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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Lorne Michaels

Lorne Michaels stories: 14 news summaries
GLOSSIES

 Small Screen's Biggest Brains 

Family Guy creator MacFarlane, ubiquitous Fey top list of TV smarties

Dec 6, 08 3:49 PM CST
(Newser) - It may be dubbed the "idiot box," but there are some bright bulbs behind TV's smartest shows and network deals. After polling Hollywood insiders, Entertainment Weekly lists the top 25 smarties:
  1. Seth MacFarlane, executive producer, Family Guy, American Dad.
  2. Tina Fey, executive producer, actress, 30 Rock.
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
television • Disney Channel • Tina Fey • 30 Rock • Hulu • Family Guy • Lorne Michaels

OPINION

SNL Seeks a New Post-Election Obama

Four comedians auditioned, but no pick from Michaels yet

Nov 21, 08 5:25 PM CST
(Newser) - Lorne Michaels has a tough decision to make, and the fate of Saturday Night Live may depend on it: Who will parody the president-elect? Fred Armisen played Barack Obama during primary season, but the executive producer can’t squeeze 4 years of laughs out of his milquetoast portrayal, writes Jocelyn... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Saturday Night Live • Barack Obama • 30 Rock • The Daily Show • Stephen Colbert • Lorne Michaels • President Obama

With Election Gone, SNL Enters 'Rebuilding' Phase

Three new members join comedy show's cast

Nov 21, 08 3:14 PM CST
(Newser) - The election may be over, but SNL still has 14 episodes to fill. Lorne Michaels says the show will be in one of its periodic "rebuilding" periods, but he has much praise for three new faces. Here's the lowdown, from USA Today:
  • Abby Elliott: The daughter of former
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Saturday Night Live • NBC • comedy • Lorne Michaels • Michaela Watkins • Abby Elliott • bobby moynihan

OPINION

 Hate Palin? You 
 Just Haven't Met Her 

But Fred Barnes has, and, he assures us, she's great

Oct 25, 08 5:49 PM CDT
(Newser) - Many of Sarah Palin’s critics have something in common: They haven't met her. Virtually everyone who has come into the governor’s presence leaves impressed, writes Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard. Even Alaska politicians she’s quarreled with say she’s smart and capable. “Her politics... More »

MORE ABOUT:
media • Weekly Standard • Peggy Noonan • Election 2008 • Lorne Michaels • Sarah Palin • Kathleen Parker

 SNL Expects Obama Nov. 1 

Meyers spills the beans to Palin at afterparty, aide tells blogger

Oct 21, 08 4:25 PM CDT
(Newser) - Saturday Night Live has lined up Barack Obama for Nov. 1—the weekend before the election, blogger Martin Eisenstadt says he’s hearing from an aide to Sarah Palin. In boozy glee over the successful Palin appearance Saturday, SNL political writer Seth Meyers blurted, “just wait til you see... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Saturday Night Live • Barack Obama • Election 2008 • political donations • Lorne Michaels • Seth Meyers • Sarah Palin • Hurricane Ike

 'Caribou Barbie' Debuts on SNL 

Baldwin tells her she's "way hotter" than Fey

Oct 19, 08 4:50 AM CDT
(Newser) - The real Sarah Palin made her much anticipated debut on Saturday Nigh Live last night, gamely sparring with cast members who still skewered the candidate and show producer Lorne Michaels, reports USA Today. In the opening skit Tina Fey delivers Palin’s “first press conference” (she’s yet to... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Saturday Night Live • Alec Baldwin • Tina Fey • Lorne Michaels • Amy Poehler • Sarah Palin • Weekend Update

Drenched in Watercooler Moments, SNL Is Hot Again

Late-night is the standout hit of the fall season

Oct 18, 08 5:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - The fall TV ratings are in, and while Heroes needs saving and House is collapsing, Saturday Night Live has emerged as the biggest hit of the season, Maureen Ryan writes in the Chicago Tribune. Unlike other shows, SNL’s live ratings have jumped nearly 50% in its 34th season. “... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Saturday Night Live • television • NBC • politics • Tina Fey • Lorne Michaels • Seth Meyers • Amy Poehler • Sarah Palin

 Election 
 Results In: 
 Comedy Wins 

Race for the White House proving a comedy goldmine

Oct 9, 08 1:55 AM CDT
(Newser) - No matter which candidate ultimately surges ahead, political comedy is emerging as the clear winner in the presidential race, reports the New York Times. Tina Fey's dead-on parody of Sarah Palin has triggered a huge boost in viewership for Saturday Night Live. The Colbert Report and the Daily Show have... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Saturday Night Live • comedy • Tina Fey • Jay Leno • Jon Stewart • David Letterman • Late Night • Election 2008 • Lorne Michaels

 Franken 
 Hatched 
 Mac-Mocking 
 SNL Skit 

Candidate-comedian's role triggers ethics, political controversy

Sep 21, 08 6:48 AM CDT
(Newser) - Former Saturday Night Live scribe and current Minnesota Democratic Senate hopeful Al Franken hatched the idea for last night’s sketch mocking John McCain—raising tough political questions for the program and NBC, Politico reports. Critics raised concerns about the propriety of a politician playing a role in an attack... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Saturday Night Live • John McCain • comedy • Al Franken • Lorne Michaels • Seth Meyers

GLOSSIES

 What's 
 Eating 
 Alec
 Baldwin?


'I don’t think I really have a talent for movie acting,' laments Red October star

Sep 6, 08 5:09 AM CDT
(Newser) - Alec Baldwin—star of a hit TV show, winner of Golden Globes and SAG Awards, co-star to Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicole Kidman—isn't all that jazzed about acting anymore. “There’s just something else I want to do,” the 50-year-old actor tells Ian Parker in the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NBC • Alec Baldwin • Kim Basinger • 30 Rock • family court • Lorne Michaels

 Fallon to Launch
 Late Night Online 

New host will post short programs on the web

Jul 21, 08 3:54 AM CDT
(Newser) - Jimmy Fallon is launching his career as host of NBC's Late Night on the Internet, reports the New York Times. Late Night producer Lorne Michaels will produce 10-minute segments with Fallon for an online audience months before he takes over on TV from Conan O'Brien, who's set to replace Jay... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NBC • Jay Leno • Conan O'Brien • Tonight Show • Late Night • Lorne Michaels • online TV • Jimmy Fallon • NBC Universal studio

'SNL' Staffers Not Laughing
at Hillary Bias Claims

Show tries to be equally unfair to all candidates

Mar 13, 08 1:09 PM CDT
(Newser) - “Saturday Night Live” staffers are getting serious over accusations of a pro-Clinton bias, with producer Lorne Michaels telling the Los Angeles Times any perception of bias is a "major concern" and assuring “there’s no agenda.” The show’s send-up of a media crush on Barack... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Saturday Night Live • Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Tina Fey • Democratic nomination • Lorne Michaels • Seth Meyers • Amy Poehler • media bias • Weekend Update • media frenzy

Wanted: Comic Who Can Imitate This Candidate

Saturday Night Live auditions for the part
of Barack Obama

Feb 20, 08 6:31 PM CST
(Newser) - The latest indication Barack Obama is one of a kind: Saturday Night Live can’t find an actor to impersonate the Democratic presidential candidate. Show mastermind Lorne Michaels says mimicking any celeb's “mildly irritating” minor tics is crucial to any impersonation. The show, returning Saturday from the writers' strike,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Saturday Night Live • television • Barack Obama • Tina Fey • Keenan Thompson • Lorne Michaels

Live From NY, But Not On-Air

Cast stages longer, uninterrupted, dirtier show to benefit strikers

Nov 18, 07 12:29 PM CST
(Newser) - It was SNL with all the trappings: opening monologue, musical guest, Weekend Update. But the extra-long, raunchier-than-usual show that never aired last night was witnessed by only 150 audience members at a Manhattan theater. "Saturday Night Live—On Strike!" benefited the long-running comedy show's striking production team, the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Saturday Night Live • Michael Cera • Writers Guild of America • Hollywood writers' strike • Yo La Tengo • Brian Williams • Lorne Michaels

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