Posted November 29, 2011 10:15 AM
After some time off for Thanksgiving, everyone here at SNL is excited to be back at 30 Rock and doubly so since we have Steve Buscemi hosting this week with musical guest The Black Keys! Buscemi's first time hosting back in 1998 is often cited as a favorite by writers and cast, and everyone on staff loved when the Keys rocked 8H last season so this week is going to be so. much. fun!
To get everyone as amped as we are, here's the monologue from Buscemi's April 4th 1998 show featuring some "improv" with Will Ferrell, Ana Gasteyer and Tim Meadows. And make sure to keep an eye out for writer-era Tina Fey making a brief cameo as an audience member.
Posted November 25, 2011 2:09 PM
Show weeks at SNL can be a real whirlwind. Basically, following read-thru on Wednesdays, we have only two days to get all the sets built, painted and decorated, the costumes and wigs made and fit for our cast/host, and the sketches get a run-through for camera blocking and lighting. Whirlwind. Camera blocking starts on Thursdays, and while it is a great opportunity for the cast to run through their lines and action, it is more importantly used for lighting cues, figuring out camera angles and finding everyone their best marks. This results in a good amount of downtime for the cast when they are told to "hold" for a camera or lighting adjustment. And as you can imagine, when a group of funny people are left to their own devices (even for a few minutes) comedy ensues.
Here's a look at a moment from "The Hold" during the Melissa McCarthy show rehearsals where Kenan and Fred used the downtime to entertain their fellow castmates and the host with a little improv'd song and dance.
Posted November 23, 2011 11:33 AM
We're getting closer and closer to our respective Thanksgiving Feasts, so close in fact, it makes us want to sing!! Luckily for us (and you guys) Adam Sandler beat us to it with an untoppable Thanksgiving song that is both entertaining and moving.
Featuring such lyrics as "Turkity dee and a turkity duffing, I love to eat a turkey with a lot of stuffing" and "turkey with the gravy and the cranberry, can't believe the Mets traded Darryl Strawberry" (which even after all these years, we can't believe either!), here's Adam Sandler on Update singing "The Thanksgiving Song."
