The '85/'86 year was a weird, weird season of "Saturday Night Live," a show that had any number of bad ones. SNL has remained an institution, curiously even through a regular series of slumps and mistakes. Try watching a complete episode during the daylight hours, and one will find a lot of lulls, bad ideas, and weird characters that never caught on. Throughout, however, enough talented comedians and sketches eked their way through to remain entrenched in the consciousness. Plus, celebrities and musical acts seemingly never lost their appetite for guest hosting, often drawing in big crowds just for their star appeal.
The show's 11th season was the first without its co-creator and star producer Lorne Michaels behind the scenes. He was replaced by NBC's Sports executive Dick Ebersol, and he seemingly didn't know what he was doing when it came to comedy. Ebersol once asked NBC if...
The show's 11th season was the first without its co-creator and star producer Lorne Michaels behind the scenes. He was replaced by NBC's Sports executive Dick Ebersol, and he seemingly didn't know what he was doing when it came to comedy. Ebersol once asked NBC if...
- 3/12/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
“Saturday Night Live” announced three new cast members for the upcoming 45th season Thursday, which includes the addition of its first Asian-American cast member, Bowen Yang. Yang began as a writer on the 2017-2018 season, and appeared in sketches sporadically, most notably playing Kim Jong-Un opposite Sandra Oh. Before joining “SNL,” Yang was a fixture in the New York stand-up comedy scene, where he garnered a following for his short-form videos and as co-host of the “Las Culturistas” podcast. He is also openly gay, making him only the third out gay male cast member in the show’s history (with Terry Sweeney and John Milhiser). He joins fellow out Lgbtq cast member Kate McKinnon.
Joining Yang are fellow new cast members Chloe Fineman and Shane Gillis. Fineman is a frequent performer at La’s prestigious comedy incubator The Groundlings. Both Fineman and Gillis were recently recognized as a New Face...
Joining Yang are fellow new cast members Chloe Fineman and Shane Gillis. Fineman is a frequent performer at La’s prestigious comedy incubator The Groundlings. Both Fineman and Gillis were recently recognized as a New Face...
- 9/12/2019
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Colin Jost and Michael Che’s rapport on “Saturday Night Live’s” “Weekend Update” may have scored them the hosting gig at the 70th Emmy Awards, but the pair can’t count their “SNL” predecessor Chevy Chase as a fan.
Chase was part of the original “SNL” cast that debuted in 1975 and established the “Update” segment, but he didn’t have kind words for the current show, now approaching its 44th season.
“I’m amazed that Lorne [Michaels] has gone so low. I had to watch a little of it, and I just couldn’t f—ing believe it,” Chase told the Washington Post. “That means a whole generation of s—heads laughs at the worst f—ing humor in the world. You know what I mean? How could you dare give that generation worse s— than they already have in their lives? It just drives me nuts.”
It’s not...
Chase was part of the original “SNL” cast that debuted in 1975 and established the “Update” segment, but he didn’t have kind words for the current show, now approaching its 44th season.
“I’m amazed that Lorne [Michaels] has gone so low. I had to watch a little of it, and I just couldn’t f—ing believe it,” Chase told the Washington Post. “That means a whole generation of s—heads laughs at the worst f—ing humor in the world. You know what I mean? How could you dare give that generation worse s— than they already have in their lives? It just drives me nuts.”
It’s not...
- 9/19/2018
- by Rachel Yang
- Variety Film + TV
The heated discussion surrounding “Saturday Night Live” and its inclusion (or lack thereof) of gay cast members rages on, because — of course — Alec Baldwin is Tweeting.
After comedian James Adomian spoke to The Daily Beast regarding his belief that “Saturday Night Live” has an issue when it comes to casting out gay men, “SNL’s” current designated Trump impersonator tweeted a link to the article with the snarky comment, “My dream is to, one day, be as gifted, as brave, as all-knowing as @jamesadomian.”
My dream is to, one day, be as gifted, as brave, as all-knowing as @jamesadomianhttps://t.co/qXyob7vqJX
— ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) March 17, 2018
Baldwin then followed up by suggesting that people “consider the source” in regards to Adomian’s claims, clearly suggesting that his resentment came from a place of bitterness:
Do you think he has a problem with them? Based upon what? The bitter recriminations of those he didn’t hire?...
After comedian James Adomian spoke to The Daily Beast regarding his belief that “Saturday Night Live” has an issue when it comes to casting out gay men, “SNL’s” current designated Trump impersonator tweeted a link to the article with the snarky comment, “My dream is to, one day, be as gifted, as brave, as all-knowing as @jamesadomian.”
My dream is to, one day, be as gifted, as brave, as all-knowing as @jamesadomianhttps://t.co/qXyob7vqJX
— ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) March 17, 2018
Baldwin then followed up by suggesting that people “consider the source” in regards to Adomian’s claims, clearly suggesting that his resentment came from a place of bitterness:
Do you think he has a problem with them? Based upon what? The bitter recriminations of those he didn’t hire?...
- 3/19/2018
- by Liz Shannon Miller
- Indiewire
Comedian James Adomian accuses “Saturday Night Live” of being homophobic to gay men and stealing jokes in a new interview with The Daily Beast. Adomian, an out gay comedian best known for his celebrity impressions and for appearances on “Comedy Bang! Bang!” and “Chicago Trap House,” auditioned for the NBC sketch comedy series 13 years ago and did not get cast. According to The Daily Beast, the show has only had one openly gay male cast member, Terry Sweeney, who was on the series during the 1985-1986 season.
“It would be nice if they put a gay man on camera on that show,” Adomian said, “I’ve been out of the closet the whole time since I auditioned 13 years ago. You would think that they would have tried to put someone else on that was a gay man. It’s about time.”
Jake Weisman, the comedian who co-created and co-stars in Comedy Central’s series “Corporate,...
“It would be nice if they put a gay man on camera on that show,” Adomian said, “I’ve been out of the closet the whole time since I auditioned 13 years ago. You would think that they would have tried to put someone else on that was a gay man. It’s about time.”
Jake Weisman, the comedian who co-created and co-stars in Comedy Central’s series “Corporate,...
- 3/16/2018
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
On the eve of its 40th anniversary special (though the anniversary itself isn't until October), what is left to say about "Saturday Night Live"? There have been multiple books written about the show, several documentaries, countless essays — riding the never-ending roller-coaster between "Saturday Night Dead" and "Saturday Night Lives Again!" — best-ofs, worst-ofs, and every other kind of list you can think of. I don't know that anything I write over the next few pages will provide new insight into one of the most influential comedy shows ever made, but I wondered if you could tell the story of the show — through good times and bad, through revolutions and evolutions and retrenchments — by looking at its sketches. I wound up picking 21 in all: some among the show's most famous, some obscure but important. These aren't meant as a definitive breakdown of the best "SNL" ever had to offer, but as a...
- 2/12/2015
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Hitfix
Looking back on four decades of "Saturday Night Live" impersonations, it's cool to see how many ways a celebrity impression can be hilarious, provocative, or just plain effective. Sometimes an impression works because it's a dead-ringer for the real thing (See: most of Dana Carvey's work), but sometimes a twisted or loopy take on a familiar figure is even more engrossing and funny. We've picked the 25 best celebrity impressions in "SNL" history, and for the sake of such a short list, we're only including impersonators who served as cast members on the show. (This means Kate Hudson as Drew Barrymore and Tom Hanks as Dennis Miller will have to wait for another list.) I'll start the countdown by acknowledging the 10 candidates who almost made the cut but just missed: Terry Sweeney as Nancy Reagan, Jan Hooks as Tammy Faye Bakker, Kristen Wiig as Suze Orman, Jimmy Fallon as Barry Gibb,...
- 8/3/2014
- by Louis Virtel
- Hitfix
News
Trish Bendix isn’t happy with how Faking It ended its first season. Bendix writes in The Hollywood Reporter that the ending destroys Faking It‘s credibility in handling lesbian characters. (Spoilers await you at the link.)
Just hours before debuting the fifth season, ABC Family ordered two more seasons of Pretty Little Liars. That will keep the campy horror soap on the air until 2016. With seven seasons, I believe that should make it ABC Family’s longest-running series.
I’m still hoping it turns out they really are getting texts from Hillary.
Does the timing of the Game of Thrones finale hint at a major spoiler from the books? (Again, it’s a major spoiler, so click at your own risk.)
Why does a premium channel like HBO put up so much of one of its shows, Last Week Tonight, for free on the web? Hitfix‘s Alan...
Trish Bendix isn’t happy with how Faking It ended its first season. Bendix writes in The Hollywood Reporter that the ending destroys Faking It‘s credibility in handling lesbian characters. (Spoilers await you at the link.)
Just hours before debuting the fifth season, ABC Family ordered two more seasons of Pretty Little Liars. That will keep the campy horror soap on the air until 2016. With seven seasons, I believe that should make it ABC Family’s longest-running series.
I’m still hoping it turns out they really are getting texts from Hillary.
Does the timing of the Game of Thrones finale hint at a major spoiler from the books? (Again, it’s a major spoiler, so click at your own risk.)
Why does a premium channel like HBO put up so much of one of its shows, Last Week Tonight, for free on the web? Hitfix‘s Alan...
- 6/11/2014
- by Lyle Masaki
- The Backlot
With the reported departure of Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis and Andy Samberg, "Saturday Night Live" would look a lot different when it comes back for its 38th season this fall. But, this season, five shows remain in what will forever be known as "The Kristen Wiig Era." We've already seen "SNL" add a new featured player, Kate McKinnon, during the show's current three week hiatus. ("SNL" returns live this Saturday with host Sofia Vergara.) With many changes coming, Hitfix's Ryan McGee and myself debate where "SNL" is now and where "SNL" should go in the future.
Mike Ryan: Though our opinions differ (frequently) on the quality of individual sketches -- also: I'm sure I'm wrong and you're right -- I do consider you one of the most thoughtful Internet caretakers of this show that we both love so dearly. So, my question, before we get to the cast changes,...
Mike Ryan: Though our opinions differ (frequently) on the quality of individual sketches -- also: I'm sure I'm wrong and you're right -- I do consider you one of the most thoughtful Internet caretakers of this show that we both love so dearly. So, my question, before we get to the cast changes,...
- 4/5/2012
- by Mike Ryan
- Aol TV.
In the book Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live, someone who worked on SNL tells a story about Chevy Chase returning to host the show sometime in the mid '80s. After Chase arrives on set, he proceeds to verbally abuse every cast and crew member present, suggesting to openly gay cast member Terry Sweeney that they do a sketch where he has AIDS and the viewers see how much weight he's lost every week. Throughout the rest of the book, former SNL cast and crew members corroborate this story by discussing their own terrifying encounters with Chase, to the point where you kind of want to give them all a hug and suggest they join a Tim Meadows-led therapy group. If you've read this book, you probably won't be surprised by the revelation that Chevy Chase, who plays the curmudgeonly Pierce [...]...
- 3/31/2012
- Nerve
Kate McKinnon could be the next female star on Saturday Night Live, and the comedian will get a tryout of sorts during the next live show. As Deadline initially reported, she’ll appear on the April 7 episode, hosted by Sofia Vergara. If McKinnon wins the job, she’d become the show’s first openly gay performer since Terry Sweeney starred on SNL during its 1985-86 season.
McKinnon is no stranger to sketch comedy. She spent three seasons on Logo’s The Big Gay Sketch Show, where she was perhaps best known for playing Fitzwilliam, a young British boy who yearns to be a girl.
McKinnon is no stranger to sketch comedy. She spent three seasons on Logo’s The Big Gay Sketch Show, where she was perhaps best known for playing Fitzwilliam, a young British boy who yearns to be a girl.
- 3/30/2012
- by Adam B. Vary
- EW - Inside TV
Charles Rocket: 1980 - 1981. Weekend update anchor. The most prolific male cast member during the 1980-81 season besides Joe Piscopo, He was fired, in part, for cursing on air. (The scene below is the one that got him fired).
Danitra Vance: 1985 - 1986. Recurring characters: "That black girl," and Cabrini Green Jackson, a professional teenage mother who gives advice on pregnancy. (She also died in 1994 from breast cancer). Check out this sketch -- not something they could pull off today.
Tim Kazurinsky: 1981 - 1984. Recurring characters: The landlord from Eddie Murphy's "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood," Father Timothy Owens, and network censor Worthington Clotman.
Mary Gross: 1981 - 1985. Co-anchor of Weekend Update (briefly). Recurring characters: Alfalfa in the "Little Rascals" sketches, Chi Chi, Celeste, and Siobhan Cahill.
Robin Duke: 1981 - 1984. Recurring character: Wendy Whiner. Also played Mr. T.
Jim Breur: 1995 - 1998. Recurring character: Goat boy. He was in those Goth Talk sketches.
Danitra Vance: 1985 - 1986. Recurring characters: "That black girl," and Cabrini Green Jackson, a professional teenage mother who gives advice on pregnancy. (She also died in 1994 from breast cancer). Check out this sketch -- not something they could pull off today.
Tim Kazurinsky: 1981 - 1984. Recurring characters: The landlord from Eddie Murphy's "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood," Father Timothy Owens, and network censor Worthington Clotman.
Mary Gross: 1981 - 1985. Co-anchor of Weekend Update (briefly). Recurring characters: Alfalfa in the "Little Rascals" sketches, Chi Chi, Celeste, and Siobhan Cahill.
Robin Duke: 1981 - 1984. Recurring character: Wendy Whiner. Also played Mr. T.
Jim Breur: 1995 - 1998. Recurring character: Goat boy. He was in those Goth Talk sketches.
- 4/12/2011
- by Dustin Rowles
Well, At Least I Won't Get Called Poncy Again. I Hope....
As you read this week's column, I'll already be attending the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour down in Pasadena, California. And before I've attended a single panel, I can already pretty much guarantee this is going to be one of the weaker (gay) tours in memory. For starters, CBS hasn't given us a single screener for their two new shows (which sound utterly conventional and appear to be gay free. Shock!) and even ABC which is reliably gay-friendly, doesn't have anything that looks terribly promising.
Honestly, Starz looks to be the best bet between Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and Torchwood, but since for some reason, Russell T Davies won't be available for me to interview during the TCA, even that won't take up quite as much as my time. Fortunately, Spartacus creator Steven S. DeKnight is available...
As you read this week's column, I'll already be attending the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour down in Pasadena, California. And before I've attended a single panel, I can already pretty much guarantee this is going to be one of the weaker (gay) tours in memory. For starters, CBS hasn't given us a single screener for their two new shows (which sound utterly conventional and appear to be gay free. Shock!) and even ABC which is reliably gay-friendly, doesn't have anything that looks terribly promising.
Honestly, Starz looks to be the best bet between Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and Torchwood, but since for some reason, Russell T Davies won't be available for me to interview during the TCA, even that won't take up quite as much as my time. Fortunately, Spartacus creator Steven S. DeKnight is available...
- 1/7/2011
- by Michael Jensen
- The Backlot
In the 1985-86 season of Saturday Night Live, comedian Terry Sweeney made history by becoming the first (and still the only) openly gay cast member of the landmark late-night comedy show.
But the achievement was more notable even than that: Sweeney was also the first out actor with a regular role on broadcast television ever.
And what did he get for his bravery? Despite the fact that Sweeney had performed one of SNL's bonafide break-out characters (a parody of a particularly vapid Nancy Reagan), he was unceremoniously fired, along with most of the rest of a cast that also included Robert Downey, Jr., Joan Cusack, and Randy Quaid, at the end of a season that was widely regarded as a failure.
As an out gay actor at the height of the AIDS crisis, Sweeney didn't work again for ten years.
But Sweeney was a survivor, eventually finding work as his first love,...
But the achievement was more notable even than that: Sweeney was also the first out actor with a regular role on broadcast television ever.
And what did he get for his bravery? Despite the fact that Sweeney had performed one of SNL's bonafide break-out characters (a parody of a particularly vapid Nancy Reagan), he was unceremoniously fired, along with most of the rest of a cast that also included Robert Downey, Jr., Joan Cusack, and Randy Quaid, at the end of a season that was widely regarded as a failure.
As an out gay actor at the height of the AIDS crisis, Sweeney didn't work again for ten years.
But Sweeney was a survivor, eventually finding work as his first love,...
- 1/5/2011
- by Brent Hartinger
- The Backlot
People are talking about precisely who Colin Firth wants to be in bed with.
Following this assortment of carefully-selected news items, interested readers can find a refreshing pic of a hot man in underwear. Yes, we're serious.
Above, you can see the one sheet for Tom Ford's A Single Man, which more than one blog is crying about the marketing being de-gayed. And not just gay blogs, because indieWIRE says the new trailer has also been de-gayed. It's not fresh news right now, but I'd like to thank reader Darrien for pointing out that Jan Moir was named Bigot Of the Year by Stonewall in the U.K. after a last minute nomination for her hateful articles about Boyzone singer Stephen Gately. Adam Lambert was profiled by the L.A. Times yesterday and says he's more interested in being Beyonce than Daughtry. There are a stack of really good, funny...
Following this assortment of carefully-selected news items, interested readers can find a refreshing pic of a hot man in underwear. Yes, we're serious.
Above, you can see the one sheet for Tom Ford's A Single Man, which more than one blog is crying about the marketing being de-gayed. And not just gay blogs, because indieWIRE says the new trailer has also been de-gayed. It's not fresh news right now, but I'd like to thank reader Darrien for pointing out that Jan Moir was named Bigot Of the Year by Stonewall in the U.K. after a last minute nomination for her hateful articles about Boyzone singer Stephen Gately. Adam Lambert was profiled by the L.A. Times yesterday and says he's more interested in being Beyonce than Daughtry. There are a stack of really good, funny...
- 11/9/2009
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
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