Save SNL

December Hosts / Musical Guests

NBC's Saturday Night Live warms up December with top-tier talent from screens big and small and music superstars.

On December 2, star of the Emmy-winning hit show Lost Matthew Fox hosts the show with musical guest the greatest band on Earth Tenacious D (Jack Black & Kyle Gass).

In addition to his work on Lost, (for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble) Fox is known to millions for his work on the successful drama Party of Five. He will next star opposite Matthew McConaughey in the anticipated film We Are Marshall.

Joining Fox as musical guest is the platinum-selling duo of Jack Black and Kyle Gass Tenacious D, the self-proclaimed "Greatest Band on Earth." The comedy-folk-metal pair will perform selections from their latest album "The Pick of Destiny" which serves as the soundtrack to their recent feature film of the same name. Currently on tour, The D will play New York's legendary Madison Square Garden this week just prior to their appearance at SNL where they have rocked before both as a featured act and supporting Jack Black's hosting stints.

On December 9, it's a pair of leading ladies headlining SNL Oscar and Emmy nominee Annette Bening with musical guest Gwen Stefani.

One of the most celebrated actresses working today, Bening makes her SNL debut. She is currently earning raves for her work in Running With Scissors. She received Academy Award nominations for her work in Being Julia, American Beauty and The Grifters. She has starred in a wide variety of films from Bugsy and Love Affair opposite husband Warren Beatty to The American President, Regarding Henry, Mars Attacks, Open Range, Richard III and Valmont, to name a few. She was recently nominated for an Emmy for her work opposite Sir Ben Kingsley in the HBO film Mrs. Harris.

Making a return appearance to SNL with Bening is Gwen Stefani. Stefani will perform from her forthcoming sophomore solo release "The Sweet Escape," the follow up to her quadruple-platinum debut "Love. Angel. Music. Baby.," which included the hits "Hollaback Girl" and "What You Waiting For?" The first single "Wind It Up" is currently rising up the charts.

Finally, on December 16, Justin Timberlake returns to SNL to once again do double duty as host and musical guest after his memorable turn in 2003 (which featured Timberlake as a singing omelet, as well as impressions of Jessica Simpson, Robin Gibb and Ashton Kutcher). Timberlake is among several prestigious artists including Paul Simon, The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Sting, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Queen Latifah, Janet Jackson and most recently Ludacris to serve as both host and musical guest.

Grammy winner Timberlake's current multi-platinum release "FutureSex/LoveSounds" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album charts where it continues to sit in the Top Ten. His first two singles, "SexyBack" and "My Love" have both been No. 1. Timberlake will kick off a world tour in 2007 and will be seen in the feature film Alpha Dog (from Universal) on January 12.

Fey: Paris Hilton is a "piece of shit"

Buzz is going around regarding former Saturday Night Live head writer Tina Fey's appearance on the  Howard Stern show earlier this week.  Apparently Fey considers Paris Hilton to be one of the show's worst hosts.

Fey, who now stars on NBC's 30 Rock, told Stern that SNL's guest hosts are usually great, but every couple of years, there's a bad one like Hilton, whom she dubbed a "piece of shit," reports Defamer.

Fey said that Hilton "embraces her stupidity" and requested a skit be written in which she could pose as Jessica Simpson, explaining "I hate her" and "she's fat."

Fey also revealed that the hotel heiress was so wrapped up in herself that the SNL staff had a bet to see if they could get her to ask anyone about themselves, like "how are you?" The closest they came was when Hilton asked if Maya Rudolph was Italian.

I know Fey had nothing to do with the decision to book Paris Hilton on the show in the first place, but... Paris Hilton should have never been booked on the show in the first place.  SNL has this habit of booking hosts who just aren't worthy enough to step out onto that historic stage, and the show's lineage was definitely tarnished a bit by having pop culture punchline Paris Hilton out there.

Robert Smigel at the Museum of Television and Radio

On November 9th, the work of Saturday Night Live writer and occasional cast member Robert Smigel was honored at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York.

Smigel's work on SNL, along with Late Night with Conan O'Brien, TV Funhouse and The Dana Carvey Show was showcased to a enthusiastic crowd.

The discussion was packed with fascinating information, according to reports.  For example, Smigel stated in no uncertain terms that when Conan O'Brien moves to LA to replace Jay Leno in 2008, he will absolutely not be going along with him.  He's determined to stay in New York.

Continue reading "Reflecting on the Career and Influence of Robert Smigel at the Museum of Television and Radio"...

Former SNL Writer Bob Odenkirk Becomes Busy Director

Former Saturday Night Live writer (and Mr. Show co-creator/genius) Bob Odenkirk has directed a new movie called Let's Go To Prison, which opens on November 22nd.  Along with an appearance by Odenkirk it also features former SNL alumni David Koechner and Jerry Minor.

Odenkirk is already at work directing his next film called The Brothers Solomon, written by and co-starring SNL's Will Forte.  Also appearing with Forte are fellow SNL cast members Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader.

Solomon is currently scheduled for release in August 2007.  VH1.com has a feature article about the making of the film which is a highly entertaining read.

Continue reading "SNL, Arrested Development Stars Refine Lewd Humor On Solomon Set"...

Darrell Hammond: Joke of all 'Saturday Night Live' charades

The won't be live blogging of tonight's Best of Darrell Hammond SNL tonight, since there's no real reason to blog a clip show.  However I'm sure I've have some thoughts and might type those up sometime on Sunday.

There's another interview with Darrell Hammond (and others) in the Orlando Sentinel today.  There's a little more depth in this one, touching upon Hammond's substance abuse troubles (he's four years sober now), and how he rarely writes for the show (he simply waits to be plugged into sketches).

Continue reading "Darrell Hammond: Joke of all 'Saturday Night Live' charades"...

'SNL' star sues over bedbugs in her loft

When Saturday Night Live performer Maya Rudolph and her family moved into their new apartment, nobody warned, "Don't let the bedbugs bite."

A $450,000 lawsuit says that immediately after Rudolph, movie director Paul Anderson and their baby moved into the third-floor condominium loft apartment they were renting in SoHo last month, something began chewing on them at night.

"The plaintiffs were bitten over portions of their bodies by bedbugs," the court papers say. "Apparently unbeknown to plaintiffs, the premises were infested with bedbugs."

Rudolph, in her seventh season on the NBC variety show, and Anderson, director of Boogie Nights, had been told the apartment was "perfect" and was in a "first-class luxury" building, their court papers say.

Continue reading "'SNL' star sues over bedbugs in her loft"...

Making an Impression

This weekend's SNL is a showcase for longtime cast member Darrell Hammond, appropriately titled The Best of Darrell Hammond.  Longtime Dallas Morning News TV critic Ed Bark has an interview with Hammond at Bark's new web venture Uncle Barky. 

Among the topics Hammond talks about: how he failed at pulling off a President Bush impression after Will Ferrell left the show, and how he hopes Hillary Clinton runs for President so he can deliver more Bill Clinton sketches.

Continue reading "Making an Impression: SNL's Darrell Hammond stays on and on"...

More Season 1 DVD News

Just an additional tidbit of info about the Saturday Night Live: Complete First Season DVD set due out on December 5th.  It appears that each episode will also be available to download from iTunes that day as well (current episodes, in limited form, are available now). 

Classic goodness, portable style. I'll allow it.

NU alum Meyers is `SNL' anchor -- and you're not

The Chicago Tribune recently chatted it up with new Saturday Night Live head writer and Weekend Update co-anchor Seth Meyers.  The article details Meyers' background in comedy and how he was hired for SNL back in 2001.

Continue reading "NU alum Meyers is `SNL' anchor -- and you're not"...

Will Ferrell To Appear on Oct. 21 SNL

by Tom Shales
TVweek.com

Lorne Michaels had let it be known over the summer that his budget for this season of “Saturday Night Live” had been cut, but even so, attentive viewers must have been taken aback when they saw a promo, on the Oct. 7 show, for the next “SNL” telecast—a repeat of the season opener only three weeks after it opened the season!

Why, what on earth is going on, we wondered.

It turns out there is no reason to panic, even though that is a logical first reaction to ALL news in these times. NBC is airing a NASCAR race on Saturday (the 14th) and it will run late—so late that “SNL” probably wouldn’t get on the air until after midnight. Michaels says there is no point in burning off a brand new show when it’s so late that hardly anyone will see it, so the season premiere will air again. The host is comic Dane Cook, whose monologue was long and boring but who did a very good job in the sketches, and the musical act is The Killers, whom your teenage daughter may already be tired of. They have a certain something—but not much of it.

Meanwhile here’s a scoop: On the Oct. 21 show, although he won’t be the host (that will be John C. McGinley of “Scrubs”)*, “SNL” alumnus and now movie superstar Will Ferrell will make a gala return appearance. Ferrell represents a certain special something that the current cast lacks (though Amy Poehler comes close): He’s an all-around utility player who is also a high-energy power source to keep everybody going even on those nights when the show’s luminance dims.

He also dared to ad lib, against the show’s tradition, sometimes daring fellow cast members not to crack up on the air. He brought so much oomph and was so tireless on the show that he could have been given Tom Brokaw’s old network nickname: Duncan the Wonder Horse. It was given Brokaw by then “Today” executive producer Steve Friedman, who masterminded the show’s rise from the ashes, causing Phoenix envy to break out among the competitors. But that’s ancient history...

*Editor's Note: Actually it'll be John C. Reilly from Talladega Nights.