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Don't touch that dial: Test Pattern tunes into television, movie, music and pop culture links, as well as gossip and idle chat from around the Web.

Every week, msnbc.com entertainment producers Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, Denise Hazlick, Paige Newman, Kurt Schlosser and Anna Chan weigh in on topics ranging from TV commercials to movie hype to the latest celebrity blunder. We're not ashamed to admit our love for bad TV or reveal what's on our iPods, and invite you to join the conversation via your comments.



OK, OK, Mark Wahlberg can take a joke

Posted: Monday, October 20, 2008 7:00 AM by Kurt Schlosser
Filed Under: ,

At the end of last week, after reading several reports about how mad actor Mark Wahlberg was with a "Saturday Night Live" sketch that made fun of him, I weighed in here saying the actor apparently couldn't laugh at himself.

Some of you thought I was misreading his mock anger over comedian Andy Samberg's animal skit during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel's show Thursday night. And sure enough, Wahlberg showed up on "SNL" this weekend and confronted Samberg in a scene aimed at showing he does indeed have a sense of humor. I think it also showed that Samberg does Wahlberg better than Wahlberg does Samberg doing Wahlberg.

And it shows that Wahlberg had a keen enough marketing sense in a week when his new movie, "Max Payne," was opening. I still think he was initially unamused by "Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals," but had a sensible change of heart when he realized the potential to impact the box office. I should have known better than to question a movie star's promotional tactics.

So, Mark, thanks for proving me wrong ... and say hi to your mother for me.

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Comments

If you watch the two clips back to back it's pretty funny. The cowbell, Fey/Palin, and this are sole examples of humor in the crap that SNL has been the last 15 years.

Timmy (Sent Monday, October 20, 2008 12:25 PM)

I wonder if the whole thing were staged from the get-go. BTW, that Tina Fey impersonator was terrible.

KG, Twin Cities, Mn (Sent Monday, October 20, 2008 1:37 PM)

i've been watching SNL as long as i can remember. they had some groaners in the nineties, but as far as i'm concerned, they have a great cast now and the show is hilarious.

Jenny, Austin, Texas (Sent Monday, October 20, 2008 2:02 PM)

Keen enough marketing sense? This is product placement within program content -- at its finest.

greg (Sent Monday, October 20, 2008 2:36 PM)

I was so disappointed in Mark Wahlberg when his first reactions to the skit started coming out. I have to admit, I totally agreed with Samberg's spoof - periodically Wahlberg's jerky speech and urban persona ruin roles for me (The Happening). However, I have also enjoyed his other, more believeable acting parts (The Italian Job). Despite my opinion of his work, the skit was just plan ridiculous - but hilarious! Just about everyone else I know enjoyed it and has been using "Say hi to your mother for me" every chance they get. I was afraid that because of his poor attitude reported intially that Mark Wahlberg would forever be a jerk to me. I'm happy to report that he has totally redeemed himself in my eyes. I'm just hoping that Max Payne is more convincing than The Happening...

Julie, Milwaukee (Sent Monday, October 20, 2008 2:41 PM)

it wasnt even funny when mark does it. it was really bad

wray (Sent Monday, October 20, 2008 3:18 PM)

It was very funny! When both did it! I love Mark Wahlberg. I've loved him since Marky Mark. (Yeah I know he hates being called that) but it was at one point a persona that he portrayed. I think what people don't understand is he's a very private person who loves his job and tries to be respectful but he's not an actor who  schmoozes and kisses ass all the time like some others do. It should be about his talent, not his personal feelings on anything one way or the other...

Marti, Beavertom, OR (Sent Monday, October 20, 2008 3:30 PM)



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