18 articles
Saturday Night Live Finale: Stefon Gets Married!
1 hour ago | TVGuide - Breaking News | See recent TVGuide - Breaking News news »
While not the most memorable episode of the season, the Saturday Night Live finale was important for a number of reasons. Not only did it mark the last episode with Bill Hader, but if reports are true, it was the last with Fred Armisen and Jason Sudeikis as well. The finale also marked host Ben Affleck's induction into The Five Timer's Club, which wasn't nearly as glamorous as the Argo director expected.
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- Sadie Gennis
Hot for Summer! Your Guide to 124 Upcoming Premiere and Finale Dates
22 minutes ago | TVLine.com | See recent TVLine.com news »
As May Sweeps and the “traditional” 2012-13 TV season draws to a close, it’s time to take stock of the ever-abundant summer offerings — including new seasons of True Blood, The Killing and Falling Skies, the Dexter and Burn Notice farewell tours, the series debuts of Mistress, Devious Maids and King & Maxwell and last hurrahs for 666 Park Avenue and Zero Hour.
Related | Your Complete Fall TV Grid: What’s on When? And Versus What?
To help you keep tabs on what’s on tap for the remainder of May and all of June, here’s a calendar of more than »
- Matt Webb Mitovich
‘Saturday Night Live’ Season Finale Posts Average Ratings
59 minutes ago | Deadline TV | See recent Deadline TV news »
Last night’s Saturday Night Live season finale with host Ben Affleck and musical guest Kanye West drew a 4.7/12 in metered-market households and a 2.7/13 among adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters. That was flat in 18-49 vs. last year’s season finale with host/musical guest Mick Jagger and down 10% in total viewers (5.2/13). The show, which marked Bill Hader’s departure, also was in line with SNL‘s delivery this season with any host but Justin Timberlake, including Kristen Wiig (4.6, 2.7), Vince Vaughn (4.6, 2.8), Melissa McCarthy (4.8, 2.7) and Kevin Hart (4.8/12, 2.8/13). Timberlake’s fifth turn as host remains the season’s high mark with 5.9/15 and 3.7/18. »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
The Coming Cast Crisis at ‘Saturday Night Live’
1 hour ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
It wouldn’t be a “Saturday Night Live” season finale without the bittersweet moment that comes when a veteran cast member makes a final appearance. Last night it was Bill Hader’s turn to say goodbye, just as Kristen Wiig had done the previous season.
Watch: Kanye West Performs New Songs on ‘SNL’ (Video)
Given the revolving door at “SNL” has never seemed to stop moving over its 38-season run, the exit shouldn’t be cause for concern. Hader made a strong case for cast Mvp over 2012-13, but Wiig also ended her run as “SNL’s” top player. And yet the show seemed to have enjoyed a solid season without her and another high-profile defector, Andy Samberg.
But 2013-14 could very well shake out to be one of those tricky transitional seasons that every now and then seems to threaten “SNL” over a history that has seen its share of low points. »
- Andrew Wallenstein
Seth and Stefon's Big SNL Wedding, and Iran's Reply to Argo (Video)
2 hours ago | Indiewire Television | See recent Indiewire Television news »
Stefon -- the guide to New York's hottest, most twisted clubs - was never my favorite Bill Hader character, but he grew on me. And since last night's SNL was Hader's last, it was inevitable that Stefon would pop up on Weekend Update. But who could have guessed that, tired of his unrequited love for Seth Meyers, Stefon would leave to marry another man, only to have Meyers run after him like Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate? Take a look at Stefon's big wedding, with Amy Poehler and Anderson Cooper. And when they run back to the Weekend Update set, don't miss the gallery of Update characters waiting to cheer them, including Drunk Uncle, the Devil and the Bar Mitzvah Boy. (Meyers has said he won't leave the show until the middle of next season, when he'll get ready to replace Jimmy Fallon on Late Night.) Fred Armisen, who's also leaving, »
- Caryn James
Kanye West on ‘SNL’: Performs Tracks From New Album ‘Yeezus’
2 hours ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
Kanye West may have appeared on “Saturday Night Live” Saturday night, but his performances were no laughing matter.
The outspoken musician shared two racially-themed songs from his new album, “Yeezus,” on NBC’s latenight sketch comedy: “Black Skinheads” and ”New Slaves.” The first, somberly introduced by host Ben Affleck, starts with graphic videos of angry (presumably) police dogs before morphing into West’s performance in front of a banner reading “Not for Sale.” In the equally intense “New Slaves,” West chastises the commitment to high-end living while images of discount price tags flash behind him.
This isn’t the first time West has used an NBC stage to push a political message. He famously shared his opinions on the George W. Bush administration during a fund-raiser for Hurricane Katrina relief.
“Yeezus” drops June 18. West broadcast the official music video for “New Slaves” on buildings around the world on Friday. He »
- Whitney Friedlander
Watch Season 2, Episode 1 Of 'Roomieloverfriends' (From Black & Sexy TV/Issa Rae Prod)
2 hours ago | Indiewire Television | See recent Indiewire Television news »
A new season of Roomieloverfriends, the web series created by the Black & Sexy TV team (aka Dennis Dortch and Numa Perrier), and executive produced by Issa Rae (aka Awkward Black Girl) via her Issa Rae Productions. We here at S&A totally love what these folks are doing within the web series space, building a strong library of work, giving audiences (especially black audiences) varied slices *our* varied experiences mostly ignored by the mainstream. So take advantage of their offerings. And even if this one doesn't appeal to you specifically, there are others to choose from within the Black & Sexy TV/Issa Rae family of works. The very sexy and funny Roomieloverfriends stars Shayla Hale, Andra Fuller and Yaani King . Watch episode one of the new season (season 2) below:
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- Courtney
'Saturday Night Live' finale recap: Ben Affleck shines, but Stefon and Fred Armisen steal the show
3 hours ago | EW.com - PopWatch | See recent EW.com - PopWatch news »
Last year, Kristen Wiig’s emotional SNL sendoff set a high water mark for cast member farewells. (Compare it to, say, the way Chris Kattan said goodbye with a “terrible re-enactment” of his SNL career during his last show 10 years ago.)
I’d say that mark was met — and possibly exceeded — by the closing sketch of tonight’s show, in which Fred Armisen (as punk rocker Ian Rubbish, first introduced when Vince Vaughn hosted a few weeks ago) sang a sweet original tune filled with simple, evocative lyrics like, “It’s been all right, I’ve had a lovely night. »
- Hillary Busis
Peabody Awards Honors TV At Its Best
3 hours ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
Thirty-nine recipients of the 72nd Annual Peabody Awards will be honored May 20 at the Waldorf-Astoria in Gotham. The Peabodys, bestowed by the U. of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, cite the best in electronic media. Herewith are a few of the projects and people being honored.
The Smithsonian Channel’s “Mlk: The Assassination Tapes” couldn’t have been made if professors at Memphis State U., back in 1968, didn’t have the foresight to preserve the historic TV, radio and police-report tapes regarding the Martin Luther King assassination. Typically, those tapes were reused and hence lost.
“It was extraordinary to find this treasure trove,” says David Royle, exec VP of programming and production at the Smithsonian Channel. Equally extraordinary, filmmaker Tom Jennings “crafts a film from these tapes that is entirely dramatic and immediate, taking the reality that existed at the time and infusing it with drama and intensity. »
- Robert Hofler
Colombian Talent Turns to Television
4 hours ago | Variety - TV News | See recent Variety - TV News news »
Dominated by Caracol and Rcn TV, Colombia’s television duopoly can be credited with spurring the film production surge of the past decade as TV-trained talents applied their experience to bigscreen projects.
Now, some of the country’s leading producers and helmers are venturing in the opposite direction, accepting TV gigs as networks tap into local filmmakers’ experience to produce skeins with higher production values. In turn, they enjoy financing ease and quicker returns, not unlike their counterparts in the U.S., where David Fincher, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg have found success on the smallscreen.
Among the entities embracing the switch, Cmo Prods. made a TV version of its blockbuster Sonar no cuesta nada and continues to churn out skeins and pics.
For producer Diego F. Ramirez of 64-a Films and helmer Carlos Moreno, the logistically demanding experience of making Caracol TV’s hit biographical series Escobar: El Patron »
- Anna Marie de la Fuente
Rock And Roll Hall of Fame answers one great mystery of rock music: When did Rush get so cool?
5 hours ago | EW.com - PopWatch | See recent EW.com - PopWatch news »
It’s always been a great irony of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that induction ceremonies might be the least rock ‘n’ roll thing ever. But Public Enemy, Rush, Heart, Donna Summer, Quincy Jones, Lou Adler, Albert King, and Randy Newman took their spots in the canon last night — the actual ceremony happened at L.A.’s Nokia Theater in April, but HBO didn’t air it until a month later — it was clear that many of them must be big fans of irony.
Randy Newman kicked things off with his anthem “I Love L.A.,” which got »
- Melissa Maerz
'Doctor Who' finale Season 7 episode 13 review: 'Name of the Doctor' is a smashing finish
8 hours ago | Zap2It - From Inside the Box | See recent Zap2It - From Inside the Box news »
For a "Doctor Who" finale that accomplishes quite a lot in a rather brief amount of time, "The Name of the Doctor" is an incredibly smooth ride.
Just think of everything on Steven Moffat's "to-do list" here: revealing the Doctor's greatest secret, explaining the mystery of Clara the Impossible Girl, bringing back River Song and the Great Intelligence, closing out the season and setting up the 50th anniversary special. And he pulls it all off with wit, verve and quite a bit of nerve -- topped off by a final scene that immediately goes down in "Who" history.
To put it more succinctly: Yowza, what a finale.
The episode zips right along, driven by everything we learn about both Clara and the Doctor. It gets off to a thrilling start on the Doctor's home planet of Gallifrey and immediately introduces a dazzling bit of 50th anniversary magic as Clara »
- editorial@zap2it.com
'Saturday Night Live' season finale: Ben Affleck and Kanye West win an otherwise forgettable 'SNL'
10 hours ago | Zap2It - From Inside the Box | See recent Zap2It - From Inside the Box news »
The "Saturday Night Live" Season 38 finale featured Ben Affleck as the host and Kanye West as the musical guest. They were both great.
And this is a very good thing in an "SNL" episode that was otherwise notable only in how forgettable it truly was.
A comedy show shouldn't have to depend on its guests for laughs and quality. This is especially true in a season finale. But with few exceptions, there really wasn't much to remember from this "SNL." As the official farewell episode for Bill Hader, we got to see a lot of the comedian (including his big character, Stefon). Amy Poehler's cameo appearance on "Weekend Update" was pretty fun too.
It's just that not much on "Saturday Night Live" -- other than a few performances by Affleck -- was funny. For example, did the writers and producers really think they should start off the season finale with an "Argo" gag? »
- editorial@zap2it.com
Ben Affleck Hosts Saturday Night Live: What Were the Best and Worst Sketches?
11 hours ago | TVLine.com | See recent TVLine.com news »
Fans hoping that Saturday Night Live might close out its lackluster 38th season on a strong note probably abandoned that sense of optimism after the evening’s first three sketches (not counting the opening monologue or that amusing, pre-taped Xanax: Gay Summer Weddings ad parody) proved about as funny as running your winning Powerball ticket through the washing machine.
Yet while Ben Affleck‘s introduction into the “Five-Timers Club” certainly won’t go down as a particularly good episode, there were some rewards in store for those who didn’t shut off their TV sets and call it an early night. »
- Michael Slezak
'Saturday Night Live': Amy Poehler is the best at everything, even 'Weekend Update'
11 hours ago | Zap2It - From Inside the Box | See recent Zap2It - From Inside the Box news »
Back in the day, Amy Poehler was a necessary and hilarious part of the "Weekend Update" segments on "Saturday Night Live." We got a bittersweet reminder of this during the current season's finale when Poehler joined Seth Meyers for the fake news bit.
Whatever you think about the standard quality of "Weekend Update" these days, it's pretty hard to deny that Amy Poehler was a bright spot in an otherwise fairly dull few minutes of television. The finale's "Update" seems to have been pretty much a farewell for Meyers and Bill Hader. After all, it wasn't too long into the segment when all vague semblances of sanity disappeared, only to be replaced by a fever-dream version of "The Graduate" in which Meyers interrupted Stefon's wedding -- with Alf, Gizmo and other oddities in attendance.
Sure, it was kind of funny, in a surreal sort of way. But could it compare »
- editorial@zap2it.com
BBC Confirms ‘Doctor Who’ Season 8
12 hours ago | Deadline TV | See recent Deadline TV news »
Steven Moffat is returning for another Doctor Who season, the BBC officially confirmed today. The current series finale aired tonight ahead of a 50th anniversary special slated for November 23 starring Matt Smith, Jenna-Louise Coleman, David Tennant, Billie Piper, and John Hurt. Moffat “is already plotting a brand new run of adventures for the Doctor,” the network announced on their blog. Brian Minchin will executive produce alongside Moffat. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Finale Ratings: Versus 2012, Shark Tank Surges, Nikita Is Steady and Undercover Boss Drops
16 hours ago | TVLine.com | See recent TVLine.com news »
Shark Tank‘s Season 4 finale on Friday drew 6.6 million total viewers and a 1.9 demo rating, topping the night on both counts, rising 5 percent week-to-week and improving on last year’s season-ender by 19 percent.
Shark Tank‘s earlier 8 o’clock installment did 5 mil/1.2, leading that hour in the demo.
Elsewhere, Undercover Boss‘ “Epic Bosses” finale special, with 5.4 mil and a 1.0, was down sharply versus last week and off 9 percent from last year’s closer.
Related | Nikita Boss Weighs In on [Spoiler's] Shocking Sacrifice, Reveals Final Season Scoop
Related | TVLine’s Performer of the Week Is Maggie Q of Nikita
Nikita meanwhile wrapped »
- Matt Webb Mitovich
'Doctor Who' season finale: The Doctor's name is...
16 hours ago | EW.com - PopWatch | See recent EW.com - PopWatch news »
Spoiler alert! If you haven’t watched the Doctor Who season finale, stop reading now. My recap is over there, but here’s a quick sketch.
That was some episode of Who, huh? In the seventh season finale, the Steven Moffat-penned “The Name of the Doctor,” we learned that the two-hearted alien’s name is…John Hurt?
I kid — I think. After half a season of standalone episodes, all strung together by the question of what cosmic force kept bringing companion Clara back to life in different times and on different planets, the finale circled back to some of »
- Adam Carlson
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