Farewell, Kristen.

SNL - She’s A Rainbow

This was the most wonderful tribute. Kristen has long been my favourite cast member and is someone whose skills as a performer are unrivaled as far as I am concerned. To me, Wiig can do anything and never fails to elicit laughs from me. Not only is she a brilliant character actress and sometimes impressionist, she is an outstanding physical comedienne and possesses a unique comic timing. The characters she brought to SNL were so varied, nuanced and idiosyncratic that, even if they weren’t fully-realized, they were still a thrill to watch.

I have been watching SNL regularly since 2005 and Kristen was the cast member I immediately latched onto. I remember recording myself doing an impression of Suze Orman or doing Target Lady, all while trying and failing to emulate Wiig’s vocal tics. Ditto with the Monex sketch, which I can still recite by heart, owing to the hours I spent watching it and transcribing it and performing it aloud for my weary parents.

This is a long-winded way of saying that I am really going to miss Wiig’s presence on the show and truly value the insurmountable contribution she has made to SNL over the last number of years. I can’t wait to see where her career takes her and I have no doubt but that she will continue to be crazy successful in whatever endeavors she chooses to pursue.

To Kristen!

[via]

Dear readers,

I started this blog in July '08 as a fifteen-year-old SNL fan, who was frustrated by the apparent lack of online destinations for people who shared the same interests as me. At the time, there was no place devoted to providing a steady stream of SNL-related news and I aimed to fill that void. For close to two years, I posted every news item/show review/picture possible. And I had a great time doing it! It allowed me to hone my writing skills, as well as write about the show I loved.

Then in February '10, I discovered Tumblr and immediately fell in love. Unbeknownst to me, there was a vibrant, active community of like-minded people congregating on this microblogging platform every night and I discovered hundreds of blogs, all of which acted as excellent sources for not only SNL news, but comedy news in general. These blogs encouraged me to do better work and eventually expand beyond the narrow niche I had created for myself on this blog. 

Two years and thirteen thousand followers later and my blog continues to flourish on Tumblr. Beyond amassing more followers than I could have ever imagined, a lot of great and influential people/organisations have followed me and all in all, it has been a positive and encouraging experience. During this time, I have tried to maintain this blog alongside my Tumblr, but I am aware that posting has become more and more sporadic. It is for that reason that I have decided to transfer all operations over to Tumblr and cease posting on this blog. I will keep this blog on the internet because (a) I am proud of it and (b) it contains five great interviews that I was privileged enough to conduct with Bobby Moynihan, Alex Baze, Mike O'Brien, Paul Brittain, Christine Nangle and Shelly Gossman. But there will be no new posts after this.


I would like to thank anyone who ever read this blog and wrote encouraging comments to fifteen-year-old me or simply wrote a comment like, "SNL sucks". I would like to thank any website which ever supported my blog by linking to it. And I would like to encourage anyone who might be reading this to support the glut of comedy news blogs on the internet, among them Splitsider, Laughspin and The Comic's Comic. These are all wonderful resources and mandatory reading material for any fifteen-year-old comedy nerds out there.


In the meantime, the party continues over on Tumblr. I hope you'll join me!


Thanks again,
Amy

Jason Sudeikis & Olivia Wilde to star in "Relanxious"

According to Deadline, the real-life couple will star in the romantic comedy directed by Christopher Storer and produced by Daniel Dubiecki (Up In The Air) and Lorene Scafaria (Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World). According to Deadline -

“Wilde plays Barrett, an anxiety-ridden woman who meets and is smitten with George. Played by Sudeikis, George is agoraphobic and so their courtship is limited to phone conversations in which they discuss the dates they would go on if their phobias didn’t stand in the way. As the fantasies develop, the two must decide if they can put aside their fears in order to find real-life romance.”

Additionally, Brie Larson (21 Jump Street) and Fred Armisen (SNL, Portlandia) will co-star. Relanxious will commence shooting this summer.

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Sofia Vergara & One Direction to hit SNL April 7th

It has been announced that Modern Family star Sofia Vergara will host SNL on April 7th with musical guest One Direction. Vergara, a two-time Emmy nominee for her role as Gloria Delgado-Pratchett in the ABC sitcom, will be at SNL promoting her latest project The Three Stooges. This will be Vergara's first time treading the boards of Studio 8H.

Meanwhile, British-Irish boyband One Direction will also be making their SNL debut. The pop group, who rose to prominence in the UK after finishing in third place on The X Factor, are currently enjoying chart success with their single "What Makes You Beautiful". Their album, "Up All Night", will drop on March 13th. 

SNL Promo: Jonah Hill/The Shins:

SNL Promo: Lindsay Lohan

SNL Promo: Lindsay Lohan/Jack White

The controversial starlet hosts the show this weekend and will also appear on The Today Show tomorrow to discuss her comeback with Matt Lauer. This will be Lohan's fourth stint as host.

Abby Elliott Lands Lead in Fox Pilot

Deadline is reporting that Abby Elliott has landed the lead in a new Fox pilot, Ben Fox Is My Manny. Penned by Dana Fox (What Happens in Vegas), Ben Fox Is My Manny centres on an uptight single mother (Elliott) whose slacker brother moves in with her to help raise her daughter. The question on everybody's lips is what this means for Elliott's future on SNL. Deadline reports that if the pilot gets picked up to series, Elliott will leave the late-night comedy show. If not, it is likely she will stay on. Elliott has been with SNL since '08.

Lindsay Lohan, Jonah Hill to host SNL

NBC announced today that Lindsay Lohan and Jonah Hill will both host SNL in March. As was announced during last weekend's show, Lindsay Lohan will host March 3rd with musical guest Jack White. Jonah Hill, fresh off his Academy Award-nominated performance in Moneyball, will host on March 10th with musical guest The Shins.

SNL Promo: Maya Rudolph/Sleigh Bells

Maya Rudolph to host SNL

NBC has confirmed that SNL alum Maya Rudolph will host SNL on February 18th with musical guest Sleigh Bells. Rudolph, who can presently be seen on NBC’s Up All Night, was a cast member on the late-night comedy show from 2000 to 2007 and this marks her debut as host.

Sleigh Bells will also be making their SNL debut ahead of the release of their sophomore album, Reign of Terror.

SNL Promo: Zooey Deschanel

Sad news today - EW is reporting that featured player Paul Brittain is exiting the show to pursue other projects. The departure is effective immediately. While SNL and Brittain have yet to comment, word is that he and the show have parted ways amicably. 

A veteran of the Chicago improv scene, Brittain joined the SNL cast in September 2010. Some of his best-loved characters from his time at the show include Sex Ed Vincent and Lord Wyndemere. Brittain was also the star of one of my favourite sketches of season thirty-six, Hallmark's Mother's Day. 

I had the distinct privilege of interviewing Paul Brittain via e-mail last year (here) and I wish him nothing but the best for the future! In the meantime, watch Hallmark Mother's Day and laugh.

SNL Promo: Daniel Radcliffe

SNL Promo: Daniel Radcliffe/Lana Del Rey

"Chill, Broseph! I like Mountain Dew and big butts!"

Channing Tatum, Zooey Deschanel to host SNL

It has been announced that Channing Tatum and Zooey Deschanel will host SNL this February. Channing Tatum, who has an exciting 2012 in store for him, will host on February 4th with musical guest Bon Iver. Tatum will be seen in Haywire, 21 Jump Street, Magic Mike, The Vow and GI Joe: Retaliation this year. 

Meanwhile, Zooey Deschanel. who currently stars on the breakout sitcom New Girl, will host February 11th with musical guest Karmin.