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July 24, 2006
Core Meltdown at Studio 8H, SNL Cast Rumors Swirl
The rumor mill is generating a zillion megawatts of electricity today off news that Tina Fey is leaving Saturday Night Live. Hot on the heels of Fey's announcement is the departure of ANOTHER cherished female cast member, Rachel Dratch. AND bursting out of both these annoucements like an alien parasite through a breach in a weak intestinal wall is news from Lorne Michaels himself telling folks he's gonna whittle down the cast the only way he knows how: with his bare hands. From Broadcasting & Cable:
“The budget is significantly less than it was last year,” Michaels said Saturday at the Television Critics Association press tour. “It will be a smaller cast.”Michaels declined to outline specifics on the budgets cuts, but said the show chose to pare the cast as opposed to cutting back the number of original episodes (20) it will air this season.
“I’ve gone through it three or four times, so it’s not an unfamiliar thing, but it is an unpleasant thing,” Michaels said.
Amid these cuts--which speculation suggests may very well be a spin move to handle the publicity of cast members' departure decisions--is the knowledge that casting for the '06-'07 season is happening RIGHT NOW. We've been hearing reports that several prominent Upright Citizens Brigade performers are preparing for SNL auditions. We wouldn't be surprised if SNL talent scouts were out patrolling the shows this week, given that the Del Close Marathon is bringing in nearly every emerging comedic performer in the nation to one convenient location a couple dozen blocks away from 30 Rock.
Posted by The Apiary at July 24, 2006 10:39 AM
Comments
Well, if I could gather some incriminating evidence against the casting scouts at 30 Rock, I'd make them hire UCB Harold Nighter's Eric Bernat, Angeliki George, Silvija Ozols, Ben Schwartz, Susannah Becket, Dominic Dierkes, Adam Pally, David Martin and Eugene Cordero.
A bit "chick-heavy", I guess, but those are the performers who have consistently impressed me on those lonely, PBR-soaked Tuesday Nights.
Posted by: James Kass at July 24, 2006 3:31 PM
3/9 is chick heavy? Ha! You obviously don't know heavy chicks like I do.
Posted by: Carolyn at July 24, 2006 9:26 PM
Heavy chicks... :)
Yeah, you're right in retrospect, that's not really all that chick-heavy. They better cast you, too, Carolyn. You crack me up as well. Gotta get my hands on some incriminating evidence so we can make that happen.
While I'm adding to the list, throw in Aaron Haber (he's friends with some of the cast members already, so it wouldn't be a complete stretch), Andres du Bouchet (Francisco Guglioni movie crossover, anyone?) and his fellow GTN'er Michael Reisman (at the very least, he'd make a stron addition to the writing staff).
This is turning into a strange kind of Fantasy Football type deal.
Posted by: James Kass at July 25, 2006 10:07 AM
If I were in charge of a final fantasy SNL team, I'd add
Andres Du Bouchet, Nick Kroll, Charlie Sanders, and Jenny Slate.
Posted by: Libbs at July 25, 2006 11:32 AM
Charlie Sanders and Jenny Slate should have a kid!
YOU HEAR THAT EVERYBODY!?
Posted by: Pooper Joe at July 25, 2006 12:47 PM