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Allyce Ozarski, an Emmy-nominated producer whose credits included Baskets, Smilf and The L Word: Generation Q, has died. She was 41.

Ozarski died Jan. 24 in Los Angeles from the progression of triple negative metastatic breast cancer, her family announced.

Ozarski most recently served as an executive producer on two anticipated upcoming series: Netflix’s Golf, which arrives from Gloria Sanchez Productions and T-Street Productions and stars Will Ferrell and Ramy Youssef, and the untitled Vince Gilligan show for Sony Pictures TV and Apple TV+ that stars Rhea Seehorn.

Ozarski had a long partnership with Showtime, where she produced Frankie Shaw’s Smilf in 2019 and was an exec producer on the 2019-23 sequel The L Word: Generation Q; on Super Pumped, the 2022 limited series that starred Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick; and on the Vanessa Bayer 2022 comedy I Love That for You.

She received her Emmy nom in 2018 for outstanding...

Former Saturday Night Live star Vanessa Bayer explains why she had to keep her casting a secret. Bayer first joined the late-night sketch comedy series in September 2010. During her time on the series, she played a number of recurring characters, such as Addi "News Flash" Sweeney, Ms. Meadows, and Weekend Update's Dawn Lazarus. Bayer was nominated for an Emmy in 2017 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. After seven seasons on the series, Bayer left Saturday Night Live in May 2017.

Speaking on the Where Everybody Knows Your Name With Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes) podcast (via Entertainment Weekly), Bayer reveals that she had to keep her Saturday Night Live casting secret. Bayer explained that when she was first told about her casting, she was instructed by the SNL team not to tell anyone until the show was going to "make an official announcement." She moved to New York,...

Ted Danson spent more than a decade playing Sam Malone on Cheers, he happily parodied his public image on Curb Your Enthusiasm and he even found a way to believably play a bowtie-wearing demon tasked with torturing humanity for all of eternity on a network sitcom. But none of those gigs were nearly as difficult as the one that required him to pretend to investigate brutal murders on a weekly basis.

On the most recent episode of his podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name, Danson chatted with former Saturday Night Live cast member, and star of the underrated I Love That for You, Vanessa Bayer. While Bayer’s comedy chops are clearly evident, Danson asked the actress if she had an interest in taking on more dramatic roles.

Bayer said that she did like doing drama, such as in the Netflix series Love, but wouldn’t be able to successfully...

Saturday Night Live has fifty years worth of holiday sketches to choose from, with these ten standing out as the best ones. The enduring nature of the NBC sketch series and its constantly rotating roster of writers, performers, and guest hosts means the show has tackled countless subjects over the years. The shifting perspectives and societal norms of American society means that those sketches have taken on different vibes to reflect various eras, but the best Saturday Night Live sketches retain the show's trademark blending of observational humor and absurd commitment to a joke.

This is especially true of the show's numerous holiday sketches, which have been filtered through different styles for great effect. There have been plenty of running characters who've gotten their own holiday sketches like Debbie Downer, while others lean heavier into mocking movie tropes and holiday traditions. The best are the ones that take the holiday...

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As winter approaches, we are all in need of something spicy to watch to make our temperature rise, and if you are a fan of romantic comedies, then we have the perfect recommendations for you. From critically acclaimed movies like Silver Linings Playbook to iconic romantic comedy movies like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Max (formerly known as HBO Max) has everything you need. So, here are the 8 best R-rated romantic comedy movies available on Max right now.

Pretty Woman Credit – Touchstone Pictures

Pretty Woman is a romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall from a screenplay by J.F. Lawton. The 1990 film follows Edward, a rich entrepreneur who hires Vivian, a prostitute, to go with him to a few social events, but when both of them fall in love with each other, they try to work out their differences.

Liz Feldman is back with a new series called “No Good Deed,” and just as she did in her Netflix series “Dead to Me,” she’s set up a pretty good mystery.

Now streaming on Netflix, the show centers on Paul and Lydia, who are trying to sell their very popular and desired home. For them, it’s become haunted after their son was killed there three years earlier.

His death is labeled a casualty of a home invasion, but nothing is quite what it seems on this one. And there are plenty of potential suspects in and around the neighborhood.

Here are the faces you’ll need to know.

Netflix Lydia Morgan (Lisa Kudrow)

Lydia Morgan is a renowned pianist, but after her son is killed, she can’t keep her hands from shaking and temporarily loses her ability to play. She’s brought to life by “Friends” and “Time Bandits” star Lisa Kudrow.

Throughout its three seasons, The Bear has introduced a number of unique characters, but none are as mysterious as Francie Fak, which means that the actress who plays her must live up to audiences' high expectations. Within The Bear's extensive cast, one branch of characters are the Faks. Originally, the Fak family was represented solely by Neil Fak, an eccentric family friend who helps do electrical and plumbing work at the restaurant. However, each season, more Faks have become known to viewers, which makes the urge to see the most mysterious Fak even stronger.

At this point, not much is really known about Francie Fak. Aside from being Neil's sister, the biggest element of Francie's character is that she has a major beef with Sugar. Audiences are still in the dark about what truly happened between Sugar and Francie, but based on Sugar's absolute hatred of the Fak sister,...

Saturday Night Live's Vanessa Bayer and Wicked musical star Christopher Fitzgerald join the cast of Elsbeth Season 2, Episode 6 as the titular lawyer/consultant investigates another freak accident that ends up being a murder. 

Elsbeth's new episode, "Gold, Frankincense, and Murder," follows the story of two celebrity Christmas curators who are also a married couple. After the husband ends up dead, Elsbeth races against time to prove that his wife may be involved in his death. 

Elsbeth Season 2, Episode 6 premiered on CBS on December 5.

Read full article on The Direct.

[Warning: The following contains Major spoilers for Elsbeth Season 2 Episode 6, “Gold, Frankincense, and Murder.”] Carrie Preston‘s Elsbeth Tascioni got a very special gift at the end of Elsbeth‘s first Christmas episode on December 5 on CBS. After solving the murder mystery of the week — which featured Christopher Fitzgerald (the original Boq in Wicked on Broadway) and SNL‘s Vanessa Bayer as a lethally unhappy couple at the head of a Christmas commercialism empire — Kaya (Carra Patterson) helped arrange a surprise so Elsbeth wouldn’t be alone on Christmas. Kaya and Captain Wagner (Wendell Pierce) brought a surprise guest to Elsbeth’s for the holidays: her son, Teddy Tascioni! Teddy has been only been mentioned, never seen throughout The Good Wife, The Good Fight, and this Preston-led spinoff, but that changed when Ben Levi Ross made his series debut in the final moments of the episode. Teddy spends every other Christmas with his dad, and this...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for What We Do in the Shadows season 6!

Alexander Skarsgård makes a surprise cameo at the end of What We Do in the Shadows season 6, episode 9 "Come Out and Play." What We Do in the Shadows returned for its sixth and final season on October 21, 2024, airing the first three episodes on FX before releasing them on Hulu the following day. Every key member of the What We Do in the Shadows cast returned for the celebrated series created by Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement, who also wrote, directed, and starred in the 2014 original film of the same name

Skarsgård, 47, is a Swedish actor and son of renowned actor Stellan Skarsgård. He is best known for his performances in the 2008 HBO miniseries Generation Kill as well as his recurring role in True Blood as vampire Eric Northman. Before making a brief cameo in What We Do in the Shadows...

It’s beginning to look a lot like homicide — I mean, Christmas on Elsbeth. This holiday season, snow won’t be the only thing falling around here. Get your ugly Christmas sweater on because it’s a special Elsbeth holiday episode.

You may have to watch the promo for “Gold, Frankincense, and Murder” to understand the reference above. Don’t worry because we are going to unpack what could be the campiest episode of the season.

That being said, Elsbeth has enough quirkiness for two shows. Couple that with some holiday cheer, and you have some certified yuletide mayhem.

(Michael Parmelee/CBS)

It may be the happiest time of the year, but let’s not forget the crowds, alcohol consumption, desperation, gift-giving pressure, emotional instability, and homes left vacant.

This is a tough time of year for many people, and someone always snaps. So, let’s all be thankful for...

Note: The following story contains spoilers from “What We Do in the Shadows” Season 6, Episode 9.

From its first season, “What We Do in the Shadows” has been a show unafraid to cheekily drop big names, especially if the actors in question have a vampire on their IMDb page. And in its final season, the FX comedy embraced its chaotic, star-studded side once more.

“Come Out and Play” once again finds the Staten Island crew among the many, many, many throngs of vampires that inhabit New York, from the Meatpacking hotties to the aspiring artist vampires who have to hold down day jobs as baristas. But there’s one especially tall, pale and questioning vamp that may have caught viewers’ eyes. Here’s your guide to the “True Blood” star who’s casually in this latest season.

Alexander Skarsgård in a crowd shot on “What We Do in the Shadows” (Photo...

Now a household name thanks to I Think You Should Leave, Tim Robinson was previously a relatively unknown cast member and writer on SNL, but all things considered, he's found the right role for himself. There have now been 50 seasons and counting of Saturday Night Live, and countless writers and cast members have made their way through the doors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza in that time. Some members have stuck around for years, while some SNL cast members don't make it very long at all. Others jump from writing to the cast or vice versa.

It's hard to guess how well a comedic talent will adjust to SNL. Some incredibly gifted performers have not lasted long and every fan has that one cast member that they can't believe is still hanging around. For whatever reason, some very talented performers are made on SNL while others need to leave before audiences "get" them.

Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni in ‘Elsbeth’ season 2 episode 6

SNL‘s Vanessa Bayer guest stars on a special Christmas-themed episode of CBS’s Elsbeth. Season two episode six, “Gold, Frankincense and Murder,” will air on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 10pm Et/Pt.

Carrie Preston stars as Elsbeth Tascioni, Wendell Pierce stars as Captain C.W. Wagner, and Carra Patterson is back as Officer Kaya Blanke. Robert King, Michelle King, Liz Glotzer, and Jonathan Tolins serve as executive producers.

“Gold, Frankincense and Murder” Plot: Celebrity Christmas curators Dirk and DeeDee Dashers (Vanessa Bayer) go from tinsel to tragedy after Dirk is killed in a freak accident and Elsbeth begins to suspect his wife is behind the death. Meanwhile, Elsbeth gets a holiday surprise courtesy of Wagner and Kaya. Dan Bucatinsky guest stars as Kidder Hawes, super agent for the Dashers’ empire. Rachel Raimist directs from a script by Erica Larson.

Vanessa Bayer...

The opening credits to last night’s broadcast of “Saturday Night Live” told viewers they’d get to see something they really like: a new short film from Please Don’t Destroy, the small troupe of writers who make frenetic vignettes that often shock as much as they delight. What was delivered, however, was decidedly different.

The three-person “Pdd” team did turn up on screen, but not during the show. Instead, members Ben Marshall, John Higgins and Martin Herlihy were part of a commercial from insurance giant Allstate that appeared during an ad break and had the trio holding forth opposite “Mayhem,” the longstanding ad character who has been played by actor Dean Winters for more than a decade. The original Please Don’t Destroy sketch that was supposed to air on “SNL” was cut by producers due to time constraints, according to a person familiar with the matter, and has been made available online.

The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday is back!

Season 3 of the holiday special arrives on The Roku Channel on November 21.

Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith will judge, with hosts Casey Wilson and Zach Cherry welcoming five celebrity bakers to the iconic tent.

Keep reading to find out more…

The bakers this year are: Anthony Anderson, Rob Riggle, Vanessa Bayer, Loni Love, and Susie Essman.

Here’s a full synopsis: “Hosts Casey Wilson and Zach Cherry welcome five celebrity bakers into the iconic tent for a spectacular holiday special. Emmy nominee Anthony Anderson, comedian and host Rob Riggle, SNL cast member Vanessa Beyer, award-winning host Loni Love, and actor Susie Essman compete for the coveted winner’s cake stand and ‘star baker’ crown. As they whisk, bake, and fake their way through three holiday-themed challenges, will they do enough to impress Baking Show legends Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith?”

You...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year because CBS is back with its expansive slate of festive holiday programming. Read on for the full list of new CBS Originals and returning favorites for the holidays.

You can look forward to the new original movie Nugget Is Dead? A Christmas Story, the new holiday concert special An Evening with Dua Lipa, the variety special Nate Bargatze’s Nashville Christmas, the reimagined show Josh Groban & Friends Go Home for the Holidays, the return of New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, and more.

CBS Holiday Programming

Thursday | Nov. 14

Georgie & Mandy’S First Marriage

“Thanksgiving”

Mandy (Emily Osment) struggles to get Georgie’s (Montana Jordan) family to join him for his first Thanksgiving without his dad. Young Sheldon stars Zoe Perry, Raegan Revord, Annie Potts, and Craig T. Nelson guest star.

Nugget Is Dead? A Christmas Story

Thursday | Nov.

This is no way to get on the nice list. Christmas becomes a deadly time of year in Elsbeth Season 2 when Vanessa Bayer guest stars as a holiday-season fanatic who’s wronged by her husband. After previously announcing Bayer and Dan Bucatinsky’s casting, TV Insider can exclusively reveal the first photos from the Elsbeth Christmas episode — aptly titled, “Gold, Frankincense, and Murder” — as well the air date and episode description. The Elsbeth Christmas episode will air on Thursday, December 5 at 10/9c on CBS. As previously reported, Bayer plays Deedee, who puts on the act of the doting, supportive, crazy-for-Christmas wife so that she and her husband, Dick, can keep selling their Christmas goods and keep the image of holiday cheer going. But behind the scenes, Deedee is tired of playing a supporting role in her own marriage. When Dick sidelines her request for a divorce, Deedee takes matters into her own hands.

Working for Saturday Night Live doesn’t exactly seem like the best job for someone who deals with severe anxiety. Even aside from the fact that it requires putting on a live show for millions of viewers, there’s also the intense competition, the sleepless writing sessions and Lorne Michaels’ legendary mind games.

But one of SNL’s all-time greats, Bill Hader, has been very candid about the fact that he struggles with anxiety, and even experienced panic attacks during sketches.

Hader once described how he clung to Vanessa Bayer’s arm during an on-air panic attack, and suffered a similar episode while impersonating Julian Assange in a 2010 sketch. According to Hader, he “started shaking” and kept trying to hide his face with a wine glass.

Hader eventually found a way to manage his SNL-related anxiety, thanks in part to Jeff Bridges, who happened to be the host of...

The Elsbeth series is a spin-off of two beloved shows from Robert King and Michelle King, but that lineage didn't translate to big ratings for the show's first season. It ended up being CBS' lowest-rated scripted series of 2023-24 to escape cancellation. Will the numbers improve in year two? Will Elsbeth be cancelled or renewed for season three? Stay tuned.

A police-procedural comedy-drama series, the Elsbeth TV show is a spin-off of The Good Wife legal and political drama. The series stars Carrie Preston, Wendell Pierce, and Carra Patterson. Guests for season two include Nathan Lane, Robert Riggle, Brittany O'Grady, Vanessa Bayer, Dan Bucatinsky, and Gloria Reuben. The story revolves around Elsbeth Tascioni (Preston), an astute but unconventional attorney. After leaving her successful legal career in Chicago to tackle a new investigative role in New York City, Elsbeth...

Ariana Grande will grace Saturday Night Live‘s stage yet again on Oct. 12, 2024. The singer, songwriter, and actor will host, with musical guest Stevie Nicks during the series’ 50th season. During her SNL appearances, Grande has participated in some unforgettable sketches. Here are 3 of her best.

‘This is Not a Feminist Song’ starring Ariana Grande and ‘Saturday Night Live’ women

Saturday Night Live debuted “This is Not a Feminist Song,” a short starring Ariana Grande and the ladies of SNL including Vanessa Bayer, Aidy Bryant, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, and Sasheer Zamata.

The group finds writing a feminist anthem more challenging than they initially thought, and they don’t want to “do it wrong.” They realized it was too hard to write an anthem that would describe a woman’s journey.

Soon, the group realizes they can’t create the anthem they initially desired. “We didn’t write that anthem,...

Brand marketers are a conservative bunch. Relentlessly on message, and careful when it comes to dispensing brand equity, CMOs and marketing executives like to have a say on the final cut, to use Hollywood parlance, when it comes to their advertising messages.

For Saturday Night Live’s 50th season, however, a handful were willing to put their brands in Lorne Michaels’ hands.

NBCUniversal ad sales chief Mark Marshall was joined by several SNL sponsors for a panel during New York Advertising Week, exploring just how NBC incorporated the marketing messages into the broadcasts and online in a way that is authentic to the show … without terrifying the brand managers.

“We’ve been very protective about, how do we let brands get close to this IP, because occasionally — and some of you have been on phone calls with me — the brands become the butt of the joke, occasionally,” Mark Marshall said.

Mark Marshall, Chairman of Global Advertising & Partnerships at NBCUniversal, found himself in a rare position heading into the 50th anniversary season of Saturday Night Live.

Speaking on a panel Tuesday at Advertising Week New York, Marshall said there was so much interest from buyers that he was able to choose his preferred partners.

“This is not an easy one,” he said of the general advertiser experience in the milestone season. “You don’t have the same creative control, you know you’re going to lean on the show in a different way. I had many people, including one whom I saw earlier today, who said they wanted to be a part of it and I said that they couldn’t.” With a laugh, he continued, “We typically, in the sales group, don’t say that. But I was like, ‘Your brand doesn’t have a sense of humor. You’re...

Prime Video is getting in on the sports romance trend, ordering a series based on author Elle Kennedy’s popular Off Campus romance novels.

The first season will be based on the first book, The Deal, and is described as a college-set romantic drama that “follows the unlikely romance between a wry, hockey-hating music major and Briar University’s playboy star center. The series depicts the elite ice hockey team, and the women in their lives, as they grapple with love, heartbreak, and self-discovery—forging deep friendships and enduring bonds while navigating the complexities that come with transitioning into adulthood.

Saturday Night Live alum Vanessa Bayer and Scandal‘s Dan Bucatinsky are joining Elsbeth Season 2. TV Insider can exclusively announce that the actors will guest star in the CBS procedural’s first Christmas-themed episode. Season 2 of The Good Wife spinoff premieres October 17. Bayer and Bucatinsky’s characters will cross paths in the episode, set to premiere later this year, with Bayer set to play the killer of the week. Bayer will guest star as Deedee. On the surface, Deedee puts on the act of the doting, supportive, crazy-for-Christmas wife so that she and her husband, Dick, can keep selling their Christmas goods and keep the image of holiday cheer going. But behind the scenes, Deedee is tired of playing a supporting role in her own marriage. When Dick sidelines her request for a divorce, Deedee takes matters into her own hands. No one is going to stand in the way...

Saturday Night Live’s landmark 50th season will kick off nearly over a month ahead of the 2024 presidential election with plenty of material for its cold opens and other political skits.

With Maya Rudolph returning to portray Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, its likely that James Austin Johnson will portray Donald Trump and or Joe Biden in parodies of the candidates. Doug Emhoff (who has been portrayed in the past by Martin Short) and Vice President Tim Walz will also likely receive parodies, though Short’s Only Murders in the Building costar Steve Martin has declined the ask to portray Walz.

The first five consecutive SNL shows’ hosts and musical guests have been announced, and given the volume and talent of cast members over the years, a look back at political parodies by hosts, guests and members of the comedy ensemble can be found below.

Will Ferrell as...

While we can’t easily ask the cast of the original Saturday Night Live about the show’s all-time greatest sketches, People did the next best thing, getting the skinny from the cast of the new movie, Saturday Night. With 50 years of comedy to choose from, the actors playing the Not Ready for Primetime Players didn’t choose a single sketch from the early days, instead opting for these more contemporary bits…

Gabriel Labelle (Lorne Michaels)

Labelle went Season 44 for his favorite sketch of all time. “I really love (when) Adam Driver comes in for career day, and he’s this really old man, this oil man, and Pete Davidson is his son, and it’s just hysterical.”

Dylan O’Brien (Dan Aykroyd)

O’Brien agreed that Driver is an all-time great, but his pick for best-ever went to Ryan Gosling’s “Santa Baby” sketch with Vanessa Bayer. “They basically get kinky for Santa.

Top Hollywood producers Mary Parent (“Dune: Part 2”), Lucy Fisher (“Gladiator II”) and Sue Naegle (“Nightbitch”) join TheGrill 2024 for an exclusive Powerhouse Producers panel presented by Wrapbook Payroll, moderated by award-winning journalist Laura Holson.

The panel promises to deliver unparalleled insights into the ever-evolving landscape of film and television production.

Mary Parent is the chairman of Worldwide Production at Legendary Entertainment, overseeing all aspects of film for the company. While at Legendary, she has produced the Academy Award-winning film “Dune” and its follow up “Dune: Part Two,” as well as “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” “Enola Holmes,” “Detective Pikachu,” and Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s virtual reality piece, “Carne y Arena,” which received a rare Special Achievement Oscar® for its groundbreaking exploration of fully immersive storytelling.

Upcoming highlights in 2025 include the live-action/animation hybrid comedy “Animal Friends,” starring Ryan Reynolds, as well as “Minecraft,” based on the world’s bestselling game,...

Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig have quite a few things in common beyond getting their start on Saturday Night Live. This year, they’re both Emmy nominated for outstanding actress in a comedy series: Rudolph for Loot and Wiig for Palm Royale, both on Apple TV+.

But before their success with scripted series, the duo had audiences — and sometimes fellow castmembers — in stitches on NBC’s long-running sketch comedy show. When Rudolph returned to SNL (having left in 2007) to host the Feb. 18, 2012, episode, she and castmembers Wiig and Bill Hader struggled to keep straight faces during the Price Is Right parody “Super Showcase.”

Rudolph and Wiig play incompetent spokesmodels Shonda and Vonda, respectively, who present prizes as the game show host (Hader) and a contestant (Vanessa Bayer) look on. One prize includes a “lifetime supply of frozen chicken,” as Wiig and Rudolph unwrap a frozen bird and Wiig fights to...

Lucky 13 fans, we’ve got a fresh off the press preview for the new Season 1 Episode 4 episode titled Six Degrees!

Find out everything you need to know about the Six Degrees episode of Lucky 13, including a full preview, videos, release date, cast information and how to watch!

Lucky 13 Six Degrees Season 1 Episode 4 Preview

The upcoming episode of “Lucky 13,” titled “Six Degrees,” promises to bring an intriguing blend of humor and drama. Set to air on ABC at 9:00 Pm on August 15, 2024, this episode features a unique competition between a geriatric psychiatrist and a real estate agent, showcasing the clash of two very different worlds.

The cast for “Lucky 13” continues to impress, with veteran actor Robert Klein taking on the role of the geriatric psychiatrist. His character is known for his sharp wit and deep understanding of human behavior, making him a formidable opponent in any challenge.

With countless Saturday Night Live books, magazine articles and podcasts floating in the ether, how is it possible that there are still unknown trivia nuggets to be unearthed? But the SNL gold miners at r/LiveFromNewYork have dug up some real gems. With a special “Live from New York!” shoutout to user tlonreddit who started the thread, here are 12 random facts about SNL on the cusp of its historic 50th season…

1 Jason Sudeikis was born with a medical condition that left him unable to smell 2 Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the daughter of French billionaire Gerard Louis-Dreyfus 3 Michael Che’s real last name is Campbell; Kate McKinnon’s is Berthold; and Punkie Johnson’s real name is Jessica Williams 4 More real names: Chevy Chase's is Cornelius Crane Chase, which sounds like one of the competing ad agencies on Mad Men. The “Fred” in Fred Armisen is short for “Fereydun” 5 Melissa Villasenor...

Add Beck Bennett to the list of Saturday Night Live stars populating superhero movies. James Gunn recently announced that Bennett would appear in his new Superman film as Steve Lombard, a loudmouthed sportswriter who lives to torment Clark Kent.

Bennett is just the latest SNL star to find his way into the Marvel and DC cinematic universes, too. Here are other SNL vets who suited up for super action…

1 Robert Downey Jr.

The undisputed king of this list, Downey spent a tortured year as an SNL cast member when he was only 21. “I learned so much in that year about what I wasn’t,” he told the Off-Camera Show’s Sam Jones. “I was not somebody who was going to do impressions. I was somebody who was very ill-suited for rapid-fire sketch comedy.”

Play

Downey rebounded from his SNL failures (and other ‘80s and ‘90s misadventures) before becoming the...

Ryan Gosling has worn many faces over the years. Being one of the most recognized and respected actors in the film industry, his works have become ingrained into the very fabric of Hollywood ever since he starred in The Notebook. Since then he has been a part of blockbuster after blockbuster, proving time and time again that one actor can play as many iconic roles are they want.

Ryan Gosling was most recently seen in David Leitch’s The Fall Guy | Universal Pictures

While he has always been an extremely respected actor, in the past few years, this fame has sky-rocketed to an extent no one could have seen coming. Gosling’s last five films have collectively grossed almost $2 billion worldwide. This number is extremely impressive as only superhero movies are known for hitting numbers this high. Knowing this, let’s take a look back and see what made these films so special.

Exclusive: Molly Shannon (The Other Two) has signed on to star alongside Mark Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser in Balls Up, the action comedy that Peter Farrelly is directing for Amazon MGM Studios and Skydance.

Details as to her role are under wraps. Written by Paul Wernick & Rhett Reese (Deadpool & Wolverine), the film follows two American marketing executives who are fired for blowing a client sponsorship opportunity and decide to use their free tickets to a major soccer match. Their drunken debauchery leads them to be hunted by every person across the country.

Producers include Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger and Andrew Muscato, as well as Wernick and Reese.

A three-time Emmy-nominated alum of Saturday Night Live, Shannon most recently starred in Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider’s The Other Two, which ran for three seasons across Comedy Central and Max, earning a Critics Choice Award nomination...

With just a few hours of Pride Month remaining, Amber Ruffin is doing a victory lap.

The comedian came out as a member of the LGBTQ community Sunday on Instagram, sharing a selfie in a shirt printed with “Queer,” as well as photos with her partner at recent Pride events.

“In what will come as a shock to exactly zero people, I’m using the last day of Pride to come out!” Ruffin captioned the post. “Be proud of who you are, little babies! I know I am! And I can’t wait to be discriminated against for a new reason!!”

She was met with support in the comments section from Bowen Yang, Vanessa Bayer, Robin Thede, Aidy Bryant, D’Arcy Carden, Ana Gasteyer, Audra McDonald, Riki Lindhome and Tess Holliday.

“Love this & love you,” wrote Michelle Buteau.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amber Ruffin (@amberruffin)

“Welcome home Amber!

Talk show host, comedian, writer, Tony Award nominee and former Variety Power of Women host Amber Ruffin came out to the public on the last day of Pride.

Posting on her Instagram profile, the smiling star wrote, “In what will come as a shock to exactly zero people, I’m using the last day of Pride to come out! Be proud of who you are, little babies! I know I am! And I can’t wait to be discriminated against for a new reason!!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amber Ruffin (@amberruffin)

The former writer for “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and host of her own talk show, “The Amber Ruffin Show,” Ruffin is also known for her recent work in theater, including co-writing the “Some Like It Hot” revival and, more recently, updating the book for “The Wiz” on Broadway.

Meanwhile, in her comments, a...

Exclusive: Ibiza filmmaker Alex Richanbach is set to direct and produce Single at the Wedding through his Something Something Pictures at New Line.

Anne Sundell wrote the script on spec from an original idea and developed alongside Richanbach. In Single at the Wedding, Allie is the last single one of her friends. She makes it her mission to find love at her best friend’s wedding with the help of a list of available men, but it turns out she has competition in the form of the groom’s perfect sister.

Nikki Ramey and Paulina Sussman are overseeing the feature for New Line Cinema.

Richanbach began his career at Funny or Die as a writer/director/producer. His debut feature film We Are Young was released by Funny or Die in 2013. Following Funny Or Die, Richanbach directed the Netflix feature film, Ibiza, written by Lauryn Kahn and produced by Gary Sanchez and Good Universe.

It’s not because she broke.

One of the most talked-about moments of the television season — if not the year — was longtime “Saturday Night Live” pro Heidi Gardner bursting into laughter during the April 13 episode upon seeing host Ryan Gosling and Mikey Day in full Beavis and Butt-Head cosplay. It was one of the biggest and longest breaks in the show’s history, one that became contagious to almost every performer on stage. And it involved Gardner, a consummate pro, who had never previously broken character, despite years of playing some of the most outrageous and scene-stealing roles.

The viral moment served as a reminder of how much Gardner’s talents can be taken for granted. Since her 2017 debut as a featured player, the comic has proven that her range is endless. She’s frequently cast as the “straight man” host in talk show or news segments, a precise skill...

If you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of a media apocalypse. Newspapers are dying, websites that filled that void with top-notch journalism have gone away and the outlets that are left still struggle to attract audiences and make a difference as social media and bad-faith cable networks pollute the public discourse.

Thank goodness for the late-night talk shows, many of which are giving us some of the best news analysis and criticism out there — better than any of the hopelessly misguided news outlets that are still trying to report on politics like things are normal. Once a former president incites an insurrection, refuses to accept an election result and then becomes a 34-time convicted felon, well, nothing’s normal.

At least series like “The Daily Show,” “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” and “Late Night With Seth Meyers” are telling it like it is. In the case of Meyers,...

Exclusive: Jessi Klein has signed a two-year overall deal with Sony Pictures Television. Under the pact, the TV writer-producer, author and comedian will develop and produce scripted series for cable and streaming platforms.

Klein, who helped develop Chappelle’s Show as an executive at Comedy Central, segued to becoming the head writer and executive producer of the network’s hit sketch comedy series Inside Amy Schumer, which earned her an Emmy and Peabody awards. Klein also served as co-creator and showrunner of I Love That For You on Showtime, starring Vanessa Bayer and Molly Shannon, and headlined her own Comedy Central stand-up special.

She voices the sardonic Jessi Glaser and is a consulting producer on Netflix’s Big Mouth and has also written for Netflix’s Dead to Me, Amazon’s Transparent and NBC’s Saturday Night Live in addition to being the bestselling author of I’ll Show Myself...

2023 was the end of an era in the Best Comedy Supporting Actress Emmy category. For the first time in 10 years, “Saturday Night Live” was snubbed in the category in which it has been nominated a record 22 times and has won twice, both for Kate MicKinnon. Can it rebound in 2024?

Ever since the TV academy allowed “SNL” cast members to enter in the comedy acting categories in 2008, the sketch series has dominated supporting actress, with 2013 and 2023 being the only years it has failed to earn a nomination. McKinnons is “SNL’s” most nominated performer in the category — and overall — with nine bids, the second most in the category after Rhea Perlman and Loretta Swit, who each received 10.

After McKinnon’s final nomination for her final season in 2022, it was clear that “SNL” might struggle to continue its nomination streak. She was “SNL’s” only nominee in the category that year, down...

Saturday Night Live has been a solid career platform for female comedians ever since the show began in 1975. Many of the most celebrated SNL cast members have been the women on the show. Multiple female SNL cast members have gone on to have incredibly successful careers after leaving the show, with names like Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler all receiving their big break as part of the Saturday Night Live lineup.

The many SNL female cast members who have appeared on the show since it started in 1975 are a key reason Saturday Night Live has remained successful for so many years, and it remains a solid platform for the careers of women in comedy. Female comedians have often been at the forefront of the entertainment industry, with names like Lucille Ball, Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg, and Phyllis Diller leading the way. SNL has mirrored this fact since its inception,...

The SNL skit "The Real Housewives of Disney" parodies both Disney princesses and The Real Housewives franchise impeccably. The skit captures iconic Housewives aspects like taglines, dinner scenes, relationship drama, and interviews in a humorous way. While Lindsay Lohan shines as Rapunzel, some aspects like the Cinderella drinking stereotype and Belle's wealth portrayal missed the mark.

Saturday Night Live is known for its terrific spoofs, but a famous SNL Disney Princess sketch not only parodies those iconic animated characters but also The Real Housewives franchise as well. Airing in 2012, "The Real Housewives of Disney" was a skit airing as part of the episode hosted by Lindsay Lohan. The spoof imagines various princess characters from Disney's canon together on a reality show and fits in nicely with all the tropes and cliches of The Real Housewives franchise.

The skit stars Lohan as Rapunzel, Kristen Wiig as Cinderella, Taran Killam as Prince Charming,...

Lorne Michaels is an expert at celebrating the legacy of “Saturday Night Live.” The show’s creator has produced variety specials for the NBC program’s 15th anniversary, 25th anniversary and 40th anniversary, so the upcoming 50th season should have a highly entertaining spectacle. Nothing less than a three-hour event would be expected, but how else should “SNL” celebrate the golden anniversary season, which would begin in the autumn of 2024 and continue through May, 2025?

Here is our exciting, fun suggestion for a way to go above and beyond for the live special. Over the course of a 20-22 episode season, NBC would certainly have almost every episode featuring the current cast along with hot guest hosts and musical guests. However, for the other five episodes spread out over several months, devote an entire 90 minutes to each previous decade. Invite back the biggest cast members from a decade along with well-known guest hosts and music stars.

A star-studded host committee, Academy Awards nominees and presenters, along with some of the most powerful industry influencers came together on March 9, 2024, for MPTF's 22nd Annual ‘Night Before’ benefit.

Co-Chaired by Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathé, America Ferrera & Ryan Piers-Williams, Jodie Foster, and Paul Giamatti, the annual event raised over $4.3 million.

“MPTF and I have such a rich, wonderful history together of taking care of our own. I’m so proud to support this incredible organization and help raise crucial funds to support our industry family when they need it most,” said Jodie Foster.

America Ferrera stated, “I’m proud to be part of a benefit that brings our community together while helping sustain the important mission of MPTF.”

Sterling K. Brown noted, “I’ve been involved with MPTF for many years and am honored to chair the Night Before with my peers. This is not only a great...

The Motion Picture & Television Fund raised more than $4.3 million at its 22nd annual star-studded benefit on Saturday night.

The exclusive event was co-chaired by Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Michelle Bathé, America Ferrera and Ryan Piers-Williams, Jodie Foster and Paul Giamatti.

Funds raised from the event will be used to support industry members and their families who benefit from MPTF’s charitable programs and services, such as financial assistance, crisis counseling, caregiving support and residency on the Wasserman Campus in Woodland Hills, which now serves as “home” to many television and film veterans. During the recent work stoppages, MPTF received over 13,000 calls for aid and provided more than $8 million in charitable financial assistance.

“MPTF and I have such a rich, wonderful history together of taking care of our own,” said Foster. “I’m so proud to support this incredible organization and help raise crucial funds to support our industry family when they need it most.

Jamie Dornan has expressed interest in a potential sequel to Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar. Dornan reveals that he has had conversations about a sequel with his co-stars Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo. The star says a possible sequel is complicated by the fact that the movie didn't find a huge audience because it went direct to VOD during worldwide pandemic shutdowns.

Jamie Dornan has weighed in on the possibility of a sequel to Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar. The surreal comedy movie was released direct to VOD in early 2021 amid worldwide theatrical closures during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. It followed middle-aged Midwestern best friends Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristen Wiig) when their vacation to Vista del Mar was interrupted by an evil plot to destroy the town concocted by the Bond villain-esque Sharon Fisherman (also Wiig) and her hapless, lovelorn...

The stars came out for Kate.

Kate Berlant’s one-woman show with the one name title opened at the Pasadena Playhouse on Jan. 21, and the night featured a parade of bold-faced names in the 91101. Checking out the 75-minute production — written and performed by Berlant with direction by Bo Burnham — were Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Olivia Wilde, Kumail Nanjiani, Vanessa Bayer, Bob Odenkirk, Brie Larson, John C. Reilly, Nathan Fielder, Billy Eichner, Lionel Boyce, Abbi Jacobson, Rachel Sennott, Jordan Firstman, Reggie Watts, Paul Downs, Vanessa Bayer and Chelsea Peretti. Also, there was the show’s director Burnham with rumored girlfriend Phoebe Bridgers.

The stars responded to the show, which “explores the events of her life that have brought her to this moment,” with a standing ovation. Before that, however, they lined up for pics on a step-and-repeat that featured oversized images of Berlant in various poses (seen above). Drinks and light...

Kate Berlant had the support of many celeb friends at the opening night performance of her one-woman play Kate!

An L.A. crowd including Olivia Wilde and Brie Larson stepped out to attend the performance on Sunday night (January 21) at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, Calif.

Tatiana Maslany, Billy Eichner, Molly Shannon, Martha Plimpton, John C. Reilly and wife Alison Dickey, Kumail Nanjiani and wife Emily V. Gordon, Vanessa Bayer, D’Arcy Carden, Zoe Lister-Jones, cute couple Abbi Jacobson and Jodi Balfour, Bob Odenkirk, Lionel Boyce, Natasha Leggero, Chelsea Peretti, Timothy Simons, and Cazzie David were among the stars there.

Brie (who attended with a new rumored boyfriend) and Maya Rudolph aren’t pictured, but were both in attendance.

In the play, which previously had a sold-out run in New York, Kate explores the events of her life that have brought her to this moment. Embodying many characters in this tour de force performance,...

Whenever "Saturday Night Live" has a host who's been deemed by the masses to be particularly attractive, it's pretty much a guarantee the writers will throw in a sketch all about how hot they are. Jason Momoa recently got a whole "Cast Away" parody sketch where Momoa swoops in to easily steal another man's wife. Back in 2016, Margot Robbie had a sexy librarian sketch, as well as a "Live Report" sketch where a bunch of newscasters tried to figure out why a character who looks like Robbie is married to a man who wears Crocs with socks.

Even when the sketch isn't specifically about how hot the host is, you often get the sense that a cast member pitched and wrote a sketch with the sole purpose of getting to kiss the host at some point. From Kate McKinnon making out with Gal Gadot, to Vanessa Bayer having a secret love affair with Kristen Stewart,...