporting that Sarah Schneider of CollegeHumour fame has been hired to SNL's writing staff. Schneider was a guest writer for the final five episodes of season thirty-six and contributed sketches such as the hilarious Knights of the Realm and equally irreverent Helen Mirren's Magical Bosoms and is a welcome addition to the team!

Congratulations, lady!

Check out this interview with SNL writer John Mulaney in which he discusses writing for SNL, quitting drinking and being a comedy nerd as a child.

ATTN: Portland Residents -

Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein of IFC’s hit comedy Portlandia cast a spotlight on the city of rose’s local feminist bookstore In Other Words with their deadpan portrayal of two feminist store clerks. This summer they’re returning to the bookstore in an even more important role— to help keep the doors of the store open by transitioning it into a feminist community center.
Fred and Carrie are hosting an In Other Words Fundraising Event on Saturday, August 20th at 6:30pm. Join them as they auction off a walk-on role in season two of Portlandia, tickets to see Carrie’s band Wild Flag, a voicemail greeting from Fred and much more.

Tickets are $20-$40. [via]

Some shows at the upcoming Del Close Marathon that may be of interest to SNL fans/people who enjoy good things -

• UCB TourCo All-Stars - featuring Bobby Moynihan, Neil Casey, Jon Gabrus, Shannon O’Neill, Anthony King, Brandon Gardner, Fran Gillespie, more!
• The Midnight Show - featuring, among others, SNL writer Heather Anne Campbell.
• Challenger - An improv show which will see a bunch of Chicago improv veterans do their thing on the UCB stage. Featuring Paul Brittain.
• Revolver - One of iO Chicago’s top house teams perform the Harold. Featuring Vanessa Bayer.
• Ness and Nance - Two-woman improv show featuring Vanessa Bayer and Nancy Friedrich.

Exclusive clip from tomorrow's edition of "7 Minutes In Heaven" 

This one features Mike O’Brien and Patricia Clarkson getting hot and heavy in a closet.

Taran Killam appears on this week’s edition of Drew Droege’s “Glitter in the Garbage” podcast alongside former SNL writer Jillian Bell and Groundlings star Charlotte Newhouse. Do it!

Alec Baldwin, Melissa McCarthy to host SNL

According to Bill Carter of the New York Times, Alec Baldwin will host the season premiere of Saturday Night Live while Bridesmaids star Melissa McCarthy will host the second episode. This will mark Baldwin’s record sixteenth hosting stint while McCarthy will be making her SNL debut and reuniting with her Bridesmaids co-star Kristen Wiig. No word on musical guests yet.

No Cast Members Leaving SNL This Season, Says Lorne Michaels

Lorne Michaels confirmed today that no cast members will leave SNL this season, according to TV critic Roger Catlin. Michaels was present at the Television Critics Association press tour promoting his new series Up All Night as well as 30 Rock, when he revealed the news. Michaels did add that he would still hold auditions in August for possible additions to the cast.

Ah, exciting news! Broadway Video and Sidestreet Entertainment Inc. have debuted a brand new web series fronted by SNL writer Mike O’Brien and directed by SNL writer Rob Klein. The series sees O’Brien chat to various guests in a closet and is rather aptly titled “Seven Minutes In Heaven”. Three episodes have been posted today featuring Kristen Wiig, Andy Cohen and Elijah Wood. Check out the Wiig edition above and visit the YouTube channel for more.

Ahhhh!

Saturday Night Live to return September 24th.

Save the date!

Seth Meyers appeared on last night's edition of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to promote his stint as host of tonight's ESPYs. Videos below and more info on the ESPYs here. The 2011 ESPYs air live tonight at 9PM ET.

Production To Begin on Kristen Wiig Feature "Imogene" in August

Anonymous Content and Maven Pictures have announced that production on the upcoming Kristen Wiig feature “Imogene” will begin this August in New York City. Wiig will star and produce the project, while Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini will direct the film, which is based off a script penned by up-and-coming screenwriter Michelle Morgan. This marks Wiig’s first film since the smash hit Bridesmaids was released earlier this summer.
Details on the dark comedy first emerged back in April when Berman and Pulcini gave an interview with The Playlist. The duo described the project as -

“a comedy about a woman who in a very funny kind of situation is living in New York City, and winds up having to be in the custody of her mother who she really doesn’t get along with, and her crazy family, living outside of Atlantic City in New Jersey, and all she wants to do is get back to New York City.”

Imogene is Maven’s first feature and Maven co-founders Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler has this say about the prospect of collaborating with Wiig, Berman, Pulcini and Morgan -

“We’re incredibly grateful to be working with Kristen, Shari, Bob and the extraordinary team on Imogene, Maven’s first feature project. Imogene has every element we were looking for: strong writing, remarkable directing talent, a movie star we believe in, a New York setting, and commercial appeal. This exemplifies all the key elements of our vision for Maven’s future slate.”

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Horrible Bosses grossed between $9 million and $10 million on Friday, putting it in line to gross in excess of $20 million and possibly north of $25 million this weekend. The comedy, starring Jason Sudeikis, will fall short of the $31,603,106 opening weekend achieved by Bad Teacher, but could surpass expectations and open in line with Bridesmaids’ $26,247,410. Either way, it’s another solid opening for an R-rated comedy.

Other R-rated comedies set to bow this summer include Friends With Benefits (July 22), The Change-Up (August 5) and 30 Minutes Or Less (August 12).

Have you seen Horrible Bosses? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Jason Sudeikis to guest-star in Eastbound & Down

Jason Sudeikis has reportedly landed a recurring role on the next season of Eastbound & Down. According to Variety, Sudeikis will play Shane, a friend of Danny McBride's character Kenny Powers. Jason Sudeikis has previously guest-starred on shows like 30 Rock, The Cleveland Show and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

The news comes just as Sudeikis' latest movie "Horrible Bosses" opens in theaters nationwide.

Andy Samberg joins Hotel Transylvania Voice Cast

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Andy Samberg will lend his vocal talents to the upcoming animated 3D family comedy, "Hotel Transylvania". Samberg joins a cast that includes the likes of Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Steve Buscemi, Fran Drescher, David Spade, Cee-Lo Green and Molly Shannon. 

According to the trade, "Sandler is voicing Dracula in the tale, which makes the Transylvanian count not only an owner of a “five-stake” resort away from the human world but also an overprotective dad trying to shield his teenaged daughter. This goes awry when a human stumbles upon the resort and falls for the girl."

Samberg will voice the role of "Jonathan, a 21-year-old regular guy, carefree and full of life, whose world travels land him at the Hotel."

Congratulations to Bridesmaids which became the highest-grossing female R-rated comedy this weekend, surpassing Sex And The City. Not only is the Kristen Wiig vehicle the highest-grossing Apatow venture, it is also the highest-grossing debut film from an SNL cast member. Bridesmaids' domestic gross now stands at $153,798,000.

Yay for everything.

Jason Sudeikis talks about his career and newfound status as a heartthrob with New York Magazine. It is a real good read, and you can check it out here.

Sudeikis can next be seen in Horrible Bosses, which hits theaters on Friday.

The Lonely Island - "We'll Kill U"

The Lonely Island has released a new video entitled, "We'll Kill U". It is super funny and features Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer as the guys previously seen in "We Like Sportz" and "Just 2 Guyz". Enjoy it with your eyes.

Jason Sudeikis on Conan, 06/27/2011
"Good to have you." "Good to be had."

Download the latest episode of Julie Klausner's podcast "How Was Your Week" in which she chats with SNL's Vanessa Bayer and Ana Gasteyer! (!!!)

Dream podcast. That's all.

Another weekend, another lucrative span of time for Bridesmaids. This weekend, the film's cumulative gross reached an impressive $136,450,725, while its worldwide total currently stands at  $144,050,725 . It is second only to Knocked Up as the most commercially successful Apatow-produced cinematic venture, an impressive feat by all accounts. The film will continue to be rolled out internationally in the coming weeks, and I fully expect it to find the same audience overseas.

A hearty congratulations to all involved!

Vanessa Bayer attends the Ash NYC Flagship Launch Party.

Photographed by Jacob Breinholt

"Jason Sudeikis and Ian Gomez attend Montblanc Presents The 24 Hour Plays LA at The Broad Stage on June 18, 2011 in Santa Monica, California."

Speaking of Sudeikis, he is on a media blitz of sorts whilst on the promotional trail for his latest movie "Horrible Bosses". Read this interview with Sudeikis in Playboy, and tune into Sudeikis next Monday (06/27) when he appears on Conan. 

Listen to Andy Samberg and Adam Pally (Happy Endings) on the latest installment of Comedy Bang Bang.

Jay Pharoah joins cast of Lola Versus >>> Collider

Pharoah joins previously announced Greta Gerwig, Zoe Lister-Jones and Orlando Bloom, as well as the newly announced Bill Pullman, Debra Winger, Joel Kinnaman, Ebon Moss Bachrach and Parisa Fitz-Henley.

The romantic comedy, penned by Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein began principal photography yesterday.

Jason Sudeikis on Tonight Show with Jay Leno (VIDEO)

Jason Sudeikis on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (PART 1)



 

Jason Sudeikis (PART 2)




Jason Sudeikis - PART 3

Here are pictures of Andy Samberg and Will Forte on the Boston set of the Adam Sandler/Andy Samberg vehicle I Hate You, Dad.

 

 

Q&A with Seth Meyers | The Hollywood Reporter

The Q&A covers Meyers’ favourite moments from the season, dealing with the Arnold Schwarzenegger scandal on SNL, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and of course, Weekend Update. When asked whether he could foresee himself ever getting a Weekend Update co-anchor, Meyers replied, “The hard part would be imagining anyone other than Amy Poehler. She was my closest friend on the show, and she steers the ship very well. I miss arguing with her — we both come from arguing backgrounds. She’s one of the great all-time arguers.”

Fred Armisen was invited to give the commencement address to the 2011 graduates of Oregon Episcopal High School, and above is a video of the address. As we all know, Armisen enjoyed a great deal of success earlier this year with his IFC series "Portlandia" which poked fun at the Oregonian city, so the location of this address is kind of apt, right?

Jay Pharoah performing at 420 Comedy Blaze at Bonnaroo, 06/09/2011