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Lana Del Rey's 'SNL' Gig Joins List Of Other Awkward Debuts

Posted 1/17/12 4:44 pm EST by in Music, snl


Lana Del Ray

Whether it's your fourth grade talent show or your network TV debut, everyone has one of those not-so-fresh moments where things just don't go off the way you expected in front of a huge audience.

Buzzed-about singer Lana Del Rey had one of those on Saturday night. Two of them, in fact. Hyped as the first artist to play "Saturday Night Live" before the release of a debut album, Del Rey took some serious fire after she stumbled through shaky, deer-in-the-headlights performances of "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans."

In a moment that made Ashlee Simpson's infamous lip-synching scandal seem like child's play by comparison, Del Rey even took fire from respected NBC news anchor Brian Williams, whose email meant for Gawker Media founder Nick Denton was accidentally made public after he told Denton that the performance was "one of the worst outings in 'SNL' history."

Del Rey is used to answering her critics by now about everything from her looks to the full-court major-label push behind her upcoming debut, Born to Die.

But she is, of course, not the first star (or future star) to do a face plant in their big debut. Read More...

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Daniel Radcliffe Tells Jason Sudeikis To 'Chill Broseph' In New 'SNL' Promo

Posted 1/11/12 4:09 pm EST by in Daniel Radcliffe, Television


The first promos for Daniel Radcliffe's hosting stint on "Saturday Night Live" have turned up online and find the "Harry Potter" star in the "SNL" control room with Jason Sudeikis doing his best American accent. ("Chill broseph, I like Mountain Dew and big butts.")

(Of course, we know the truth about Radcliffe's American-ness after his recent brawl with MTV News' very own Josh Horowitz … which you'll find below.)

When Radcliffe stopped by MTV to talk about his creepy new film "The Woman in Black," Josh asked about his gig this weekend at "SNL" and Radcliffe told him that doing the show was a "no-brainer." "I had to think about it a little bit because it's, you know, it's the real deal. You live or die on that show. [But] ultimately it was a no-brainer," Radcliffe said. "I love Seth Myers. Bill Hader, I think is just unbelievable. That Alan Alda impression. Just mind-blowing. … I really wanted to do it. And it's very exciting. And it'll be the kind of stuff I like. Like, that kind of guerilla style of getting stuff done when you just have to get it done and nothing else matters. By the end of the week, you're going to be putting on an hour-and-a-half music and comedy show from scratch."

Check out Radcliffe's "SNL" promo – as well as MTV News' latest "American Talk: Ghost Protocol" with the "HP" star – after the jump. Read More...

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Justin Timberlake Is Back On 'SNL,' And We Have Some Sketch Ideas

Posted 4/21/11 8:28 pm EST by in Television


If you're not excited about Justin Timberlake returning to host "Saturday Night Live," then you're probably just mad about what was in that box.

You know which box.

But boxes aside, when it comes to artists hosting "SNL," Timberlake's credentials put him in a league of his own. Topping our picks for his top five Timberlake "SNL" sketches is the aforementioned "Di-- in a Box" skit and his "Single Ladies" routine with Beyoncé. Both became instant memes and inspired countless Halloween recreations.

And now we look forward to Timberlake's May 7 hosting gig with ...

Timberlake and Lady Gaga: As the musical guest, Lady Gaga will already be in the building, so why not throw them into a sketch together? We're not saying Lady Gaga begs for parody, but we are saying that arriving at an awards show in an egg does. Add in the meat dress and the motorcycle cover and I smell another "SNL" Timberlake meme on the Twitter trends.

"The Social Network": Who didn't love Timberlake as a smooth copy of Napster founder Sean Parker in "The Social Network"? We could definitely use a little more of Justin in the tech nerd role. MySpace jokes never get old.

NSYNCKOTBSB Tour: Every 26-year-old woman who used to be a 12-year-old girl would be in favor of an 'NSYNC reunion. But let's make it even better and add 'NYSNC to the upcoming NKOTBSB tour.

What role do you hope to see Timberlake take on in his next "SNL" hosting gig? Let us know in the comments!

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Where Does Kanye West Rank Among Best 'SNL' Performances Ever?

Posted 10/4/10 12:48 pm EST by in Music


You can't spit on the host and then show up with your B game. Kanye West knows this, which is why his pair of performances on this weekend's "Saturday Night Live" were among the most arresting in the show's 30-plus year history. You might recall that West took a hard shot at the long-running late night staple on his single "Power," unfavorably name-checking the sketch comedy show with the line "F--- 'SNL' and the whole cast. Tell 'em Yeezy said they can kiss my whole ass."

But when he showed up to perform the song on Saturday (October 2), Kanye paid the biggest compliment he could to the show: He delivered one of his typically eye-popping visual spectacles, one which will undoubtedly go down in the books. And keep in mind, everybody has played on SNL, from U2 and ABBA, to Frank Zappa, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Queen, R.E.M., Public Enemy, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, RUN-DMC, Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake.

Not content to set up on the same Grand Central Terminal-themed set as everyone else, 'Ye draped the set in a billowing, stark white sheet, standing atop a set of stairs in a red suit and wearing a gold garland crown, his neck heavy with long gold chains. From there he proceeded to kill the song as a group of ballet dancers performed a live version of his "moving painting" video for the track. It was the kind of visual feast you expect from Kanye, and by the time he came back for an equally arresting "Runaway" with a group of dancers hitting poses in sync with the rhythm, again against the white background, you knew you were seeing something epic.

It got us thinking about some of the other "SNL" sets that have set our eyes and ears on fire. One of the first that pops to mind is one of the all-time classic moments on the show, and the one that got Elvis Costello banned for more than a dozen years. The then-angry young man was slotted to play "Less Than Zero" on his "SNL" debut in 1977, but after hitting the first few bars of that tune, he switched to a song he was told not to play, "Radio, Radio," an anti-commercialism rant.
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What Steve Martin Might Be Doing This Week On 'Saturday Night Live'

Posted 1/27/09 3:59 pm EST by in snl


By Garth Bardsley

Andy Samberg"SNL" cast member Andy Samberg and his two writing partners/collaborators, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, are releasing a comedy LP entitled Incredibad on February 10. Since this is the trio responsible for all the great digital shorts airing each week on "SNL" — such as "Lazy Sunday" and "Ras Trent" — I headed across town a few hours ago to ask them a few questions.

After sitting in the waiting room for 20 minutes with a few other interviewers, listening to the uncensored version of "Natalie's Rap" (which features the pint-sized Natalie Portman rapping about wanting to "f--- all night"), I was ushered into a room where the trio was waiting for me.

Being the well-respected journalist and television producer that I am, I put forth an intellectual, thought-provoking query to the comedic threesome, in hopes they would share with me an enlightened response about their work.
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Fleet Foxes: From Critical Darlings To The 'SNL' Stage

Posted 1/16/09 3:18 pm EST by in snl


Fleet Foxes

A few weeks back, we wrote a post about Seattle's Fleet Foxes and how they ended up on many, many, many best-of lists at the end of the year, and wouldn't you know it — they've been tapped to perform on this weekend's "Saturday Night Live."

So to give you a preview of what's to come on "SNL" (and see if you should stay up late), check out the stripped-down performance of "White Winter Hymnal" the band did especially for us.
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T.I. Rehearses In New York With The Help Of DJ Drama And A Live Band

Posted 12/5/08 2:22 pm EST by in t.i.


By Rahman Dukes

Atlanta's self-proclaimed King of the South T.I. was holed up in Manhattan's esteemed S.I.R. Studio on Wednesday, readying himself for a show at the Hammerstein Ballroom that evening and the bigger stage at “Saturday Night Live” days later.

Clad in a mesh, black Gucci hat with red-and-green trim and his signature Akoo clothing line (loved the College jacket), Tip was bouncing back and forth between the rehearsal room, which included a host of young kids, and the studio's lobby, where label rep Mike Kaiser stood feverishly working his Blackberry to regulate T.I.'s schedule for the week.

Check out our clip of him with his live band after the jump! Read More...

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Justin Timberlake's 'SNL' Stint Proves It's Time For Him To Get Back To Work

Posted 11/17/08 12:08 pm EST by in Justin Timberlake


Dear Justin Timberlake,
 
It pains me to admit this, but it seems that Kanye West is right. You are just being lazy. The least humble rapper on the planet took a swipe at you last week, saying you could have been music's #1 man, but you "went on vacation" while he was busy making albums.

Well, JT, after watching you on "Saturday Night Live" this weekend, I kind of have to agree. Watching your tour de force "Weekend Update" segment, in which you flawlessly blasted through an entire Thanksgiving week "SNL" episode in under three minutes, and your bit with Beyoncé as one of three inept but snaptastic backup dancers (wearing a skintight leotard and high heels, no less), it feels like you're squandering your talent.



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Who's Funnier -- Barack Obama Or John McCain?

Posted 10/17/08 12:02 pm EST by in Barack-Obama, John-McCain


Senators Barack Obama and John McCain
In just over two weeks, one of the two men vying for our nation's highest office will be out of a job. One will get ready to move into the White House, and one will head home — or to one of his seven homes. Sure, the loser will still have a gig in the Senate, but with this year’s presidential campaign winding down, could either John McCain or Barack Obama — who hoisted verbal attacks at each other during the third and final debate Wednesday night — secure future work on the stand-up circuit? Last night, both candidates attended the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where they swapped punch lines about themselves and each other.

(Watch the video after the jump!)
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Has 'SNL''s Campaign Coverage Jumped the Shark?

Posted 5/12/08 5:23 pm EST by in Campaign '08, Television




Did you see the opener to this weekend’s edition of “SNL”? And were you as shocked as some of us here at MTV News to see Amy Poehler’s caricature of Hillary Clinton? As Clinton, Amy announces, "Sore loser, racist supporters, no ethical standards -- qualities Sen. Obama simply can't match!" Um, what?? Since when was this fair play with a presidential candidate? Did "SNL"'s campaign coverage just go from clever to completely biased?

As the clip made its way around the office, some of the MTV News crew jumped into the fray:

Liz: Um. I thought it was pretty over the top, to say the least.

Jim: Hmm...One might argue that “SNL”'s coverage jumped the shark from day one. The show's political coverage has been a disaster ever since Jon Stewart and “The Colbert Report” dominated airwaves.

John: It was only a matter of time before the Obamabots on the 8th floor of “30 Rock” showed their true colors, and dispensed with even an attempt at even-handed jabs.

James: I think the point of this is that Hillary basically has no way of winning the nomination, yet she continues to campaign -- and speak -- as if she's got it all wrapped up. She's delusional, as are her supporters, and they're painting her as such.

Joseph: The jokes were exaggerations on the perception that a) she'll do anything to win; b) she's playing up race with her race-baiting comments to USA Today last Thursday; and c) she's delusional to think that she has a shot even though all the empirical evidence speaks to the contrary.

What do you think? Has “SNL”’s political satire gone too far?

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