Live, from Beverly Hills, it's 'Saturday Night'
Posted: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 6:02 AM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
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TV
"Saturday Night Live's" cast changes all the time, but executive producer Lorne Michaels is a mainstay. Michaels, head writer Seth Meyers, and six members of the current cast participated in an "SNL" panel Monday, discussing everything from Star Jones' weight to a rejected "SNL" reality-show concept.
HOSTS WITH THE MOST
When asked about guest hosts, always a pivotal part of "SNL," Seth Meyers singled out quarterback Peyton Manning as a recent favorite. "He showed up and right off the bat wanted to do (a sketch) where he was mean to kids," Meyers said with a laugh.
In response to a question, Lorne Michaels noted that frequent past host Christopher Walken "is very much on the list. Whenever he's available, we want him."
Andy Samberg was asked if he's still dating Natalie Portman, as has been reported, and he evaded the question with his typical humor, saying "pretty much every host, we all sleep with."
SPECIFIC SKETCHES
Kenan Thompson, who has portrayed Star Jones in sketches, was asked is he was "disappointed now that (Jones) is becoming sleek and less crazy? He responded "Less crazy, yes. Sleek is good for her. It's good for her health. It is."
Michaels and Samberg were asked about the now-famous "Dick in a Box" sketch. Michaels talked about how last-minute the sketch was, and said that "I think because it was Justin (Timberlake) and because it was musical ... and it was well performed, it just exploded ... it's a perfect form for the Internet." When asked if the sketch would get a sequel, Samberg first said "hell yes!" and then laughed and said "I don't know."
Kristen Wiig, who's impersonated Nancy Pelosi on the show, says she has yet to hear from Pelosi about her portrayal. She also said that the "Two A-holes" characters came from a long night of writing when she and Jason Sudeikis were "literally chewing gum to stay awake."
GET REAL
Michaels revealed that he had several meetings with NBC two years ago about the possibility of a reality show choosing a new cast member for "SNL." The show didn't pan out, and Michaels seemed glad. He noted that he's no Donald Trump and wouldn't be comfortable in a role such as Trump plays on "The Apprentice," and also said, bluntly, "not everything has to be opened up to the public." (Bravo, Michaels! We've got enough "Search for the Next Great BLANK" reality shows as is.)
HISTORY LESSON
When asked to examine his long history with the show to relate his most shocking moment, Michaels seemed unwilling to single out a specific sketch or star, although he did allow that the 1992 episode where Sinead O'Connor ripped up a photo of the Pope during her performance "couldn't have been predicted."
Michaels also noted that he wants to continue working with "SNL" for the forseeable future, and said that it's an irreplaceable institution. Said Michaels: "It's from another time in network television -- its budget, the way it's produced. It's really a throwback to live television really from the '50s, and so it's really a handmade show. "
Michaels noted the the entire cast will be returning for the new season, and that he's in talks with Maya Rudolph about returning to the show.
