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William H. Macy, the revered Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning character actor, will sit down with yours truly on Sept. 9 in Toronto to record a special episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast in front of an audience at THR’s Access Canada Summit, a three-day event that spotlights Canada’s vibrant content industry.

The recording will take place at Toronto’s Omni King Edward Hotel at 10:30 a.m. local time. Tickets are available for purchase on the summit’s website.

Macy, 75, is best known for his work in films like 1996’s Fargo, 1997’s Boogie Nights and 2015’s Room, as well as TV series such as ER and Shameless. He will be at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival with Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams, which had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last January en route to being acquired by Netflix, and for which he...

It’s after August 1st, which means that the news of who will be in Season 51 of Saturday Night Live could start trickling out any day now. That’s because August 1st is the official deadline for contracts of returning cast to be signed, which means that those who aren’t renewing or being asked back will start announcing their departures from the show. And they, of course, will then need to be replaced with someone new.

There’s been major speculation about who will be staying on the show after the end of the historic 50th season. Is Michael Che leaving? Is Bowen Yang heading to the big screen full time after Wicked? There’s been no clear information on if any of the show’s big hitters are staying or going.

But the absence of official information doesn’t mean there are no leads to follow. According to Late Nighter,...

(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)

"There was a couple years, though, where it was not a big punchline, but where if it came up, you had to disavow it." Those are the words of director Akiva Schaffer, one third of the comedy group The Lonely Island, talking about their 2007 comedy "Hot Rod" on "The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast" in 2024. "Even on talk shows, you'd have to, like, really make sure you made fun of it before they did."

Time has been kind to "Hot Rod," with the film achieving cult status over the years. In its day though, the comedy was a flat out flop. Despite Schaffer's success alongside his partners Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone on "Saturday Night Live," this pattern of flop-turned-cult-classic would...

Conan O’Brien told fellow “Saturday Night Live” alum Andy Samberg during a chat on the “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast that Adam Sandler more or less saved the NBC sketch comedy series from sinking into behind-the-scenes despair in the early 1990s. O’Brien was a writer on “SNL” from 1998 to 1991. Sandler joined as a cast member in 1991 and stayed on the show through 1995.

“I was in that state of mind, and I think, you know, [Robert] Smigel and [Bob] Odenkirk and Greg Daniels were like, ‘It’s life or death,'” O’Brien said (via Entertainment Weekly). “And it feels like that’s kind of how everyone feels.”

But Sandler’s vibe was notably different. “He was like, ‘This is so much fun to be at ‘SNL. Oh, I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it. Yippee!'” O’Brien remembered. “And he had that, ‘I’m going to do Opera Man.

Historically, Saturday Night Live aims to kick off each season with a bang, so its season premieres typically feature fan-favorite SNL alumni or white-hot stars coming off a big summer.

The past five seasons have seen Jean Smart (fresh from her comedy Emmy win for Hacks), Pete Davidson (the show’s hottest alum thanks to tabloid romances and scandalous meltdowns), Miles Teller, Owen Wilson (promoting Marvel TV shows and movies) and Chris Rock (trying to make SNL safe from Covid once again).

Who will Lorne Michaels tap to guide the show into its 51st season? Here are eight educated guesses, based on marketing opportunities meeting comedy bona fides...

1 Adam Sandler

In the Sandman’s favor: He was the standout star of SNL50, and his Happy Gilmore 2 just broke a bunch of Netflix streaming records. In other words, he checks both the “favorite SNL alum” and “huge summer” boxes. After...

Back in the ‘90s, Cheri Oteri was one of Saturday Night Live’s biggest stars, famous for playing characters like the overly-medicated Colette Reardon, Arianna the Spartan cheerleader, 20/20 host Barbara Walters and, of course, the “simmer down now” lady.

But Oteri didn’t appear on stage during this year’s SNL50. Why? Because apparently nobody asked her to…

Oteri recently guested on Dana Carvey and David Spade’s Fly on the Wall podcast, and just before the episode ended, Carvey brought up the anniversary special. “What did you do on the 50th? I missed it. Were you there? Did you do anything?” the Master of Disguise star inquired.

“No, I was not asked to do anything. I sat in the audience,” Oteri replied.

“Bastards,” Carvey responded. “Waste of talent.”

While you’d think that bringing back Oteri and Will Ferrell’s Spartan Cheerleaders during SNL50 would have been a no-brainer,...

Long before Steve Martin and Martin Short were Arconia neighbors and murder-solving buddies, they were two-thirds of the Three Amigos! That classic Western comedy, the first installment of what would become a long and fruitful partnership, has a new streaming home next month, and you'll be able to stream it for free. The film will premiere on the free, ad-supported streaming service Pluto starting on August 1.

The film was an unusual collaboration between Martin, Saturday Night Live head honcho Lorne Michaels, and musician Randy Newman, who co-wrote the script. It went through various iterations, with Steven Spielberg at one point attached to direct, and a variety of actors, including John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Robin Williams, slated to star. Eventually, Martin was set to star with SNL alum Chevy Chase and Short; the latter was recommended by his Sctv co-star John Candy. Directorial duties were handled by John Landis, and at one point,...

Saturday Night Live has set a return date, announcing the season 51 premiere date. And with it comes speculation on who will host and reports about potential cast changes under Lorne Michaels.

SNL returns to NBC on October 4. It's slightly later than season 50's late September start date, but falls in line with the premiere dates for past seasons. With just over two months until showtime, Lorne Michaels has a few decisions to make regarding the cast.

According to Deadline, Michaels has yet to make any decisions about new cast members. The outlet reports that the first round of applications for new performers came prior to July 4. Sources also tell Deadline that Michaels is focused on hiring "character-driven performers" rather than stand-up comedians.

While that could change based on who submits material or gets called in for an audition, it's a good sign for Saturday Night Live's future. More original...

Saturday Night Liveveteran Andy Samberg opens up about his experience impersonating Nicolas Cage straight to his face.

Per Entertainment Weekly, Samberg discussed his time working with Cage on SNL during a recent appearance on Conan O'Brien's Conan O'Brien Need a Friend podcast. 'I obviously didn't want him to hate me because I respect his work so much," Samberg said of the Hollywood icon, who appeared as himself during a Weekend Update segment alongside Samberg's own iteration of Nicolas Cage.

"And the reason I have an impression is because I've watched a thousand hours of Nic Cage. It's embedded in me somewhere," Samberg added. He went on to state that Cage was the "nicest" during their appearance together, noting that the Academy Award-winner "went all in." Samberg added, "It feels crackly and fun, and he was just a joy." The Weekend Update segment in question aired during a 2012 episode of SNL,...

After a pretty momentous season celebrating its 50th anniversary, Saturday Night Live has set its return.

The venerable NBC show will premiere its Season 51 on October 4. It’s in line with recent premiere dates, with Season 50 returning on September 28, Season 49 premiering on October 14 and Season 48 launching on October 1.

NBC did not announce who would host the season premiere.

The process for who will be leaving and who will be staying on the late-night variety show is still in its early stages; creator Lorne Michaels is not expected to make any big decisions for at least the next couple of weeks.

The first round of submissions for new cast took place ahead of the July 4 weekend, but it’s unclear how many slots are available and Michaels usually holidays in Europe over the summer. Sources did tell Deadline this month that he was leaning more toward strong, character-driven performers rather than...

Earlier this year, "Saturday Night Live" celebrated its 50th anniversary with a star-studded anniversary special on NBC. Among all the best moments from the "SNL 50" anniversary special, one that might stick out to casual fans of the show is the SNL Digital Short in which Bowen Yang and Andy Samberg sing about the fact that "everyone who ever worked at 'SNL' had anxiety."

The reason this short's premise may be surprising is that "Saturday Night Live" seems like the dream job. However, if you keep up with any of its stars after they leave the show, a lot of them have been open about how difficult of a workplace it really is. Little sleep, tons of pressure, and the eyeballs of America on you can ruin the fun for even the most beloved "SNL" stars.

For these 12 former cast members of "SNL," they owe a lot to Lorne Michaels and NBC,...

Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary special earlier this year brought together countless former cast members and some of the biggest names in entertainment. But one of the show's most influential stars was noticeably absent, and it turns out he had a pretty good excuse.

Dan Aykroyd was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live when it debuted in 1975. As one of the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players," Aykroyd also wrote for the show, and in many ways, created a blueprint for future SNL stars. He was an extremely versatile performer, wrote his own material, and parlayed SNL into a successful movie career.

So people noticed when he wasn't at February's 50th anniversary special alongside other cast members from 1975 like Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Chevy Chase. But Aykroyd revealed his massive SNL fandom kept him home that night.

"I wanted to be at home and I wanted...

With 50 years and counting under its belt, nearly all of Hollywood’s biggest stars have either hosted or cameoed on Saturday Night Live. The ones who haven’t are conspicuous by their absence. For example? Considering her phenomenal success in big-screen comedies like Pretty Woman, why didn’t SNL ever have Julia Roberts on the Studio 8H stage?

As it turns out, Lorne Michaels and the gang tried to make it happen. But Roberts turned them down for the same reason a few other big stars have backed away: She was terrified.

“It always really intimidated me how funny and clever that show is,” she told Extra in 2017, per Far Out. “So, when I was asked to do it long, long ago, I always said, ‘No,’ because I was too afraid. Too afraid to blow it.”

Years later, however, she appeared to have second thoughts. Perhaps she would host Saturday Night Live...

In case you didn’t notice, Lorne Michaels isn’t on social media. Of course, that isn’t all that surprising considering that he’s an 80-year-old TV producer who seems to be single-handedly keeping the colored index card industry alive.

We do know that he owns a cell phone, at least, according to Sarah Sherman, who once revealed that the Saturday Night Live cast texts with Michaels during show nights, much to the shock of David Spade.

But there is at least one social media account bearing the SNL creator’s name: “Official Lorne Michaels,” which boasts the Twitter/X handle “@forlornmichaels.” Recently, the “official” account went viral for a post touting one of Michaels’ accomplishments — sort of.

Following a police siren emoji, indicating a major news alert we should all pay attention to, the post describes how “Lorne Michaels officially has is now one Saturday Night Live two...

Would Bobby Moynihan’s Drunk Uncle be supporting Rfk Jr. these days? Would he have a little 5G in his bloodstream? One of the reasons the SNL character was so popular was that Moynihan’s comic intentions were so clear — the audience understood that the character’s perspective was Wtf ridiculous. But there’s one Drunk Uncle moment that “has stained it in my mind,” he said recently on the Syd & Olivia Talk Sh*t podcast.

When Donald Trump hosted SNL back in 2015, he was clear with Lorne Michaels and the show’s writers that he didn’t appreciate sketches that made fun of him. Trump could veto a number of mocking bits during the week, but Weekend Update was another matter. “Update we don’t write till the end of the week,” Moynihan said, “and he didn’t see it until Saturday.”

Drunk Uncle appeared as the presidential candidate’s #1 fan.

One of the more notable one-episode wonders in television history may be "Lookwell." 

"Lookwell," for those unfortunate enough not to know, was a comedy pilot starring Adam West that was produced by Lorne Michaels and co-written by Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel. It was made in 1991, but despite its high concept and high quality, it never went to series. The pilot aired on NBC in late July of that year as a TV movie, but only those with fast-moving Vcr-record buttons were able to capture it before it vanished into the ether. Those who did manage to capture it on VHS instantly became enamored, falling in love with Adam West's sublime comedic performance and its askew sense of humor. 

The premise of "Lookwell" was a little arch, as was the fashion at the time. West played Ty Lookwell, a wealthy, retired TV actor who loved to lounge around his 1970s-decorated...

The news of “The Late Show’s” cancellation by CBS doesn’t just end a franchise that had, to this point, lasted more than 30 years. It looks like the beginning of the end of an entire category of television. With one network now opting out of late-night talk entirely, how long will it be before the genre just goes away?

CBS announced the cancellation nearly a full year before it is to take effect, making current host Stephen Colbert a lame duck of sorts; he will continue hosting the show through May 2026, at which point it will simply disappear. Observers have noted with interest that Colbert has, lately, been especially critical of CBS’s parent company, Paramount; while this may have made him less beloved internally, the trendlines on late night have been moving in the wrong direction for some time.

Taylor Tomlinson, whose “After Midnight,” also on CBS, was...

The 2025 Espy Awards will likely be remembered for Shane Gillis’ monologue, even if the comedy was largely forgettable.

Gillis, a standup comedian and the co-creator and star of Netflix’s Tires, is probably best known for lasting like four hours at Saturday Night Live — Lorne Michaels felt compelled to fire Gillis after some non-pc clips of a 2018 episode of Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast were resurfaced — though he has gone on to host the show, twice.

By now, you’ve probably read both praise and criticism on Gillis’ monologue — he’s that kind of comic. Gillis is wildly popular among his base, and controversial among non-fans. This was always gonna go some sort of way, and ESPN executives knew that when they gave Gillis the gig. Gillis has appeared on the network’s College GameDay show, where he (internet-)famously got into it with Nick Saban, an all-time great...

Exclusive: Andrew Singer, former President of Film & Television of Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video, has launched Revue Studios, a new independent content studio backed by Wasserman, the sports, music and entertainment company founded and run by Casey Wasserman.

Singer will oversee the scripted operation with focus on comedy, which fits his background at Broadway Video, emphasizing premium storytelling.

The launch of Revue Studios expands Wasserman’s footprint in entertainment. It was established with the 2023 acquisition of talent management and production company Brillstein Entertainment Partners whose CEO Jon Liebman oversees Wasserman’s businesses in that space, including Bep, the non-fiction division launched last year with Zoe Rogovin at the helm and now Revue Studios. The previously unnamed non-fiction unit, which has been making strides in the documentary, docu-series and original format spaces, will now carry the Revue banner which could also expand into other content areas in the future, including genre and YA.

Millie Bobby Brown and Gabriel Labelle have been cast in new romantic comedy Just Picture It.The Stranger Things star will team up with Labelle on the new film for Netflix, which will be directed by The Age of Adeline filmmaker Lee Toland Krieger.According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film focuses on two carefree college students left shocked when a glitch in their phones show pictures from 10 years in the future with them as a happily married couple with a family.However, there is another twist as they haven't actually met yet.The movie has been written by former Late Show with David Letterman joke scribe Jesse Lasky, with Krieger - who also directed a number of episodes for Netflix series You - at the helm.Brown - who has been involved in the project since its inception - will be making her first rom-com appearance.Labelle's breakout role...

It seems as though Hollywood stars will do almost anything to win major acting awards that in no way resemble golden popcorn buckets.

In addition to going on media blitzes, attending gala events and straight-up suck-uping to voting bodies, one potentially unsung method of achieving awards recognition just might be getting shitcanned by Lorne Michaels.

Among the most recent crop of Emmy nominees is the great Jenny Slate, who was recognized for her work in Dying for Sex in the “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie” category. Slate was famously let go after just one season on SNL (but not for dropping the F-bomb that one time as some folks mistakenly believe).

Obviously Slate is nominated because of her exceptional acting, but we can’t help but notice that she isn’t the first person who’s gotten recognition from the Television Academy after being fired by SNL.

Bill Hader is a certified film nerd, a walking, talking Letterboxd account ready to discuss Federico Fellini or Billy Wilder at the drop of a hat. So it was no wonder that he geeked out when esteemed movie director Martin Scorsese dropped by Saturday Night Live for a comedy cameo.

While Scorsese has never hosted, he has a long history with the show and Lorne Michaels, according to Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live. Scorsese met up with Michaels in Italy at a Bob Dylan concert afterparty in the 1970s. A man whom Michaels identified as a dealer connected to Scorsese laid out lines of powder that sent several sniffers vomiting out a window; Scorsese was hospitalized for addiction soon thereafter.

Later, Michaels rented spare offices in his Broadway Video building to Scorsese. The director also showed up with Robert De Niro for SNL cameos on the night...

While Saturday Night Live offers a scroll of its writers during the show’s closing credits, you rarely get to hear about which funny people authored a particular sketch. After hearing Devon Walker explain what happened to one SNL writer on the Lemme Say This podcast, maybe that’s a good idea.

During Walker’s first year on Saturday Night Live in Season 48, YouTube sensations the Try Guys found themselves embroiled in a scandal. A quick refresher: In 2022, one of the Try Guys had an extramarital affair with an employee, leading him to exit the group.

SNL often spoofs a particular week’s pop-culture buzz, so a Try Guys sketch featuring Bowen Yang, Mikey Day and Andrew Dismukes wasn’t a surprise. In Entertainment Weekly’s review of the show, it called the sketch “an amusing riff on mainstream news media’s tendency to get sidetracked, and buried in silly minutia.

Millie Bobby Brown and Gabriel Labelle will get a glimpse of their future in “Just Picture It,” an upcoming romantic-comedy set at Netflix.

They’ll star as two college students who are surprised when their phones glitch and start showing them pictures from 10 years in the future, featuring them as a happily married couple with kids. It’s mostly weird because they have yet to meet each other. Lee Toland Krieger (“The Age of Adaline”) will direct “Just Picture It” from a script by Jesse Lasky, who used to write for “The Late Show With David Letterman.”

Brown has shepherded “Just Picture It” from inception and will serve as a producer, while her husband, Jake Bongiovi, will executive produce. The 21-year-old was propelled to fame as a pre-teen on Netflix’s “Stranger Things” (the fifth and final season debuts in November) and has since worked closely with the streamer on...

Stranger Things may be heading into its final season, but Millie Bobby Brown isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The Netflix favorite has just lined up her next starring role, headlining the romantic comedy Just Picture Italongside The Fabelmans breakout Gabriel Labelle. Directed by The Age of Adaline filmmaker Lee Toland Krieger, Just Picture It is set up at Netflix, where Brown remains one of the streamer’s most bankable stars.

The high-concept rom-com follows two carefree college students (played by Brown and Labelle) who are stunned when a glitch on their phones begins showing them images of their future lives — together. There’s just one catch: they haven’t even met yet. The film is written by Jesse Lasky, marking his first feature sale after a career in television that’s included stints on Code Black and Revenge, where he also penned a spin-off novel. Lasky began his career...

Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown and Gabriel Labelle, who broke out with Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, will star in Just Picture It, a romantic comedy set up at Netflix.

Lee Toland Krieger, known for helming the drama The Age of Adaline and episodes of Netflix’s hit You, will direct the feature.

Written by Jesse Lasky, the script centers on two care-free college students (Brown, Labelle) who are surprised when their phones glitch and start showing them pictures from 10 years in the future featuring them as a happily married couple with kids. The real glitch? They have yet to meet each other.

Veterans Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum are producing Just Picture It. Brown and Robert Brown are also producing, via their Pcma Productions. The project is Brown’s first romantic comedy and she has shepherded the project from inception.

Executive producing are Alyssa Altman of R/K Films,...

On July 12, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to threaten stripping his longtime nemesis Rosie O’Donnell of her U.S. citizenship, despite her having been born to American citizens and in the U.S. — something which legal experts say the president does not have the power to do.

Trump has been feuding with O’Donnell since 2006, when the then-lead panelist of “The View” criticized him for taking a moralistic tone toward one of his Miss USA pageant winners after an indiscretion. As rounded up well by Variety’s Daniel D’Addario, O’Donnell’s particular on-air criticism struck an unusually deep chord for Trump.

It wasn’t just that O’Donnell questioned why he should be the moral arbiter of anything; it was that she called out his physical appearance as well, throwing her hair over the top of her head in an imitation of his signature look, and making her mouth into an “o.

Sixty-six past guests of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast were recognized with Emmy nominations on Tuesday morning. You can find their names and links to listen to their episodes below, and you can click here to subscribe to the podcast — for free — in order to access all past and future episodes.

Elizabeth Banks, best game show host (Press Your Luck) — Listen

Javier Bardem, best limited/anthology series and supporting actor (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story) — Listen

Kathy Bates, best drama actress (Matlock) — Listen

Cate Blanchett, best limited/anthology actress (Disclaimer) — Listen and Listen

Adam Brody, best comedy actor (Nobody Wants This) — Listen

Sterling K. Brown, best drama actor (Paradise) — Listen

Quinta Brunson, best comedy series, actress and writing (Abbott Elementary) — Listen

James Burrows, best comedy directing (Mid-Century Modern) — Listen

Bill Camp, best limited/anthology supporting actor (Presumed Innocent) — Listen

Stephen Colbert, best talk series and variety...

Beyoncé has received eight Emmy nominations over the year but the most-award artist in Grammy history is still searching for a TV win.

The Cowboy Carter star will have another crack at an Emmy this year after her Netflix NFL halftime show Beyoncé Bowl was nominated in Outstanding Variety Special (Live), going head-to-head with both SNL50: The Anniversary Special and SNL50: The Homecoming Concert.

It marks an interesting battle between one of the biggest pop stars in the world and a TV special that featured more A-list celebrities and former SNL stars than could fit in Studio 8H.

Other nominees in the category include The Apple Music Super Bowl Lix Halftime Show

Starring Kendrick Lamar and The Oscars.

Last year, The Oscars, which was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, won the award, beating out The Apple Music Super Bowl Lviii Halftime Show Starring Usher, The 66th Grammy Awards, The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady...

At 80 years old, Lorne Michaels isn't getting any younger. The Saturday Night Live boss' age has led to more and more speculation about who could replace him, even if Michaels hasn't set a retirement date. Former SNL cast member Molly Shannon recently shared her take on the topic.

The 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live seemed like the perfect time for Michaels to ride off into the sunset, leaving behind an impressive legacy as the creator and visionary behind the iconic show. But he never definitiely said he was leaving, nor has he given any concrete evidence to suggest he has an exit plan. And if he does, he's not sharing it with the world.

So, that means SNL fans and alumni are free to speculate. That includes Molly Shannon, who spoke with People about Lorne Michaels' replacement.

Shannon admitted that anyone attempting to fill Michaels' shoes would face an uphill battle.

The revered Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård will sit down with yours truly to record a special episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast in front of an audience at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on Friday, July 11. The taping will take place at 11 a.m. local time, at Congress Hall within the Thermal Hotel. No ticket or pass is required for entry — admission is free — but seating is limited to the first 250 people to arrive.

The 74-year-old is at the fest to receive Kviff’s Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema, previous recipients of which include Robert De Niro, Judi Dench, Michael Caine, Isabelle Huppert, Richard Gere, Helen Mirren, John Travolta, Willem Dafoe, Julianne Moore, Mel Gibson, John Malkovich, Susan Sarandon, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Russell Crowe.

He is being celebrated for a film career that has included standout performances in numerous Lars von Trier...

Rumors about Lorne Michaels' retirement from Saturday Night Live have been running rampant as of late, and former cast member Molly Shannon knows exactly who should replace him. Michaels has served as the showrunner of the NBC sketch comedy variety series since he created it in 1975. 50 years later, it might be time for someone else to take over the role.

During an interview with People, Shannon (who served as a cast member from 1995 to 2001) discussed who should succeed Michaels as Saturday Night Live's showrunner. At first, she said, "Lorne is irreplaceable ... He's just a one-of-a-kind genius. Brilliant. Smart." However, when asked about the idea of veteran SNL star Kenan Thompson replacing Michaels, Shannon was more than onboard. She said:

"I love this idea. He's the greatest — I adore Kenan. [Kenan is] so talented. That's an excellent idea."

What Molly Shannon's Comments Mean For Saturday Night Live's Future Can Kenan Thompson Replace Lorne Michaels?...

Saturday Night Livealum and comedy icon Molly Shannon names one potential successor to Lorne Michaels.

Per TV Insider, Shannon responded to the question of who would be up for filling Michaels' shoes as showrunner when he eventually steps down, saying, "It's his show, his vision. There's no one who could replace him." Shannon added, "It would not be the same show. He’s just a one-of-a-kind genius. Brilliant. Smart."

When the suggestion of Kenan Thompson filling in for Michaels as showrunner came up, however, Shannon said, "I love this idea." Shannon went on to call Thompson "the greatest," adding that the longtime cast member and former star of hit series such as All That and Kenan and Kel is "so talented."

Thompson has been a fan-favorite Saturday Night Live cast member for more than two decades at this point, having joined the cast of the long-running sketch comedy series back...

Molly Shannon recently weighed in on who could one day replace Saturday Night Live creator and producer Lorne Michaels, 80. During a sit-down for People in 10, the actress and comedian, 60, opened up about who might be up for the role of SNL showrunner when Michaels eventually steps down. Shannon appeared on the late-night sketch comedy series from 1995 to 2001, memorably portraying the character Mary Katherine Gallagher, among countless others. “It’s his show, his vision,” Shannon said of Michaels, who created SNL in 1975. “There’s no one who could replace him. It would not be the same show. He’s just a one-of-a-kind genius. Brilliant. Smart.” With that said, Shannon was also asked about whether Kenan Thompson might be a good fit to run the show. “I love this idea. He’s the greatest — I adore Kenan,” she said of the cast member, who joined SNL in 2003. Shannon went on to call the former All That star,...

It’s been three whole years since the Jurassic Park/World “saga” seemingly ended with a dumb movie about giant locusts. Well, now the franchise is back with Jurassic World Rebirth starring Scarlett Johansson. While the reviews for Rebirth haven’t been great, at least the movie features a T. rex river attack sequence, presumably to retroactively justify a 32-year-old amusement park ride.

This multi-billion dollar franchise all began with 1993’s Jurassic Park, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Jeff Goldblum’s glistening chest. The movie was obviously based on Michael Crichton’s bestselling novel, but Spielberg also took at least some inspiration from one of the earliest Saturday Night Live sketches.

In December of 1993, after Jurassic Park had easily been declared the biggest money-maker at the box office for that year, Spielberg spoke with The Washington Post and revealed that he saw the film as a spiritual follow-up to his earliest blockbuster.

It's no secret that working at Saturday Night Live means trying to be creative in perhaps the most high-pressure environment in television. For some cast members, that pressure can be very motivating. But for The Bear's Abby Elliott, it felt more like a threat.

Elliott joined Saturday Night Live during season 34, making history as the child of a former SNL cast member. Her father, Chris Elliott, spent one season on the show in season 20. Her tenure on the show was marked by a string of celebrity impressions, including Angelina Jolie, Katy Perry, Khloe Kardashian, and Zooey Deschanel.

But the dream job on SNL could feel much more like a nightmare for Elliott. Things can get a little cut-throat at the show as performers compete to get their material on air or find a way to become a favorite of the writers.

“Every week was a new week, and your...

Jimmy Fallon served six years at "Saturday Night Live," and although he got plenty of flak for breaking too often in his sketches, he was still a popular member of the cast. He was a more family-friendly version of Pete Davidson, in that he had the It factor that drew in audiences despite the other cast members being stronger performers. He could've gone on for seven seasons if he wanted to, possibly even eight or nine.

Instead Fallon left at the end of season 29 in May 2004. He left for reasons similar to Will Ferrell or Adam Sandler before him: to be the leading man of his own movies, not just an ensemble player in a 10+ person cast. As Fallon mentioend to Entertainment Weekly at the time, he was getting a lot of movie offers as a result of his popularity on "SNL," but the demanding "SNL" production schedule meant Fallon...

Dana Carvey described portraying Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live as challenging due to the former president’s mental state. Speaking on a new episode of his podcast Fly on the Wall, Carvey explained that it was “delicate” to parody someone who was “compromised mentally.”

“I knew that he was compromised mentally,” Carvey said. “I mean, it was obvious. But it was a delicate thing in the comedy world. There were a lot of people who did not want to do anything that would kind of ding him in an awkward way.

Abby Elliott is getting candid about her time on Saturday Night Live.

The 38-year-old actress and comedian spoke about her time on the sketch comedy series in an interview with The Independent.

During the conversation, she spoke about being on the show from 2008 to 2012, and being cast at the age of 21, making her the youngest-ever female cast member.

Keep reading to find out more…

Her dad Chris Elliott is also an SNL alum, known for shows like Schitt’s Creek and Everybody Loves Raymond.

“My dad was like, ‘You’re funny, you know? Why don’t you try improv?’” she remembered.

She went on to impersonate stars like Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep as her niche, but it stopped being fun.

“I guess because it feels like I was beating a dead horse for so long,” she explained.

“Every week was a new week, and your happiness would depend on whether...

Abby Elliott is getting candid about her time on Saturday Night Live.

The 38-year-old actress and comedian spoke about her time on the sketch comedy series in an interview with The Independent.

During the conversation, she spoke about being on the show from 2008 to 2012, and being cast at the age of 21, making her the youngest-ever female cast member.

Keep reading to find out more…

Her dad Chris Elliott is also an SNL alum, known for shows like Schitt’s Creek and Everybody Loves Raymond.

“My dad was like, ‘You’re funny, you know? Why don’t you try improv?’” she remembered.

She went on to impersonate stars like Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep as her niche, but it stopped being fun.

“I guess because it feels like I was beating a dead horse for so long,” she explained.

“Every week was a new week, and your happiness would depend on whether...

Abby Elliott got her big break on Saturday Night Live doing impressions, following in the legacy of her family.

The Bear star starred on the NBC late-night sketch show for four seasons and in a recent interview, recalled what it was like to work there.

“Every week was a new week, and your happiness would depend on whether you got something on air or not, and if three weeks went by without a sketch, you’d think, ‘Uh-oh, am I going to be fired?’” Elliott said in an interview with The Independent. “There was always that looming threat of getting fired. That was the worst that could happen. And then, I kind of did.”

Elliot joined SNL in 2008 after dropping out of college in 2006 to enroll in improv classes following the encouragement of her father. The comedic star is known for impressions like Rachel Maddow, Drew Barrymore, and Angelina Jolie.

The Bearstar Abby Elliott talks about being fired from Saturday Night Live.

Per Entertainment Weekly, Elliott recently discussed her time on SNL, recalling that "Every week was a new week, and your happiness would depend on whether you got something on air or not." Elliott explained, "If three weeks went by without a sketch, you'd think, 'Uh-oh, am I going to be fired?'... There was always that looming threat of getting fired. That was the worst that could happen. And then, I kind of did."

A third-generation SNLalum following her grandfather Bob Elliott and father Chris Elliott, Abby made a name for herself doing celebrity impersonations, including Angelina Jolie and Rachel Maddow. Towards the end of her four-year run on the series, Elliott asked Lorne Michaels if she could leave the series, only to almost immediately change her mind. "I went back to him with my tail between my legs,...

This article contains spoilers for "M3GAN 2.0."

"M3GAN" is a film about the nuances and pitfalls of parenting, wherein a technology guru, Gemma (Allison Williams), creates an artificially intelligent doll, M3GAN (Amie Donald and Jenna Davis), to essentially take over parenting duties of her orphaned niece, Cady (Violet McGraw). In true Hal 9000 meets Chucky fashion, it doesn't go well, as M3GAN becomes self-aware and goes to murderous lengths to try and complete her objective. This month's sequel, "M3GAN 2.0" (read our review here), sees the titular robot begin to grow and evolve past her initial programming, an evolution that's a metaphor for any developing child as well as one that's in tandem with M3GAN's "sister," Cady. Like any young person, Cady is hungry for role models beyond her own family unit, and given her developmental history, it wouldn't be a surprise if she chose one that was a little ... strange.

Saturday Night Live star Sarah Sherman revealed she was overcome with emotion, all thanks to her paycheck. However, it had nothing to do with the amount she's making as one of the show's best performers.

Speaking on Vulture’s Good One podcast, Sherman recalled receiving an unexpected envelope in the mail. Inside was a handwritten note that left the late-night TV star in shock

“I got a giant envelope in the mail,” she told host Jesse David Fox, “with a handwritten letter that was like, ‘Hey, I’m Gilda Radner’s brother. Weird thing happened where I’ve been receiving all of your residuals checks for the past few months.’”

Apparently, a mix-up at the Screen Actors Guild led to Sherman's paychecks getting sent to the estate of the Saturday Night Live legend. Radner was part of the original 1975 cast and remains one of the most influential comedians in the history of comedy.

This year’s milestone 50th anniversary celebration of Saturday Night Live likely felt like a family reunion for Abby Elliott.

After her four-season run on the NBC sketch comedy show from 2008 to 2012, the Golden Globe nominee recently opened up about her family’s legacy on the show, which includes dad Chris Elliott‘s 1994-’95 run and her uncle Steve Higgins’ was co-head writer from 1995 to ’97, having since served as a producer on SNL.

“I mean, it’s wild,” she said on SiriusXM’s The Julia Cunningham Show, noting that Higgins is “my mom’s sister’s husband. … I mean, something in the Niedert women. I mean, they must just like funny men.”

Abby’s cousin and Steve’s son John Higgins has been on the show since 2021, appearing as part of the comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy. The group frequently pokes fun at their own “nepo baby” status, with Martin Herlihy,...

Of all the members of Saturday Night Live’s Five Timers Club (those celebs so hilarious that SNL asked them back to host at least five times), Buck Henry is clearly the most obscure. While Henry did his share of acting, he’s most well-known as a comedy writer, the pen behind classics like The Graduate, Catch-22 and Get Smart. But besides Steve Martin, Henry was the original cast’s most popular host, headlining the show 10 times between 1976 and 1980.

In 1979’s Rolling Stone Visits Saturday Night Live, Henry introduced the Not Ready for Prime Time Players. “Personally, I have never thought that they were very funny,” he explained. “What they have engaged, by doing whatever it is that they do, is not so much my admiration as my sympathy.”

Here are Henry’s scorching-hot roasts of each of the early SNL comedians…

Dan Aykroyd

“I did not believe in extraterrestrial...

Unless you've been on an arctic expedition during all of 2025 or in a coma, you are no doubt aware that "Saturday Night Live" has celebrated its 50th anniversary. As part of the celebration, the comedy institution produced a series of documentaries, held a massive homecoming concert at Radio City Music Hall, and aired a live primetime special on NBC.

That this momentous event occasioned a spate of critical writing from just about every outlet worth its weight in clicks was hardly surprising. "SNL" has been a reliable generator of takes from tepid to scorching since it premiered on October 11, 1975. It has been accused of being too political or not political enough, too liberal or too conservative, and, worst of all, unfunny. At several junctures, critics have called for it to be cancelled (and it very nearly was after the disastrous season 11), while there have been stretches of time where it...

Audacy today announced that it has signed a multi-year contract extension with comedy icons Dana Carvey and David Spade, deepening its collaboration on the hit podcast “Fly on the Wall” and marking a format expansion that will integrate both “Fly on the Wall” and its spin-off “Superfly” into a unified video and audio podcast experience.

The trailer for the new “Fly on the Wall” episodes will be released on Monday, June 23, followed by the first new episode on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Beginning June 30, new episodes will be released weekly on Mondays and Thursdays.

The first new episode on June 26 will feature special guest Julie Bowen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LFvz-mo5lE

A fan favorite and fixture on the top podcast charts since its launch in January 2022, “Fly on the Wall” has become essential listening for Saturday Night Live enthusiasts and comedy lovers alike, earning the show an iHeartPodcast Award...

After NBC got wind of Shane Gillis’ history of homophobic and racist remarks on podcasts, the comedian knew the writing was on the wall. He was out at Saturday Night Live before he’d even set foot at 30 Rock. He understood NBC’s decision, but in 2020, he told a radio station in New Haven, Connecticut, that he never intended to apologize for jokes he’d made in the past.

The night he was fired was when things really got interesting, Gillis said on the Chaz & Aj in the Morning show. “I was literally on the phone from September 12th, which is when this happened, for three weeks,” he said. “It was crazy, just nonstop on the phone with somebody — agent, management, NBC, somebody.”

Gillis’ message to his management team: “No apologies.”

Why was the comic digging in his heels? “First off,” he said, “there’s zero apology that anybody on Twitter will ever accept.

Not every Saturday Night Livesketch works. And even more, not every Saturday Night Live sketch ages well. There are plenty that are racist, homophobic, ableist, sexist, and more as time has gone on. Every era of the show is guilty of it and the 50th celebration of the longstanding show took a moment to call out those sketches that Lorne Michaels probably wishes people forgot about. But on Amy Poehler's podcast, Good Hang With Amy Poehler, she spoke with fellow Saturday Night Live alum Will Forteabout the sketches that haunt them and shared some wonderful insight into it all.

Comedy is an ever-changing medium. You have to grow with it and, as Forte pointed out, while there were plenty of moments on the show that weren't great, it made him realize that it was all about an audience laugh, no matter how you got there. "There are so many...