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Tag: Comedy

  • Melissa McCarthy Hosts SNL For The Fourth – Not Fifth – Time

    Melissa McCarthy thought that she was finally part of the illustrious five-timers club of Saturday Night Live when she celebrated a little too early during her opening monologue last Saturday. The comedienne launched into a song-and-dance number with background dancers hoisting her up as a huge number “5” was brought on stage. Unfortunately, cast member Kenan Thompson burst her bubble and reminded her that it’s only been four times since she’s hosted the famous NBC sketch show.

    The Mike & Molly star showcased her unique brand of physical comedy in several sketches, and a handful of them were pretty strong in the laughs department. In the sketch called “Test Screening,” Melissa McCarthy plays a cinema audience member whose over-the-top reactions are captured on camera while watching a horror film.

    Melissa McCarthy Cannot Handle a Horror Film

    In another sketch entitled “Whiskers R We,” McCarthy joined SNL cast member Kate McKinnon as quirky cat ladies who star in their own ad for their cat rescue center. In this clip, McCarthy’s character tells the audience about the rather sinister back stories of their cats while not-so-subtly coming on to McKinnon’s character.

    McCarthy Plays a Sexually Fluid Cat Lady

    With the diversity debate in Hollywood being such a hot issue nowadays, an SNL episode would not be complete without a sketch about race. Melissa McCarthy played a clueless white woman seated next to a black woman (played by Leslie Jones) who rambles on and on about how she loves black film, especially Roots. Her politically incorrect musings puts Jones’ character – who tried desperately to get off the bus – on edge.

    Melissa McCarthy Plays an Oblivious Racist White Woman

    SNL also tackled the infamous and quite ridiculous “pick-up culture” that has been growing in popularity in the last couple of years. In this sketch, Melissa McCarthy played another awkward character named Rhonda, who joins a female pick-up class and tries – without success – to apply the teachings of her pick-up mentor, played by Cecily Strong. Her constant attempts at pursuing the same guy by shoving her fingers in her mouth was hardly attractive but she definitely got their attention.

    Melissa McCarthy Shows Us the Art of the Pick-up

  • Tina Fey Shares Secret To Her Friendship With Amy Poehler

    Tina Fey and Amy Poehler who have been good friends since their SNL days play sisters in their newest film.

    The comic duo is back together for the movie Sisters, which premiered on Tuesday evening. Fey and Poehler hit the New York red carpet in equally gorgeous sheer black numbers.

    “Amy and I vow to make a movie every seven years until we make 100 movies,” Fey said, referring to their last project together “Baby Mama,” which came out in 2008. “Or we lose a pact with the devil and one of us ages,” Poehler quipped.

    Sisters follows the lives of two sisters who hold a grand party one last time before selling their family home. Fey plays Kate, the wild child sister who wants to get her recently divorced sister Maura – played by Poehler – back in the dating game.

    Tina Fey And Amy Poehler Play Sisters With Opposite Personalities

    Tina Fey is also producing the movie, which is based on a script penned by SNL writer Paula Pell. “We all worked together at SNL for a long time,” Tina Fey shared during the premiere. “(Paula) would bring these old spiral notebooks that were her journals she found from the eighth or ninth or 10th grade, and they were hilarious. She was such a specific, sweet, nerdy child in her youth. The basis of her movie is her relationships with her sister, who was very different.”

    Fey and Poehler became friends on the set of SNL more than a decade ago and have developed a “sisterly” bond after collaborating on several projects over the years. When asked about the secret behind their friendship, Tina Fey quickly said: “Every five years we go to a state park and we spend a week there naked.”

    “If we survive we’re still friends,” the 45-year-old actress added.

    Starring alongside Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are wrestler John Cena, who plays a local drug dealer in the film, and more SNL ladies Rachel Dratch, Kate McKinnon, and Maya Rudolph. The movie is slated for release on December 18.

  • Jimmy Fallon: Jay Leno Takes Over Tonight Show Monologue, Jokes About Kardashian Ass

    Due to a comedic injury, Jimmy Fallon had to call in a sub to finish his Tonight Show monologue.

    Fallon pulled a hammy on a joke about President Obama and Bernie Sanders, and asked if anyone could tag in for him – as the show must go on.

    Thankfully, someone with a bit of monologue experience was there to help.

    Check out Jay Leno’s return to The Tonight Show:

    Leno’s last time on the stage was for a guest monologue back in November. How do you think he did? Pretty classic Leno, whether that’s good or bad in your opinion.

    Other than the joy Leno must get from returning to the show he captained for so many years, the comic was there to promote his new CNBC show, Jay Leno’s Garage.

  • Lindsey Vonn Admits She Is Still In Contact With Ex Tiger Woods

    Even though Lindsey Vonn and long-time boyfriend Tiger Woods have been broken up since May, the world-famous alpine ski racer admits she and ex are still exchanging text messages.

    Vonn, 30, looked red hot at the 2015 ESPYS on Wednesday, July 15. She stunned the red carpet in a seriously sexy, scarlet, slit dress. In one of her photos during the event, she did her best Angelina Jolie pose.

    The champion skier spoke to an ET red carpet correspondent and opened up about her current relationship with ex-boyfriend, golf legend, Tiger Woods.

    “We have texted a little bit but I haven’t been in touch with him too much,” Vonn said. “He seems like he is doing well.”

    Vonn also admitted that earlier this week, she got up early to watch Woods, 39, compete in the British Open and she helped him out in making the cut.

    Vonn, when asked if she wants to see her ex play, answered.

    “Yeah, I definitely want to. I hope he does well and I will be watching,” Vonn adds. “[His] last tournament was a little better so hopefully things go well for him this week.”

    Unfortunately, things really did not go well for Woods despite his ex’s well wishes. He carded an opening round 4 over par yesterday. This was his worst score at the St. Andrew’s course in Scotland.

    The Olympian dated Woods for three years after meeting at a charity event in 2012. This was his first significant and public relationship since his split from wife, whom he shares 2 kids with, Elin Nordegren.

    In 2010, Nordegren divorced Woods after he admitted to cheating on her with several women. She received $110 million in the divorce settlement.

    Reports say that the real reason of the Woods-Vonn split was that the controversial golfer was been caught cheating again.

  • Chris Tucker, Netflix Sued over Standup Special

    Chris Tucker, Netflix Sued over Standup Special

    On July 10, Rush Hour star Chris Tucker’s first-ever standup special will land on Netflix, as an exclusive.

    Now, just a few days before his big moment, the actor is being hit with a lawsuit.

    TMZ reports that another comedian is responsible for the lawsuit. Terry Hodges is suing both Tucker and Netflix, claiming he’s been working on the special, with Tucker, for years and has not been compensated.

    Apparently, the two began working on material for the special way back in 2008.

    And there’s more. From TMZ:

    Hodges says he’s racked up $66k in fees, during trips to Philadelphia, L.A., and Atlanta — and hasn’t been regularly paid since 2011. On top of that, he says Tucker promised to make him a co-producer … which would entitle him to a little back end, but that also fell through.

    According to Tucker and his lawyer, the suit is “absurd.”

    “A man who needs no introduction, Chris Tucker is a comedy legend and is bringing his larger-than-life comedy to Netflix in his FIRST EVER stand-up special. Filmed in his hometown of Atlanta, nothing is off-limits as Tucker brings it home for the comedy special worth waiting for,” says Netflix in promotion of the special.

  • Netflix Orders Ashton Kutcher Comedy Series

    Netflix Orders Ashton Kutcher Comedy Series

    Netflix has just dealt for its second multi-camera comedy series – and it’s a bit of a That ‘70s Show reunion.

    Netflix is finalizing a 20-episode order for The Ranch, a “sibling comedy” starring Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson. The series is coming from Two and a Half Men showrunners Don Reo and Jim Patterson.

    From Deadline:

    Written by Reo and Patterson, The Ranch is set on a Colorado ranch, with Kutcher’s character returning home after a brief semi-pro football career to run the family business with his brother, played by Masterson.

    Reo and Patterson executive produce the series, set to debut in 2016. Kutcher and Masterson, who had remained close friends after starring together on Fox’s long-running teen comedy That ’70s Show, will produce.

    More interesting than the new show itself is the new model Netflix may deploy with it. Netflix users have become accustomed to getting their Netflix originals in batches of 13 episodes, once a year. With The Ranch, Netflix may try something new – 10-episode seasons, twice a year (20 total episodes). The blending of the internet TV model and the broadcast TV model is clear here.

    Netflix’s other multi-camera comedy original, the Full House reboot Fuller House, will also hit Netflix in 2016.

    Image via Ashton Kutcher, Twitter

  • Jodie Sweetin And Estranged Husband Fighting Over Kindergarten

    Where to send your child for kindergarten is a problem that most parents happily, and easily, face. Unfortunately for Jodie Sweetin, she and her ex-husband can’t decide on the where.

    The Full House actress’ 4-year-old daughter Beatrix is set to start kindergarten. But while Sweetin wants to enroll Beatrix in the same school that her other young daughter is going to, Beatrix’ father Morty Coyle wants her to go to a school closer to him.

    The estranged couple were married in 2012 and separated in 2013.

    The impasse has prompted the 33-year-old mother to file a petition granting her the right to make the final decision regarding her daughter’s education.

    No decision regarding her case has been made yet.

    Sweetin certainly has come a long way since her beleaguered days after Full House ended.

    At the time, the actress became dependent on drugs and alcohol but has bounced back since then. Her memoir UnSweetined detailed her journey into addiction and her recovery from it.

    And now it seems the TV actress has dedicated the majority of her energy into her children. As she pointed out in her petition to a judge, she’s hands on when it comes to her kid’s education and regularly participates in school activities.

    Hopefully she can still do that now that Sweetin is set to join the original cast of Full House in the series’ reboot.

    Sweetin will reprise her role as Stephanie Tanner in the new Fuller House. The younger Tanner sister is now older and an aspiring musician. She moves back to San Francisco to help her sister DJ raise her children.

    Fuller House will revolve around DJ Tanner-Fuller, a recently widowed veterinarian who moved back home with her 2 kids and is pregnant with her third child. The long awaited reboot to the popular TV show will premier in 2016 with the first episode rumored to be a one-hour reunion special of the Tanner family.

  • Heidi Swedberg Was ‘F***ing Impossible’ To Work With, Gets Apology From ‘Seinfeld’ Actor Jason Alexander

    George Costanza might be known for his stinginess but the actor playing him wasn’t stingy with the apologies and praises he heaped on Heidi Swedberg.

    But that’s probably because Jason Alexander was working hard to clarify his statement that his Seinfeld fiancée was “f***ing impossible” to work with.

    During Alexander’s recent guest stint on The Howard Stern Show, he said Swedberg’s character Susan was killed off because she lacked chemistry with the show’s stars.

    Susan Ross was a recurring character who eventually ended up as George’s fiancée. She died during season 7’s finale when she was poisoned from licking the glue on the cheap envelopes that George bought for their wedding invitations.

    The 55-year-old Alexander mentioned to Stern that Swedberg was a terrific girl but he had trouble playing off her during their scenes together.

    “Her instincts for doing a scene, where the comedy was, and mine were always misfiring,” he explained.

    He said that fellow actors Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jerry Seinfeld also felt the same thing. And with the writers having problems with the direction the storyline was heading, the series’ co-creator Larry David decided to kill off the character.

    The theater actor said David got the idea when Louis-Dreyfus commented “don’t you just want to kill her?”

    Of course, she meant the character, not the actress.

    But when the interview came out, what was meant as a funny anecdote became a story on how the Seinfeld crew hated Swedberg so she was killed off.

    Alexander quickly took to social media to clarify what he said and to defend his co-star, who he described as “a sweetheart.”

    “I feel officially awful,” he wrote before insisting that he and the rest of the Seinfeld cast really liked Swedberg.

    Alexander further wrote that “she is a kind, lovely person who undoubtedly worked really hard to create Susan” and blamed himself for their lack of chemistry, citing his insecurities and immaturity.

    “She was generous and gracious and I am so mad at myself for retelling this story in any way that would diminish her,” he added.

  • Keegan-Michael Key Brings The White House Down As Obama’s Anger Translator

    All eyes were understandably on President Obama during the White House Correspondents Dinner, but it was Keegan-Michael Key who stole the show.

    Before the president started his speech, he announced that he hired an “anger translator” and out came Key.

    The Michigan native is known for the Comedy Central show Key & Peele. The 30-minute show is popular for its comedy sketches, particularly Jordan Peele’s impersonation of President Obama and Key’s role of “anger translator” Luther.

    The comedian brought his character to life during the WHCD and promptly brought the house down.

    For those who’re still in dark to what Luther does, he translates everything the reportedly cool as a cucumber president wants to say, only with more yelling and swearing.

    The president started his speech by acknowledging that “In our fast-changing world, traditions like the White House correspondents’ dinner are important.”

    Luther promptly translated this as “I MEAN REALLY, WHAT IS THIS DINNER AND WHY AM I REQUIRED TO COME TO IT?!”

    President Obama also talked about next year’s presidential elections and the Koch brothers’ donation of a billion dollars for the conservative candidate.

    “Hillary will have to raise huge sums of money too,” the President admitted.

    Key gave a rousing translation, as well as a magnificent shout-out to Games of Thrones fans when he exclaimed- “She’s gonna get all that money, ooooh,” Key as Luther translated. “Khaleesi is coming to Westeros.”

    The short sketch ended in a fun twist when the two switched roles and Obama touched on climate change and started to become loud and belligerent.

    Acting surprised, Key/Luther tried to pacify him, before saying “Woah, sir. You don’t need an anger translator. You need counseling.”

    It goes without saying that Obama’s anger translator was all people could talk about after the event, with everyone wondering how the WHCD can top that memorable performance next year.

  • Cecily Strong, Of ‘SNL’ Fame, Will Host White House Correspondents’ Dinner

    She has held her own against her peers at Saturday Night Live, but Cecily Strong will soon face her toughest challenge yet when she hosts this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

    The 31-year-old is a surprising choice to host the annual dinner. She’s not a stand-up comedian like her SNL co-host Seth Meyer, nor is she a known host like Jon Stewart.

    But what she is is a veteran at improvisation who has honed her skills at Chicago’s Second City and iO comedy theaters, a skill that should come in handy at the White House roast.

    She’s also, as the WHCA’s president Christi Parsons describes – “the nice girl who’s cutting in a way that you don’t really notice until later.” – making her perfect for delivering those zingers to the politicians and journalists in attendance.

    Among those who’ll be in attendance is Strong’s father, a former journalist who was the one the Correspondents’ Association got in touch with first. Parsons emailed him to get in touch with Cecily.

    “I thought he was saying he had been invited. So I said, “Uh, great, Dad…have fun?” the SNL mainstay said before realizing the invitation was for her.

    Despite joking that she was hoping to find an excuse to turn down the offer, Cecily admits that “it’s too exciting to say no to.”

    “I would kick myself. How many times will I get to do this again? Never—he’s not going to have anymore! He’s done being president now! I’m giving him his last hurrah,” she added.

    And giving President Obama a fitting sendoff worries the funny lady, especially since she believes he’s the “funniest president” America has ever had.

    “He’s known as an amazingly funny guy,” she admits in an interview. “You know, his timing is great. He had that moment at the State of the Union where he said, ‘Well, I should know because I won two of them.’ I’ve never said anything that cool on the spot. And so, it’s tough to follow that guy.”

  • Jerry Seinfeld Is No. 1 On Billboard Thanks To A Rap ‘Album About Nothing’

    Comedian Jerry Seinfield and rapper Wale might be the oddest odd couple out there, but their collaboration “The Album About Nothing” is No.1 on Billboard this week.

    The album is the American rapper’s fourth studio album and the third album inspired by Seinfield’s trademark observational comedy. Wale’s Mixtape About Nothing was released in 2007 and was followed by More About Nothing in 2010.

    And as the title playfully hints, Wales new release is still heavily inspired by the TV legend. The album still includes dialogue from the trailblazing series and all 14 cuts in the album starts with “The,” just like every episode in the comedy. The cover art is also reminiscent of the Seinfield logo.

    Seinfield doesn’t sing in the album though, but acts as its “narrator” by offering some sharp and insightful remarks on every track.

    “He laid the foundation of most of the songs, so in the concept of the album, he’s the other voice,” Wale explained.

    Even with Seinfield’s collaboration, Wale’s fourth offering goes to some pretty dark places. In it, the 31-year-old rapper shares his feelings about his cousin’s death and a former girlfriend’s miscarriage.

    “That was a tough period for me. It was a struggle for me after those incidents. Everything almost happened at once,” Wale admitted. He said he turned to drugs after falling into a depression over those events.

    But how did Wale, a self-confessed big Seinfield fan, convince the comedian to work on his album? He was lucky enough to meet Seinfield’s wife Jessica.

    “She’s a big hip-hop fan and of my music,” Wale revealed about the cookbook author. “She was the middle man on a lot of things because Jerry is super busy. He’s not an easy person to reach. But she was able to put it all together.”

    The strange friendship that developed between the two is certainly bearing fruit. Album About Nothing debuted at No.1 and according to Billboard, has already sold “100,000 equivalent album units.” It’s followed by the soundtrack of Furious 7.

    ‘The Album About Nothing Intro’: Wale featuring Jerry Seinfeld (explicit lyrics)

  • Kristen Wiig And Will Ferrell Team Up To Make A Lifetime Movie — ‘A Deadly Adoption’

    It might sound like an April Fools’ joke but it’s apparently true that Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig have indeed teamed up for a Lifetime movie.

    The Saturday Night Live alums are starring in the dramatic thriller called A Deadly Adoption.  This top-secret TV movie is a campy homage to the dramatic thriller genre that is a hallmark of the Lifetime network.

    A Deadly Adoption is about a couple who’re apparently successful in all aspects of their lives, except in their ability to have children. They take care of a pregnant woman, played by 90210’s Jessica Lowndes, in the hopes of adopting her unborn child.

    Of course, in typical Lifetime fashion, the situation goes horribly, maybe even humorously, awry.

    Filming for the 2-hour TV movie has already wrapped up and it’s executively produced by Andrew McKay and Ferrell through their Gary Sanchez Productions. It’s also like an SNL reunion of sorts for Ferrell, Wiig and writer Andrew Steele who all worked together on IFC’s The Spoils of Babylon. The movie is directed by Lifetime regular Rachel Lee Goldenberg, who’s known for helming Escape from Polygamy and Love at the Christmas Table.

    A Deadly Adoption is tentatively slated for a summer release and will be part of Lifetime’s 25th anniversary. The American cable and satellite TV channel was established in 1984 and is known for featuring programs aimed toward women and which almost always feature women in leading roles.

    The movie is a wonderful coup for the network and would undoubtedly fit in well with other titles like A Deadly Love, Baby for Sale or A Face to Die For. While there’s still no release date set for A Deadly Adoption, it’s almost a certainty that fans of Kristen Wigg and Will Ferrell and other SNL enthusiasts will be rubbing shoulders with Lifetime ladies at viewing parties all across the US.

  • Eddie Murphy Is Richard Pryor’s Daddy In New Biopic, Directed By Lee Daniels Of ‘Empire’

    Eddie Murphy has been sought out to join the cast of Richard Pryor biopic, as first reported in Entertainment Tonight. Murphy will be playing the late comedian’s father, LeRoy “Buck Carter” Pryor, a WWII veteran and former boxer, in Lee Daniels’ latest Weinstein Co. drama.

    Murphy, who idolized and impersonated the legendary comedian in the 70’s, seems to be living a childhood dream with this new role offered to him even though he won’t be playing as his idol. “Richard’s the one that made me want to do comedy,” Murphy said. “When I was young, I wanted to be Richard Pryor so bad I used to sneak in the basement, put his albums on, and just listen,” he added.

    Daniels’ Richard Pryor biopic was first announced in January 2014 and was rumored to be released in time for this year’s Oscars, but the exact date of release has not been set. Pryor’s wife, Jennifer, expressed her confidence in Harvey Weintein’s production of the biopic. “Because, you know, Harvey is good at that sh-t,”, she said. Jennifer is a producer on the film, alongside Bruce Cohen.

    Daniels teased the Murphy casting Thursday night by posting a photo on Instagram, with a caption “Strap in and brace yourself. They done let me and him out of our cages! #idonteventhinkimreadyforthisone! #excited #proud #OMG.” Daniels has been successful with his hit TV drama “Empire” and is excited to collaborate with the Weinstein Co. again.

    The confirmed cast of the biopic include Mike Epps as Pryor and Kate Hudson as Jennifer. Oprah Winfrey is rumored to have been offered the role of Pryor’s grandmother, Marie Carter.

    The 53-year-old actor, who recently appeared in the SNL 40th anniversary special, has played alongside Pryor in Harlem Nights in 1989. He has also been chosen to star as Pryor in a proposed biopic which was supposed to be directed by Bill Condon until the project’s cancellation.

    Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor in ‘Harlem Knights’

  • Amy Schumer: “A Guy Could Literally Pull His D**k Out” And He’d Be A Thinker

    Amy Schumer is one of the funniest comedians around, regardless of gender. However, her self-deprecating humor and her observational comedy centering on beauty standards and sex does offer a feminist slant. Her show Inside Amy Schumer has proven to be a success, and she will now be starring in the new Judd Apatow film Trainwreck, which she also co-wrote. She recently appeared in Night of Too Many Stars and delivered a brilliant 5-minute stand-up routine about sexism in Hollywood, and her observations couldn’t be more spot on.

    “In L.A. my arms register as legs,” Schumer joked after saying that she’s glad that the show is held in New York. “They’re like, ‘What is that octopus walking around?’” The rest of her routine was centered on Hollywood’s obsession with body image, with Schumer saying that she was surprised that producers let her star in Trainwreck in the first place. However, Schumer said that the film’s producers have one condition: she has to stop eating.

    “Maybe I don’t need to do anything. They asked me to star in a movie. Am I maybe gorgeous? I think every girl has this sneaking suspicion, but then my stunt double was a guy,” Schumer said, which elicited a round of applause and laughter from the audience.

    And she did not stop at Hollywood’s obsession with losing weight. She even poked fun at her role as a female comedian. “I think that I get labeled a sex comic just because I’m a woman,” she said. “I feel like a guy could get up here and literally pull his d**k out and everyone would be like, ‘He’s a thinker.’”

    Inside Amy Schumer has been renewed by Comedy Central for a third season which will last for 10 episodes. The show is a sketch comedy series that shares the same themes as her stand-up routine, so it’s definitely PG-13.

  • How Did Tina Fey’s Comedy About A Doomsday Cult Survivor Become A Hit?

    How Did Tina Fey’s Comedy About A Doomsday Cult Survivor Become A Hit?

    In his review of the new Tina Fey comedy, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Kevin Fallon praised the show for its unabashed positivity in a time when people are going for dark, brooding, cynical shows and protagonists. And it is perfectly spot on. One of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s draws is finding comedy in what is essentially a dark and unusual premise. The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt follows the titular character, played by Ellie Kemper, who was a member of a doomsday cult. After 15 years living underground the cult members are rescued, with Kimmy choosing to move to New York to find a job and live her life. Joining Kimmy in her adventures is a colorful cast of characters including Jane Krakowski as her new employer, Titus Burgess as Kimmy’s new roommate, and the legendary Carol Kane as her new landlord.

    And the best part about the show? All 13 episodes of The Unbreakable Schmidt is available on Netflix. In an interview with ETonline about the show’s beginnings, Fey said, “We made these first 13 episodes for NBC and then we were talking with NBC and they were like, ‘We don’t know where we can put it. We don’t have any shows like this anymore. We don’t have that many single camera comedies coming up.’ And they gave us the opportunity to talk to Netflix. Within like two or three days the whole thing was a deal.”

    Fey also found a brilliant lead actress in Kemper, who’s known for her bubbly characters like Erin in The Office. Talking to NPR about the character, Kemper says, “There’s a tenacity there, that I think, without it, a woman would not have been able to endure a situation like she has endured. So while Kimmy is totally un-jaded and invigorated and optimistic and inspired by this new world she has before her, she’s also very fierce and tough.”

  • Betty White: 93-Year-Old Comedy Legend Lip-Locks With Hollywood Hottie Bradley Cooper

    Betty White made sure that her appearance during the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special was one to remember when she started making out with hottie Bradley Cooper.

    The 93-year-old Golden Girls star appeared as a guest on The Californians sketch along with Taylor Swift, who played a hair-eating cousin, and Scandal’s Kerry Washington who played the doctor with the hilarious paternity-test results. Sketch regulars Kristin Wiig and Fred Armisen reprised their characters during their short comeback on the SNL Stage. The Hangover star Bradley Cooper then emerged out of the backstage wearing a blonde wig and a pair of short shorts. Cooper played Craig the pool boy in the 9-minute sketch that went overboard when White locked lips with Cooper.

    The crowd went wild as the two shared a passionate kiss that lasted long until the sketch ended. The internet was on fire as #SNL40 became a trending topic.  Fans were insanely jealous over the fact that White made out with one of the sexiest men alive and some are saying how they want to be Betty White when they turn 90.

    Betty White has a eight decade-spanning career in Hollywood, making her one of the greatest comedy legends living today. She became the oldest person to guest host on Saturday Night Live and her episode was considered to be a major ratings success. She even won the Primetime Emmy award for her SNL guest appearance.

    The entire special ran for more than three hours and the event had a bunch of A-listers in attendance. Aside from White and Cooper, stars like Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake, Melissa McCarthy, Tom Hanks, and Paul McCartney were also present during the show. Former cast members like Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Eddie Murphy made cameos during the event, paying tribute to the program that helped launch their careers in comedy.

  • Aziz Ansari’s New Special Hits Netflix March 6

    Aziz Ansari’s New Special Hits Netflix March 6

    Comedian Aziz Ansari is returning to Netflix with a new standup special.

    It’s called Aziz Ansari: Live at Madison Square Garden, and it’ll debut on March 6.

    “In the special, Ansari headlines the iconic Madison Square Garden and delivers his most hilarious and insightful standup yet,” Netflix said in a statement. “Filmed in front of a sold-out audience, Ansari’s latest special is an uproarious document of the comic in top form — covering topics ranging from the struggle of American immigrants to the food industry to relationships to gender inequality.”

    Ansari’s last Netflix comedy special was 2013’s Buried Alive.

    Image via Netflix, YouTube

  • Louis C.K.’s New Special Now Available for $5 on His Site

    Like he’s done in the past, comedian Louis C.K. is premiering his new standup special on his website, and is letting fans grab a copy for just $5.

    The new special is called Louis C.K.: Live at the Comedy Store, and it’s now available to download on louisck.com.

    The show will then air on FX in the spring.

    Up for sale on Louis C.K.’s site are various standup specials, a film called Tomorrow Night, and a show from fellow comedian Todd Barry.

    Image via Louisck.com

  • Betty White Cracks Up Audience At People’s Choice Awards; Wins TV Icon Award

    Betty White, who starred in the recently-cancelled comedy show Hot in Cleveland, was given a TV Icon award during this year’s People’s Choice Awards which was held on January 7. As she got to the stage to accept her award, none other than Chris Evans (aka Captain America himself), offered his arm to help white onto the stage. White received a standing ovation from the crowd and was given a bouquet of flowers before beginning her acceptance speech. The star was as sharp and funny as ever, even referencing a speech comedienne Melissa McCarthy gave earlier that evening.

    “When Melissa McCarthy came up on stage and said she’d stay with us as long as you let her — well, you’ve abused the privilege with me,” White joked.

    The 93-year-old also said that she was shocked that she’s still being given awards at her age. “The People’s Choice at 93?” the Golden Girls actress said. “Thank you with all my heart.”

    The award was presented to White by Ellen DeGeneres, who won the award for favorite TV show host. It is worth noting that White is in the Guinness Book of Records for having the longest TV career for a woman in history. And while Hot in Cleveland has been cancelled, White still manages to stay relevant by poking fun at pop culture trends including her famous spoof of Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” video.

    Betty White began her career in the 1930s when she started doing voiceover work for radio commercials and shows. And while she found success in TV shows from the ‘40s onwards, she pretty much became a household name when she starred in the sitcom The Golden Girls which chronicled the life of single women (widows and divorcees) who have reached their golden years.

    White is the last surviving member of The Golden Girls’ main cast.

  • ‘The Interview’: NYC Comedians Plan a Live Read ‘in the Name of Free Speech’

    Who knows when you’ll get to see The Interview?

    Last week Sony execs decided to cave to vague, terroristic threats and postpone the release of the Seth Rogen/James Franco comedy indefinitely. According to reports, Sony was not alone in its cowardice. At this point nobody knows when the film, which was originally scheduled for a Christmas Day release, will see the light of day. Sony has no immediate plans for DVD or VOD release. The internet is calling for someone like Netflix to buy the rights, but that seems unlikely.

    It’ll probably work its way online at some point. Some recent rumors pointed to Sony releasing the film, for free, on Crackle – but those were shot down. Sony has said that it’s considering releasing the film, but there’s definitely no timeframe. Whatever happens, this is a big loss for Sony and for some, an even bigger loss for the idea that we, as a people, won’t be threatened out of our freedom of expression.

    Sure, it’s just a movie (of questionable quality at that) – but this is not a good precedent to set, right?

    What do you think about the decision to pull The Interview? Let us know in the comments.

    Sony has made its decision. Before that, a handful of major theater groups made theirs. The film is simply too toxic to distribute right now. At this point, theaters and Sony are engaging in a bit of a back-and-forth over who is truly to blame for the film’s indefinite postponement. Some lawmakers are calling for its release. The President has input his two cents. The situation’s a mess – but it’s a fluid mess. The movie could find its way to the big screen – or at least your small screen – at some point.

    But you might not get to see The Interview anytime soon. However, if you’re in New York City next weekend, you can watch the next best thing.

    No, not Team America: World Police. Everyone’s too scared to show that either. What you can watch is a group of actors, who “feel very strongly about bringing this film to you by whatever means necessary”, perform a live read-through of the script.

    The Treehouse Theater in NYC will host A Live Read of The Interview on Saturday, Dec 27. It’s free and open to the public. I recently got the opportunity to talk to the show’s producers – Dave Hensely, Benny Scheckner, and Sean Perrotta – three friends and improv actors who just so happened to get hold of an earlier copy of the script.

    “There are three of us that are planning this show,” said Hensley, Scheckner, and Perrotta. “We’re all friends who take classes at a well-known improv school in New York [the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre]. The Treehouse Theater opened just recently. We asked and they said yes. The people there have been extremely supportive — they love that we’re doing this, and we can’t thank them enough for allowing us to use their space.”

    WPN: I know you probably can’t say too much about how you got hold of the script, but are you pretty sure it’s a final copy? Is what you have what’s on the screen?

    HSP: The script is not the final draft, but it very closely agrees with what we know about the movie (from the trailer, press coverage, etc.).

    WPN: What are your thoughts on Sony’s decision to yank the film?

    HSP: We’re huge fans of the filmmakers, and we understand that Sony was in a difficult position, and that they have been strong armed by theater chains. But ultimately, we can’t let threats of terrorism from a foreign nation inhibit free speech here in America. That’s the most important thing.

    WPN: So, have you read through the script yet? Thoughts?

    HSP: Yeah, it’s great. We think the movie is extremely positive for the people of North Korea (if not their leader).

    WPN: What do you hope to accomplish with the read-through?

    HSP: We hope the read makes people feel empowered, as well as entertained. And we hope to remind them that, as we found out a few days ago, free speech isn’t a given — it’s something we need to fight for.

    The live read has been cast, and will kick off at 7pm. It will be immediately followed by Fuck You Kim Jong Un! A Comedy Show to Benefit the People of North Korea – an improv show “based on awful North Korean propaganda films”. Admission to that is $5, all of which will go to Human Rights Watch.

    “Our feelings are that Kim Jong-un already does enough censorship in his own country, and we don’t need him deciding what movies we can and can’t watch here in the US,” said Hensley, Scheckner, and Perrotta. “Americans understand the importance of free speech. But again — and this is really the heart of the issue — we can’t have free speech if we let fear inhibit it and dictate our decisions.”

    In late November, Sony Pictures fell victim to a massive hack – one which exposed private information, including some pretty embarrassing emails from studio execs. A group that called themselves ‘Guardians of Peace” took credit for the hack. As the group dumped more and more data from the hack, it began to threaten any and all theaters who dared show The Interview.

    “The world will be full of fear,” the message read. “Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you’d better leave.)”

    The hacker group is reportedly incensed over the content of the movie, which depicts the assassination of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.

    Soon after, a handful of high-profile theaters announced cancellations of The Interview showings. And that led to a blanket decision from Sony to yank the film entirely.

    “We are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public,” Sony said in a strangely contradictory statement. “We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome.

    “We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theatergoers.”

    It’s still unknown what role, if any, North Korea had in the Sony cyberattacks. The FBI is saying there’s enough evidence to conclude that North Korea was behind it.

    What should Sony do? What should individual theaters do? Let us know in the comments.

    Image via The Interview, Facebook

  • Netflix Shares Clip From Nick Offerman Special

    Netflix Shares Clip From Nick Offerman Special

    As reported last week, Netflix is about to get a new stand-up special from Nick Offerman.

    It’s called American Ham, and it premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in January to mostly positive reviews. It’s coming exclusively to Netflix in the U.S., Canada, and the UK/Ireland.

    Netflix just shared this clip from it (NSFW language):

    From the description:

    Become a student of life with Nick Offerman as he takes you through his master class on life, love, woodworking, meat eating and being a man, “Nick Offerman: American Ham” was taped March 2, 2013 at the legendary Town Hall in New York City. Nick offers 10 tips for prosperity, as told through scripted vignettes (that include appearances by wife Megan Mullally), humorous stories and his own original songs.

    American Ham hits Netflix Friday, December 12th.

    Image via Twitter