Kristen Wiig movie update - Despicable Me (the film makers)

Release Date: 9 July 2010

Directors:

Pierre Coffin - A new director, he animated on We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (1993).

Chris Renaud - He has a little more experience. He worked on "Bear in the Big Blue House" (1997), "The Book of Pooh" (2001), Robots (2005), "It's a Big Big World" (2006), Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006), Horton Hears a Who! (2008), and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009). He also wrote and directed No Time for Nuts (2006). He's scheduled to co-direct The Lorax, which is an animated follow-up of sorts of Horton (although Lorax will be done by Universal and not Fox).

Essentially, Chris couldn't get much directing opportunities at Fox (where he worked on Robots, Ice Age 2, Horton, and Ice Age 3), but Universal gave him his first feature film to direct (Despicable Me), and he's already got a second one lined up (Lorax).



Universal Pictures has been trying to join Pixar, Disney, DreamWorks, and Fox in the animated film battle, but they haven't had any hits yet (Curious George, Pirates Who Don't Do Anything, The Tale of Despereaux, and Coraline). Plus they have new attempts coming (Dispicable Me, Lorax, Flanimals). Although I was rooting for Despereaux, it failed to hit the right cords. So now I'm rooting for Despicable Me.

For Despicable Me they seem to have the formula down that DreamWorks and Fox uses (get stars to be funny; get stars to promote film). In fact, the proof is that it seems that DreamWorks is copying them with Megamind, a version of this same story (the bad guy is the actual hero), but Will Ferrell and Brad Pitt play the main characters instead of Steve Carell and Jason Segel.

Plus add Tina Fey and Jonah Hill, as well as the director of Madagascar 1 and 2, and it seems that Megamind might have more star power. However, I think the story of Despicable Me (villain becomes father) is far better than Megamind (villain kills hero and doesn't know what to do).

So, yeah, I'm rooting for Despicable Me. I also like the art and animation style better (and that the hero is more lame and disgusting than the villain is pretty funny). Go underdogs!

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig - in Despicable Me cast featurette

Release Date: 9 July 2010 (USA)

Here's a featurette where Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Miranda Cosgrove, Jack McBrayer, Steve Carell, Will Arnett, Julie Andrews, and Kristen Wiig talking about their voice acting experiences:



Kristen's section is 1:58-2:14. She plays Miss Hattie.

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig movie update - Despicable Me (cast featurettes)

So more new Despicable Me featurettes are coming out to promote the new movie.

Film Release Date: 9 July 2010

First, here's Steve Carell giving parenting tips:



Second, here's a TV commercial called "Hero and Fluffy"



Third, here's Julie Andrews gives advice and introduces her character in the movie:



Fourth, here's Steve Carell talking about being a bad guy:



Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig in Pretty Bird (new clip)

Here's a new clip of Kristen Wiig in Pretty Bird.

Pretty Bird, the directorial debut of actor Paul Schneider (Parks and Recreation‘s Mark) based on the true story of three would-be entrepreneurs who set out to invent and market a personal rocket belt, hits DVD June 29. We’ve got an exclusive clip for you below. On their first date, Curtis Prentiss (Billy Crudup) asks Mandy Riddle (Saturday Night Live‘s Kristen Wiig) to name a film that changed her life. Definitely not the answer we anticipated…

Click to open the window:



http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/06/24/pretty-bird-dvd-kristen-wiig/

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig movie update - Despicable Me (New Trailer)

Here's an amusement park clip:



And here's the new, full trailer (that's playing before Toy Story 3):



Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig movie update - All Good Things

All Good Things is a love story and murder mystery based on the most notorious unsolved murder case in New York history. The original screenplay uses newly discovered facts, court records and speculation as the foundation for an imaginative spellbinding story of family, obsession, love and loss.

Director: Andrew Jarecki




Kirsten Dunst ... Katie McCarthy

Kristen is from Spider-Man 3 and Bring It On.


Ryan Gosling ... David Marks

Ryan is from The Notebook.


Kristen Wiig ... Lauren Fleck

Kristen is from Date Night and Knocked Up. =^)


Nick Offerman ... Jim McCarthy

Nick is from "Parks and Recreation" and The Men Who Stare at Goats.


I believe that Kristen is playing a good sized role and I can't wait to see how she does!





Here are some reviews from people who have previewed the film:

The director, Andrew Jarecki, introduced it, citing the five year process getting the movie made. As a fan of Capturing the Friedmans I was interested to see him do a narrative. I'd say the film this movie has the most in common with is David Fincher's Zodiac. Not sure if they'll make any changes based on the focus group I sat in after the screening, but the response was overall positive. It's a very good movie. I think it's pretty original in how the characters and relationships develop. If you don't know anything about the story, they do a good job at not giving too much away too quickly and just let the events play out. It's not a perfect movie, but definitely worth the watch and feels very loyal to the people involved and while they do take some necessary liberties, nothing is telegraphed in this movie. I hope they tweak it between now and its release date, but this version as is would probably satisfy most people who were already looking forward to it. The true crime stuff is hard to do and it's apparent the filmmakers were tedious in their attention to detail.

Surprised by how good Kirsten Dunst was.

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, and Brian Petsos and in THE KEY FITS

THE KEY FITS, starring Bill Hader, Brian Petsos, and Kristen Wiig. The story of two best friends, a graceless dominatrix, and a white piano.

WARNING: Some language.



The video has over 73,000 views.

So the guy in the rabbit suit is Kristen's boyfriend (after her divorce last year). Kristen's known Brian for 21 years. I love Bill's bluff at the end. Nice! Hahahaha. Brian's a pretty good writer.

So I looked up Brian on IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2693238/

He's a good looking dude with a great sense of humor. It looks like he's slowly getting into acting in movies, and it looks like his SNL friends are his best link. He played a bit role in MacGruber, and he will play a larger role in Wiig's Bridesmaids movie.

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig - Bridesmaids movie update

Here is director Paul Feig, writer/actress Kristen Wiig, and producer Judd Apatow:



Some tidbits are that Kristen's boyfriend, Brian Petsos, joins the cast, as does John Hamm, Matt Lucas, and Academy Award winner, Dianne Wiest. Plus we already announced that Rose Byrne and Maya Rudolph are in the film. Here are some more details...

A comedy centered on two women battling to plan their friend's wedding party.

Wiig is said to play a maid of honor begrudgingly competing with a bridesmaid (Byrne) for the bride's (Rudolph) attention.


Director: Paul Feig

Paul directed Wiig in Unaccompanied Minors, and he's also directed episodes of the following shows: Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared, Arrested Development, 30 Rock, Mad Men, Weeds, Parks and Recreation, The Office, and Bored to Death.

Now he's ready to direct another feature. I've got to admit, that's an impressive way to pursue a directing career. After a not-so-successful first film (Unaccompanied Minors), he works his way through legendary TV shows and earns another chance to direct a film.


Writers: Annie Mumolo (screenplay) & Kristen Wiig (screenplay)

We all know Kristen. But who's Annie? Annie is an actress who is writing, producing, and acting in Bridesmaids. She's obviously a lont-time friend of Kristen. Annie has acted in Bewitched, Curious George, and on Two and a Half Men.


ACTORS



Rose Byrn - She's been around... Star Wars Ep 2, City of Ghosts, Troy (the virgin that Brad Pitt goes for), Wicker Park, Marie Antoinette, 28 Weeks Later, Knowing, and Get Him to the Greek.




John Hamm - Mad Men, 30 Rock, Sarah Silverman Program, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Shrek 4, & the new A-Team.




Dianne Wiest - Footloose, Hannah and Her Sisters, Lost Boys, Parenthood, Edward Scissorhands, Bullets Over Broadway, Birdcage, Horse Wisperer, Practical Magic, Law & Order, Robots, & Dan in Real Life


Matt Lucas - Played Tweedledee and Tweedledum in Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

Maya Rudolph - Gattaca, Duplex, 50 First Dates, Shrek 3 (Rapunzel), MacGruber, & Grown Ups.

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig and Brian Petsos in Barry

So this is another video with Kristen's boyfriend (after her divorce last year, Kristen hooked up with Brian Petsos, her friend of 21 years).



BARRY, starring Kristen Wiig and Brian Petsos. Brad wants to introduce his girlfriend Rachel to a certain special someone. Rachel thinks she's in the midst of some kind of a deranged puppet show. But Barry isn't a puppet...

This video has had over 57,000 views.

And here's their first video together (which we already posted).

Kristen Wiig & Brian Petsos in CITYBEATS: RICK JEFFERS

CITYBEATS: RICK JEFFERS, starring Kristen Wiig and Brian Petsos. Public access news correspondent Jan Dawson interviews high school teacher Rick Jeffers. What ensues is a terrific portrayal of banality.



And here's Brian and Will Forte in False Face...

Falseface is the all too common tale of a friendship on the rocks. Victor (a man with a grotesquely long beard) offers Nathan a relaxing weekend respite at a cottage on Seneca Lake. Nathan can't go. No, he won't go! Victor must make some major changes in order for their friendship to continue.

credits: Starring Will Forte and Brian Petsos. Directed by Will Carlough. Story by Brian Petsos. Shot by Matt Elkind and Jennifer Johnson. Edited by Kramer O'Neill. Sound by Peter Fonda. Produced by Meredith Saunders and Liz Gallagher. Special thanks to Kristen Wiig.





The video has 41,000 views on Funny or Die and another 12,000 on YouTube.

Kristen gets a Special Thanks credit at the end. I like how Will Forte takes off the mask at the end. Nice!

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig - Despicable Me- movie update

This morning, Toshi and I took in a screening of "Despicable Me," the new animated film that stars Steve Carrell. Although I'm not able to review it yet, I can say that I was pleasantly surprised by the way the celebrity comedians who contributed voices for the film are all essentially disguised completely. No one just stops in to do a cameo in their own voice. Even Jack McBrayer, best known as Kenneth on "30 Rock," plays a different type of character than normal.

It's nice, because a good comic actor freed of the visual recognition should be able to vanish completely into something, and "Despicable Me" makes very good use of Kristen Wiig, who plays the woman who runs the orphanage where the three little girls who are the stars of the film live when it starts. Wiig gets to play a physical type she'd never play in real life, and she does a voice that didn't make me think of her at all. It's perfect for what you're looking at, but it doesn't sound like "Kristen Wiig," and I think that's great.

Read more:
http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-6-motion-captured/posts/saturday-night-at-the-movies-june-12-2010?m=k

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig, divorced in 2009

According to IMDB, Kristen divorced last year....

Spouse
Hayes Hargrove (2005 - 2009) (divorced)



Wikipedia says, "She was once married to actor Hayes Hargrove."

It took awhile for her divorce to go through, and by that time she was already dating her friend of 21 years, Brian Petsos.

In one interview with Kristen...

Her brief marriage to another actor, Hayes Hargrove, was the topic Ms. Wiig was most squeamish about. But in general she was self-effacing. “Does anyone really care what I have to say?” she said.

Not exactly news, but still.

Kristen Wiig - Despicable Me - Movie update

If you've seen the posters or trailers for Universal's upcoming animated 3D movie "Despicable Me," you're probably wondering what's it all about. It features the voice talents of comedians like Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, and Kristen Wiig, and strangely a nearly all hip-hop soundtrack led by Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes and N.E.R.D.

Pharrell contributes four songs to the soundtrack of the movie about a supervillain, Gru (Carrell), who considers walking away from his army of minions when he meets three little girls who see him as a father figure.

The trailer already features the Pharrell written and produced theme "Despicable Me." He also contributes "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Prettiest Girls," and "Rocket's Theme." He also co-wrote and produced a track for Robin Thicke, "My Life," as well as "I'm on a Roll" by former Clique Girlz members Destinee & Paris.

Pharell also wrote and produced songs for the movie's characters The Minions titled "Minion Mambo" and for orphaned character Agnes, titled "The Unicorn Song." The soundtrack also features a pair of #1 disco hits, "You Should Be Dancing" by The Bee Gees and "Boogie Fever" by The Sylvers.

Pharrell's score for "Despicable Me" can be heard in its entirety when the movie hits theaters on July 9th. The soundtrack hits stores a few days prior on July 6th.

Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7018998830?Pharrell%20Leads%20Soundtrack%20To%20Animated%203D%20Comedy%20%22Despicable%20Me%22#ixzz0qzeLKvPT

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig - new movie on DVD - Pretty Bird

Director: Paul Schneider (plays Mark on Parks and Rec)

Featuring:
Billy Crudup ... Curtis Prentiss
Paul Giamatti ... Rick Honeycutt
Kristen Wiig

A comic tale of three would-be entrepreneurs who set out to invent a rocket belt. The clash of their mismatched personalities soon dissolves the business into a morass of recriminations and retaliations, kidnapping, and murder in this parable of American dreams and delusions.

Runtime: 120 min
Rated R for language and a scene of sexuality.

Check out the trailer here:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1599801113/

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig - in Gotham magazine

Remember when Kristen Wiig was at a cover party for Gotham magazine? Wondering when her cover would be?

Well it's now!!!



Saturday Night Live MVP Kristen Wiig takes on action-comedy, orphans and the elusive hunt for a good cappuccino.

“FOR ME IT WAS KNOWING THAT WE WERE GOING TO GO FOR ‘SUPER-HARD-CORE-RATED-R,’” Kristen Wiig explains when asked how she decided to do MacGruber, this summer’s latest Saturday Night Live sketch-turned-feature film. She did, however, have one proviso before reprising her role opposite Will Forte’s bumbling bomb diffuser, a send-up of the ’80s TV action show MacGyver: “I wasn’t sure I could spend the whole summer in the wig I wore in the sketch. Thank God they changed my look to be a little more attractive for the movie,” she adds, referring to the more Farrah Fawcett-like appearance her character has taken on. “I still rock a high-waisted jean, though!”

Wiig initially made her mark on SNL with off-kilter characters like the Target Lady, the consummateone-upper Penelope and the incorrigible Gilly, but lately it’s her ability to bring that twisted sensibility to impressions of real-life people that is getting the biggest laughs. “Nancy Pelosi isn’t exactly a crazy, wacky lady that’s easy to make superfunny and Kathie Lee Gifford isn’t actually insane, but I like the challenge,” she says. She has never met Gifford or Pelosi, but another favorite target may be her biggest fan: “Suze Orman loves it when I do her. She’s even given me things to put into sketches. She’s so sweet and of course was like, ‘Kristen, if you ever need any financial advice….’”

So perhaps playing MacGruber’s sidekick wasn’t the most obvious character for her to take to the big screen (in the 2009 SNL season she averaged six sketches per episode and appeared in nearly twice as many as any other woman on the show), but the five-year SNL vet is truly excited about the film. “There are so many ridiculous things in it, but rather than just make it a spoof, the writers were serious about it and turned it into a full-blown action-comedy,” she says. The film’s testosterone levels are ably amped up by performances from Ryan Phillippe, Val Kilmer and Powers Boothe, all of whom she says fit right in with the rest of the original SNL crew who created it.



Catching up with the 36-year-old during SNL season isn’t easy, and the multitasker managed to synchronize the delivery of her Fresh Direct order while doing this interview during a rare moment at home. Her workweek starts on Monday afternoons, when the show’s writers, producers and cast gather in Lorne Michaels’ office for a meet and greet with the guest host and to pitch ideas, though according to Wiig, there’s really no point at which you can tell how the live show on Saturday night will actually go. “Not even at the dress rehearsal,” she says.

On Tuesdays, everyone arrives at 30 Rock starting at 3 PM and they don’t leave until Wednesday morning, only to return again in the early afternoon to do a table read, often staying till 9 that night. Then it’s a full day of rehearsing on Thursdays and Fridays, with call times sometimes as early as 6 AM.

For that reason, Wiig’s New York isn’t one most Gothamites see, but it’s certainly no less interesting: “Most of my New York experience is earlymorning walks and the show’s afterparties, which start right after the show and go till 3 or 4, where people wind down somewhere nice. Then it’s on to the ‘after-afterparties’ at dark, seedy bars downtown that stay open until like 8 in the morning for us.”

Wiig is discreet, however, when it comes to the address of the much-sought-after, afterhours debauchery: “They rotate between a handful of places with passwords that usually have to do with the host. I honestly don’t even know some of the names of them, because you just get taken there at 4 in the morning and they’re pretty nondescript.” Wiig’s off-work MO, though, is hardly the coke-fueled bingeing of SNL’s early years. On Sunday, her day off, she scours various neighborhoods for one thing: “A good cup of cappuccino.”



Though she claims walking the streets of New York is how she likes to spend her time off, she hasn’t given herself much of it lately. In addition to MacGruber, this July she can be heard as the voice of evil orphanage owner Miss Hattie in the animated feature Despicable Me, airing as two episodes of HBO’s Bored to Death, and she is about to shoot her first starring role in the as-yet-untitled film she co-wrote, which will be directed by The Office and Arrested Development’s Paul Feig.

The upstate New York native recently left the Upper West Side for lower Manhattan with her boyfriend, actor and producer Brian Petsos, and the duo is downtown’s answer to When Harry Met Sally, having met each other 21 years ago. “We dated a little bit in high school, went our own ways and always wondered what happened to the other person, and then much later on we found each other again. Is there a way not to make that sound cheesy?” she laughs.

Not really. And so for Wiig, life downtown is sweet, but you won’t find her tweeting about swilling martinis at the Crosby Street Hotel or devouring a delicious steak at Raoul’s, and it’s not just because she likes dive bars and prefers the veggie dogs at Better Burger. “I don’t do any of that Twitter stuff, but I did have a fake tweeter— and they made me sound like such a douche bag! It was like, ‘Hi, I’m going to 30 Rock and can’t wait! It’s going to be a hard week!’ and weird stuff like, ‘I went in my attic today and found my old guitar. Oh, man!’ and ‘If anyone dresses up as any of my characters for Halloween, send me pictures!’ It was so embarrassing. If they’d written crazy stuff, I wouldn’t have stopped them!”

From:
http://www.gotham-magazine.com/home-page/articles/queen-of-the-night

Enjoy!

Bob Odenkirk mentions that his wife manages Kristen Wiig

So my wife [Naomi Odenkirk] is a talent manager. She manages some great actors and actresses including Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader and Bobby Moynihan and Jenna Fischer, so she’s always going out to see shows like at The Groundlings and the Upright Citizen Brigade Theater and the Second City whenever she’s in Chicago.

- Bob Odenkirk

Excerpt From:
http://trueslant.com/pietlevy/2010/06/10/bob-odenkirk-talks-chicago-kid-friendly-comedy-and-da-super-fans/

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig - movie update - MacGruber dies in the Box Office

Domestic Total as of Jun. 9, 2010: $8,511,440

Production Budget: $10 million

Still, this is better than Will Forte's last effort, The Brothers Solomon (9/7/07), which made only $900,926.

But not quite as good as Andy Samberg's Hot Rod...



Which made $14,334,401.

So unfortunately The Lonely Island remains unbankable in movies.

So sad. =^(

But on the plus side, while this tanking film doesn't bode well for Will Forte or The Lonely Island, Kristen Wiig has had other momentum to rely on, and so this failure won't affect her career at all!

MacGruber makers battle Shrek

(in no way affiliated with #MacGruber which is also out in theaters today) #Shrek Exposed!: http://shrekexposed.com/

- The Lonely Island

===============

Shrek's been doing some terrorist bombing:



So that was the Lonely Island's tweet (and they have a similar blog post). This basically means that Joni or Jorma wanted to comically downplay MacGruber's biggest film competition (sort of how Austin Powers 2 trailer masterfully told you to watch Star Wars), which is Shrek 4.

Kind of amusing...

http://www.shrekexposed.com/

Shrek's offensive haircut:



==============

By the way, this story doesn't directly involve Kristen, but it involves the creators of Kristen's new movie, and what they did to "promote" Kristen's new movie.

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig - Ryan's Hip Hop aspirations (and celery)

Ryan Phillippe Has Hip-Hop Aspirations



Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig - her first sex scene (video)

UPDATED: 9/21/11 with more information and a link.
===================



Kristen Wiig comments on her first sex scene, from the movie MacGruber.

Check out this text interview with more information about her sex scene: http://kristen-wiig.blogspot.com/2010/07/kristen-wiig-macgruber-interview-sex.html

Enjoy!

Ryan and Kristen Wiig

Captain America auditions?

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig - will she be Hollywood's next leading lady?

"Saturday Night Live" wrapped this week but that didn't stop cast members like Seth Meyers, Andy Samberg and Jenny Slate from congregating at The Roosevelt Hotel last night to party with their co-worker Kristen Wiig as she celebrated being cover girl of Gotham Magazine.

"I'm having one of those days today where I'm like, 'How did I get here? What's happening?'" Wiig gushed. "Just coming from sketch comedy on a stage in LA, and now I'm here.

She added, "It's surreal."

It's obvious that the "MacGruber" starlet's meteoric rise has done little to keep her from being grounded. In the case of becoming Hollywood's next leading lady, she assured us that she's waiting for the right time.



"Of course I'm listening to the offers," Wiig said. "I've always said I'd take a small role in a great movie over a large role in one that I don't believe in."

In a flowing blue summer dress, the comic also shared with Niteside the secret to photographing well during the cover shoot with Bell Soto.

"I take exclusively over-the-shoulder shots," she said.

Her technique seems to have worked because the results were getting quite a few nods from her fellow "SNL" castmates. Kristen told us the most nerve-racking part was waiting to see the final product.

"I am my harshest critic but I'm really happy with it!"

Niche Media CEO Jason Binn and Gotham Magazine editor Samantha Yanks were also thrilled with the results at the release party.

After a generous amount of flattery on how amazing she looked in the Niche Media-owned title, Niteside asked Wiig on her optioning of "Clown Girl" and her plans to star in the film.

"I fell in love with that book before I was even a third of the way through. She (Monica Drake) is just such an interesting writer and I've fallen in love the material. I just hope I can do it justice."

Wiig soon ran over to the VIP area to join her boyfriend Brian Pestos for some Grey Goose-sponsored drinks.

From:
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/blogs/niteside/NTSD-SNL-Comic-Kristin-Wiig-My-Life-Now-Is-Surreal--94100759.html

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig - on her MacGruber love scene

Co-star Kristen Wiig [talked about her] wacky, intense love sesh between her Vicki St. Elmo and Will Forte's MacGruber. How does Forte stack up as an onscreen lover?

"Loud, aggressive, very sweaty and goal-oriented," she joked.



Traumatic, she could have added. "I remember walking out of the house in a bathrobe, just covered in sweat, mostly not mine," she recalled. "And I think they had cupcakes or something, and I was like, 'I can't! I can't eat those right now!' "

Read and watch Ryan talking about the celery here:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1639794/20100521/story.jhtml

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig at a MacGruber screening

Sunshine Landmark Cinemas. May 19, 2010.

After a long movie shoot, are you sick of doing the ‘MacGruber’ skit on SNL?

“No, because it’s a totally different wig.” — Kristen Wiig


Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig - only in 2 of the top 10 sketches this season?

Mark Graham made a list of the top 10 sketches, and Kristen's only in 2 of them...



Now that the 35th season of Saturday Night Live is in the books, it’s time to take a look back at what most observers would classify as a solid-B season of the show. Admittedly, the show never quite reached the dizzying heights that it did last year in its 34th season, but then again, the writers and castmembers didn’t have the benefit of the frenzy of an election year to fall back on. Even without that well of material, this season saw plenty of its own highs: Kenan Thompson blossomed into a star (as Kristin Wiig faded ever so slightly), the Lonely Island guys had their most consistent season of their five seasons on the show, and newcomers Jenny Slate and Nasim Pedrad helped to stabilize the show after the off-season losses of Casey Wilson, Michaela Watkins and Darrell Hammond.

Without further ado, here are our picks for this season’s ten most memorable sketches.


10. “On The Ground” starring Andy Samberg, Bobby Moynihan, Jenny Slate, Ryan Reynolds and Elijah Wood

Even though none of the digital shorts that the Lonely Island contingent produced this season struck the kind of viral paydirt that predecessors like “Lazy Sunday” or “Dick In A Box” did, it was quite a consistently funny year for Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer (this despite the fact that SchafferTaccone was doing double duty in the editing booth putting the finishing touches on the MacGruber movie). This particular short revolves around the exploits of one of those annoying, anti-social types who are always prattling on about their revulsion to things like “the system” and “the Man.” As a means of showing his disgust with the rules of society, this goateed hipster with misplaced anger issues takes his frustration out by whipping things like energy drinks, hot dogs and his girlfriend’s Blackberry at the ground. “Happy birthday to the GROUND!”


9. “Potato Chip” starring Will Forte, Jason Sudeikis and Blake Lively

This was one of those delightfully bizarre end-of-show sketches that never quite catches on with the audience at the live taping but becomes more and more impressive after repeated viewings. Frankly, we kind of wish that host Blake Lively would’ve got out of Jason Sudeikis and Will Forte’s way in this sketch and these two comedic powerhouses go toe-to-toe. That said, watching Forte unleash his rage while staying in character (see also: Fart Face) always makes for essential television.


8. “Scared Straight” starring Kenan Thompson, Jason Sudeikis, Bobby Moynihan, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader and Betty White

In a lot of ways, this was Kenan Thompson’s breakout year on the show. His recurring series of “Scared Straight” sketches, in which he portrays the movie-obsessed jailbird Lorenzo MacIntosh, gained tons of momentum this year and became an audience favorite. We really liked the sketch he did with Charles Barkley (“Instead of ‘Show me the money!’, he’ll be saying ‘Blow me for free!’”), but then again, you can’t really beat Betty White screaming “WIZARD OF ***!”


7. “Teacher” starring Tina Fey and Justin Bieber

We’re pretty sure that Justin Bieber dropped out of school about 20 million YouTube views ago, but on the off chance he didn’t, we sincerely hope that he asks Tina Fey to prom.


6. “Hamilton” starring Will Forte and Gabourey Sidibe

This was one dynamite, envelope-pusher of a sketch. Will Forte has always excelled at creating characters with really weird backstories (think MacGruber, think Jeff Montgomery, Sex Offender), but this extension of Hamilton — a character we’ve seen pop up at various public functions involving a microphone over the years — was pretty bold. He’s overtly racist, he traces long passages from Robert Ludlum novels onto his lover Gabourey Sidibe’s back with his penis, and would prefer to go to Larry Bird theaters, if only they existed. More humor that makes people feel uncomfortable, please!


5. Monologue: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bobby Moynihan

Wow, just wow! Okay, we admit that this doesn’t exactly fit in the category of “funny” [except for Bobby Moynihan's contributions], but can you remember the last time that a guest host put this kind of effort into winning over an audience during a monologue? We certainly can’t.


4. “Stefon” starring Bill Hader and Seth Meyers

The most recent example of a Saturday Night Live cast member breaking character due to a giggle fit came during this past weekend’s Weekend Update segment. W.U. host Seth Meyers brought in the show’s anxious city correspondent, Stefon (as played by Bill Hader), to discuss some of New York City’s finer tourist attractions. Hader is normally an unflappable performer, but midway through the bit, he hilariously loses his composure while sniffing his hands and explaining to Midwesterners about the allure of Teddy Graham people and high-waisted midgets.


3. “What Up With That?” starring Kenan Thompson, Kristin Wiig, Andy Samberg, James Franco, Jason Sudeikis, Fred Armisen, Jenny Slate, Nasim Pedrad, Will Forte, Bill Hader, Mike Tyson and Jack McBrayer

Oooh, wheee! Kenan Thompson’s performance as Soul Glo’d BET host Diondre Cole is a comedic tour-de-force of irrepressible energy, enthusiasm and sweat. This character first debuted in the episode hosted by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Gerard Butler back in October, but quickly became such an audience favorite that he appeared in five total episodes this season. And while there’s no denying that Kenan is glue that holds this sketch together, the non-speaking roles portrayed by Fred Armisen and breakdancing b-boy Jason Sudeikis really provide the icing on the cake (that is, if you will allow me to mix my metaphors).


2. “Hamm & Bublé” starring Jon Hamm and Michael Bublé

In just two appearances as host of Saturday Night Live, Jon Hamm has shown that he has the potential to one day reside alongside hosts like Alec Baldwin, Christopher Walken, Tom Hanks and Steve Martin in the (as yet non-existent) SNL Guest Host Hall of Fame. The thing that we love about this particular sketch is the way it derives its strength from the menacing side of Jon Hamm, a side which he frequently shows off on Mad Men in his portrayal of Don Draper. Sure, he’s hands down one of the most handsome actors working in Hollywood today, but it’s his embrace of the dark side that really separates Hamm from other one-note pretty boys. That is not to take anything away from Bublé’s performance here; the skit balances on him effectively cowering in fear of the champagne and pork-obsessed Hamm and he nails it.


1. “Pageant Talk” starring Zach Galifianakis, Jenny Slate, Kristin Wiig and Bill Hader

This was one of those glorious moments on SNL where an individual’s performance connects with both their fellow actors and the audience in such a way that the entire sketch gets elevated into instant classic status. In this case, Zach Galifianakis’s perfect turn as the pageant-obsessed “old queen” Gene Shimp was so hilariously eccentric that it nearly caused Kristin Wiig and Bill Hader to break character. Add in SNL rookie (and old Best Week Ever alum!) Jenny Slate’s perfectly blank performance as the object of Gene’s obsession, daughter Wanda Gale Shimp, and you have yourself a sketch for the ages.


Plus videos here:
http://www.bestweekever.tv/2010-05-18/top-ten-sketches-of-saturday-night-live-season-35/

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So Kristen was mentioned here for What Up with That? and Pageant Talk.

Kristen's done a lot more than that this season. Gilly hosted her own show this season. Plus Kristen debuted several great new characters, including Garth and Kat with Fred Armisen (3 times this season), Beth in Biker Chick Chat (known for Jenny's debut and her dropping the F-Bomb), the flight attendant with Megan Fox, a rotating character in the ESPN Women's Tournaments Reruns (with Jason and Will; they debuted with an impressive 5 appearances this season), Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Tamara Parks (orgasm lady), and Anastasia from Hollywood Dish (with Bill Hader; 2 in its debut season).

Plus Kristen was on Deep House Dish (where Madonna and Lady Gaga fought), her Gilly with Drew Barrymore was great, and she was in Bubble Suits (with Andy Samberg and Lady Gaga).

What do you think?

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig - 2 more years on SNL

After all those last-minute heroics that didn't work, shouldn't you and MacGruber be dead of a badly defused explosion by now?

"We keep coming back!" jokes Wiig, who plays Vicki St. Elmo in the Saturday Night Live sketch-turned-big-screen-film (in theaters today). And, wait, what could the film plot involve? The mulleted hero making a lifesaving invention out of household materials in a windowless warehouse — for, gulp, 1½ hours? But MacGruber the movie vs. MacGruber the sketch — spoofs of the mid-'80s to early '90s TV series MacGyver— is "much different," Wiig swears. In the film, for instance, "there are actual explosions as opposed to cutting to images of stock explosions."

Shot over 28 days, MacGruber pulls back the mullet bangs on its hero's history. After a career as (somehow) an ace special-ops agent, MacGruber has been living in an Ecuador monastery for 10 years. But when a nuclear missile lands in the hands of MacGruber's nemesis Dieter von Cunth (Val Kilmer), Washington brass yank MacGruber out of retirement to save the day.

And as MacGruber assembles his backup team, who turns up on his typewritten list? Of course, Vicki, who abandons her budding music career and miniature (fake) owl collection to return to chasing criminals in MacGruber's shiny red Miata.

Comedy and a drama

Wiig doesn't fear the fate of past SNL-derived fare (The Ladies Man, anyone?). "There's always a soft spot for SNL films," says Wiig, 36. "It's exciting that this one has a buzz around it. It's definitely one of my favorite films I've ever done. It's so funny. I'm so proud of it."

Wiig has had small but memorable roles in comedy hits such as Knocked Up, Adventureland and Date Night, and she has several projects lined up, including the ensemble comedy Paul (directed by Adventureland's Greg Mottola) and, in a departure for Wiig, the romantic drama/mystery All Good Things.

But it's her penchant for the peculiar on SNL that she's best known for, from Lawrence Welk-singing sister Dooneese and her frightfully tiny fingers to Gilly, the scheming schoolgirl with the bow-bedecked Little Orphan Annie curls.

Wiig, who just wrapped her fifth season on the show, says she doesn't consciously careen toward quirk. "Sometimes when you're writing, it's more fun to describe someone who looks a little off, who acts a little strange. To me, it's more fun to play the weird lady at the party."

Or the misfit moppet. Wiig explains naughty Gilly's origins: "I was writing with my friend (SNL scribe) Paula Pell and I made the face" — a tucked-in chin, tight, toothless grin and arched eyebrows — "and said 'Oh, some day I want to write a character that looks like this.' " Pell cooked up Gilly's signature "Sorry" refrain. A couple weeks later, the not-so-charming girl was born.

Wiig's wacky sensibilities have clicked: She appeared in more Season 34 sketches than any other cast member, according to New YorkMagazine. But she's uncomfortable with the idea that she's carrying SNL. "It's an ensemble show. Everyone does their own thing," she says. "I can't do what other people do."

People think the process is "so meticulous: Who's in what, how many sketches people are in. It's much more random."

Wiig also shrugs off the inevitable comparisons to the breakout funny ladies who preceded her: Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, whom she counts as friends. "I don't really think about it," she says. "It's great to come from SNL and go into such great success. I'm beyond happy for them."

Two years to go on 'SNL'

Wiig is co-starring, co-producing and co-writing a film that will star a flock of funny ladies (she can't reveal who yet) about the machinations and "weird sub-language" that goes on among a bevy of bridesmaids: "You all have to get to know each other: who's in charge, who knows the bride best."

(Wiig, who lives in downtown Manhattan with actor/writer/filmmaker boyfriend Brian Petsos, says the plot is not autobiographical.)

Despite her comic chops, Wiig has career goals beyond bickering bridesmaids and Vicki St. Elmo. "I don't want to sound pretentious," she says, but "I consider myself an actor who does comedy," not a comedian per se. "There are so many other things that I want to do besides" making 'em giggle.

In the meantime, she has two years left on her SNL contract. She has "no idea" whether she'll want to continue on. "People might be sick of me by then."

From:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2010-05-21-kristenwiig21_ST_N.htm

Enjoy!

Kristen Wiig VS Kathy Lee (they met in person)

So, as we all know, Kristen Wiig does a brutal and painful impression of Kathy Lee.

Kathy Lee was pretty upset about it, saying in an interview that she though Kristen should be removed from the show.

Well, I think Kathy Lee got over it and realized it was free publicity. When Kristen and Will appeared on the Today show to promote MacGruber, Kathy Lee showed up and didn't seem very happy...



Later, on Kathy Lee's segment, she and Hoda discuss the encounter:



Kathy Lee then vlogs about Kristen Wiig:



Well, I think this is one way to get Kathy Lee to forgive Kristen.

Kathey Lee seemed genuinely upset during the encounter, but as she talked about it later on the show and in the vlog, she seemed impressed by Kristen's humility and looks... enough to forgive her.

What do you think?

Enjoy!