As Sam Sees It.

The Weekend Update Throne

Sun, 12 May 2013 17:29:00 -0400

Saturday Night Live, a week away from its season finale, is in for an Update shake-up. This afternoon it was announced that Seth Meyers, host of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, would be taking over NBC’s Late Night throne, replacing Jimmy Fallon, who will be taking over The Tonight Show from Jay Leno. Meyers, host of the segment since 2008, will anchor his last Update segment later this year. The Update chair, however, remains to be determined. Here are my top picks for people I’d like to see take on the Update chair:

Honorable mention: Jason Sudeikis

Sudeikis may be rumored to be leaving, and this may be a long shot, but in a perfect world, Sudeikis would be in the running to host Update. He’s got the personality and charisma to host the show and though the odds are a million to one, in an alternate universe, Sudeikis would do really well with Update.

2. Taran Killam and Vanessa Bayer

Killam might be a pillar of the show and a strong sketch player, but his ability to flow seamlessly between political segments, talk shows and characters throughout the show make him a strong contender. Let’s not forget Fallon was a pillar of the show when he took over Update. Killam, as an up and comer, could be good. He’s versatile enough to bring out Bayer’s fun personality and quirky side. Bayer, on the other hand, is underused but has potential to be funny and Update could be a way to funnel that potential. Killam has the right mix of playful to match Bayer’s seriousness - they would play off each other well.

1. A writer and Vanessa Bayer

The last time a writer was paired with a cast member, magic happened. Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon took over the Update desk from Colin Quinn and the unknown/known combo worked out really well. SNL’s writing staff is filled with talented writers, many of whom I would love to see with Vanessa - Mike O’Brien, Colin Jost, Chris Kelly, Marika Sawyer, Sarah Schneider, even the once-thought-to-be-gone John Mulaney, the list goes on. Bayer, on the other hand, has the inklings of a potentially successful Update career. She’s semi-serious, but feels like the girl next door that people can relate to - alone, she might not be able to do it. If a writer were paired with Bayer, however, there would be enough intrigue to keep viewers interested and - hopefully - enough of a back and forth dynamic to keep the segment interesting and fun. There might be a writer behind the scenes who’s ready to make the leap to prime time and I would be perfectly okay with that.

NBC's 2013/2014 Programming Schedule

Sun, 12 May 2013 17:22:00 -0400

(New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET)

MONDAY
8-10 p.m. – “The Voice”
10-11 p.m. – “THE BLACKLIST”

TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. – “The Biggest Loser” (New Day and Time)
9-10 p.m. – “The Voice” (New time)
10-11 p.m. – “Chicago Fire” (New Day and Time)

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. – “Revolution” (New Day and Time)
9-10 p.m. – ”Law & Order: SVU”
10-11 p.m. – “IRONSIDE”

THURSDAY
8-8:30 p.m. – “Parks and Recreation” (New time)
8:30-9 p.m. – “WELCOME TO THE FAMILY”
9-9:30 p.m. – “SEAN SAVES THE WORLD”
9:30-10 p.m. – “THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW”
10-11 p.m. – “Parenthood” (New Day and Time)

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
9-10 p.m. – “Grimm”
10-11 p.m. – “DRACULA”

SATURDAY
Encore programming

SUNDAY
7:00-8:15 p.m. – “Football Night in America”
8:15-11:30 p.m. – “NBC Sunday Night Football”

And the Midseason schedule:

MONDAY
8-10 p.m. – “The Voice”
10-11 p.m. – “THE BLACKLIST”

TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. – “The Voice”
9-9:30 p.m. – “ABOUT A BOY”
9:30-10 p.m. – “THE FAMILY GUIDE”
10-11 p.m. – “Chicago Fire”

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. – “Revolution”
9-10 p.m. – ”Law & Order: SVU”
10-11 p.m. – “IRONSIDE”

THURSDAY
8-8:30 p.m. – “Parks and Recreation”
8:30-9 p.m. – “WELCOME TO THE FAMILY”
9-9:30 p.m. – “SEAN SAVES THE WORLD”
9:30-10 p.m. – “THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW”
10-11 p.m. – “Parenthood”

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
9-10 p.m. – “Grimm”
10-11 p.m. – “CROSSBONES”

SATURDAY
8-10 p.m. – Encore and specials programming
10-11 p.m. – “Saturday Night Live” (Encore)

SUNDAY

7-8 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
8-9 p.m. – “AMERICAN DREAM BUILDERS”
9-10 p.m. – “BELIEVE”
10-11 p.m. – “CRISIS”

Melissa McCarthy Hosting SNL April 6th

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 12:06:19 -0500

‏@paulfeig: “@joseramonmarmtz did you hear the great news? Melissa McCarthy is going to host #SNL again this April 6th! @TheHeatMovie” I’ll be there!

Laughter! Pancakes! Impressions! One of these happens, another...

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 13:10:26 -0500

Laughter! Pancakes! Impressions! One of these happens, another happens as well and one is unrelated. Find out which on this episode of Sam and Helena Talk!

LIVELOVEBLOG: SNL with host Kevin Hart and Macklemore.

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:51:00 -0500

Cold Open: I’m a sucker for political cold opens and the sequester was the biggest thing that happened this week. It was only natural. That being said, I wanted to like this cold open. The longer it went on, the more I liked it - but that still wasn’t enough. The many, many employees that were brought up during his speech were funny but so fleeting. I wanted more of a flow and more continuity in theme - which is weird to say because it was a speech - but it felt jumpy and odd. There were parts i enjoyed, like the YMCA, the six months from now joke and the reference of Boehner, but aside from that, it felt disappointingly flat. For such a huge issue, I expected something a little better. B+

Monologue: Kevin Hart’s energy is refreshing. I honestly cannot remember the last time I’ve seen a host explode onto stage and keep it up for seven minutes. In what seemed to be a great part of his stand up, Hart talked about a homeless man touching sandwiches. It was funny and high energy. Great stories, hysterical impressions, perfect SNL story. Granted the energy was so flat streamed at such a high level that I did want some variation, but it was a fun monologue. Props to Hart. B+

Steve Harvey: I should have expected that this talk show would pop up, but placing it after the monologue seems like a bit of a stretch. The sketch was a little too long and though I did enjoy the pronunciations ..it just didn’t jive with me. I don’t really like Kenan’s Harvey - it feels a little forced, despite how playful it always is. It’s okay. The entire sketch seemed too flat to go post monologue and a little too bizarre to even be in the first half of the show. It was by far not the best thing they had, but I ‘m assuming they felt two political sketches back to back would alienate people. C+

Situation Room: The Situation Room is one of my favorite sketches and Wallis as the new pope really worked out. I don’t think I knew it at the time, but if there is one thing I really wanted to see it was Kevin Hart dressed as a little child. And I wanted that little child to be Quvenzhane Wallis. I wish maybe Wallis would have done less dancing and but then she/Hart started to talk in Latin. This sketch always has great flow and consistently makes the joke and gets out. A

Barnes and Nobles Employees: When they did this sketch a few weeks ago, I liked it on the condition that it would not return. The sheer length of the sketch is enough for me to zone out somewhere, at some point, and that’s not even taking into account everything else. The fact that they brought this sketch back in a Barnes and Nobles is great, but at the end of the day it’s the same joke. Yeah, it’s funny, but it’s also repetitive. There are really no clear beats to separate energy in this sketch and it makes it fall flat. The sketch really brought nothing new to the table, aside from a few new laughs and Kevin Hart breaking. This was a one time hit for me, and bringing it back made me like it less. Better luck next time. B-

Macklemore/Ryan Lewis: The song of my generation comes to life! Sure, Macklemore sounds like he might pass out at any time, but both performances were impressive to me. They weren’t bad, is what I’m trying to say.

Weekend Update: Weekend Update jokes were golden, as usual, tackling all the political and social issues of the week. I always love update. For our first segment, Kim Jong and a basketball player. This was neither relevant to my life - which doesn’t mean I won’t like it - but maybe I just didn’t get it? I do love Bobby as Kim Jong Ill though, he plays him as cute and sassy, which is always fantastic. After that, Seth Meyers brings back Really?!?!?! with Kevin Hart. I was and still am opposed deep down to the idea of Seth doing the Really segment with anyone but Amy. It just feels wrong. However, I quickly warmed up to this pairing. It was a fantastic way to talk about the voting rights act and probably the only time I enjoyed Kevin using his race during the show. I’m a sucker for Seth Segments on Update - yeah, it’s a thing now - because they effortlessly weave together humor and deep political analysis. I appreciate it and I admire the satire. If that segment had a different name, I would have fully loved it. Even with the name, though - well done, you two. Overall, for Update: B

Walking Dead: I don’t watch The Walking Dead, so needless to say none of this made sense to me. I didn’t really understand the entire dynamic of it, but I did enjoy Nasim as the annoying little kid. She was a great touch. Kevin Hart was great BUT I didn’t want the entire sketch to be about racism. Maybe that’s what it’s like on the actual show. Who knows! I don’t! It was mediocre, funny at times, but okay I guess. B-

Shark Tank Parody: I love Shark Tank and I know it well, and this sketch got all the technical parts of Shark Tank correct - the inability to ever, EVER get numbers correct and the poor pitching - but something about it just didn’t click. I wanted more interaction between judges, which is the best part of the show - especially since the four judges seemed great. Luckily, Kevin Hart brought enough energy to really keep the sketch alive, but it still felt barely glued together and too short to express the essence of what makes Shark Tank funny. B

Z Shirt: Sketches like this make me want to see more Tim Robinson stat. I don’t know if they’re going after any specific commercial, but it doesn’t matter. That’s what a good commercial parody should feel like - funny even if it’s a seemingly random premises. On a side note, the camera angles really accented the piece and heightened it. Great job. A

Dove Chocolate: A voice commercial with two finalists, Vanessa Bayer and Kevin Hart, competing for the chance to voice the new Dove Chocolate commercial. Fred Armisen and Bill Hader play the executives here and they’re great, but the best part is Kevin Hart’s character, Dante, who doesn’t think he’s write to voice the part written specifically for a woman. I didn’t love how slowly the sketch ambled on, but Dante made it better. His voice overs were exaggerated and frank, and combined with his doubt, escalated the concept. B

Z Shirt Part Funeral: I love that they brought this back. That’s all I have to say. I think it worked and I like this. The mellow Tim and eccentric/energetic Kevin work well together. Still, the first worked better. It was the shock factor. A-

360 News: The concept of a newsman spinning 360 with every headline is an interesting one if not dynamic and his producers telling him the show idea is stupid makes it better. The sketch wasn’t working until his cameramen started to betray him. Then, it got interesting. Still, an okay last sketch. Not my favorite. C+

tv-things: Listen to us talk about this week’s SNL with host...

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 12:28:08 -0500

tv-things:

Listen to us talk about this week’s SNL with host Cristoph Waltz and musical guest The Alabama Shakes!

We did this on hungry stomachs! Revamped and repolished! Listen in!

LIVELOVEBLOG - Saturday Night Live: Christoph Waltz and Alabama Shakes

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:23:00 -0500

A year ago tonight was my first time in Studio 8H - my one year anniversary. I’ve been doing standby for a year and reviewing for longer. What a year. As tonight’s SNL rolls in, I bring you my LIVELOVEBLOG, a liveblog that also takes into account that I love the show so much and hence bias with no regrets.

After last week’s episode, I’m feeling better knowing we have that Bieber nonsense behind us. Though I know little about tonight’s host, Christoph Waltz, and plenty about Alabama Shakes, I’m expecting a better show and a higher quality show. Well, I’m really just looking forward to a show without the Bieber factor and without the Californians, and Bieber’s not even hosting, so unless he pops up, we should be pretty solid.

Cold Open: Cruise ship cold open, how did I not expect this at all? Nevertheless, I like the format of the cold open - effortless and fast paced. Jay Pharoah playing a stand up comedian that’s lost his mind is nothing short of fantastic. The slowly deteriorating sanity of the captains and their inability to find anything positive in the news whatsoever gives it the slight political tilt makes it appropriate for the cold open. Also, shoutout to Fred Armisen for another hysterical impression. These crew member’s inabilities to keep their ship sane is just weird and cutely quirky enough to make me love it. A-

Monologue: Christoph Waltz, you have a fantastic sense of humor. This take on American’s perception of Austria is SPOT ON, I can say, as someone who has lived abroad their entire life. Casual Hitler is perfect and I’m getting the vibe that Waltz really jives with this cast. I didn’t expect the musical aspect, but the German twist is so fantastic that I can’t resist. Absolutely fresh and joyful monologue. Wait, this is actually going to be a fantastic show tonight, guys. A

What Have You Become: Waltz hosts America’s newest game show features three lame Americans that are totally average yet weird. I already love this take on people who become nothing and have strange obsessions and weird careers and hobbies. Their answers are honest- yet wrong. The music queuing some sort of revelation makes me a little nervous, yet Aidy Bryant’s character is fantastic. Bringing out their relatives for round two to yield some sort of break down makes it a little better, yet there’s no bit to this sketch to this, only truth and a fantastic ensemble. I keep waiting for more bite - oh wait, here it is. Aidy turning the question around. Waltz is 100% the best part about this sketch without stealing the spotlight, only slightly shifting it.Still, they could have turned up notch a little. By the way, Waltz can dance. B+/A-

After Your Pope: Woah, did not see this coming. Waltz - is that Waltz? - plays a Pope giving testimony in a Pope retirement for Pope ad. It’s what SNL does best, so there’s not much to say. Quick, hilarious, perfect. I love it. A

New Place: Waltz’s character is holding an apartment warming party and telling stories. Tippy, Nasim’s character, doesn’t understand social cues/acts too soon or too late to social conversations - and heads up - not only is she on screen, but she’s got no boundaries and is hilarious. Tippy drifts from conversation to conversation, asking for highlights of conversations. She’s like a version of me I can someday see myself becoming and I love it. A-

Djesus Uncrossed: If you are human, you will like this commercial. Jesus comes back from the dead and hes fighting people. It’s obnoxiously and obviously fake but somehow, the combination of religious figures fighting and just everything about this commercial is fantastic. “No more mister nice jesus” indeed. A+

JMarcus Brothers: The JMarcus brothers are here to make your body tingle tangle in what can only be said to remind me of something out of an older SNL episode. I haven’t seen a song parodies sketch in a little too long, but I love it. To think that two brothers and an adopted white brother are writing songs that are supposed to turn people on is a fantastic. Engelberg, the awkward bother out, is a great way to use the host and take an ordinary sketch to the next level. Great, but I expected just a little more. B

Weekend Update: Here are tonight’s top political stories that I’ve been waiting to hear. Lots of great political jokes about things I feel as if few people but me care about except tonight. Solid and memorable. Our first segment is Taran Killam as Marco Rubio explaining the drink of water. Killam putting context on his awkward drink of water somehow isn’t as funny as it should be, but Rubio needing water so desperatly saves it for me. He’s pulling some sort of Jim Carrey in Bruce Almighty and I love it. Rubio’s desperation and blind-sittedness is simply great. Very solid segment. Our second segment is Olya Povlatsky,Kate McKinnon’s first big segment on SNL in a while. McKinnon is so high energy and creepy at the same time that i can’t help but love her dedication to character. Tonight, however, I feel like I’m missing something. Wait, there it is. Olya’s outdated pop culture references are hilarious. Can we have a show where Olya tells Seth about all the new pop culture she experiences each week? I would watch that. Our third segment is Stephen A. Smith, something I will never understand because I neither watch ESPN or sports. Still, I appreciate his rage that turns into a high pitched feminine voice. I don’t need to watch ESPN to love Smith describe his outlandish relationships with athletes. I like Smith the more he comes on - he teaches me about sports games. Also, for the record, I would watch Mohawk and Bangs. Totally. A

Date Night with Regine: THIS IS BACK! REGINE IS BACK!!! GUYS!!!! GUYS HOLD ME!!!! The great thing about Fred Armisen as Regine is that there’s something so subtle at first that just transforms into something so extreme that it’s insane. Insane and hysterical, yet I love it somehow. Bill, Tim, Aidy and Vanessa breaking just MAKES IT okay (I must be a half-naked barbarian). I like that this came back and I think it might be going places. I want to see it come back again. A-

Fox and Friends: I think I just live to see this sketch come back. The absurdity that takes itself seriously is hysterical. Ted Nugent as a guest with ticks in his goatee didn’t quite sit well with me, it felt forced, but I appreciate Bill Hader’s ability to transform himself himself. The second guest on the show is Fred Armisen as Chris, an authority from the food agency - he wasn’t totally necessary, just a springboard for the anchors. The sketch didn’t seem to have as much momentum as it could have had, perhaps dragged down with the second guest, but nevertheless, the corrections killed it (always). The ones I caught: February is a month,Kate Upton is not dating a glacier, Bruno Mars is from earth, Plants are alive but they cannot watch TV, God does not sneeze electricity. B

Alabama Shakes redefine my perception of rock and roll. They’ve got a great sound and beautiful tune.

Office Valentine: Someone drops off a Valentine’s letter on this office lady’s desk. Cecily Strong reads a “psycho’s manifesto.” As the last sketch of the night, I can accept this sketch for what it is: weird. Everyone in the office knows Dimitri wrote the letter in broken English, everyone but Cecily. The best part is that how blatantly hysterical the letter is and how obvious it is that Dimitri wrote it. The back and forth between Dimitri and the other workers heightens the sketch quickly. This sketch could come back - for a different holiday, mind you - and I’d love it.

Christoph Waltz ends the night with a lovely amount of gratitude, but we’ll never really know how grateful he was because hey they cut off goodnights again. That 1 a.m. programming is just soooo important, isnt it?

Sketch of the night: Djesus Uncrosses, After Your Pope or Cruise Ship Cold Open. I can’t pick, okay?!

The not sketch of the night: Surprisingly, Fox and Friends. It just didn’t live up to what I wanted it to become. The fact that I still really enjoyed this sketch, though, speaks to the overall quality of the show.

Overall show grade: A. My second favorite show of the season, tied with Anne Hathaway’s episode (barely). First, by the way, is Seth MacFarlane and Louis CK tied.

Look out for the Sam and Helena talk NBC podcast tomorrow morning.

A Tentative title for our podcast? We’ll see if it sticks....

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 12:38:00 -0500

A Tentative title for our podcast? We’ll see if it sticks. Listen in!

Goodbye, 30 Rock

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:36:00 -0500

Dear 30 Rock,

When I was in 10th grade and just a mere comedy nerd in hiding (and denial), I was looking for shows to watch and I stumbled upon 30 Rock one Friday afternoon and I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy and overjoyed that I did. 30 Rock was, in the most cheesy way possible, the start of a new era. I know a lot of people claim this and I don’t doubt them. It’s a life changing show. I don’t think anything has ever compared, at least for me, because the show opened me up to comedy. 30 Rock came to me when I was in transition. I decided that being a doctor would not work for me and I decided to pursue journalism after high school. I decided to change myself and I found 30 Rock at the same time of transition. The show was so effortless, so complex, so intelligent - I could not resist its charm, as many people can attest to. It took my hand and brought me to a place where people were weird and smart and funny and had personality and existed in a realm of passion for their craft.

Without 30 Rock, I don’t think I would have ever gotten there because no show would have so aptly eased me into a genre I was scared to love and then scared not to love. I would not have ever started watching many other shows that I now watch.

You can measure your life a lot of different ways. One of those ways is through TV finales, and the only other TV finale I can remember watching is House M.D. When I watched it, it was for tradition’s sake and not because I had been keeping up with it. I fell out of the loop but thought I owed it to the show, to watch it for the last time.

Now, I am faced with a much more difficult task. I am going to watch a show end tonight, a show that helped me come to terms with myself. And I don’t know how I’m going to feel about that tonight. For weeks, I have been in denial. I feel like the show is going to live on forever on Thursdays, but my foolish fantasies are merely just to ease the pain. As I sit in front of my TV for the last hour of 30 Rock on Thursdays, I only have one thing left to say.

I want to thank the writers, directors, cast, crew - everyone who worked on the show - for being a part of 30 Rock. I don’t think you could ever fathom how much of an influence you had on me and so many others, how much of an imprint you’ve made on pop culture and history, how monumental your work on the show has been. There is nothing better than knowing a show I have loved for so long will go out on its own terms - with a bang.

30 Rock came to me when I was growing up and because of that it very much feels like I’ve grown up with the show always there, airing Thursdays, when I needed and expected it to be there for me, a half hour of laughs that made me feel better week after week. Now, when I’m older and maybe wiser but most certainly not grown up, it’s so much harder for me to let go of something that taught me so much. It feels like surgery: difficult to do, but for the best; or maybe it just feels like letting go of your favorite tv show: too painful to understand, but bittersweet in its own way. I guess every great thing must come to an end, but of all the things I’ve seen leave me as I’ve grown up, 30 Rock will be one of the hardest.

I will miss the show so dearly, but I am confident in its ability to live on forever. 30 Rock has changed me, so thank you for that, 30 Rock: for the laughs, for the screams at my television in joy, for the ability to gather every Thursday and feel a sense of community, for being the highlight of my Thursdays for so many years. Thank you, and goodbye.

Sincerely,

Samantha. Lemon Out.

Sam and Helena talk NBC Thursday and The Globes!

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 12:49:56 -0500

Sam and Helena talk NBC Thursday and The Globes!:

Listen to our return!

Five Great TV Moments of 2012

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:47:00 -0500

Well, well, well. It’s almost February 2013. It’s Flu season. It’s cold. The best parts of the life seem to have already happened. Remember Summer 2012? Wasn’t that sweet? Yeah. It was. Remember when all your shows were premiering and the whole season was in front of them and they were not on hiatus? Yeah. That was pretty swell. To help get you, the reader, out of your winter slum-glum, I have compiled a list of the best moments of television.

Why this list, now, you ask? Because you the reader have not read a list about last year for a month now (almost)! If you’re sick of reading winter-y, cold, looking-forward-put-your-best-foot-forward lists, this list is for you. It’s nostalgic, fun and all about television. No one doesn’t love television (that’s an impossible thing). First, however, a quick disclosure: this is just a simple list, based on my opinions and feelings , not on facts; I am not a professional list maker. I can guarantee you right now that you will either a) disagree with me, b) think I missed something, c) hate me. I’m already over your understood hatred towards this blog now. Be cool everyone…And, without further ado, my favorite television moments of 2012 (in no order because ordering is too much pressure also I can’t pick)——

1. Jimmy Fallon was Mitt Romney: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon has long been my favorite late night television show primarily because Fallon and his team know how to use their talents and create comedy for their online-based audience and fan base. Fallon and his team, more than any late night crew, genuinely seem like they work hard to make the show fun, original and exciting every night. For this reason, I was excited about their election coverage. Now, to think Fallon would become Romney? I could have never guessed how much I would grow to love (and miss) this robotic and wanna-be social presidential nominee. Mr. Romney’s Neighborhood, one of their finest pieces of satire and one of the smartest late night sketches to date, was when Fallon’s Romney fell into place. It clicked. That, and the Concession Call, will always hold a special place in my heart.

2. Girls Happened: Though I resisted the trend to watch Girls all throughout the summer, I finally sat down in December and forced myself to watch past the pilot episode. My friends were raving and I was (once again) falling into my habit of not watching popular shows because they are popular. Getting over this phase, however, was one of the best things that’s happened to me (TV-wise) this year. Girls is as fearless as it is funny, as honest as it is casually conscious of itself and its characters. It is difficult to put together a show where the main characters have more flaws than redeeming qualities and where the mood is dark and tainted with problems. It can easily feel too forced. However, Lena Dunham has done it. Not only has she done it, but she’s done it well. Girls is one of my favorite things that has happened to TV, period.

3. Colbert’s Super Pac: I don’t want to beat around the bush here - the work Stephen Colbert and his team of writers, producers and crew members did this year on Super Pacs was nothing short of incredible. No one doubted the influence The Colbert Report had, but his work with his own Super Pac as a means of experimenting should not be understated. TCR team lead the the American public just what the owner of a Super Pac could do with such an investigative spirit that viewers could not help but follow and support him. He raised awareness about an issue a lot of Americans were not aware of and as a journalist and critic, I respect that. I respect Colbert and his team perhaps more than words could express right now.

4. SNL sends off Kristen Wiig: I’m not one for sappy goodbyes (wait. I totally am), but this has got to be one of the best moments in the history of Saturday Night Live. I can say this, too, because I’ve seen many, many, many SNL episodes from all seasons. Now Head Writer Colin Jost wrote a beautiful and moving send-of that brought many, many tears to my eyes. It was appropriate for someone who shaped the style of comedy on the show to reflect a weird and physical style of comedy. She changed the show. It was the end of the era and a start to a beautiful new one. Even now remembering the classic, homecoming-esque dance with all her cast members and with Creator Lorne Michaels make me want to get back into watching it every night (shh, that never happened).

5. TV’s Favorite Heroines, Leslie Knope and Liz Lemon, get serious in their relationships: When I was watching the Parks and Rec episode that was rumored to end with Ben putting a ring on it, I thought to myself halfway through, “This probably isn’t going to happen.” I was 99% sure it wouldn’t happen and yet minutes before the credits rolled, I was in tears, screaming at my television in joy as Ben and Leslie got engaged. Similarly, when Liz Lemon got married at City Hall in a Star Wars dress, I don’t think I could have felt more butterflies in my stomach (at that time). It was a beautiful moment where grace and continuity of plot met spunky personality and yes, I cried, okay. Though it is often considered unreasonable to care about television characters to such as extent, Benslie (I made that nickname up) and Lemon/Criss both sealing the deal surprised me and made me giddy. In both cases, the episodes were written by some of the best television writers of all time and two actresses - Tina Fey and Amy Poehler that gifted as they are brilliant. It’s a testament to those writers that I care so much for fictional characters. The ability to create something so real and so dimensional that hundreds, thousands of people sob in front of their TVs every week for them (welcome to Tumblr) is more than a gift. Yet 30Rock and Parks and Rec reaffirmed my faith in good television this year. Knowing I was at one point alive to watch these shows and write about them as they flourished makes me proud. Also, sad. But proud, mostly.

WE’RE BACK! Find out what Helena sounds like when she does...

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:03:50 -0500

WE’RE BACK! Find out what Helena sounds like when she does a Jeremy Renner impression! (Hint: it’s spot on).

Listen to Helena and I talk about all things SNL in our review...

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 14:32:39 -0500

Listen to Helena and I talk about all things SNL in our review of the show last night. What did Helena think seemed like a Windows XP screensaver? What was my favorite sketch of the night?

LISTEN to find out!!!

Want to know about cut sketches and cast interactions and...

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 17:05:43 -0500

Want to know about cut sketches and cast interactions and general observations from our memories inside Studio 8H!?

We were at dress rehearsal yesterday.

Helena and I talk dress, live and everything in between.

Details from Dress 11/3!

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 14:32:00 -0500

On Saturday, I was fortunate enough to get in to Saturday Night Live’s Dress Rehearsal with Host Louis C.K and musical guest Fun. Below the cut, details I’m afraid I’ll one day forget.

A list of cut sketches —
A perfume commercial - digital short - with Louis CK as the spokesman that turned into a police officer telling the camera that he’s a wanted criminal (Sudeikis)
A hilarious - and my personal favorite by far - digital short with Keenan narrating as Taran Killam, playing an old and mentally insane Asian man, danced in what can only be described as a left-to-right wave motion behind or around people, much like the style of the Underground festival shorts, but a lot better
The Voice sketch with Louis CK as a totally unqualified singer and dancer as opposed to Cecily, who outdid him; An art class sketch with Louis CK as a painting instructor where a “drawing can be anything you want it to be” but actually turned out to be dead set on a magnetic ant, with Kenan, Vanessa, Nasim and Taran as children
An NBC Sports Sketch with Tim and Louis pitching a basketball theme song with Kate, Kenan and Bill as executives trying to buy only one part of the song - the music and not the lyrics
A cut weekend update joke: a female viagra product that’s ingested via a nasal spray and lead to unintended side effects - the photo to accompany it was a nose with a penis and because the joke wasn’t getting as big of a laugh, so he waited a second and went, “….But do you get it? Do you?” He later referenced it again after another joke fell short and went, “You guys better warm up or I’lll show you dick nose again.”
And, lastly, they did an Obama address from his office where he talked about Sandy but geared it towards relief efforts for Ohio and his avoidance of NYC and his willingness to win Ohio by providing funds to help them sweep their leaves etc.
Other dress details:
The costume changes between each Australian movie clip were absolutely INSANE - that’s the only way to put it. We were lucky because from where we were sitting (the absolute left) and from what sets were already built, we were the only ones who could see the costume changes. Kate and Bill (and Louis) would run over to the side, lift their arms to each side, and the costumes would just rip right off (the seams were Velcro). At one point, an entire costume was under the current costume. It was so cool. You could tell, especially with Kate (and Bill occasionally too) they were struggling to get her costumes closed up before she had to step on. It was the most insane thing I have ever seen.
I’ve seen this many times, but it’s easier from the seat I sat at this time: the writers often stand by the the entrance to the studio from what I’m assuming is the hallway to dressing rooms etc and just watch and take notes during dress. It was really interesting to watch. During Update, the update writers will stand there and take notes. If a writer has a sketch on - like Neil Casey and the hotel sketch - he’lll be there, helping out and producing his sketch and running through stuff with Louie/etc.
When Aidy finished her segment on Update, she high fived Cecily before leaving.
When Fun. was playing their second song, Carry On, Taran, Aidy, Nasim and a lot of the writers stood behind the VIP seats and jammed out. Taran was half-dancing.
The warm-up was changed from Keenan singing with Vanessa and Nasim (and formerly Abby) as back up to Fred on guitar singing with Taran singing as well. Kenan was playing drums and Cecily and Nasim (I believe….) were singing back up. They were singing Train in Vain by The Clash (!!) and Taran waved to us and danced with us. It was very energetic and uplifting.
Louis CK did two monologues, essentially - one about helping a woman out at an airport and the other about going to his courtyard at noon on Sunday and pretending he didnt live there. I personally liked the one they didn’t use more, but both were funny of course.
A tree during the mountain people sketch got caught in one of the lights.
Neil Casey wrote the Hotel sketch.
During the NBC Sports Sketch, the song duo got mad and started smashing photos on the walls with hammers and then went back to talking. A photo fell in the middle of them talking later on though and they improvised, trying to make it work and Tim said something along the lines of, he made it move with his mind! It was really funny.
Once Louis was done with Donnelley, he patted Kate on the back before leaving, it was really cute.
Everyone hugged everyone during goodnights and they were very sweet and adorable as always.
Sitting inside the studio and seeing the entire cast and crew function as a team, as a fluid creature - probably not the right word - is always so beyond incredible.
After the show, just as I was waiting to go into an elevator, I saw Paula Pell coming towards me and told her “Paula Pell You’re my hero!!!!” and she put her hand on my shoulder and was like, Oh, you’re so sweet but I’m not worthy. And I was like, yes you are. I was totally shell shocked. She was like, what’s your name and I was like, Samantha and she was like nice to meet you and thank you and she had to go so I said bye and I died. No one knew who she was- which is a tragedy in and of itself - but it was amazing.
I yelled at Chris Kelly after the show to tell him he’s a great writer but he didn’t hear me. His friend told him and I feel like he might have been freaked out a little that someone knew him. On the other hand, though, he really shouldn’t be because he’s done more than SNL. It is so sad that people don’t recognize or acknowledge the writers. This is coming from a writer so I can say that.
Seth Herzog was watching Dress silently by the door between studio and dressing rooms.
On a more personal note: I feel very blessed and humbled that I am able to see my favorite show so often, whether live or dress, because being in that studio inspires me so much. In the broadest sense, watching the sets being built and broken down and realizing that the writers and cast wrote and learned everything in six days makes you feel like anything is possible. It’s surreal when you’re sitting there because you see everyone working like a well-oiled machine and you realize, okay, this is the best form, or evolution, of television. This is it. If I can be even half as good as this, I can be really, really good. These people are excellent and seeing them do everything makes me feel like I might someday be able to, as well.

I will add to this list as I remember things.

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