Saturday Night Live

['Saturday Night Live' - 'Season 36, Episode 8']

For a show that can be as hit-or-miss as 'SNL,' it's puzzling when they choose a host who all but guarantees a miss. I can't remember an episode, in all my 20-plus years of watching the show, that was worse than the Dec. 18, 2004 effort that marked De Niro's most recent hosting go-round.

"But it's De Niro!" you yelp, "how can you say such things about acting's greatest treasure!?" He may be, but to say that De Niro is out of his element live on stage at Studio 8H, is like saying pizza is awesome. It's just true. Can he brave the "elements," and drop his whole "I'm an acting robot, programmed to read my lines and collect awkward pauses for fuel," shtick? We could only hope and pray.

Dear Bob,

(I can call you Bob, right? I mean, we've never met, but I feel like we can be chummy enough for me to do that... no? Well, Ok, let me try again...)

Dear Mr. De Niro,

Despite the fact that I haven't seen a movie with you in it since the bitter and boring disappointment that was 'Showtime,' I'm still a huge fan of yours. Sure, you haven't exactly made the smartest career decisions over the last ten years; your most memorable roles lately seem to be in the endless stream of 'Fockers' movies that inflict themselves on the public every few years. But you built up plenty of goodwill with me over the decades, through movies as diverse as 'Taxi Driver' and 'Midnight Run' (still one of my favorites), for me to forgive the 21st century portion of your IMDb profile.

So, as a big fan of yours, I'm here, on my virtual knees. I don't usually beg anyone for anything, as I have my pride. But, pride be damned; I'm begging you right here and now:

Please don't suck on 'SNL' this weekend like you did the last time you hosted. I just can't go through that again.

No one can do a better Robert De Niro impression than Robert De Niro.

But kudos to Kristen Wiig for trying in these funny new promos for this weekend's 'Saturday Night Live,' featuring De Niro as host and Diddy Dirty Money as the musical guest.

If Diddy has something to say about it, though, he'll take part in some skits too. The musician-turned-actor tweeted earlier this week, "OK SO DENIRO DONT KNOW IT YET BUT WE DOIN A SKIT TOGETHER ON SNL. BECAUSE I SAID SO. ITS LIVE TV SO IMMA BUMRUSH THE STAGE LILMAMA STYLE LOL."

Watch the video after the jump.

When the second installment of 'The Miley Cyrus Show' debuted on 'Saturday Night Live' this weekend, it landed the prime post-monologue spot for two reasons: Anne Hathaway's amazing Katie Holmes impression, and Vanessa Bayer's even amazing-er Miley Cyrus impression.

Now, this montage of real-life Miley saying "awesome" and "cool" a bunch of times makes us, like, even more sure that, like, Bayer's impression is, like, a pretty cool one. It's basically, like, awesome.

Watch both videos after the jump.

Using the power of the Internet worked for fans of Betty White when they wanted her to host 'Saturday Night Live.' Can the same work for Cookie Monster?

'Sesame Street' posted an 'SNL' audition reel for the gluttonous Muppet on their YouTube account. We're not sure if the children's show is serious about this viral campaign for Cookie Monster, which includes a Facebook page. But if they are successful, one of their most iconic characters would perform with the same people who railed against 'Sesame Street' for the Katy Perry debacle.

Chances are it's just a stunt. The producers probably want to seem hip again.

This week's 'Saturday Night Live' (Saturday, 11:30 PM ET on NBC) cold-opened with a spoof of the 'Rachel Maddow Show,' in which Nancy Pelosi, played by Kristen Wiig, John Boehner, played by Bill Hader, and Charlie Rangel, played by Kenan Thompson, were guests.

It wasn't one of SNL stronger political skits, as most of the humor veered toward the cheap and obvious:

"Hello, young man," was how Rangel greeted Maddow. "Orange you glad I didn't mention the color of your face?" Maddow asked Boehner.

This week marked the 30th anniversary of Eddie Murphy joining the cast of 'Saturday Night Live.' An unknown comedian outside of the New York standup scene, Murphy became the show's standout performer and revitalized the series during its first true slump.

1980 was a volatile time for 'SNL.' Lorne Michaels had left and new producer Jean Doumanian hired a completely new staff. She passed up Jim Carrey, John Goodman and Dom Irrera for actors who went on to do nothing. She almost hired another no-name over Murphy, but the staff persisted and convinced her to add him by the fourth show, which aired Nov. 22, 1980.

['Saturday Night Live' - 'Season 36, Episode 7']

According to Dylan from 'Modern Family,' Anne Hathaway is "everywoman," and I'm finding it difficult to disagree with him. After being heralded as the second coming of Julia Roberts, both in talent and looks, she went on to live up to that billing.

How does one get out from under such a looming and intimidating comparison? One goes out and makes a name for oneself as a versatile and nimble performer, on a stage one's predecessor has yet to grace. Enter 'SNL,' and Anne Hathaway's return to hosting duties, a stage that not just "everywoman" can fill.

While Saturday night was ladies' night this month -- Scarlett Johansson and Anne Hathaway both booked 'Saturday Night Live' hosting gigs in November -- the 30 Rock stage will turn into a boys club for the final month of 2010.

NBC announced today that closing out the year in 'SNL' hosts will be Robert De Niro, Paul Rudd and Jeff Bridges, along with musical guests Diddy-Dirty Money, Paul McCartney and Eminem, respectively.

Comedienne Tina Fey received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor during tonight's broadcast of the ceremony (Sun., 9PM ET on PBS). The award is given each year to recognize the one of nation's greatest comics. Tina is the youngest person to receive the award, and only the third woman to do so. The previous female winners were Lily Tomlin and Whoopi Goldberg.

During her acceptance speech, Ms. Fey said she hoped "women are achieving at a rate these days that we can stop counting what number they are at things."


"Yes," she continued, "I was the first writer head writer at 'Saturday Night Live.'" Fey then added that she was only the "second woman" to be pregnant on the show. " ... And now tonight I am the third female recipient of this prize. I would love to be the fourth woman to do something, but I just don't see myself married to Lorne [Michaels,]" she said, zinging her former 'SNL' boss.

Former President George W. Bush and singer Kanye West have been in the news lately, and 'SNL' (Sat., 11:30PM ET on NBC) reveals that, surprisingly, they actually have a lot in common.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Kanye appeared on live TV and notoriously said: "George Bush doesn't care about black people." Last week Mr. Bush discussed the accusation in an interview with Matt Lauer, during which he said it represented "an all-time low" for his presidency. He then denied he meant that criticism of his handling of the crisis was worse than the crisis itself.

['SNL' - 'Season 36, Episode 6']

Like a Bill Belichick coached football team, we always expect 'Saturday Night Live' to impress us coming off a bye week. They've had an extra week to prepare, with the subsequent extra week of weird/controversial/ridiculous events to comment on and parody. Add sultry sultress Scarlett Johansson to the mix and the possibility of her hubby, Ryan Reynolds, making a cameo, and we have everything in place to ensure a blow-out victory. The only thing standing in our way is our way itself.

After a bye week, 'Saturday Night Live' is back this weekend with host Scarlett Johansson and musical guest Arcade Fire.

This marks Johansson's third time hosting the show, though she popped up last fall when her husband, Ryan Reynolds, made his hosting debut. Fingers crossed for a Reynolds cameo!

Meanwhile, watch today's just-released promos for Saturday's show to tide you over -- Johansson practices her accents with, gets ignored by, then gets directed by 'SNL' cast member Jason Sudekis.

To mark the 25th anniversary of the classic 1980s film 'Back to the Future,' new footage was released. These outtakes showed the original casting of Eric Stotlz as "Marty McFly."

Though we all know and love Michael J. Fox as the time-traveling teenager, he wasn't the first person cast in the film. But some things just feel right. And so, Eric was eventually replaced with Michael -- even though changing actors added about $3 million to the budget.

Hmm ... So according to 'Back to the Future,' you can remake the past or the present -- and casting choices can be remade as well. But once you start questioning your original decisions, there's no telling how far you can go. And on the new 'SNL' (Sat., 11:30PM ET on NBC), the cast members decided to see just how far they could go with it.

['SNL' - 'Season 36, Episode 5']

Jon Hamm isn't a household name. Sure, he plays Don Draper on AMC's 'Mad Men,' but as popular as that show is, there are still a lot of people who probably think he's some 'Bachelorette' reject. But what about his comedic chops? Certainly, being funny isn't a host prerequisite, but it helps... a lot.

Nothing is funnier than when someone you think is going to bomb comes out and kills it. Jon Hamm is the new Alec Baldwin in this regard. Ruggedly handsome and an almost exclusively dramatic career, completely taking people off-guard by crushing the 'SNL' hosting gig, then starring on '30 Rock.' Not an easy task when everyone you come in contact with is imagining you with your shirt off.