The Definitive Guide to Comedy
Before Better Call Saul. Before Breaking Bad. Before Mr. Show with Bob and David, and even before Saturday Night Live, Bob Odenkirk worked at The Second City in Chicago. While there, he performed and helped write Chris Farley’s iconic motivational speaker character, Matt Foley. And even 30 years later, Odenkirk still tells Conan …
What’s Saturday Night Live if it’s not broadcasting from inside 30 Rock, and not even live TV? We found out this Saturday of Passover/Easter weekend. The resulting product of having SNL’s cast and crew working remotely revealed that stars are just like us when left to their own electronic devices. …
Hal Willner, the longtime musical guru behind Saturday Night Live who also brought musicians together for cross-genre tributes and movie soundtracks, and who won a Grammy for his efforts, died on April 7. Although he was never formally diagnosed with COVID-19, a spokesperson confirmed that Willner died at home suffering …
John Mulaney became the first host of a Leap Day episode of Saturday Night Live in 2020, his third time overall hosting SNL. His monologue included musings about boomer dads and why they have no real friends, the ordering of amendments in the U.S. Constitution, and making a wish come …
Leaping lizards! Lorne Michaels has written an open letter to comedy fans in Toronto, excusing John Mulaney from performing for them in person so he can be called back to Saturday Night Live duty, specifically hosting the Feb. 29, 2020, episode of SNL. As Mulaney wrote: “A letter from Lorne …
Jack Burns, an early comedy partner of George Carlin who went on to tag-team another popular TV comedy duo with Avery Schreiber, host the first Saturday Night Live to be properly called SNL, then become the head writer for The Muppet Show and co-write The Muppet Movie, has died. He …
One of our great comedic screenwriters has died. Buck Henry, born Henry Zuckerman in 1930 New York City, died Wednesday. He was 89. Though his many nominations and awards honored his writing, Henry also enjoyed success from his acting, even from the beginning of his career. An early bit involved …
He’s back! After far too long, Eddie Murphy finally returned to deliver some fresh comedy (and some old favorites) to Saturday Night Live. Here’s his monologue, with a little help from his friends Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle. “What a moment we’re having!” Speaking of some old favorites… …
Rick Ludwin, a late-night executive at NBC for three decades who famously saved both Seinfeld and Conan O’Brien from early cancellations during his tenure at the Peacock Network, died Sunday at the age of 71. Ludwin’s TV career began in college at Miami University of Ohio as host of a …
Saturday Night Live kicked off season 45 last night, and while much of the news coming into the season premiere dealt with the comings and goings of cast members, there’s also some movement among the writing staff to report. The guys from BriTANick (Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher) have left after two …
