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Colin Jost Set To Replace The Departing Seth Meyers On SNL's 'Weekend Update'


Seth Meyers Saturday Night Live Lorne Michaels

As Seth Meyers readies himself to assume his seat at the Late Night desk next month, the departing Saturday Night Live regular has left some important gaps on the show that need filling. One of these gaps is on the anchor's chair for the show's 'Weekend Update,' a gap that SNL executive producer and creator Lorne Michaels has managed to get sorted out already.

Colin Jost
Jost has worked on SNL for almost a decade

Head writer and some-time performer Colin Jost is due to assume Meyer's place on the Weekend Update hot seat, beside current anchor Cecily Strong, who began her stint as co-anchor at the start of the current season. The move will take place next month, when Meyers finally jumps ship and takes over from Jimmy Kimmel on NBC's Late Night.

Continue reading: Colin Jost Set To Replace The Departing Seth Meyers On SNL's 'Weekend Update'

SNL's Newest Recruit - Who Is Sasheer Zamata?


Lorne Michaels

It’s official! Lorne Michaels scheduled auditions last month, following widespread criticism of the whitewashing of the SNL cast and now here she is! The newest comedienne to join the SNL team is Sasheer Zamata – an up-and-coming New York comedienne, formerly a part of the Upright Citizens Brigade.

Lorne Michaels
Judging by reactions online, Michaels got it right this time.

As with most SNL recruits, Zamata has plenty of experience writing and acting in scripted shorts and her standup routines are worth checking out. According to Zamata’s own website, she has been featured in BUST, Jezebel, Hairpin, Vulture, Think Progress, Clutch Magazine, Time Out New York and The New York Times. She has also done stand up at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival, the Great American Comedy Festival and Comedy Central's Comics to Watch Showcase, among others.

Continue reading: SNL's Newest Recruit - Who Is Sasheer Zamata?

SNL Holding Auditions To Recruit Its Very First Black Female Cast Member Since 2007


Lorne Michaels Kenan Thompson Kerry Washington Maya Rudolph

After facing severe criticism for the lack of diversity earlier this season, Saturday Night Live is finally taking steps to hire an African American female cast member. The long-running sketch comedy held auditions on Monday night, during which seven or eight candidates performed. One or two comediennes will be hired and will join the cast for shows in January.

Jay Pharoah, Museup of Natural HistoryKenan Thompson
Pharaoh (l) and Thompson (r) brought attention to the show's lack of diversity this year.

The woman or women will be the first black comedienne(s) on SNL since Maya Rudolph's departure in 2007. As a few clever sketches from the Kerry Washington episode pointed out, SNL desperately needs the additions. The barrage of criticism was set off by the show's black cast members, who put the diversity issue at the forefront this year. Jay Pharaoh said that SNL needed to "follow up" on the promise to bring in a black woman and Kenan Thompson refused to do drag and perform any more parodies of black women.

Continue reading: SNL Holding Auditions To Recruit Its Very First Black Female Cast Member Since 2007

Lorne Michaels Addresses Lack Of Black Women On 'SNL'


Lorne Michaels

Saturday Night Live creator, Lorne Michaels, finds himself in the midst of a scandal about race.

Mr Michaels was surrounded by scrutiny earlier this year when the show didn't ask any black women to join its cast which he was heavily criticised for.

A civil rights group called ColorOfChange.org has recently asked the 68 year-old to address this issue and have written him a letter to voice their concerns.

Continue reading: Lorne Michaels Addresses Lack Of Black Women On 'SNL'

Video - Seth Meyers And Bobby Moynihan Seen Arriving At The SNL After Party


Various members of the cast and crew of 'Saturday Night Live' arrive at the show's after party in New York after leaving the Q&A with Miley Cyrus, who hosted the second episode of season 39 on October 5th 2013.

Continue: Video - Seth Meyers And Bobby Moynihan Seen Arriving At The SNL After Party

The Guilt Trip Review


Very Good

Virtually impossible to market, this film isn't nearly as wacky and rude as its cast and crew suggest. Despite the presence of Rogen (Pineapple Express) and Streisand (Meet the Fockers), plus writer Fogelman (Crazy Stupid Love), director Fletcher (The Proposal) and producer Goldberg (Superbad), this is actually a warm, gentle comedy about the relationship between a mother and son. Sure, there are moments of inspired silliness, but you're more likely to feel a lump in your throat than a stitch in your side.

Rogen plays the science nerd Andrew, who has just invented an organic cleaning product and is taking a cross-country trip to find a buyer. In a moment of weakness, he invites his meddling mother Joyce (Streisand) to join him on the road from New Jersey to San Francisco. She doesn't know that he has discovered that her old flame now lives in California, and he hopes that sparking her love life might get her off his back. But their time together takes some unexpected turns, which change their relationship forever.

Even in the film's goofier segments, such as a ridiculous beef-eating contest Joyce enters in Texas, Fletcher and Fogelman keep the characters likeable and grounded. Streisand is especially impressive, delivering a layered performance that mixes broad one-liners with more internalised emotions. She's much more than just a pushy Jewish mother: Joyce is a middle-aged woman with needs of her own and real love for her son. Meanwhile, Rogen plays Andrew as a nice guy with social issues. So instead of rooting for Joyce and Andrew to sort out their relationship, or even for Andrew to sell his invention, we are more interested in whether Joyce will be able to reignite her personal life.

Continue reading: The Guilt Trip Review

Superstar Review


Good
It's time to see some new female faces in comedy. Sure there are lots of women comedians, but who else can successfully headline a big-time film other than Janeane Garofalo these days? I won't believe for a second that the talent is not out there. I just think some stereotypes need to be broken down first.

That's why Superstar, starring Molly Shannon, is a breath of fresh air. It's the first film in a long while to give a woman the freedom to "get jiggy" with all-out Jim Carrey-esque full body humor.

Continue reading: Superstar Review

Tommy Boy Review


Weak
Given time and some top-rate producing talent, David Spade and Chris Farley might have evolved into a Martin and Lewis for the 21st century, but we'll never know. They only had two outings together, Tommy Boy and Black Sheep, before the red-faced Farley overindulged himself to death in 1997. Of the two films, Tommy Boy is better (and has since become an inexplicable cult hit), but neither one is much good, and for that, aim the blame at Lorne Michaels, who has a very spotty track record of creating decent features for his Saturday Night Live stars. For every Wayne's World, there are three Coneheads.

Tommy "Boy" Callahan (Farley) has just graduated from college after seven years, much to the delight of his beloved father Big Tom (Brian Dennehy), buy no sooner does the widowed Big Tom marry his second wife (Bo Derek) than he drops dead of a heart attack. Now Tommy Boy has to rescue the family's brake shoe business before it's devoured by arch-rival Ray Zalinksy (Dan Aykroyd) while he also keeps an eye on the evil Beverly's schemes and her equally evil son Paul's (Rob Lowe) sabotage.

Continue reading: Tommy Boy Review

The Ladies Man Review


Weak
Ok. Where in the contract for an SNL cast-member does it stipulate that they will finance your ill-conceived film, no matter what it is? What kind of shyster agent dreamed that one up? And why does said movie ever have to be granted approval to be released to the general public?

These three questions, along with "How the hell does a lisping moron actually have game?" predominate a thinking viewer's mind as it wanders through the cerebrally deficient film The Ladies Man. But then your brain reminds you that you're not here for it. You're here so your brain can turn off for a long, long time.

Continue reading: The Ladies Man Review

Coneheads Review


OK
It sounds weird to say it, but Coneheads the movie is underrated. How come it's better than your typical SNL adaptation? A new spin on the original skit with some fresh stars like Sinbad and McKean plus a generous special effects budget fill in the gaps when the movie flags. Plus a revival of "Tainted Love" doesn't hurt.
Lorne Michaels

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Lorne Michaels Movies

The Guilt Trip Movie Review

The Guilt Trip Movie Review

Virtually impossible to market, this film isn't nearly as wacky and rude as its cast...

The Ladies Man Movie Review

The Ladies Man Movie Review

Ok. Where in the contract for an SNL cast-member does it stipulate that they...

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