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HBO Max Orders Up Six Episodes of a Michael Che Sketch Series

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Announced today, sketch comedy has a new series on the way, effectively spun-off from the sketch comedy behemoth, Saturday Night Live. It’s untitled as of this moment, but the series is coming from SNL Weekend Update co-anchor Michael Che with SNL’s very own Lorne Michaels attached as an EP.

The series, which has gotten an order for six episodes will focus on such themes as “police brutality, unemployment, and falling in love” from a black perspective.

We’re glad to see another sketch series set to arrive, when there has been a scarcity of sketch comedy on TV (not to mention the cancellation of Astronomy Club on Netflix). The intriguing aspect of this is Che’s sketch series being at HBO Max as opposed to NBC on SNL. Is it going to take more risks and be bolder than SNL (which isn’t that hard to do these days). Supposedly, this series won’t be afraid to get controversial. To see how true that is, there will be a wait because, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic is as much a reality (arguably more so) than it was in March/April.

Here’s the Season 8 Trailer for “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee”

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Jerry Seinfeld, some very fancy and/or unusual cars, and John Oliver, Jim Gaffigan, Margaret Cho, JB Smoove, Lorne Michaels, Judd Apatow are the latest group to get coffee and show off what hanging out as very successful people in comedy is like in season 8 of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.

Catch a glimpse of it in this trailer, then look for new episodes to start streaming next week Thursday, June 16th.

Lorne Michaels Biography Is in the Works

January 30, 2016

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No matter how you feel about SNL these days, Lorne Michaels changed comedy forever and definitely needs a book written just about him.

While there are plenty of books that give the back story and ins and outs of SNL, there isn’t really a proper, in-depth biography of Michaels who not only is the driving force behind SNL, but also Kids in the Hall, Late Night, and more as well as an entire generation of comedy whose effects will be felt for many years to come.

A biography on Lorne Michaels has finally been set to be written by The New Yorker’s Susan Morrison and published by Random House.

Whenever it comes out, we’re sure it’ll feature plenty of stories that have yet to be told in full on comedy podcasts.

Here’s The First Trailer For “I Am Chris Farley” Documentary

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Many comedians that already built a bright career and also had a stellar future ahead of them were taken away from us all and the art form of comedy way too early.

One of those that was taken tragically way too early was one Chris Farley, who you probably still remember fondly from Saturday Night Live, Beverly Hills Ninja, and more.

The documentary I Am Chris Farley takes a look at the far too short lived life of Farley with interviews with Bob Odenkirk, Lorne Michaels, Adam Sandler, David Spade, and many more.

Watch the trailer here and look for its theatrical realase on July 31st.

HBO Orders “Brothers in Atlanta” To Series

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The lives behind musicians and music moguls seem to be the order of the day.

Lorne Michaels has lent his name successfully as a producer to the music biz comedy Brothers in Atlanta that follows Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin try to make it in various disciplines of music in Atlanta.

There’s clearly a trend here as FX already has Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll ordered to series and the undeniable beast of a series that is Empire set numerous records in its freshman season.

The addition of Brothers in Atlanta also makes for an interesting quilt of HBO’s comedy line-up as HBO will now have comedies poking fun at Washington D.C., Silicon Valley, and now Atlanta.

Now, all of this has us wondering what’s going on with Donald Glover’s similar sounding series ordered as a pilot at FX.

John Oliver, Lorne Michaels, and More Make Time’s “100 Most Influential People” List

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SNL, Last Week Tonight, Inside Amy Schumer, and Transparent make into Time.

Alongside Kanye West and Hillary Clinton, John Oliver, Lorne Michaels, Amy Schumer, and Jill Soloway are on Time’s annual list the 100 Most Influential People around the world.

Like this morning’s announcement for the Peabody Awards (where Last Week Tonight and Inside Amy Schumer also are getting honored), it’s another example where comedy is coming up in the world in a big way.

Bill Hader Recounts One of His Most Nightmarish Moments on SNL

February 14, 2015

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With this being the eve of The SNL 40th Anniversary Special, it’s a perfect time to hear Bill Hader’s story on Letterman about being forced along with Will Forte and host Josh Brolin to do a terrible sketch at the behest of Lorne Michaels in addition to trading Lorne impressions with Dave.

Also, the “fart face” sketch that Hader is describing is conveniently available to accompany his story right here. This sketch is sort of amazing after hearing the story as neither Bill, Will, or Josh get even close to breaking.

Taran Killam, Bill Pullman, Rachael Harris, Rita Wilson, David Wain, and Bobby Moynihan Will Be in “Brothers in Law”

August 22, 2014

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While there’s time off from SNL, SNL’s Taran Killam and Bobby Moynihan are back working with Lorne Michaels on a brand new film, Brothers in Law. The rest of the cast seems pretty solid as well with Rachael Harris, Bill Pullman, Rita Wilson, and David Wain.

Details as to the movie’s premise or plot are sparing, but we’d like to guess, just based of the title, that this would be the type of a movie that would have a great showdown with Step Brothers.

IFC Renews Comedy Bang! Bang! For 40 Episodes, Birthday Boys and Orders Two New Series That Have American in The Title

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IFC Renews Comedy Bang! Bang! For 40 Episodes, Birthday Boys and Orders Two New Series That Have American in The Title

IFC just unveiled its upcoming programming slate for 2015 and man, it’s a doozy.

They’ve ordered Comedy Bang! Bang! for an unprecedented 40 episodes (for perspective, most broadcast sitcoms get maybe 22 episodes for a full season order), another season of The Birthday Boys, American Storage (Rob Huebel plays a guy who lives at a storage facility by choice), an awards special from College Humor, American Documentary (a mockumentary series from Lorne Michaels), and two half-hour scripted comedies in development entitled Westside and The Bank.

Sasheer Zamata Joins ‘Saturday Night Live’ As New Cast Member

January 7, 2014

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Sasheer Zamata Joins ‘Saturday Night Live’ As New Cast Member

After the wave of criticism of the lack of diversity at SNL, then a sketch making fun of said criticism last year, Lorne Michaels “secretly” auditioned a group of black female comedians to be cast members.

Yesterday, it was announced that, from that group, Sasheer Zamata will be the newest cast member at Saturday Night Live. We hope that she kills it in her first episode.

Sarah Silverman Set to Play Siblings in HBO’s People In New Jersey

October 6, 2013

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Sarah Silverman Set to Play Siblings in HBO’s People In New Jersey

The Lorne Michaels and Paul Feig HBO comedy in pilot set in New Jersey will now have Sarah Silverman as well as Topher Grace in the cast.

While the premise of the show isn’t much more defined that a modern take on life these days, specifically in NJ, Paul Feig should make for something really interesting.

A Somewhat More Official Announcement of The New SNL Cast Members

September 11, 2013

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A Somewhat More Official Announcement of The New SNL Cast Members

Weeks ago, some source leaked out the new cast members of this upcoming season of Saturday Night Live, which was kept at a level of heavily rumored at the time. Kyle Mooney, Beck Bennett, Noel Wells, John Milheiser, and Mike O’Brien were all announced, but not officially by NBC, as joining SNL in the coming weeks. In short, we don’t like things that are just heavy rumors.

Yet, this post at The Hollywood Reporter doesn’t include the phrase “heavily rumored”, so we’re about posting about this news now and can say congratulations to all the new cast members as well as the new full time SNL staff writers Brooks Wheelan, Claire Mulaney, and Michael Che.

Jim Gaffigan and Mike Birbiglia Cast in Likely Memorable Supporting Roles

August 30, 2013

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Often is the case that certain comedians/actors can steal a movie through their oddball supporting character that is just more wonderfully bizarre than everyone else in the film or are the main source of levity in otherwise tense film.

That’s why you should watch out for Jim Gaffigan just being cast in Lorne Michaels’ Staten Island Summer and Mike Birbiglia in The Fault in Our Stars. We’re sure that they will be one of the most quotable parts of either of those films.

Here’s The Wayne’s World Panel with Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Lorne Michaels, and More

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Finally coming together to talk about their seminal characters Wayne and Garth of Wayne’s World at SNL are Mike Myers and Dana Carvey along with Lorne Michaels for this recent panel interview. Not only is this fascinating, but you’ll get to hear the type of notes Lorne gives on sketches such as Wayne’s World.

FYI, There Will Be a Wayne’s World Reunion Panel Hosted by Lorne Michaels

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FYI, There Will Be a Wayne’s World Reunion Panel Hosted by Lorne Michaels

Cue the special edition DVD box sets and airing Wayne’s World 1 & 2 on multiple cable networks back to back.

Louie, Girls, D.L. Hughley and Lorne Michaels All Receive Peabody Awards

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Louie, Girls, D.L. Hughley and Lorne Michaels All Receive Peabody Awards

Interestingly enough, it would seem that The Peabody Awards, most of which go to documentaries and hard hitting journalists, gave comedy more of a nod than The Oscars did this year.