“In terms of intelligence and talent, he was in that same tradition. He was so completely committed to the art of it and enough a student of it that there’s something strikingly original. He didn’t explode onto the air, but gradually he found his voice, and that became a huge thing.”Also according to Lorne, both Fred Armisen and Jason Sudeikis are still making up their minds.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
THIS PLACE HAS EVERYTHING: TWEEKERS, SKIVVIES, SPUD WEBB, A CHILD... AND A RUSSIAN GUY WHO RUNS ON A TREADMILL IN A COSBY SWEATER. SO COME ON DOWN THIS WEEKEND. THE BOUNCER'S A BULLDOG WHO LOOKS LIKE WILFORD BRIMLEY, AND THE PASSWORD IS ... "DIE-UH-BEAT-US!": Bill Hader is leaving SNL after this season. Even beyond Stefon and his general willingness to go weird, what a great impressionist -- his Pacino, his Alda, his Eastwood, Price, and of course his Lindsay Buckingham are all top-notch. Lorne Michaels says that from the first audition, he was reminded of Dan Aykroyd:
How will I know what to do with my family on Halloween? I always listen to Stephon's suggestions before planning my weekend. Ugh... I'll miss him (especially when he cracks himself up)! They are losing so many good people. Bummer. I do, however, love "The girl you wish you hadn't started a conversation with at a party," so maybe they'll keep her around.
ReplyDeleteNo Stefon (I know Finn's feelings on this but I thought Mulaney & Hader were priceless with this character, and just short of over-used). That's probably it for "What's Up With That?" as well - can't imagine it without Hader's Lindsey Buckingham. Looking forward to whatever he's doing next.
ReplyDeleteI assume we see both of them for the finale, plus Hader as exacerbated Game Show Host.
ReplyDeleteHe had a very small role in Adventureland, but it was great how it could have been a one-note comic performance and yet the writing and he added some depth to the character. I look forward to seeing him in feature films if he taps that vein instead of the "wacky ex-SNL player" one.
ReplyDeleteWe've only seen Stefon twice this season, right? They've done an EXCELLENT job of not overusing him this year. And, given a choice, I'd rather see his Vincent Price (Vincent Price's Memorial Day Spook-tacular, maybe?) than "What's Up With That?" (a sketch I've never really enjoyed, to be honest) in the finale.
ReplyDeleteAnd at this point, I'd be more than fine with Armisen and Sudeikis leaving. Unlike Hader, I think they've both overstayed their welcomes. (No one has more Weekend Update characters that I fast-forward through than Armisen.)
Also, Bill Hader is my SNL eye candy. I will miss that.
ReplyDeletehttp://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/27500000/Bill-Hader-hottest-actors-27535116-351-429.png for the time a photographer made him look like a male model.
But he's cute just in general.
First Seth Myers and now Bill Hader? Sigh. But hey, if they lose Armisen and Sudeikis I just may stick around to check out the replacements. As it is I can only tolerate Sudeikis occasionally and I find Armisen to be one of the least funny people I've ever seen on SNL.
ReplyDeleteI still just miss Phil Hartman.
Is Stefon the highest percentage recurring character in SNL history? Unlike most recurring characters or sketches, Stefon is one of the few that never seemed to overstay its welcome.
ReplyDeleteThat honour goes to Gilda Radner's Emily Litella ("Never mind.") with 25 appearances. I think Stefon only clocks in around 15 appearances. This Vulture article from 2011 has a slideshow of the 25 Most Repeated Characters at the time. http://www.vulture.com/2011/11/saturday-night-lives-25-most-repeated-characters.html#
ReplyDeleteI understood the question to mean "how often has a recurring character been funny?", and Stefon is at 100% there. It never got tired. I would put Phil Hartman's Frankenstein up near that level.
ReplyDeleteI realize I am adrift on a lonely little island, but Lovitz's Annoying Man hits that spot for me.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was my intention. Stefon has been the rare SNL recurring segment that has not only been consistently funny (if not always the most infectiously funny highlight of the episode), but not overused.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to break this out into a separate post.
ReplyDeleteAs I told Watts earlier, best of like to Bill Hader.
ReplyDeleteHowever.
*pops Champagne*
ROT IN HELL, STEFON! May we never see the worst recurring character since Mary Katherine Gallagher again.
Give me that and Hader's Alan Alda and I'm a happy, happy camper.
ReplyDeleteAlso: "Don' You Go Rounin' Roun to Re Ro"
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/british-movie/n13054/
Assuming Jason Sudeikis leaves as well, I guess this show belongs to Kate McKinnon and Taran Killam next season.
ReplyDelete