What Up With That?

Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers answered my SNL Christmas wish, and put on What Up With That last night. Mike Tyson and Jack McBrayer this time. I die when I see these. Jason Sudeikis rules, and the absurdity of it all is tremendous. Keenan Thompson has become one of my most favorite cast members ever. Here's the dress rehearsal which has funnier dancing from Samberg and Tyson than the live show.

Jon Hamm to Host SNL Soon and Comedy Death Ray Christmas Goodies

Photo courtesy of Seth Ornick

Remember how I gushed about Jon Hamm's terrific hosting job on SNL last year? That it was only the first in many invites back to studio 8H because he was rocking funny? Well, as predicted, he's been asked back for another stint as guest of honor. He mentioned on Comedy Death Ray Radio's podcast yesterday he will indeed be hosting the show in 2010. The date wasn't mentioned, but I'm sure it will be officially announced soon.

Update: Jon Hamm will be hosting SNL on January 30th with musical guest Michael Buble.

Speaking of Comedy Death Ray (aka CDR) and Jon Hamm, comedians Scott Auckerman and BJ Porter brought together a crew of alternative comedy friends last Tuesday night for a night of music and hilarious bullshit at Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles, all in the name of charity. (Just some background: Comedy Death Ray is a weekly improv/sketch show at UCB-LA. It's also a weekly podcast that streams on Fridays at 103.1.com and on iTunes. Go to ucbcomedy.com to view some videos of the stage show.)

Tuesday's show was the special CDR Nativity Christmas Pageant, presenting a steroid induced line up of funny people I would have killed a few animals to have seen in person. (Alas, I was in New York City - where nothing seems to really happen anymore.) Guests included performances by Tenacious D, Maria Bamford, Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis, Nick Kroll, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer, Aziz Ansari, Doug Benson, Paul F. Tomkins, Mad Men guys Hamm/ Michael Gladis, plus James Adomian and many more. Proceeds from ticket sales and online auction (where you could bid on a chance to perform at an Asssscat, be a guest on Zach's Between Two Ferns, or win a ticket to the show) went toward the LA Food Bank. They raised $19,000 + for the cause.

Hilarious moments from the event can be found on flickr taken by super fan and photographer extraordinaire "Liezl", as she in known on aspecialthing.com.

Fun bonus video! The Comedy Death Ray crew came together to record their own version of the 1984 Bob Geldof ego trip and feel good charity anthem "Do They Know It's Christmas". It's funny, and very cool since the spoof is in the spirit of giving. If you know and love these guys, watch this.

Amy Poehler Return to Weekend Update

Amy Poehler will be returning to the "Weekend Update" desk for the first two installments of SNL. Poehler garnered an Emmy nomination for her work on this past season's Saturday Night Live, most notably for her parody of Hilary Clinton and the fact she's plain fantastic on the newsdesk alongside Seth Meyers. Poelher will continue to work on Parks and Recreation. The prime time sitcom was renewed for the 2009-10 season. Saturday Night Live returns for its 35th season on September 26th (11:30pm ET).

Source: Variety

New Additions to SNL Cast

Now that Amy Poehler has left SNL with new baby, funny hubby and a plate load of career choices for her picking (including the Greg Daniels NBC project), Lorne Michaels has hired two, count them, two female cast members to replace the gaping hole the lovable blond has left behind.

Michaela Watkins joins the cast of SNL. She's appeared in "The New Adventures of Old Christine", "Frank TV" and "Californication". She's been a member of L.A.'s Groundlings. Her work looks fantastic, and I think she'll be a great addition to the group.



Abby Eliot also joins the cast. She has lent her voice to "King of the Hill" and has been a member of The Upright Citizens Brigade. Her dad is actor/writer/comedian Chris Eliot. This makes me feel old. I remember seeing her dad walking down the halls of NBC like a big man on campus when he was a writer/performer on the old Letterman show. Now he has a kid who's old enough to be an SNL cast member. Yikes. She comes from good comedy stock. She'll do great.


Lorne Michaels might not be finished adding new talent to the SNL cast line up. Upon announcing the additions yesterday, he mentioned more members could be added before the season is over.

Saturday Night Live returns this Saturday, November 15th with the love of my life, Paul Rudd as guest host. Musical guest: Beyonce. NBC 11:30pm/10:30pm CT

Mad Men: "King of the Mountain"

Last night's Mad Men, entitled "King of the Mountain" unraveled more layers of Don Draper/Dick Whitman's past. Several episodes earlier, we were taken into a flashback of Don's earlier days as a used car salesman. In walked a lithe blonde woman who took one look at fake Don and proclaimed that he wasn't Don Draper. Cut to 1962. Don's on his California journey, leaving the wealthy band of jet setting gypsies behind. He visits the mysterious blond, who turns out to be the real Mrs. Draper - Anne. Apparently, they share a past of friendship and secrets held close to the vest. Her lack of love for the real Don, made her bow to Dick's need to carry out the false identity, pretending they were married until Don/Dick (this is confusing) falls in love with Betty. "Look at you. You're in the lavender haze". I love that line. There is much to do with baptism, re-birth and renewal as Don walks into the ocean. Who will he be when he comes back to shore?

(Personal wish: I hope that Don's "renewal" makes him come back to tell Betty everything. Betty holds firm in no allowing Don to come back because he won't tell her something. She wants him to admit his infidelities, yet she seems to want to hear more from him. I'm hoping this all comes out. The chips fall. Then when the healing begins, they can find a way to stay together. I want them to work out).

Meanwhile back in Westchester County, Betty's odd desire to punish people is rearing it's Dipity Do head. At the sight of eight year old Sally smoking, she understandably (for those days) unleashes the wrath of mother hell on the child. But she's not finished. For good measure, she rings up the love sick Sarabeth to secretly take a pulse on how her broken heart is going, considering that she threw her into the arms of the young, nubile Arthur. Betty's gift of riding boots for Sally was a lovely touch in acknowledging that she may be engaging in motherhood more than ever. The notion of getting her period at that moment could be telling. There have been teasers forcing us to believe she could be pregnant.

Joan. Poor, lovely, lonely Joan. Here's hoping that she reads Betty Friedan before she does something horrible, like actually marry that rapist doctor.

Peggy is taking charge. Claiming her stake in Freddie's old office takes more testosterone than all the male copywriters can find together. Harry has to "stare at an Orangutan all day", and Paul Kinsey will continue to stew in his own jealousy while Ms. Olsen has her own wet bar.

Pete Campbell is an impressive man, if not a tad infuriating. He's like a stubborn, arrogant child who likes to throw his weight around at work, and in his marriage. Yet, I will say that it's kind of him not to harp about Don's disappearance to Peggy, admitting to knowing about the real Don Draper, but he didn't spill the beans. As for his wife forging ahead with the adoption despite his approval - he was well within his right to be angry with her and her nose butting father. Who cares if the Clearasil account is pulled? Campbell showed some cahones there. Here's hoping that he divorces that little muffin of a wife, and gets it on with Peggy once more.

Next week is the season finale. It should be explosive.

Mad Men News:

- Mad Men has been picked up for a third season by AMC. Details have not been disclosed since Wiener and crew are still in negotiation over minor items.

- Jon Hamm will be hosting "Saturday Night Live" on October 25th, with musical guest Coldplay.