SNL Cutbacks
One of the big stories in television today was that four members of the current SNL cast are about to be fired. They know who they are, but we don’t. This is according to a New York Post article in which interviews with executive producer Lorne Michaels suggest that the jobs that are safe include Seth Myers (who is now the head writer), Amy Poehler, and *GASP* Darrell Hammond. He also suggests that the four featured members of last year’s cast will be sticking around and basically carrying the show. “I think everything that was strong last season is back,” Michaels says.
Here is who I predict got the ax:
1) Chris Parnell
2) Maya Rudolph
3) Will Forte
4) Finesse Mitchell
I was thinking about this and I realized that what SNL should really do is go back to their original formula of seven players. Based on Tom Shales’ Live From New York it seems most of the drama in the modern era of SNL has come from cast member worrying whether they’ll be on the show or not. If you only have seven cast members, then you’re guaranteed screen time and everyone can just mellow the hell out a little bit. Really, what’s the point of having a cast of thousands? No one is ever on the screen enough to get a real fan base, and those that are will either become exceptionally grating (Parnell) or will become a crutch (Will Ferrell).
ANYWAY. What is most telling in this whole story is the quote from Lorne Michaels that appears at the very end of The Post story. He says, “For me, the most important thing is keeping the show on the air.”
OK.
You read that quote and you initially think that it makes perfect sense. SNL is an institution. It’s like Meet The Press. No one should want to live in a world where either program no longer exists. But then you reread the statement and you think, “Huh, that’s an odd thing to say.”
Keeping the show on the air is more important than making sure the show is, um, good? When the show’s good people watch it, and when they watch it NBC makes money and the show stays on the air. I’d like to think that is precisely the logic the Mr. Michaels used before making his statement, but why do I feel it isn’t? Why do I feel he’s trying to build a bridge out of toothpicks, shaving-cream and straws?
Well, the dumped have been dumped. Here’s who is no longer a castmember of Saturday Night Live:
- Horatio Sanz
- Chris Parnell
- Kenan Thompson
Darrell Hammond is still in negotiations.
Likewise, it appears that Jason Sudeikis is the new Weekend Update host, replacing Tina Fey, who left the show, and Amy Poehler who is still at SNL but no longer delivering fake news.
MagneticMediaFed is coming out IN FAVOR of these changes.
[READ]
UPDATE 8.24.06 (18:13)
Well, as of right now it appears that no one is really sure just what the hell is going on over at studio 8H. Zap2It now reports that Horatio Sanz had no idea he was getting the ax until he read about it (I’d like to think that he found out about it here at MagneticMediaFed).
There was also some speculation that Will Forte and Maya Rudolph were going to be thrown into the mix, but at this point we just have to retreat to the original information (the obvious information) that only Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch are leaving the show. I guess we can assume that Jason Sudeikis is still getting Weekend Update.
And while we’re all spreading gossip, I’d like to add that I’ll be a castmember on Saturday Night Live next season. My signature character is “Wesley, the boring twenty-something who sits in his chair on Saturday nights and complains SNL isn’t Funnier.”
Picture via the AV Club
Tags: NBC, SNL, The Industry
August 23rd, 2006 at 8:04 am
This quote from the Post story kind of answers your question:
“This will be one of the few seasons that he doesn’t bring in at least one new cast member. Knowing that budget cuts were looming for this fall, Michaels last year hired an exceptionally large cast - so that when the ax fell, he would already have a fresh, experienced cast ready to go.”
It doesn’t explain why he wouldn’t go down to just seven, but it does explain why the cast last year was so big. Personally, I would say that Live From New York answers your question: Lorne likes to have a wide variety of types of comedy on the show, and it’s easier to get that — call it programming diversity — from a large cast. Lorne’s like the Robert Altman of sketch comedy.
August 23rd, 2006 at 12:48 pm
So I don’t know where to put questions that don’t have anything to do with anything, so I’ll put it here:
Is Arrested Development Season 3 coming out on DVD on August 29th like you predicted, or should I spend my Target gift card on something else?
August 23rd, 2006 at 4:19 pm
It absolutely is. [See]
While we’re on the subject, here are some other notables:
August 29 - The Tick Vs. Season 1
September 5 - Lost Season 2
September 12 - The Office Season 2
And don’t forget that both seasons of Veronica Mars are out so everyone can catch up before the third season premiere in October.
August 24th, 2006 at 5:47 am
A.Darrell Hammond is like the Tim Meadows of the 00’s, he’s the guy thats been there so long that after a while he just seems like a piece of the furniture.
B.With Parnell gone and Sudeikis at the desk (good choice, it was my guess, although i thought that Amy would stay up there for at least another season) . . . SNL is going to need to get some more “typical 30’s/40’s white guys” to fill out the cast.
August 24th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
Bye, bye Horatio. Do I smell RejectedSNLCastMembers.com?
August 24th, 2006 at 4:42 pm
Though I no longer host the KXVO show, I did still try and get them to quote you (as in Magnetic Media Fed) as a source for speculation on the fired cast members because you live in NY and work in TV. It may have worked. The band had a show last night so I didn’t get to watch…but I tried.
Also, I’m not sure how I feel about Parnell leaving. He’d been there for awhile, yes…but he’s still funnier in most situations than Maya Rudolph or Finese Mitchell. And no, it’s not a white thing like it is on Survivor. And no, I don’t just lie there, if that’s what you’re thinking Michael Bluth.
August 28th, 2006 at 7:38 pm
I’m Carol!
August 29th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
LOL I love Horatio Sanz!