MADtv, which I didn’t even realize was still on, has recruited their latest cast member through YouTube. Lisa Donovan, who moved to Los Angeles to become an actor, previously auctioned for MADtv, but didn’t get the gig. She started her own production company, Zappin Productions, where she created a number of short films. Her videos are available on YouTube, and were popular enough to be featured on the home page. MADtv‘s casting director found the videos on YouTube and asked Donovan to audition again. This time, she nailed it. A Cinderella story in the making—get your stuff up on YouTube and see if it doesn’t land you a dream job. MADtv airs on Saturdays at 11:00 p.m. Donovan can be seen beginning on February 17th.
Read More 
| Comingsoon.net
Gallery: MADtv Recruits Through YouTube
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Bindi Irwin Makes High-Profile TV Appearances
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Daytime, Late Night, Talk Shows, Cable, Cable/Satellite,
To kick off her U.S. showbiz career, Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, has a whirlwind tour ahead of her. Pretty lofty for an 8-year-old who recently lost her dad in a freak accident that occurred during filming of a documentary. These appearances will promote her 26-part Bindi, the Jungle Girl series set to debut on Discovery Kids this year. To begin, Bindi will speak at the National Press Club in Washington. She will also do interviews on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Late Show with David Letterman. She will also perform with The Wiggles at concerts in Los Angeles and New York. Discovery senior vice-president Annie Howell told Australian media that Bindi will “be welcomed with open arms and rightly so. She’s a very special child.” Steve Irwin passed away in September, after a stingray barb pierced his heart. His documentary, “Ocean’s Deadliest” will air at some point during Bindi’s U.S. tour.
Read More | Retuers
Gallery: Bindi Irwin Makes High-Profile TV Appearances
Seacrest, Daly Not Competing for New Year’s Eve
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Late Night, Reality, ABC, NBC, American Idol, Gossip, Rumors,
A bit of a slow entertainment news day when a possible rivalry between Carson Daly and Ryan Seacrest is a headline. The rumor that the two are competing for the coveted New Year’s Eve gig that Dick Clark has hosted for oh-so-many years was quickly dismissed by both Daly and Seacrest.
Dick Clark, who made the ‘‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’’ show an institution, suffered a stroke two years ago. In his place, uber-host Ryan Seacrest will be taking on hosting duties for the second year. Daly has his own hosting responsibilities for the night’s festivities on ‘‘New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly’‘, on NBC. The notion that the two would be fighting for Clark’s job seemed to be shot down before the rumor mill could even get warmed up. Daly told the ‘‘Los Angeles Times’‘, “Dick Clark is a huge inspiration for the huge success he’s achieved. But that’s where I stop. The world is changing. I’m young; I have my own thoughts as a producer. I’m not trying to keep his tradition. I’m trying to do my own.”
Read More | AOL News
Gallery: Seacrest, Daly Not Competing for New Year’s Eve
David Letterman Through 2010
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Late Night, CBS, Ratings, Renewals,
CBS just extended David Letterman’s contract through 2010 for hosting duties of The Late Show with David Letterman. “I’m thrilled to be continuing on at CBS,” Letterman said in a statement. “At my age, you really don’t want to have to learn a new commute.” A great day for Letterman fans, indeed. This will extend his hosting tour beyond competitor Jay Leno, who is planning to leave The Tonight Show in 2009 (passing duties on to Conan O’Brien).
Letterman has been at the hosting job for some time—and will celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Late Show in February. He began his tenure at NBC’s Late Night with David Letterman, leaving NBC in 1993 and making the move to CBS and Late Show. “Thirteen years ago, David Letterman put CBS late night on the map, and in the process, became one of the defining icons of our Network,” said CBS honcho Les Moonves. “His presence on our air is an ongoing source of pride, and the creativity and imagination that the Late Show puts forth every night is an ongoing display of the highest quality entertainment. We are truly honored that one of the most revered and talented entertainers of our time will continue to call CBS ‘home.’”
Read More | E! Online
Gallery: David Letterman Through 2010
NBC May Webcast SNL Rehearsals
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Late Night, NBC, Saturday Night Live, Internet, Rumors,
The possibility that NBC could broadcast Friday night rehearsals of Saturday Night Live may become a reality. NBC Universal chief digital officer George Kliavkoff spoke at a panel discussion on digital media at the Digital Entertainment Media & Marketing Excellence conference in Los Angeles. “Sometimes it’s a lot more interesting than the show. It’s something we watch on the cameras at 30 Rock,” said Kliavkoff. Currently, the Friday rehearsals are broadcast closed-circuit at NBC headquarters. NBC already has two shows that go behind-the-scenes of sketch comedies—30 Rock and Studio 60 both offer a glimpse at what goes into making a live late-night comedy show. So why not make it a reality with SNL? I think it would be a great inside look at what really goes on, including what gets cut and how things play out in rehearsal.
Read More | Reuters
Gallery: NBC May Webcast SNL Rehearsals
Tracy Morgan Charged With DWI
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Late Night, Prime Time, NBC, Saturday Night Live, News,
Here I’ve been talking up 30 Rock so much, and what do I find out is the latest entertainment news? 30 Rock star, Tracy Morgan, has been charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). Ugh. Apparently he was arrested in Manhattan on drunken driving charges at 4:30 AM today. According to police, he was stopped while driving a Cadillac Escalade and reportedly smelled of alcohol. He was later given a breathalyzer test, which he failed. He will be arraigned in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court later for the charges. This isn’t his first arrest either—on December 2, 2005, Morgan was arrested in Hollywood after he was pulled over for speeding. His blood-alcohol level was 0.13 percent (the legal limit is 0.08 percent) and he later faced a sentence of 36 months probation, paid a fine and had to attend an alcohol education program.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Gallery: Tracy Morgan Charged With DWI
Three New Back-to-Back Episodes of Saturday Night Live
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Late Night, NBC, Saturday Night Live,
If you’re wondering when there is going to be another new episode of Saturday Night Live, wonder no more. December is going to deliver the gift of three new episodes with some promising guest hosts. Kicking off the month on December 2nd, Lost star Matthew Fox hosts with Tenacious D as the musical guest. Predictions on whether or not there will be a Lost sketch? On December 9th, Annette Bening will host with musical guest Gwen Stefani, who is promoting her second solo album. I’m looking forward to Bening’s debut appearance—she really has impeccable timing and it will be interesting to see what they throw at her. And, to round out the month, the December 16th episode will feature Justin Timberlake as both host and musical guest. Timberlake appeared in 2003 and did a surprisingly good job—he is really up for just about anything and it’s a lot of fun to watch him give it his all.
I know, I know, SNL can often fail to please… but that hasn’t stopped me from watching it ever since I was a kid waaaay back when. For all the mediocre sketches, there are always bound to be gems. It’s a television institution, for goodness sake.
Read More | Comingsoon.net
Gallery: Three New Back-to-Back Episodes of Saturday Night Live
SNL’s Maya Rudolph—Victim of Bedbugs
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Late Night, NBC, Saturday Night Live,
I guess it’s a slow entertainment news day when you have to report on bedbugs. But those critters can really wreak havoc, apparently. Saturday Night Live cast member Maya Rudolph, partner Paul Anderson (director of Boogie Nights) and their baby had to evacuate their SoHo loft when they were infested with the bugs. As a result they are now suing the property owners for $450,000. According to court papers, “The plaintiffs were bitten over portions of their bodies by bedbugs. Apparently unbeknown to plaintiffs, the premises were infested with bedbugs.” The family were told that the apartment was “perfect” and in a “first-class luxury” building, court papers say. For the $13,500-a-month rent, you would think the place would be bug-free. An exterminator came to take care of the bugs, and told Rudolph and family that they should leave for a few weeks to protect their year-old baby.
Read More | The Showbuzz
Gallery: SNL’s Maya Rudolph—Victim of Bedbugs
Fox Gives Robert Smigel Animated Pilot a Try
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Animation, Late Night, Prime Time, FOX, Family Guy, Saturday Night Live,
Give that man a series—any series! Robert Smigel, the talented man behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the Saturday Night Live TV Fun House segments, as well as writer for Late Night with Conan O’Brien has had an animated pilot green-lit by the Fox Network. Animals will provide another animated half-hour to Fox’s Sunday-night cartoon offerings (King of the Hill, The Simpsons, American Dad and Family Guy). According to trade papers, Animals will “mine the animal kingdom for a parody of life in suburban America.” The series is produced by Adam Sandler’s company, Happy Madison. Smigel and Sandler have a past with Saturday Night Live, plus Smigel has popped up in small appearances in Happy Gilmore and Punch-Drunk Love.
Read More | Zap2it
Gallery: Fox Gives Robert Smigel Animated Pilot a Try
Amy Poehler, Tina Fey Hit the Big Screen
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Late Night, NBC, Saturday Night Live,
The pairing of Amy Poehler and Tina Fey may be over at the Weekend Update desk at Saturday Night Live, but they will be starring in a comedy film together. The film Baby Mama is about a single woman who wants to have a child, but is too committed to her professional life to give it up for pregancy. She turns to a surrogate, and the laughs ensue. There are no specifics about which funny lady will play which role, but the film does come from the co-writer of the Austin Power sequels. Production will not begin until next summer, after Poehler is done with SNL and Fey with her new series, 30 Rock. Look for Poehler in the upcoming movies Spring Breakdown, Southland Tales, Tenacious D in ‘The Pick of Destiny’ and Blades of Glory.
Read More | Zap2it
Gallery: Amy Poehler, Tina Fey Hit the Big Screen
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