Simon Rich article in The New York Observer

The New York Observer ran a neat piece about SNL writer Simon Rich yesterday. You can read the article here. 
The article features Bill Hader, John Mulaney and Seth Meyers all talking about Rich, as well as Rich's renowned father Frank Rich who says his son  is "fairly fanatical" about New York and "its history, its lore". 


Enjoy!
Also, if you haven't already purchased Elliot Alagash - what's wrong with you? Buy it on Amazon now. 

People Magazine is reporting that SNL alum Rachel Dratch is expecting her first baby. New York Magazine had speculated that Dratch was pregnant after she attended the premiere of The Kids Are All Right with Amy Poehler last week and today People Magazine confirmed the story was true. Dratch is due in September.


Congratulations, lady!

Andy Samberg to host Lexus Green Debate

Andy Samberg is one of a number of comedians who has signed on to host the Lexus Green Debates. He, along with the likes of Jamie Kennedy and Tracy Morgan, will moderate debates between eco-supporters and climate change deniers. Samberg’s debate will take place tomorrow in Los Angeles and will feature Mine Your Own Business filmmaker Phelim McAleer and founder of the Sundance Channel’s “The Green”, Simran Sethi.

Look at what the official ESPYs Twitter posted.

"The definition of cool. Our host @sethmeyers21, Jon Hamm, Jack McBrayer, at a taping for the show!"

As you all know, Seth Meyers hosts the 2010 ESPYs which take place next Wednesday live from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles at 9PM ET. You can follow the ESPYs twitter at -

http://twitter.com/ESPYs

Seth Meyers on cover of Script Magazine

Seth Meyers is featured on the cover of the July/August issue of the Final Draft publication "Script". Inside is a story about the lead-up to the Saturday show i.e the writing/production aspects of the show. 
You can read Script magazine online here -
http://viewer.zmags.com/htmlCat/index.php?mid=rffgph
You can also download a PDF file of the magazine from that link.


In other Seth Meyers-related news, Seth will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on July 12, undoubtedly to promote the ESPYs which take place on July 14. 

So,the Gold Derby Awards nominations were announced yesterday. For those of you who don't know, Gold Derby is a feature of the LA Times and it tracks down all the awards show news. The Gold Derby Awards are sort of like a better version of the Emmys with shows like Parks and Recreation and Community picking up nominations. Saturday Night Live itself was nominated for a few awards - namely BEST VARIETY SERIES, BEST VARIETY PERFORMER (Kristen Wiig, Betty White) and Lorne Michaels is nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award (Other). 


You can cast votes by registering with Gold Derby forums (it takes like 1 minute) and sending a private message to Boomer. All instructions and nominations are here.


Other shows which received multiple nominations include Glee (13), Modern Family (11), Lost (10), Mad Men (9), 30 Rock (8), Community (6) and The Office (5).


Vote for SNL!

Check out his Funny or Die video in which James Franco and Bill Hader wish Sam Raimi a happy birthday in a roundabout way. Hader plays Willem Defoe and the video's worth watching just to see Hader break. 

Happy Birthday Sam Raimi from James Franco from James Franco

John Mulaney will perform at tomorrow night's Comedy Death-Ray show at UCB Theatre in Los Angeles. Advance reservations are sold out, but there will be a stand-by line for the show if you happen to be in the Los Angeles area and want to check Mulaney out. 

Pre-Order Hannibal Buress CD "My Name is Hannibal"

You can pre-order Hannibal Buress' CD "My Name is Hannibal" here on Amazon.com-
http://www.amazon.com/My-Name-Hannibal-Buress/dp/B003TVQPAQ


It costs $14.99 and will be released on July 27.
Here's the product description -


"Hannibal Buress is one of the silliest, smartest, and most distinctive voices in comedy. And those who know that Stand Up! Records cut our teeth on comics like Patton Oswalt, Doug Stanhope, and Maria Bamford, know we don't say that lightly. No, Buress is the real deal. A Chicago native, Saturday Night Live writer, and one of the few black men to make it big in Heeb Magazine, Buress has a peerless deadpan delivery, brilliant timing, and a knack for the nonsequitur. He's got a yen to punt a pigeon, but the street smarts to know the papers are just gonna run with ''Black Dudes Kicking Pigeons!'' the next day. He leans when he texts so it'll come out italic. He daydreams about strangling guys who ask ''Is your name really Hannibal? Like that's on your birth certificate? Like, your parents call you Hannibal?'' just to find out if they'll squawk Are you choking me? With your hands? Are you trying to restrict the flow of oxygen to my brain?'' He single-handedly wrote a jingle for Plan B and called it ''Zygote Killers.'' And yes, Hannibal Buress likes burritos more than Jesus. Because steak burritos are delicious. And they're real. New York Magazine recently named Buress one of their top ten ''Comics to Watch,'' but we think you're gonna want to listen to his first stand-up CD, ''My Name is Hannibal,'' out now from Stand Up! Records, home of fine comedy. And pigeon-kickers."


In related news, Hannibal Buress is the headliner at tonight's Whiplash show at UCB. Advanced reservations are sold out, but there will be a standby line. 


Also, Hannibal was featured in New York Daily News as one of five performers who are on the verge of greatness. They did a brief Q&A with him that I have pasted after the jump.

Michael Patrick O'Brien to play solo show at UCB

SNL writer Michael Patrick O'Brien will perform his solo show, "Shatter" at UCB Theatre on Wednesday July 7 and Monday July 26. Tickets are $5 and reservations can be made here -
http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/shows/2317


The show is described as-
A one man show written and performed by Michael Patrick O'Brien (writer, SNL). O’Brien begins this one man show by attempting to shatter a randomly selected Guinness World Record, using only a small bag of props and the advice of audience members. The rest of the show is filled with short looks at characters who are both familiar and bizarre. The show ends with a surprise twist that can only be caught along the way if you really listen to every word.


"O’Brien has a canny way of playing his intelligence and observational skills against his low-grade skittishness and apparent innocence. The result is an inspired sort of looniness."
-The Chicago Reader


Again those dates & times are -


Wednesday July 7 - 7.00pm
Monday July 26 - 9.30pm

Kristen Wiig at the Despicable Me Premiere

Kristen Wiig attended the premiere of the upcoming animated feature Despicable Me in Los Angeles today. Wiig was looking pretty fly as you can see from the pictures embedded after the jump.

Ellen Degeneres' TBS special, "Ellen's Somewhat Special Special" debuts tonight on TBS at 9PM ET. The special will feature a guest stand-up performance from comic/SNL writer John Mulaney. Tune into it!
Then stay on TBS and watch the Conan Writers Stand-Up Special immediately after!

Tons of Seth Meyers stuff for you guys that the people at fuckyeahsethmeyers.tumblr.com kindly collated. As you know, Meyers hosts the ESPYs in July. Here's the ESPY promo -



Rest of the stuff after the jump.

Hannibal Buress CD "My Name is Hannibal" Out July 27

Stand-up comedian/SNL writer Hannibal Buress has announced on his Twitter that his debut comedy album "My Name Is Hannibal" will be released on July 27. 


Once I get pre-order/purchasing info, I'll post it here. 

Fred Armisen was on The Takeaway today discussing summer music.
You can listen here -
http://www.thetakeaway.org/2010/jun/25/music-fred-armisens-summer-play-list/