SNL Round-Up!

Yes, I thought the latest Fey as Palin sketch was hilarious, thanks for asking. Like every blog ever in the past two days, I will go ahead and link to it in case you missed it. However, I finally caught the full episode of Saturday's SNL and I must say, the sketch below was much funnier. Now more than ever, I am confident Kristen Wiig will fill Amy Poehler's shoes well when she departs the show following the election.

Suck It Gatorade!

I did a triathlon today and I'm tried. I really could've used some of this.

At least I wasn't this guy...yikes.


Photo: http://mixmakers.net

Don Draper Would Tell Me I'm Being Childish

So it's no secret that I'm a little into Mad Men. This weekend that love hit a new level of potential fanaticism.

First, I spent sometime researching the title and artist of the MM theme song and downloading a copy. In case you were wondering, it's not an original song for the show. It's a electronic jazz piece called A Beautiful Mine by a group called RJD2. (By the way, that's really hard to say without saying R2D2.)

Anyway, I downloaded the MP3 and went over to Mobile17. If you're not familiar with the site, you can take any MP3 on your computer and make a ringtone 4-40 seconds long...for FREE! Go now. So anyway, I made myself a Mad Men theme song ringtone and now whenever my phone rings I wait a little bit to answer. Sorry if I missed your call today.

My second fanatical moment? I heard Jon Hamm will be hosting SNL in October and I screamed at the top of my lungs. Smoking and slick period costumes combined with Kristen Wiig and other funny folks? Swell news indeed.

Third, I am re-arranging my schedule tomorrow to ensure I can watch the Emmy's live tomorrow evening just so I can see the show continue to make history. I may Live Blog, we'll see if I've got the energy. However, for sure I'll post my Emmy picks tomorrow morning. Expect a lot of 30 Rock and of course...Mad Men.

Photo: http://electricityandlust.wordpress.com

No 'Bama Tonight

Barack Obama will not appear on SNL tonight as planned due to Hurricane Ike. His camp doesn't think shilling for laughs and the late night vote would be too appropriate given the devastation in Texas.

Don't worry, Lil Wayne and Michael Phelps will still be on tonight...and Tina Fey will probably be there too.

Photo: http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/

Hump Day Update

Hey peeps. Lots to write about and just when I think I don't have time to do it all, I remember my dear old friend Hump Day Update.

• Who Wants To Be A Millionaire got a serious makeover for its season premiere this week. There's a time limit on the questions, new crazy life lines, and help from celebrity experts. I use the term celebrity loosely as so far the only celebrity has been Bill Nye the Science Guy, though he is is 2 for 2. It speeds up the show and that time limit makes you second guess yourself on even the easiest questions. I know what you're all thinking, "How long is the time-limit for the million dollar question?" It's 45 seconds plus all of the time you bank during the other questions. So if you only use 5 seconds during a 30 second time period, 25 seconds goes to the bank. Neat huh?

• Ellen Degeneres is the new spokesperson for Cover Girl. I don't wear make-up but I appreciate the fact Cover Girl uses funny, vibrant, down-to-earth celebs like Queen Latifah and Ellen for their ad campaigns. Classy.
  

• Juliana Margulies obviously missed my mother's lesson on dressing your best for every situation...oh and the one on keeping your vagina to yourself.
  

• Michael Phelps is hosting SNL this week. Anyone see him totally bonk before he introduced Little Wayne at the VMAs? Hopefully he can hold it together on Saturday.
  

• Speaking of the VMAs, thoughts on Kanye's new song, "Love Lockdown"? I loved it live, but I'm not feeling this studio version.

Photo: The Remote Island

The Phelps Machine Continues To Churn

NBC's Golden Son, Michael Phelps, is hosting the season premiere of Saturday Night Live on September 13.

That will give him just enough time to learn how to enunciate.

Hopefully it gives the writing staff enough time to develop several sketches featuring a topless Michael Phelps.


Photo: thelanetrain.wordpress.com

STOP THE PRESSES: Office Spin-Off News

This is still a rumor but if it comes to fruition, consider it the best thing to happen to The Office since the Schrutebuck. It's so exciting that I am writing it in a larger font.

Amy Poehler (SNL wonder-woman and comedy movie cash cow) may star in the new Office spin-off.

I know, I know, I am also having trouble containing my excitement. If she can find a role for her husband, (Will Arnett, better known as GOB from Arrested Development) then this show may end up improving on the original. Did I just write that? I think I did. And I am standing by it.

My enthusiasm level for the spin-off has now been elevated to orange. Please adjust your behavior and actions accordingly.

Photo: Electricity & Lust

Breakfast of Champions

I am off to Philadelphia tomorrow to compete in my first Triathlon. I may not take my computer with me so there may an edubTV hiatus until Monday night. Just an FYI.

In honor of my foray into intense physical fitness and chubby athletes everywhere, please enjoy the sketch below.



Send some positive vibes on Sunday people. I could use all the help I can get.

Happy Mother's Day From edubTV!

Nerve put together a hilarious list of the top 50 commercial parodies of all time. If you feel like spending a good hour watching old SNL, MadTV and SCTV favorites, I highly encourage you to check it out.

One of my favorite parodies came in at number seven, just in time for Mother's Day.

To all the mom's out there: have a wonderful day, you deserve it. You also deserve to get some flattering pants.

SNL Is The New Black

Jonah Hill (Superbad, Knocked Up) hosted SNL last night. It was probably the funniest episode of the show since they've been back from the strike.

My favorite tidbits were both political. Darrel Hammond did a bang-up job as John McCain and Tracy Morgan had a surprisingly funny rant on Barack Obama. It was a much needed rebuttal to Tina Fey's segment on Hillary Clinton a few weeks ago.




I still have a hard time telling Tracy Morgan and the character he plays on 30 Rock apart. If you've ever seen the show, you know that's kind of sad. 90% of the time I can do it, but it's that 10% that makes me wonder whether or not I should be laughing.

A Fierce Tranny Hot Mess of a Sketch

It looks like somebody at SNL got my memo. In case you were too busy having a social life Saturday, SNL did a fantastic job parodying Project Runway winner Christian Siriano.

Lighten Up It's Just Fashion

The Writer's Strike started nine days prior to the premiere of Project Runway. I've realized one critical voice has yet to weigh in on this season's contestants...SNL.

Christian's Flock of Seagulls inspired hairdoo, the way Jillian never opens her mouth all the way, Ricky's crying, etc. It's the stuff Saturday Night Live was made for! And if I remember correctly, they've never done a Project Runway spoof. GE may not appreciate the humor in making fun of the sister network but too damn bad.

SNL returns to late night on February 23 with host Tina Fey. It's going to be a Tivo-worthy episode to begin with, but a little Runway love would send it over the top.

Writing Winter Break!

I won't be posting to edubTV today or tomorrow to ring in my family's annual gift giving holiday.

To tide you over, please enjoy one of my favorite holiday clips, Christmastime for the Jews. This musical SNL sketch was overshadowed on its premiere episode in 2006 by Lazy Sunday.

I'll be back Christmas night or Wednesday to discuss the best tactics for re-gifting boxed sets you don't want. (No really, I don't watch Buffy...seriously.)

Until then!

...In A Van Down By The River

Chris Farly died 10 years ago yesterday. Like 9/11, I can tell you exactly what I was doing when I heard the news. I was doing a mapping project on the floor and my brother threw a newspaper at the back of my head and said,

"There goes Black Sheep 2."

His callous response to the tragic death of one of the best physical comedians in the past 25 years stuck with me. My next thought went out to his family. The Farleys are long-time Madison residents and this town crumbled a little bit that week. It was hard for a lot of people to grasp the fact that the brightest light to come out of this town was extinguished a bit too soon.

But enough sad stuff. Let's remember Chris Farley the best way possible, with copious laughter.

Writers Strike: Day 11

Adorably awkward, Michael Cera, is hosting SNL this weekend. You may be thinking, "Won't there be a rerun?" Nope. The New York Post is reporting the show will go on...stage that is.

The casts of SNL and 30 Rock will perform stage versions of their shows at a small theater in New York City.

Tickets are only $20 and the proceeds go to the WGA strike fund.

That show is going to be wonderful. I am officially jealous that I will be missing it. This is one of the only good things to come out of the strike so far, at least where fans are concerned.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

I love 10-Day forecasts from the Weather Channel. Other than checking in for my flight, it is my favorite online pre-travel activity. Today I discovered my airplane will be arriving in the middle of scattered snow showers! Snow in the forecast means some great things:

• Holiday specials on TV (The homeless father and daughter on Saved By The Bell anyone?)
  
• I can bring my "Sleigh Bell Grande" playlist out of hiding
• The return of my snowman earrings
• My favorite SNL holiday sketch ever is now in heavy rotation on my computer, much to the dismay of anyone coming close to me from now until New Years.

It begins! Enjoy!

Week In Review

So much to say! I wish I could type faster!

Desperate Housewives

It got really soapy last year but Marc Cherry and company have turned it around. The show has gotten a lot funnier, especially out of context. 

"Look at yourself, you've declared jihad on a possum."

I'm loving Bob & Lee, the new couple in town. Lee (Kevin Rahm, pictured) is the perfect person to put the biddies of Wysteria Lane in their place. Rahm was an underrated character on Judging Amy, it's nice to see him shine now. 

Gourmet Next Door

Finally, I sat down and watched Amy Finley's new show. Finley was the winner of Next Food Network Star and she proved the win was well deserved. I watched the first episode, and it felt a little rushed and panicky. The food looked really good though, and she took the time to explain what she was doing. Her recipes were simple, elegant and practical for working people. 

Saturday Night Live

Brian Williams ,anchor for NBC Nightly News, hosted this week. He is a much better actor, especially comic actor, than anyone will ever give him credit for. I hope he comes back, he's probably the best host this season. With the Writers Strike, he may be last host for awhile...single tear. 

Mazda's Black Choir Commercial. 

At first you think it's a commercial for Macy's, or maybe a restaurant. But then the zoomzoomzooms kick in. I have to find it on YouTube. Or you guys can just watch primetime TV for an hour. 

What's on tap for this week? A two-hour Prison Break, Green Week on NBC, no late night TV. Too much to watch!

Goulet: That's A Wrap

Last night, Robert Goulet died while waiting for a lung transplant He was 73-years-old.

What does most of our generation know about Goulet? Will Ferrel doing a bad-ass impression of him on SNL. Or that Emerald Nuts commerical where the man himself is sneaking around an office, messing with people's stuff.

But he was a lot more than that. Ed Sullivan once called Goulet, " The American Baritone from Canada." He was the last of the great crooners; suave, debonaire and hansome. He had a TV, thatere resume a mile long. And if I were alive 50 years ago, or if I were suddenly 70, I wouldn't kick him out of bed.

He was classy all the way through. According to CNN, the last words he said before the doctor's put in his breathing tube were, " Just watch my vocal cords."

Goulet. Badass. Now and forever.

You Heard It Here First

***Newsflash***
The new SNL Digital Short, "Iran So Far" is going to be bigger than Lazy Sunday. The music video features wunderkind Andy Samberg and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine singing one of the catchiest new songs in recent memory. If that's not enough, it also combines Jake Gyllenhaal, small children and President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. There is nothing better...except "Dick in a Box."