SNL Insider Dishes on Early Days

Senate minority leader not amused by funny faces

(NEWSER) - There was too much of the funnyman about Al Franken for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell yesterday. The comedian-turned-senator was presiding over the Senate as McConnell made a speech opposing Elena Kagan's confirmation to the Supreme Court . Franken appeared to be shifting in his seat and making faces, which McConnell took as mockery. "This isn't Saturday Night Live, Al," McConnell told Franken. More»

He now seems more comfortable cracking jokes

(NEWSER) - Senate colleagues expecting humor from funnyman and freshman lawmaker Al Franken have gotten just the opposite, though insiders say the Minnesota senator is getting into the groove and loosening up a bit. Since taking office last year, Franken has snapped at administration officials , Joe Lieberman , and Republican legislators. Now, he’s the model of bipartisanship with numerous across-the-aisle bills, and he’s even making jokes. More»

Launch a Fox rival? Return to SNL ? Reality TV?

(NEWSER) - NBC's shabby treatment of Conan O'Brien has been a recurring theme of the Jay Leno-centric late-night shuffle, but "he-who-rocks-the-dopest-pompadour-on-TV" has more options than you might think. MTV ponders his options.

• Defect to Fox: The network is apparently interested, and it would be a great way to tick off NBC. But Fox has a terrible track record with late-night talk shows.
• Saturday Night Live: O'Brien's writing tenure at SNL coincided with a memorably strong run for the show, but Tonight Show host to "Cheeto-dusted anonymity" is a major step down.

(NEWSER) - It jiggles. It droops. It covers naughty parts. Let's face it, fat is funny, especially when a guy knows how to work it. Super Tremendous lists the funniest fat men:

• Jason Alexander: His George Costanza character on Seinfeld revealed the tragic life of "a short, stocky, slow-witted bald man."

Actor didn't want to be just another pretty face, made sure he wasn't

(NEWSER) - Patrick Swayze, who died today at 57, wasn’t the first choice for the male lead in Dirty Dancing, the BBC notes, but “his performance earned him award nominations and a place on bedroom walls of lovelorn teenage girls around the world.” He eschewed Hollywood’s scene—preferring his ranches—and its bed-hopping—he and Lisa Niemi were married 34 years. Swayze also wanted little to do with a pretty-boy image, he said: “It wouldn’t have been worth it if I had been stuck as the leading man or the dance guy.” More»