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SNL 3-24-07: Peyton Manning / Carrie Underwood

Historically, sports stars have made for bad SNL hosts.  More recently, SNL has made even good hosts look bad.  So we'll see...

SNL 3-17-07: Julia Louis-Dreyfus / Snow Patrol

Former SNL cast member and current star of CBS' The New Adventures of Old Christine Julia Louis-Dreyfus will return as host of SNL for the second time in two years.

Louis-Dreyfus will host the March 17th episode.  Snow Patrol is the musical guest.

In other hosting news, Carrie Underwood will be the musical guest the following week, when Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning hosts.

Will Ferrell Wants You

Moviemakers are looking for people to play spectators in the new Will Ferrell movie Semi-Pro.

The film centers on the last days of the American Basketball Association.

The production is looking for people to be spectators for the basketball game sequences.  Filming takes place near Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. Filming takes place March 19th, 20th, 21st, 27th and 29th. Participants are asked to come from either 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information, go to www.beinamovie.com.

Adam Sandler to Answer for Reign Over Me

Bigscreen.com reports that Adam Sandler and director Mike Binder will be appearing at the Uptown Palladium 12 in Birmingham, Michigan at 6:30pm on Sunday, March 18th, 2007, for the premiere of their new movie Reign Over Me.

The screening will begin at 7pm, and both men will conduct a Q&A discussion following the movie.

Continue reading "Adam Sandler and Mike Binder To Appear at Premiere of Reign Over Me March 18th"...

Jimmy Fallon Wants You

Background Entertainment will hold an open casting call Saturday, March 17th at the Jacksonville Landing for "Elliot Rockett," a feature film starring Sharon Stone and Jimmy Fallon that is being filmed in Jacksonville, FL.

The casting call will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Casting directors will be looking for all background types, as well as Sharon Stone's 5-foot-8-inch stand-in.

Those trying out must bring a photo or head shot and go to suite 106, next to Nine West on the main floor.

The comedy/drama is about a man unable to commit to anything but work who returns to his mother.

Farley's brother fights beer culture

Tom Farley uses improv to help children resist drugs and alcohol
BY RYAN J. FOLEY
Associated Press

Almost 10 years after the drug overdose of Chris Farley, his older brother is still trying to use the tragic story to get others to do what the late comic couldn't: avoid alcohol and drugs.

Tom Farley doesn't warn teens they'll end up in a van down by the river if they fail, as the overcaffeinated motivational speaker Matt Foley, his brother's famous "Saturday Night Live" character, once did.

Instead, the 45-year-old president of the Chris Farley Foundation appears at Wisconsin middle and high schools using humor and teaching comedy improvisation techniques to show teens they can resist peer pressure through positive communication.

To parents, he delivers a stiffer message in a state that loves its beer: Keep your house free from alcohol for your kids' sake.

He hosted Madison's first town hall meeting this month to discuss the above-average drinking rates among middle-schoolers, which he said was fueled by parents allowing kids to raid liquor cabinets and beer-stocked refrigerators.

Tom Farley said he's trying to fight Wisconsin's culture of drinking — one kid and parent at a time.

"The Chris Farley brand brings with it credibility," he said. "They know that Chris was a genuine kid, a Wisconsin kid who grew up in this environment and made some decisions and ran into problems. We use that as a starting point."

His approach has been effective in reaching kids and adults, local observers say.

Shawn Schroedl, a learning coordinator at Sennett Middle School in Madison, has worked with Tom Farley for an hourlong performance he is planning with students later this month.

He will act as a talk-show host, mixing one-liners with talk about drugs and alcohol. The school's drama group will present skits on the topics, and its jazz band will play, just like a late-night TV show.

"To take something very serious and deliver it in a humorous way I think is going to hit the students," Schroedl said. "We're trying to give them the information and the skills to empower them to stand up to peer pressure."

Kelsey Kujoth, a seventh-grader, is among about half the students who aren't familiar with Chris Farley's comedy. Still, she said she's learned how to deal with pressure to drink or do drugs in a fun way.

"We learn how to deal with them through the improv," said Kelsey, 12. "We try to know what it would be like and then try to make it realistic."

Tom Farley said he is trying to return improv — a comedy form mastered by Chris and his two other younger brothers, also actors — to its original purpose as a tool to communicate with children.

The five Farley siblings grew up in an Irish Catholic household not far from the Wisconsin governor's mansion.

Chris excelled at comedy and was in the cast of "Saturday Night Live" from 1990 to 1995, using wild antics and his lovable pudgy image to win laughs. Famous characters included the motivational speaker, a rabid fan of "Da Bears" and an overweight male stripper.

He later made hit movies such as "Tommy Boy" and "Black Sheep," teaming with David Spade. Along the way, he struggled with weight, alcohol and drug problems. He died of an accidental overdose of cocaine and morphine in a Chicago apartment in December 1997 at age 33.

Tom Farley said the foundation was created in 1998 to receive some profits of his brother's "Best of Saturday Night Live" video. Family members expected the charity to fizzle in a few years.

But he said when he visited schools in the New York area, where he was working in the financial services industry, he saw an opportunity to use his marketing and communication background to make a difference.

"I'd introduce myself as the brother of Chris, and everyone would stop what they are doing and lean forward. I had their attention," he said. "I've got the unmatched ability to open eyes and ears in this really sought-after target market."

Tom Farley, who reminds a visitor of his brother when he says words such as "awesome," moved back to Madison three years ago with his wife and three children to focus on the foundation.

The foundation plans to release a biography by author Tanner Colby to coincide with the 10-year anniversary of Farley's death later this year.

Tom Farley, who recently was hired as the marketing director for the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he would use the book tour to spread his message to schools.

Sometimes, he does a presentation to students. At other schools, he sponsors days of workshops and then has students perform for peers. The foundation's Web site also instructs teachers in improv games.

He said he reminds students that his brother's best characters were created when he was sober — but he stays away from imitating them.

"Nothing would be more pathetic than seeing some 40-year-old guy, the brother of Chris Farley, trying to imitate Chris," he said. "It just can't be done."

Julia Sweeney Tells God to Take a Hike

The NWI Times reports that former SNL cast member Julia Sweeney will be making a rare trip to Chicago in April to perform her one woman show at The Lakeshore Theater.

The press statement describes The Lakeshore Theater as "going in a new direction, featuring the country's top, edgy comedians, with initial engagements including Sweeney, Doug Stanhope, Mike Birbiglia, Maria Bamford and Scott Capurro.

Continue reading "Comedianne Julia Sweeney headlining April opening of new theater project"...

Andy Samberg Makes a Phone Call

Yeah I'm not entirely sure what's going on here either, but it features the voice of Andy Samberg, and if my Google stats tell me anything it's "mention Andy Samberg and make $$$".

Poehler Hears a Who

Blue Sky Studios, the CGI animation arm of 20th Century Fox, has brought in a batch of celebrity voices to contribute to its feature film version of Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who. Seuss vet Jim Carrey and Steve Carell have previously been announced as part of the cast.

Variety reports that Carol Burnett, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Isla Fisher, Dan Fogler, Amy Poehler, Dane Cook, Jaime Pressly, and Jonah Hill will all be lending their vocal talents to the project. Burnett will play the "always skeptical Kangaroo" from the classic tale, while Carrey will voice Horton and Carell will take on the Mayor of Who-ville.

The film is currently scheduled to be released on March 14, 2008.

New Time Slot for 30 Rock

NBC's critically acclaimed but low-rated 30 Rock, currently on hiatus in place of new sitcom Andy Barker, P.I. (which debuts on March 15 at 9:30 p.m. ET), will be back earlier than expected and moving into a new time period, Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.

30 Rock will return with a “super-sized” episode on Thursday, April 5 at 8:40 p.m., followed by its official 9 p.m. debut on April 12. Last fall, 30 Rock launched Wednesday at 8 p.m., but was moved to Thursday at 9:30 p.m. four weeks into its run.

Andy Barker, P.I. will conclude its initial run on April 5 at 9:50 p.m. ET, while current Thursday 9 p.m. occupant Scrubs moves into the 9:30 p.m. half-hour on April 12.