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Saturate Night Live!! SNL Gets Earliest Premiere Date In 33 Years -- And Plans To Launch With Four Live Shows In A Row!!

I vote for Christopher Walken to host every episode this year by ThornBalls	Jul 20th, 2008 01:44:58 PM

I don't get why this is on AICN by Toonol	Jul 20th, 2008 01:50:30 PM
SNL has been dead for nearly a decade; it's about as relevant as 'Mad TV' is. Is it just a guilty pleasure of Herc's? If so, that's ok, I guess. How are their political skits? Are they blatantly pro-Obama?
4 Live shows in a row! by Pagz	Jul 20th, 2008 01:58:54 PM
Maybe I'm missing something, but why is this news? It's saturday night LIVE. Isn't the "live" thing kind of a given? It's really kind of the point of the show. In essence, the news is that we can expect 4 consecutive Saturdays of SNL in a row... just like every goddamn Saturday. Breaking News! Saturday Night Live continues to air every Saturday!
NO KRISTEN BELL AS HOST OF SNL, NO PEACE! by Pennsy	Jul 20th, 2008 02:00:53 PM
They owe us for not having any live shows on the last couple weeks of April, where she could have kicked ass...
How about a new cast, you know, one that's actually funny. by kdoc13	Jul 20th, 2008 02:05:39 PM
That would be nice. I stopped watching this a long time ago. I know people say it takes a few years for a new cast to gel, but I still don't like that group that came in with Chris Kattan and them, and it hasn't gotten better. Besides, there are funnier and edgier shows elsewhere.
I am not a hater by fastcars	Jul 20th, 2008 02:09:04 PM
The show just isn't what it used to be. It misses more than it hits, and the content is so mild. When's the last time they pushed the envelope and did something racy, like Wake Up and Smile and Canteen Boy? And all this overload before the Election cycle is ridiculous. SNL's political sketches have been ASS since "Lockbox/Strategery." Really, has there been one funny political sketch since Ferrell as W? Every one I've seen has been painful. And now there's going to be more? Retarded. Weekend Update's alright, though.
4 Live Shows in a Row? by Jonas Grumpy	Jul 20th, 2008 02:13:11 PM
So, the first one is broadcast at 11:30 PM, then the next episode is at 1:00 AM, the third one comes on at 2:30 AM, and the fourth and final show airs at 4:00 AM? Is that what you're trying to say?
The Target Lady makes SNL unwatchable by bravogolfhotel	Jul 20th, 2008 02:16:16 PM
The political skits aren't helping, though. Kenan Thompson's Obama is terrible, and they're too enamored of the two candidates to go after them properly.
SNL'S BEEN UNWATCHABLE FOR A DECADE by King Kull	Jul 20th, 2008 02:18:18 PM
And now we'll get a host of jokes (gentle ones) about Obama's ears and his overuse of the hope trope, and vicious attacks on McCain's age, his politics, his heroism. Don't get me wrong. Both candidates suck, but McCain will take years to wreck the country. Obama will do it in months.
I Dare SNL... by Jonas Grumpy	Jul 20th, 2008 02:19:23 PM
I dare the writers and cast of SNL to go at least one goddamned week without resorting to some sort of "The Fill-in-Blank Show"-type skit. It was one thing back when the original cast used to spoof public affairs programs, with Jane Curtin playing Joan Face, and Aykroyd hawking dangerous products for kids. I despised "Dog Show" and whatever that "Wayne's World" knockoff was featuring Fallon & Sanz. Skits that involve the characters directly addressing the camera and/or a fake studio audience need to be banned for a while. Yes, this also applies to parodies of existing shows, like "The View," "Oprah," and Phil Donahue's talker. (R.I.P. Phil Hartman - has it been almost a decade already?)
"It used to be funny." by Hercules	Jul 20th, 2008 02:27:35 PM
Same thing we've been hearing about SNL since the week Bill Murray joined the cast in 1977. Bill Hader, Kristin Wiig, Will Forte, Kenan Thompson, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen, Andy Samberg, they all make me laugh. And I say this year's (Emmy-nominated) Tina Fey episode was one of the best in the show's 33-year history. Call a cop.
Oh, and? by Hercules	Jul 20th, 2008 02:30:20 PM
They still have Jim Downey writing the political stuff. That guy's hilarious.
SNL has always been political by Anakin Whoopass	Jul 20th, 2008 02:35:50 PM
Dukakis After Dark, anyone?
Downey's written great stuff by fastcars	Jul 20th, 2008 02:38:33 PM
But not in the last five years. If anyone can name one funny political sketch since '03, let me know, because I'd like to see it.
fastcars... regarding political sketches by thegimik	Jul 20th, 2008 02:39:12 PM
yes they have all sucked, the only decent one and also one of the funniest was the one where Gore gave his bizarro world speech from the Oval office.
Yes, that was great, actually by fastcars	Jul 20th, 2008 02:40:35 PM
But I had the impression it was written by Kristin Gore.
Pagz by The Funketeer	Jul 20th, 2008 03:07:54 PM
4 live shows in a row means 4 new episodes. A show that wasn't live would be taped and would mean it's a rerun. Didn't think that would need explaining. SNL typically doesn't do more than 3 new episodes in a row so to do 4 makes Herc's panties get all wet.
try gving us 50-52 weeks of new shows now by j2talk	Jul 20th, 2008 03:17:21 PM
that would be REAL news....4 in row, big deal.....
Seriously, there are people who still care about SNL? by Trazadone	Jul 20th, 2008 03:24:19 PM
SNL hasn't been relevant in over a decade. I mean, aside from AICN, It's completely off my radar. I bet I wouldn't recognize a single cast member today.
Hader alone is worth the... by gotilk	Jul 20th, 2008 03:32:16 PM
NO dollars I pay to see this long-running car crash/masterpiece. When it works, you know it's magic. When it doesn't, it's still pretty damned funny. Whatcha want? Reality TV? Sitcoms? Come on!
33 years of SNL, 32 1/2 years of SNL bashing. by Flim Springfield	Jul 20th, 2008 03:33:20 PM

Calling A Cop by Tipsy McStagger	Jul 20th, 2008 03:33:57 PM
The landscape has changed so much that politics are being covered elsewhere at more reasonable hours and usually at a funnier clip. It kind of renders what they do moot. The show doesn't cut any edges anymore. It just kind of frays them so that you just scratch your head and wonder why you cared in the first place.
It's Also A Sad Day When... by Tipsy McStagger	Jul 20th, 2008 03:36:47 PM
You have to hang your hat on the "4 live shows in a row" thing. I suggest 4 quality shows, period. If anything to shut all the haters like myself up.
"McCain will take years to wreak this country by rben	Jul 20th, 2008 03:37:24 PM
while Obama will take months." By what criteria? How do you wreck something that's already wreaked? As for SNL, the only thing visual-wise that i'm interested in are the new jj and whedon shows and the jj star trek (maybe watchmen.) Politics wise, i will do what my conscience tells me to do: either Nader or the Green Party. We need a third alternative. Stupid amerkins keep voting in the same rich guys thinking they will help john & jane q. average. news flash! in the words of carlin: they don't CARE about you. CASE CLOSED!
will amy poelar be back by JackieGleasonUFO	Jul 20th, 2008 03:38:19 PM
with the whole office 2 thing?
herc....you are so wrong by bacci40	Jul 20th, 2008 03:50:43 PM
sure, people said that murray couldnt fill chevy's shoes...but then the criticism stopped...this current cast has done one funny bit...and it was a dick joke...this show nuked the fridge long ago, you just dont want to admit it...oh, and i have tried watching it...not funny
Captain Justice...snl has been political since day one by bacci40	Jul 20th, 2008 03:52:22 PM
go look at the old bits with chevy doing ford or ackroyd doing nixon
no more Fred Armisen as Obama by BALTIMOREJACK	Jul 20th, 2008 04:10:06 PM
sorry, its just not funny. i honestly think Keenan Thompson would be a better choice. yes, he looks nothing like Obama, but did Chevy Chase look anything like Gerald Ford? i think the humor is more in the mannerisms and also in the shock value of seeing someone who looks nothing like the subject. Ferrell's George Bush, the guy who did Bill Clinton, and Poehler's Hillary were all great b/c they either looked and/or sounded like their subjects, making them all the more funnier. Armisen neither looks or sounds like Obama, so why even use him? i think if you get Thompson, at least he is Black, and that would just make me laugh seeing him walk onto stage pretending he's Obama. i don't know, just my take.
SNL used to be funny by j2talk	Jul 20th, 2008 04:11:09 PM
when they had writers....time to go back and search for some....
Herc endorses Emmy nominees! by MorbidObesity	Jul 20th, 2008 04:13:16 PM
So now Herc is reduced to acting like an Emmy nomination for an SNL episode is some mark of quality. SNL's a lousy show, and that fourth live show in a row will only be worth watching as a truly memorable trainwreck.
The show is bad! by Craig2574	Jul 20th, 2008 04:26:07 PM
The skits go on to long. They make the skits longer they need to be. If the skits were shorter they reduce the show to an hour the show would vastly improve.
To act like SNL is only appreciated in hindsight is absurd. by CreasyBear	Jul 20th, 2008 05:29:21 PM
Everyone knows when the good periods have been, and everyone can agree when the show has uniformly sucked, as it does now. Basically, you have the early cast good years, including Bill Murray; the Eddie Murphy-good-everyone-else-suck ed years, the Dana Carvey, Jan Hooks, Phil Hartman quality period; and the Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, Cheri Oteri, Chris Kattan funny years. That's it. All between-periods were the horrible periods that we all talk about. It's simple.
Herc, stop it with that tired defense by TVguy4566	Jul 20th, 2008 05:35:42 PM
No! People haven't been saying that Saturday Night Live isn't funny anymore since Bill Murray joined the cast. That is a load of BS. People started to complain about the original cast towards the end when all the main players started to focus more on their movie career than their show (especially Belushi and Ackroyd). The next cast was abismal, but they also had to live up to the standards of the original cast. The all actors season was bad, but Anthony Michael Hall, Robert Downey, and Randy Quaid just weren't sketch comedians. The Eddie Murphy years were considered solid and had some underrated comedians including Mary Gross, Tim Kazurinski, Julia Louis Dryfuss, etc. The big time comedian season (Crystal, Short, etc.)was hugely popular. The Carvey, Hartman, Lovitz, Meyers years were immensly popular with audiences. The Farley, Sandler, Schneider years were also considered funny although interest started to wane. The Farrell, Katan, Oteri, McDonald years were the last cast that a large majority of people considered at least mildly funny. The Fallon, Santz years started the major decline where people started to hate SNL and find it immensly unfunny. it was the worst cast since the Charlie Rocket year. I think this cast has a lot of talent, but it is wasted talent. Many of the cast are far funnier in other projects than they are on SNL. Bill Hader was funnier in the 20 minutes of screen time in SuperBad than his entire three years of SNL. Tina Fey has become far funnier without Lorne Michaels breathing down her neck (although she hasn't been part of the cast for a couple of years). kristen Wiig was funnier in Knocked Up than anything I have seen her on SNL. The problem with SNL is the material, not the actors. I blame Lorne Michaels. I think he holds this cast back. He is too old and out of touch. Time for a producer who isn't old enough to be the grandfather of the show's primary target audience.
Maybe Lorne Is The Problem by Tipsy McStagger	Jul 20th, 2008 05:38:11 PM
He's the one constant in all the horrible seasons. Although one could argue Doumanians' reign was the worst. But, since it spawned Eddie Murphy, I'm willing to give her a pass. Unfortunately, Lorne will pull the plug on SNL before he gives it up, so it's either this or nothing, I'm afraid.
Good Call TVguy4566 by Tipsy McStagger	Jul 20th, 2008 05:39:34 PM
That is all.
need to start feeding the writers coke, pot and smack by bacci40	Jul 20th, 2008 05:52:49 PM
like the good old days...then maybe they will be funny again
Excellent summary, TVguy4566... by MorbidObesity	Jul 20th, 2008 05:58:29 PM
...and a nice dismissal of Herc's sad insistence that SNL has been unfairly treated. That line about SNL being dismissed immediately post-Chevy is a new delusional low for Herc, though. And, yes, Lorne Michaels is the problem. The few talented writers on the staff constantly see innovative sketches get killed in favor of some crap that Lorne hopes will become a movie franchise.
Creasybear is on point by fastcars	Jul 20th, 2008 06:05:22 PM
Yeah, there are people who always say SNL isn't as good as it used to be. But looking back, there are very commonly agreed upon good years and bad years.
SNL Movie Franchises = Shit by Tipsy McStagger	Jul 20th, 2008 06:13:11 PM
Since Wayne's World 2 (1993), here's what you have, in order: Coneheads It's Pat Stuart Saves His Family Blues Brothers 2000 A Night At The Roxbury Superstar The Ladies Man Maybe Lorne will greenlight "Target Lady - The Movie."
More Bill Hader! by zooch	Jul 20th, 2008 06:34:48 PM
He's the funniest guy on this show
if its not funny anymore I guess you won't be watching by slappy jones	Jul 20th, 2008 06:36:54 PM
so why bother crying and moaning?? I mean why are you watching week after week if its not funny and you don't like it? You must be watching it to complain about target lady. if you had seen her on the "one" time you watched she wouldn;t bother you that much..you would only complain if she was recurring. so that leads me to believe you watch it week to week. but if its so unfunny and so bad why are you wasting valuable, precious hopurs of life watching something you don't like only to then waste more precious time posting about how much you don't like it??? surely you have more to do with your life then to waste it on worrying about something you don't even like??
Funny how SNL only works as a starting point... by Sherman_Lives	Jul 20th, 2008 06:37:06 PM
If the actor/comic already has an established career/following, they don't nearly do as well, the exception being the '84 all-star season. I contend Michael McKean should have joined the cast alongside Nigel and Derek that year. As it was, there he was in what, 95? with Garofalo, Mohr, Elliott, McKinney, et al, for one of the roughest seasons SNL ever weathered. Shame.
Kenan would be a good Obama by zooch	Jul 20th, 2008 06:48:18 PM
If fat ass Frank Caliendo can do W on tv then Kenan could do Obama. That or hire a new guy who can. Just no more Armisan, he just doesn't seem able to emulate Obama's charismatic personality.
SNL is abysmal... by the milf lover	Jul 20th, 2008 06:58:19 PM
I started watching SNL in the early 90s, not long before the first Wayne's World movie. (I did see a lot of the previous stuff in reruns but the 'dated' aspect of it didnt appeal to me that much) Most of that 90s run was a cant-miss show for me. But once all the guys who got me hooked started leaving (Myers, Phil Hartman, Sandler, Spade, Farley, Norm McDonald etc...) and the Will Ferrel/Cheri Oteri/etc era began, with a somewhat diferent style of comedians, it wasnt the same. And it just went slowly downhill since the new millenium (Fallon, Sanz.... eech), with Fay on Weekend Update as the one bright spot. I havent watched the show in years, and whenever I see it now (usually for the guest host), I am baffled at how badly it has sank. Sandberg's pretaped skits are usually pretty funny, but he'd be better off having his own show on Comedy Central or something where there would be less restrictions and censorship.
Great idea NBC- another NOT FUNNY SHOW ON THURSDAY by Jugdish	Jul 20th, 2008 07:57:26 PM
Sorry - but SNL Thursdays? Great ...ANother unfunny to show to follow Earl ( cause that show is HILAREEEEEEEUS ) Seriously folks The office fell off its perch last season too
Zooch speaketh the truth re: Bil Hader by Pennsy	Jul 20th, 2008 08:07:46 PM
He had some of Forgetting Sarah Marshall's best lines, and I'd say he was neck-and-neck with Russell Brand for being the funniest supporting character in the movie.
Bill, sorry... by Pennsy	Jul 20th, 2008 08:08:10 PM

Yay! by Anna Valerious	Jul 20th, 2008 08:45:12 PM
This is at least making up for showing that damn Bon Jovi episode so much this season. Sure, it had its funny moments, but really...
Colbert by himself sitting at a desk by INWOsuxRED	Jul 20th, 2008 09:36:37 PM
is consistantly funnier than months of "live" episodes of SNL. No matter how much prep time SNL has, they insist on running lame characters with catch phrases into the ground rather than on crafting comedy that makes people laugh. Can't wait to read four weeks of press releases in a row while Herc ignores a bunch of good shows that could actually use some word-of-mouth.
SNL still has moments, but they need to get more un-political by Cletus Van Damme	Jul 20th, 2008 10:01:24 PM

Herc gives "die-hard fan" a new meaning: by TheRealRatigan	Jul 20th, 2008 10:55:38 PM
As in, "No matter how roundly the acts died, it was too hard for some fans to admit the demise of their beloved show." ...What a shameless, hopeless fangirl and joke of a "critic". Hercules will toss Lorne's salad until this show gives up and keels, then swallow his load for old times sake. Amy Poehler and Seth Myers make you laugh?! Honest??? Yeesh...
if you get one good skit a week by ZO	Jul 21st, 2008 08:40:22 AM
ur doing good
MAGRUBER!!!!!!! by gregniz	Jul 21st, 2008 11:32:52 AM
Funniest skit ever!!
YES they HAVE by I am the most horrible	Jul 21st, 2008 01:21:50 PM
I remember people bitching about SNL going steadily downhill after the first season, and I was a kid. There have always been haters. And I will admit there has always been at least something for haters to hate (I hate the host monologue, almost without exception. If I see another questions-from-the-audience bit I'm going to pop a vessel)...but SNL has had just enough funny and the prerequisite mojo to stay on air. It comes and it goes, bit when it comes it's great. (Leave that alone.)
I feel sorry for people home at 11:30 on a Saturday. by HoboCode	Jul 21st, 2008 02:27:20 PM
Must be depressing being old/boring/married with children/quadriplegic/mentally challenged/anti-social/narcole ptic/DVDless/sick/jailed/unima ginative/agoraphobic.
To Whoever Said... by Tipsy McStagger	Jul 21st, 2008 02:52:58 PM
That if you hate SNL so much you shouldn't watch it, well... I can only compare it to holding up traffic to watch a highway wreck, or when you take a big monstrous crap that you have to stand up and admire. Devastation and shit fascinate me and compel me to watch.
Thanks for the "scoop"--I needed the sleep. by thegreatwhatzit	Jul 21st, 2008 03:20:58 PM
Who gives a shit about this dinosaur? Madison Ave is monitoring the ratings and guess what? Network TV is pretty much obsolete (the writers' strike cut the throat of its supporters--the public is tuning-in only to reality shows. Sick but true). SNL is pretty much ancient history.
Can we get some hosts over the age of 30 by Samuel Fulmer	Jul 21st, 2008 03:22:28 PM
Other than Alec Baldwin/Christopher Walken/Desperate Politician of the moment.
SNL lost any political bite it still had by Samuel Fulmer	Jul 21st, 2008 03:24:22 PM
When Hillary Clinton basically used SNL skits to try to make a point that didn't really exist, other than in Amy Poehler's head.
Best SNL Years-Going off of what holds up by Samuel Fulmer	Jul 21st, 2008 03:27:31 PM
1977-80, 1983-1985, 1988-1992, 1996-1998. I'd say it hasn't really been consistently good since around the time Jimmey Fallon came on. Sure there have been some good skits from time to time, but it hasn't been must watch TV for a long time now.
The support for Clinton was shameless... by thegreatwhatzit	Jul 21st, 2008 04:59:12 PM
No doubt spawned by uggo Tina Fey, winner of the New Millenium's "Nancy Kulp Lookalike Contest." She was pitching Clinton only because "it's time we have a woman in the White House." Never mind that Clinton is a parasitic p.r. whore (now $25 million in debr); how about a qualified candidate like Nancy Pelosi? Fey better retire from meddling with SNL and watch her own series--because nobody else is! Yeah, it's winning awards--but nobody cares (it's six feet under in the Nielsen competition). Glad tha Tracey Morgan made a pitch for Obama. But now Morgan is host of SCARE TACTICS; maybe it pays well, but the poor guy is saddled with some bewildering "comedy" ("Haw, haw, haw--somebody get that guy a new pair of pants. That was funnier than waving a bagful of midgets over your head. HA!"). Huh?
So Saturday Night Live will be live? by supertoyslast	Jul 28th, 2008 05:14:27 PM
I fail to see why that's extraordinary. What seems extraordinary to me is that SNL has only ever had 4 live shows in a row twice before. Jon Stewart does 4 live shows a week. What's the big deal?

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Saturate Night Live!! SNL Gets Earliest Premiere Date In 33 Years -- And Plans To Launch With Four Live Shows In A Row!!

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