Saturday Night Live Returns with Bin Laden and Tina Fey Doing Sarah Palin – Video

SNL returned last night with its first new show of the season, and it was … just okay.You just knew that with the death of Osama Bin Laden, and the blabbering mouth of Donald Trump in the news, that there would be some golden nuggets of comedy.But there really wasn’t.A pregnant Tina Fey hosted with musical guest Ellie Goulding, and things got off to a mild start with a cold open parody of Osama Bin Laden reading his last will and testament.Watch Osama Bin Laden Read his Will on SNLThe best part of the evening was Tina Fey’s return as Sarah Palin during a sketch about the 2012 Undeclared Candidates GOP Debate. Palin appreciated FOX News hosting the debate since the both paid her and showed her the all the questions ahead of time.The debate also featured big mouth and bad haired Donald Trump and was the best sketch of the night.Watch Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin and Donald Trump on SNL DebateI have to say, Saturday Night Live has really lost their edge over the last ten years. They seem to get so close to greatness but always fall flat.Between the death of Osama Bin Laden and Donald Trump running his mouth, there were so many fantastic opportunities for some great cutting edge comedy that 90 minutes should not have been enough time to cover it all.Take the Osama reading his will sketch – writers really had time to make it epic but it just never pulled the laughs. It’s almost like if they get the set, costume, and impersonation down then whatever they say is funny.And then there was the musical guest Ellie Goulding. She covered Elton Johns “Your Song” and was quite uninspiring. Maybe it’s her voice or the fact that she stood perfectly still during her performances.If this was American Idol, Ellie Goulding never would have made it through the initial screening. She was bad.Saturday Night Live has fallen flat and last night was no exception. So many great possibilities but so many lame jokes and sketched.Weekend Update used to be parody about the week’s top news, but today it’s just a chance to profile weird characters that have nothing to do with the day’s current events. Loose the characters and get back to your roots of spoofing the news.Sorry Lorne Michaels, but I’m glad I have a DVR.But maybe I have just fallen out of the shows demographic. I like saying that rather then I’m getting old.Related: Osama Bin Laden's Last Facebook PostFollow InfoStar on Twitter

Will Ferrell and Conan O’Brien Ratchet Up Beard Feud Before May 2 Show – Video

A feud has erupted in Hollywood.A feud between two of the world’s greatest comedians that is sure to end in tragic embarrassment for the looser.Will Ferrell has made it very clear that he does not like Conan’s facial hair.And Ferrell is taking steps to make sure that those “Rusty Pubes” are gone by the time he appears on the show May 2nd.Ferrell hates Obrien’s beard so much that he has started stalking Obrien to let him know that time is running out.Ferrell has already submitted the following fan correction challenge video:If that wasn’t enough to “scare the hair” off O’Brien, Tina Fey helped make matters worse when she appeared to talk about her new book “Bossy Pants”.Ferrell hijacked the airwaves once again with the following threatening video to Team Coco:Conan – you should start the process of getting a restraining order as soon as possible. Your beard should be trembling with fear.What part of “You will feel the sting of my blade that sleeps for no one” don’t you understand?Your move Conan O’Brien.

Are Meredith Vieira AND Matt Lauer Both Leaving NBC’s Today Show? Say it Aint So!

In what can only be described as major bad news for the NBC network, reports are surfacing that BOTH Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer say they will be leaving the Today show later this year.Some are wondering if the network can survive yet another high profile departure after the blow from Alec Baldwin yesterday that “30 Rock” is over.Related: Alec Baldwin Says ’30 Rock’ Ending – Tina Fey Leaving the ShowWhen asked about the speculation, NBC press handlers said,

“There seems to be an awful lot of speculation around news anchors these days, and it’s not our practice to comment on any of it. Matt Lauer has a long term contract with NBC News and ‘Today. ”

True. But both host contracts are due to expire at the end of this year, and “ET” reported that Lauer had been telling everybody he planned to move on once his contract expired in December. And TV Guide was reporting earlier this week about Meredith’s desire to exit the show.TV Guide says Vieira has been in discussions with NBC executives for several months about extending her contract, but she is said to be exhausted with the demanding early hours and is ready to move on.Vieira also said that the health of her husband, who has battled multiple sclerosis and cancer, will be a factor in considering her future on the program.It doesn’t appear that there is any personal friction between the two hosts, in fact they seem like they get along pretty well, even in live embarrassing moments like when Matt Lauer’s divorce turned into laughs on the show.On critic stated,

“Of course NBC is going to deny it. They just lost ’30 Rock’ and now their morning news lineup is falling apart.”

There has been some speculation that Vieira, Lauer, Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin are gracefully trying to exit the network before the Comcast NBC Universal deal begins to impact daily operations.One insider commented,

“Comcast is going to chop up every bit of content they can mine from NBC and either charge for it or try to keep others from embedding it on the internet. The days of being able to freely use NBC content are over.”

THAT seems to make more sense than anything else – the big stars want to get behind NBC before the Comcast takeover is complete because they see what the future will look like and they don’t want any part of it.But it could also be the oldest ploy in the Hollywood playbook – act like you’re going to leave just before your contract expires so they will offer you more money for the next season.Somehow, in a sad way, that seems to make the most sense of all.Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon – your move?

'30 Rock' Creator Tina Fey Pregnant With Second Child – Releases New Book 'Bossypants'

“30 Rock” creator and funny women Tina Fey announced yesterday that she is pregnant with her second child.Fey was doing a taping for the “Oprah Winfrey Show” when she let it slip that she was already five months pregnant. Fey already has a five-year-old daughter named Alice with husband Jeff Richmond.This may put some chops behind Alec Baldwin’s comments earlier this week that 2012 would be the last season for “30 Rock”. Baldwin hinted that Tina wanted to start a family and that he was ready to leave the show.Related: Alec Baldwin Says ’30 Rock’ Ending Next Season – Tina Fey Leaving the ShowFey commented,

"I never really believed it before, but when you have a child, there really aren't enough hours in the day to do anything... Basically, any free time that isn't spent looking after our daughter or working goes on sleeping."

But Fey is not slowing down.Her new book “Bossypants” has just been released to good reviews.From her humble roots growing up in Pennsylvania to her days doing amateur Improv in Chicago with Second City to her early sketches on Saturday Night Live, “Bossypants” gives us a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of a modern day comedian and celebrity.Some of the funniest chapters feature the differences between male and female comedy writers ("men urinate in cups"), her cruise ship honeymoon ("it’s very Poseidon Adventure"), and advice about breastfeeding ("I had an obligation to my child to pretend to try").She details the chaos of being a celebrity when she talks about dividing her time between rehearsing her Sarah Palin impression, trying to get Oprah to appear on “30 Rock”, and planning her daughter’s Peter Pan-themed birthday party.The book really gets to the heart of why Tina Fey remains one of the most loved and funniest comedians.

Alec Baldwin Says ’30 Rock’ Ending Next Season – Tina Fey Leaving the Show – Developing

“30 Rock” star Alec Baldwin attended a fundraiser Monday night in New York City when he dropped a bombshell.Baldwin told reporters that next season will be the LAST season for “30 Rock”. When asked about the award winning sitcom Baldwin answered,

"I will tell you one thing - and that is next year is our last year of the show. Our contracts expire in 2012, and Tina is going to have a big career directing films and writing. She's going to be the next Elaine May. She'll be great."

Okay, we don’t know who Elaine May is but…Baldwin has hinted around in the past that 2012 would be HIS last year, but this is the first we have heard about Tina Fey leaving. But it only makes sense; I have to admit that I think the show has really gone down in quality this last season.I think people have grown really tired of Jack and his women problems, and Tracey Morgan is such an idiot that he should be on a children’s show – not a prime time network series. Morgan’s character is so absolutely horrible that it makes you wonder why the show would even want him as host of the fictitious “TGS”.I’m sure it’s hard to keep the writing and plot mojo of the first couple of seasons going, but if this last season is any indication of what we can expect for the next - then it’s time to pull the plug.I much rather see Tina Fey in a new, funnier show where she once again has the creative run of the ship and can start with a clean slate.However, in-as-much as it is Tina’s show (she created it and executive produces it), and with no disrespect to Alec Baldwin, I think we need to wait until we actually hear the same words coming from Tina Fey.After all, this would not be the first time Baldwin spoke out of turn. This could all just be pre-positioning before next year’s contract negotiations.And you know that things in Hollywood are never what they seem on the surface…

Cover Girl: Tina Fey for InStyle

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2011 Golden Globe Awards P2

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Video - John McCain Does SNL - Nails It

John McCain visited the set of Saturday Night Live last night for a last ditch effort to connect with voters.Now famous Tina Fey, acting as Alaskan governor Sarah Palin, joined the candidate in one of the funniest opening skits ever.The sketch, a jab at the thirty-minute infomercial Barack Obama purchased last week, was intended to give the candidates some final remarks on the campaign. Unfortunately, the only airtime they could afford was on the QVC shopping network.While the two gave their final wisdom, they also hawked Joe the plumber dolls, and Obama town hall commemorative plates - that were blank. The best product was a set of "Pork Knives" guaranteed to cut the pork from anything.There was also a cameo by McCain's wife Cindy, who introduced expensive QVC jewelry. Sarah Palin (Tina Fey) also went rouge when she tried to sell Palin In 2012 shirts.Also, on the Weekend Update section, McCain explained his last ditch efforts and "Radical Ideas" he may use if things don't go his way.Later in the show, Affleck mocked Keith Olbermann in a controversial segment that drew grasps from the audience.Related : Ben Affleck Does Keith Olbermann On SNL - VideoWatch John McCain And Tina Fey In SNL OpenWatch John McCain on SNL Weekend Update_

SNL Thursday - Will Ferrell And Tina Fey - Video

Well, they did it again.Lorne Michaels and the gang at Saturday Night Live once again put together a Thursday Night mini-version that nailed it.The opening sketch included a visit from our friend Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, and a surprise visit by ex SNL veteran Will Ferrell as George W. Bush.The president used a prime time television appearance to publicly give the republican presidential ticket his person endorsement. It was a classic, and good to see Ferrell back in the role of Bush.The weekend update portion once again featured financial consultant Oscar Rodgers giving his now famous advice on the worldwide financial crisis - FIX IT! And Fred Armisen had fun playing with his new mega pixel touch screen election map.After last Saturdays disappointing showing it was good to see things back on track. However, the Adam Samberg digital short - while funny, grew old after the fifth time he threw up on a stranger. Puke and comedy can only go so far together.Watch Thursday Night Live SNL Ferrell And Fey Video_

Sarah Palin Does SNL - Watch Video

Alaskan governor and VP presidential candidate Sarah Palin made history Saturday night.She made a special guest appearance on the long running hit sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live" on October 18.In what can only be a result of the recent Tina Fey impersonations, and continual campaign gaffs, Palin took the opportunity to lampoon her shortcomings, and show the country she has a sense of humor.Joined by Fey and Alec Baldwin, the two lampooned a Palin press conference. But SNL really missed an opportunity here, we thought the skit was somewhat lame and still think they should have done a "30 Rock" parody with Palin playing Fey's role - especially since they had Alec Baldwin there.Where is Joe the plumber and Katie Couric when you need them? At least Mark Wahlberg stopped by to set the record straight with Andy Samberg about his "talking to animals" problem.Watch Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live Video_

Tina Fey Talks Sarah Palin With David Letterman - Video

Tina Fey tells David Letterman that this whole Sarah Palin thing "Is the strangest thing that ever happened to me".Fey told Dave how the Palin impersonation came about and how she ended up on Saturday Night Live. "You drop the G's and use a lot of R's and add a little Reese Witherspoon. Fey says Palin got "Lost in the corn maze…" during the Katie Couric interview.Related: Watch Other Tina Fey SNL VideosFey does not believe that her skits are helping or hurting the election process, but that some people think it is a bit racist. Tina also shared with Letterman that it was Palin who contacted SNL in an attempt to book a guest appearance. That show is scheduled to air tonight.Tina Falin, the new nickname given to Fey by friends, has also just started her new season on "30 Rock". She has announced an all-star group of friends and celebrities she has booked for the new season including Oprah and Steve Martin.Related: Fey Books Oprah And Steve Martin Among Others For "30 Rock"Watch Tina Fey On "The David Letterman Show" Video_

Sarah Palin Confirmed For Saturday Night Live Appearance This Weekend

It's official.Alaskan governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will make a guest appearance on this week's "Saturday Night Live" - the sketch show helmed by Lorne Michaels that has been featuring a parody of the governor by former cast member Tina Fey.Related: Saturday Night Live VP Debate - Video - Tina Fey Nails It AgainRelated: Tina Fey Returns As Sarah Palin For Katie Couric Skit On SNL - VideoPalin will appear this Saturday night along with host Josh Brolin, who plays President George Bush in Oliver Stone's new movie, "W."With less then 20 days left in the campaign, it has been rumored that Palin would make an appearance on either the Saturday night, or Thursday night mini version of the show. Some speculate that Palin will impersonate Tina Fey and her character from the smash hit sitcom "30 Rock", and that long time SNL veteran host Alec Baldwin will make a cameo.Related: Oprah Winfrey, Salma Hayek And Jennifer Aniston To Appear On "30 Rock" - VideoFey has been pulling double duty this last month with her work on "30 Rock", as well as visiting her old stomping grounds to impersonate Palin on SNL. On top of that, Fey is also writing a new musical comedy film titled "Curly Oxide and Vic Thrill", due in theaters next year, about an eccentric punk-rocker who forms a band with a unruly young Hasidic Jew.On top of that she has just finished work on the Rickey Gervais comedy "This Side Of Truth", with Fey, Gervais, Jonah Hill, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Patrick Stewart, Rob Lowe and Jeffrey Tambor - a comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain.And just in case she needs work next year, Fey is rumored to be starring alongside Robert Downey Jr. in the animated family movie "Master Mind", a satirical take on superhero movies in which a notorious villain loses his vigor after he accidentally kills his nemesis._

Sarah Palin To Appear On Saturday Night Live - Confirmed!

Now that Tina Fey has jump-started the SNL fury with her impersonation of Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin, it seems natural the Palin would want to return the favor by making an appearance. Right?The rumor mill is running wild with speculation that Palin will make a guest appearance either on the normal Saturday night version, or one of the Thursday Night Live mini-episodes.Both Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers have confirmed that Tina Fey will again return in a guest role to parody the Presidential VP hopeful, and both hint that Palin is all but booked.

Lorne Michaels told reporters, "All in good time, there are three more live shows left before the election. Saturday's is a rerun."

But now news is leaking out that a deal has already been made, and the scripts are being written as we speak. We don't mean Tina Fey doing Sarah Palin, we mean Palin doing Palin. Or maybe Palin doing Tina Fey? Now there is an idea…Sources close to the show say Sarah will be seen on "SNL" Saturday night, October 25, and that dress rehearsal time has already been scheduled for Friday the 24th. We can't wait.Related: SNL Debate Videos And Tina Fey As PalinTina Fey left SNL two tears ago to create, write and star in the hit NBC series "30 Rock" with Tracy Morgan and Alec Baldwin. Since then, her celebrity status has shot through the roof, making her Palin parodies even more tantalizing.In fact, NBC just announced an A-list group of celebs that will be guest appearing with Fey when "30 Rock" begins its new season later this month.Related: "30 Rock" to feature Oprah Winfrey, Salma Hayek, Steve Martin And Jennifer Aniston_

Oprah Winfrey, Salma Hayek And Jennifer Aniston To Appear On "30 Rock" - Video

"30 Rock" is setting itself up for a great new season starting October 30, and Tina Fey is calling in years of favors by getting an all-star cast of famous celebs to appear as guests.It has been announced that Oprah Winfrey will appear as herself on the award winning "30 Rock", and that Jennifer Aniston will appear to play a "free-spirited, Fatal Attraction-like" stalker obsessed with Alec Baldwin's character Jack Donaghy.Plus, earlier this week, it was confirmed that Salma Hayek would also be making an appearance on the hit series, with NBC announcing that Hayek will take on the recurring role of Elisa, Jack Donaghy's new romantic love interest.Tina Fey asked Hayek to guest on the sitcom as "a character, not as herself" for two episodes, according to a report in the New York Post. We also hear that any of these guest roles may turn into returning characters if things go well.Hayek joins a growing list of A-list celebrities booked by Fey for "30 Rock", and reports are rampant that there will also be appearances from Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Martin and Al Gore. We can't wait.Watch Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Aniston In The "30 Rock" Promo VideoFey's popularity has skyrocketed since she developed "30 Rock", and later began playing Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live. She has appeared in several SNL skits as Palin, and is rumored to be returning again for SNL's Thursday Night Live mini-episodes.Related: Tina Fey Does Sarah Palin On SNL - Nails It - VideoRelated: Tina Fey As Sarah Palin In Katie Couric Interview - VideoFey will also be appearing in the Ricky Gervais comedy "This Side Of Truth" starring Fey, Gervais, Jonah Hill, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Rob Lowe, Patrick Stewart and Jeffrey Tambor. The film is a comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain. The film is due sometime next year._

Seth Meyers Talks New Thursday Version Of Saturday Night Live

Lorne Michaels, and the staff of Saturday Night Live are trying something new - a Thursday night version of the popular Saturday Night Live sketch comedy show.Beginning this Thursday, "Saturday Night Live" will be seen in prime time for the next three weeks in the form of 30-minute mini-episodes of "SNL Thursday Night Live". The shows are scheduled to run through the presidential election, in addition to the regular Saturday night "SNL" shows.The Thursday show will showcase an opening political sketch and the popular "Weekend Update" segment - no musical guest. So does that mean we will see more of Tina Fey as Sarah Palin?Related Videos: Tina Fey Does Sarah Palin On SNL - VideosSeth Meyers, SNL's head writer and "Weekend Update" anchor, told reporters that Fey would probably be back to play vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin at least one more time.

"If Sarah Palin does something to get in the news, which she's been very consistent on doing so far, I think we'll see Tina as well".

Meyers also said Palin had been invited on the show for a sketch to make fun of Fey. The rumor mill is in overdrive, and we suspect Palin will indeed drop by for a much-needed shot in the arm, and to take a jab at her alter ego.Since "SNL" brought back Tina Fey for guest appearances, the shows ratings have skyrocketed. The executives must believe they can capture a prime time audience during the last 30 days of the election cycle, otherwise they would not have picked Thursdays powerhouse "Survivor" as a target to compete against.We think they can pull it off and that people will love it. It's just what we need about now.In addition to her "30 Rock" and new found "SNL" work, Tina Fey has just wrapped production on the comedy "This Side Of Truth" - a comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain.The film is bound to be a smash hit due to its all-star cast of celebrities including Jonah Hill, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Ricky Gervais, Rob Lowe, Patrick Stewart and Jeffrey Tambor. Both written and direct by Ricky Gervais, no release date has been confirmed and a trailer is not yet available.For now, Seth Meyers continues his duties on SNL, but has just announced he is writing and starring in the comedy "Key Party" - where as a way to improve their love life, a couple decides to attend a key party which provides disastrous results for their marriage. Watch for it next year.The SNL cast will also take a big hit next month when Amy Poehler leaves the show. Poehler is due to have a baby in November and has said she will not be returning to the show after her leave.Related: Amy Poehler Announces She Is Leaving SNL_

Saturday Night Live VP Debate - Video - SNL Nails It Again

They did it again. Saturday Night Live once again nailed it with a parody of the VP debate with Joe Biden and Sarah Palin.SNL regular cast member Jason Sudeikis played Joe Biden - teeth and all, and a returning Tina Fey played Sarah Palin.A special guest appearance by Queen Latifah was the icing on the cake. Latifah played Gwen Ifill, the moderator. She was perfect, promising to not let her new Obama book cause any bias in the questioning.The group talked about everything from hair transplants to solving the financial crisis, and it was one of the best SNL parody skits we have seen in awhile. SNL is really getting good at this.Saturday Night Live has really been reaping the rewards of the mocking of Sarah Palin, Joe Biden and John McCain. Tina Fey's Palin skits alone have been viewed more than five million times on the official SNL website, and hundreds of thousands more have watched on YouTube in just the last three weeks.Watch The VP Debate On Saturday Night LiveRelated: Saturday Night Live Spoofs Presidential Debate - VideoRelated: Tina Fey Returns As Sarah Palin For Katie Couric Skit On SNL - VideoRelated: John McCain Snubs Frustrated David Letterman - VideoRelated: Tina Fey As Sarah Palin On Saturday Night Live - Nailed It - VideoRelated: Amy Poehler Announces She Is Leaving Saturday Night Live_

Tina Fey Returns As Sarah Palin For Katie Couric Skit On SNL - Video

Tina Fey returned to Saturday Night Live last night to reprise her role as Alaska Governor Sara Palin.This time, it was to spoof the horrendous interview the Vice President nominee had with news anchor Katie Couric last week.Related Story: Tina Fey With Hilary Clinton On SNL - Nailed It - VideoRelated Story: Darrell Hammond Does John McCain On SNL - VideoAs usual, the skit was spot-on. Amy Poehler played the part of Couric, and of course, Tina Fey played Sarah Palin. Amy Poehler asked Sarah Palin what she thought of her trip to New York so far, and Palin's answers were classic.Fey told Poehler she was shocked because she had "at least 15 to 20 false alarms" where she thought she spotted Osama Bin Laden driving a taxi, and in an effort to "bone up" on foreign policy had visited Time Square to see a movie called "The Bush Doctrine", but was disappointed when the film had nothing to do with politics.When asked about her trip to the United Nations, Palin (Fey) told Couric (Poehler) that she was disheartened at all the "foreign people" that were there, and that when her and McCain are elected they will work hard to "get those jobs" back in the hands of Americans.When asked about John McCain shutting down his campaign to work on the economic crisis, and the $700 billion bailout, Tina Fey responded with a convoluted, econo-babble, sound-bite heavy response that made absolutely no sense at all. The live audience loved it. Amy Poehler was great as Katie Couric, with her puzzled looks and uneasy body language.When asked what lessons she had learned from the Iraq war, and how she would spread democracy, Palin was not able to give specific responses. After being asked again, Fey told Poehler, "I'd like to use one of my life-lines. I'd like to phone a friend".The skit was classic old-school SNL at its best.Watch Tina Fey And Amy Poehler As Sara Palin And Katie Couric On SNLLearn More About Tina Fey And Amy Poehler At InfoStar_