Category: Television

Eddie Murphy’s return to ‘SNL’ for first time in 30 years lasts 73 seconds

In one of the most highly-anticipated moments of “Saturday Night Live’s” 40th anniversary special, Eddie Murphy returned to “SNL” for the first time since 1984.

And his first appearance on the show in 30 years lasted exactly 73 seconds.

After a touching, three-and-a-half-minute introduction from Chris Rock — who called Murphy his idol (“I wanted to be Eddie Murphy”) and credited the “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Bowfinger” star with saving the NBC comedy show for future comedians like him (without Murphy, Tina Fey “would’ve been the funniest English professor at Drexel University”) — Murphy, 53, took to the stage and received a standing ovation.

To say Murphy’s subsequent speech was awkwardly short would be an understatement.

“Hey, isn’t this an incredible night, this night?” Murphy said. “This show is such a big part of who I am and my life. And I’m so happy to be back here. It’s a magical feeling. Actually it feels like going back to my old high school, kind of. It’s a good feeling. I’m really happy that so many people here value the stuff that I did 35 years ago. It makes me feel really happy. I will always love this show and .. let’s have some more show. Let’s have a big round of applause for everybody.”

When the monitors failed to segue to commercial or another montage, Murphy froze.

“I thought that right there you guys were gonna do the … Well, then let’s do it again,” he said. “You know, this has been a helluva night. A real magical evening. You’re always going to be a part of my life.”

Eventually, the producers panned to a photo of Dick Ebersol, “SNL’s” former executive producer.

Twitter users hoping for jokes or reprisals of Murphy’s iconic “SNL” characters — like Buckwheat, Mr. Robinson or Gumby — were none-too-keen on Murphy’s far-too-brief, and unfunny, return.

Murphy last appeared on the show Dec. 15, 1984 as host. He notably skipped the “SNL” 25th anniversary and show creator Lorne Michaels has publicly acknowledged some bad blood with Murphy after he approved a sketch in the 1990s that poked fun at one of the comedian’s box office bombs.

In an April 2013 panel talk moderated by former “SNL” castmember Martin Short, Michaels called his decision to air the sketch starring David Spade, “a mistake,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“I figured it was kind of a clean hit. I didn’t really think about it, but Eddie did,” he said, recounting that Murphy called Spade after the skit saying, “You’re standing on my shoulders, you didn’t get to be there unless I was there.”

On Sunday night’s show, all three men were there and the decades-old jab seemed forgotten.

As for Murphy’s missing humor, all we can say is maybe he was saving his humor for the after-party.

NBC expands ‘SNL 40th Anniversary Special’ to more than three hours

NBC is already making a big deal of the 40th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live” — and now it’s making it a little bigger.

The network revealed late Thursday that it’s expanding Sunday’s “SNL 40th Anniversary Special” by 30 minutes, which means it will start at 8 p.m. and end at 11:30.

The special — airing live on the East Coast but on tape on the West Coast — will be like a super-sized version of a regular “SNL,” with live skits, taped segments and musical performances.

Guests include Justin Timberlake, Robert De Niro, Steve Martin, Jim Carrey, Miley Cyrus and many more. Old cast members like Kristen Wiig, Chevy Chase and Martin Short will also turn up.

Two questions right away: Where in the broadcast will executive producer and creator Lorne Michaels suddenly appear with one of his famously laconic cameos? And what will they do for the “cold open” — maybe revive the famous Chevy Chase pratfall?

And if all that’s not enough “SNL” for your weekend, on Saturday night, in the comedy revue’s usual 11:30 p.m. slot, NBC will repeat the first “Saturday Night Live,” first broadcast on Oct. 11, 1975, and hosted by George Carlin.

Brian Williams suspended for six months: ‘He deserves a second chance’

NBC has reached a verdict on Brian Williams.

The NBC Nightly News managing editor and anchor will be suspended for six months without pay. Lester Holt will continue to substitute on the top-rated broadcast network newscast. The decision was made by NBC News president Deborah Turness, whose division has been under fire for Williams’ making conflicting statements about his experience covering the Iraq War, Hurricane Katrina and other events.

Here is Turness’ complete statement to the NBC staff in full:

“We have decided today to suspend Brian Williams as Managing Editor and Anchor of NBC Nightly News for six months. The suspension will be without pay and is effective immediately. We let Brian know of our decision earlier today. Lester Holt will continue to substitute Anchor the NBC Nightly News.

Our review, which is being led by Richard Esposito working closely with NBCUniversal General Counsel Kim Harris, is ongoing, but I think it is important to take you through our thought process in coming to this decision.

While on Nightly News on Friday, January 30, 2015, Brian misrepresented events which occurred while he was covering the Iraq War in 2003. It then became clear that on other occasions Brian had done the same while telling that story in other venues. This was wrong and completely inappropriate for someone in Brian’s position.

In addition, we have concerns about comments that occurred outside NBC News while Brian was talking about his experiences in the field.

As Managing Editor and Anchor of Nightly News, Brian has a responsibility to be truthful and to uphold the high standards of the news division at all times.

Steve Burke, Pat Fili and I came to this decision together. We felt it would have been wrong to disregard the good work Brian has done and the special relationship he has forged with our viewers over 22 years. Millions of Americans have turned to him every day, and he has been an important and well-respected part of our organization.

As I’m sure you understand, this was a very hard decision. Certainly there will be those who disagree. But we believe this suspension is the appropriate and proportionate action. This has been a difficult time. But NBC News is bigger than this moment. You work so hard and dedicate yourselves each and every day to the important work of bringing trusted, credible news to our audience. Because of you, your loyalty, your dedication, NBC News is an organization we can – and should – all be proud of. We will get through this together.”

In addition Comcast CEO Steve Burke also had the following statement:

“This has been a painful period for all concerned and we appreciate your patience while we gathered the available facts. By his actions, Brian has jeopardized the trust millions of Americans place in NBC News. His actions are inexcusable and this suspension is severe and appropriate. Brian’s life’s work is delivering the news. I know Brian loves his country, NBC News and his colleagues. He deserves a second chance and we are rooting for him. Brian has shared his deep remorse with me and he is committed to winning back everyone’s trust.”

Jon Stewart to Leave ‘The Daily Show’ This Year

Jon Stewart is leaving The Daily Show behind. The host, who’s been with the show for more than 15 years, announced his departure during his Tuesday taping.

A network statement from Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless read as follows: “For the better part of the last two decades, I have had the incredible honor and privilege of working with Jon Stewart. His comedic brilliance is second to none. Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera. Through his unique voice and vision, The Daily Show has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come. Jon will remain at the helm of The Daily Show until later this year. He is a comic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family.”

Stewart, who joined the network in 1999, turned the Daily Show into a phenomenon when he stepped into Craig Kilborn’s former post. It has spent much of the time since as the highest-rated late-night talk show among younger viewers, and it has become one of the most influential political programs in the U.S. — despite its satirical nature.

Talk of Stewart’s time at the network coming to an end first bubbled up in 2013 when he took the summer off to direct his first feature, Rosewater. Upon the film’s release last year, Stewart admitted that the job could often be a grind. “I can’t say that following the news cycle as closely as we do and trying to convert that into something either joyful or important to us doesn’t have its fraught moments,” he said. “But there will come a point where I’m sure.”

A liberal folk hero, Stewart’s political coverage has seen him push elected officials and politicos on either side of the spectrum. He’s interviewed President Obama multiple times during his tenure, has (often chummily) bumped heads with Bill O’Reilly and just last year pressured Hillary Clinton to announce whether or not she intended to run for president in the next election. In 2004, Stewart famously ripped into CNN’s Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson for their one-note debate style, and many attribute Crossfire’s ensuing cancelation to his takedown.

His departure comes at a time of big change in Comedy Central’s late-night lineup. It was barely two months ago that Stephen Colbert left his post at The Colbert Report in preparation for his new gig as host of CBS’ The Late Show later in 2015. The 11:30 p.m. half-hour is now occupied by Larry Wilmore’s The Nightly Show. Finding a replacement for Stewart extends the game of late-night musical chairs that began last year when Jimmy Fallon took over for Jay Leno on NBC and David Letterman announced his own retirement.

John Oliver seemed primed for his own vehicle on Comedy Central after pinch-hitting for Stewart during his 2013 break, but he left the network for a deal and weekly series at HBO. Colbert, Oliver and Wilmore all got their biggest exposure from their respective tenures at The Daily Show. Under Stewart’s leadership, it served as an incubator for comedic talent only rivaled by Saturday Night Live and notably launched the career of Steve Carell.

If Colbert’s exit stung Comedy Central, Stewart’s is a sharp blow — albeit an inevitable one. The Daily Show ranks as the cable network’s highest-rated program, dominating its time period with adults 18-49 and young men on the four nights a week that it airs. Comedy Central did not respond to questions about the timing of Stewart’s exit or plans for a successor, but Ganeless’ statement certainly seems to emphasize the network’s faith the in franchise.

Paul McCartney, Kanye West, Taylor Swift & Justin Timberlake All In for ‘SNL’ 40th Anniversary Show

Live from New York….it’s all your favorite musical stars.

NBC has announced that Paul McCartney, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift and Paul Simon will be some of the musical stars for Saturday Night Live’s three-hour 40th anniversary celebration on Feb. 15.

In addition to music acts, the reunion celebration will feature icons from all eras of the program including Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Bill Murray, Jim Carrey, Steve Martin, and Dan Aykroyd, as well as hosting veterans like Alec Baldwin, Christopher Walken and Tom Hanks. Perhaps most excitingly, Eddie Murphy will be making an appearance, which marks his first time back since he left the show in 1984.

NBC made the announcement via videos, which revealed the seriously all-star (Jack Nicholson, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, just to name a few) lineup.

J.K. Simmons to Host ‘Saturday Night Live’ With D’Angelo

Whiplash whip-master and recent Golden Globes winner J.K. Simmons will remind people that he has a funny side when he hosts Saturday Night Live on January 31st. The show will also mark musical guest D’Angelo’s first televised performance since releasing Black Messiah in December.

The actor, whose comedy credits include playing the dad in Juno and appearances on Parks and Recreation and Arrested Development, last appeared on SNL in 1999 when he portrayed his Oz character Vern Schillinger for a skit in which Jerry Seinfeld went to HBO’s fictional prison after the Seinfeld finale stank.

In Whiplash, which was filmed over 19 days, Simmons played the hyper-serious jazz drum coach Terence Fletcher, who abuses a student played by Miles Teller. “[Teller] was reluctant to be slapped really hard a dozen of times, and I couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t enjoy that, that level of acting and commitment,” the elder actor recently joked with Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers.

D’Angelo, who has slowly been easing himself out of reclusion, has not performed on television since 2012, when he appeared at both the BET Awards and Essence Music Festival, and has never appeared on SNL. He will be performing with his backing band the Vanguard.

Shortly after his SNL debut, he will return to his roots with a live performance at New York City venue the Apollo, where he won Amateur Night at the age of 16 in 1991. Tickets for the February 7th show go on sale Wednesday.

‘The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore’ announces its cast of contributors

The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore has revealed the identities of the correspondents who will support host Larry Wilmore when the topical comedy show premieres later this month. And, in keeping with the show’s mission to offer up underrepresented perspectives, it’s a diverse bunch.

Joining Wilmore will be Bollywood actress and culture reporter Shenaz Treasury, who got her start on MTV Asia and went on to star in popular Bollywood films like Ishq Vishik and Delhi Belly. She also wrote, produced, and hosted the Travel Channel series Culture Shock. The Nightly Show‘s panel will also feature New York City-based standup comedians Ricky Velez and Mike Yard. Velez was recently voted New York’s Funniest by the New York Comedy Festival, and was named one of Comedy Central’s Comics to Watch. Yard—who hails from the U.S. Virgin Islands—won Comedy Central’s Get Up Stand Up online competition and has also appeared on Inside Amy Schumer and HBO’s Def Comedy Jam.

The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore will debut on Monday, January 19 at 11:30 p.m. following The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Hayley Atwell brings back ’40s-era for ‘Marvel’s Agent Carter’

It’s Buffy meets Bomb Girls!

OK, not literally. But Marvel’s Agent Carter focuses on a young woman with pluck (that’s the connection to Buffy the Vampire Slayer) trying to make her way in the 1940s (that’s the connection to Bomb Girls).

Debuting with a two-hour instalment, Tuesday, Jan. 6 on ABC and CTV, Marvel’s Agent Carter is a mini-series that is filling the slot usually reserved for Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which resumes its second season on March 3.

Now, putting the word “Marvel” in front of something automatically attracts certain TV viewers and repels others.

Want to know which group you’re in? If I added “Marvel” to the names of existing shows – say, Marvel’s The Big Bang Theory, or Marvel’s MasterChef, or Marvel’s How To Get Away With Murder – would you perk up or turn away?

Kidding aside, all these Marvel TV shows and movies are connected. In this particular case, Marvel’s Agent Carter is inspired by the movies Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger and Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, along with the direct-to-video short film Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter.

At this point, you’re either in the club or you’re not. Personally, when I see the word “Marvel” in front of something, I cringe a bit, because I figure that just means I’m not going to know what the hell is happening.

Do you need to be a Marvel devotee to watch Marvel’s Agent Carter? Not necessarily, I suppose. But it certainly helps to be at least vaguely versed in this world.

The time frame in which Marvel’s Agent Carter is set presents a world all on its own. And it’s a world where most men are sexist jerks. You know, not like today (feel free to make up your own joke here).

Anyway, many years before the S.H.I.E.L.D. team swore to protect those who cannot protect themselves from threats they cannot conceive, there was Agent Peggy Carter. She is played by Hayley Atwell.

It’s 1946 and World War II is over. Great news, right? Well, not for Peggy’s career.

She works for the covert organization known as SSR (Strategic Scientific Reserve). But with oodles of male soldiers returning home every day, Peggy finds herself demoted to making coffee and typing letters. She would much rather be back in the field, using her considerable skills to fight evil.

As if that weren’t enough, Peggy also has lost her true love, Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America. That’s gotta hurt. So Peggy is navigating life as a single woman in an era when single women of a certain age were looked upon with curiosity, if not outright suspicion. You know, not like today (again, feel free to make up your own joke here).

The stakes are raised for Peggy when her old pal Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) discovers he is being framed. Word is going around that he’s willing to sell the deadly weapons he has created to the highest bidder, regardless of national loyalties. It apparently isn’t true, but Howard needs Peggy to track down the truly guilty parties, dispose of the dangerous arsenal and clear his name.

Howard instructs his butler Edwin Jarvis (James D’Arcy) to help Peggy in whatever way she needs. But Jarvis is one of those old-timey dudes who is tied to routine. “Seven o’clock sherry, eight o’clock Benny Goodman, nine o’clock bed,” Jarvis informs Peggy. He obviously is in for a rude awakening, literally and figuratively.

This may sound weird, but Marvel’s Agent Carter is a little too “comic book-y” for my personal tastes. So is Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., for that matter. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been enjoying Gotham so much this season, because it’s not as “comic book-y” as some of its cousins, if you know what I mean.

But Atwell is impressive, undoubtedly, as Marvel’s Agent Carter. If you’re in the mood for Buffy meets Bomb Girls, that is.

‘Agent Carter,’ ‘House of Cards,’ and more: Find out midseason premiere dates for new, returning shows

While it may seem like some of the season’s biggest shows just ended, with the new year only days away, plenty of new and returning series are gearing up to premiere new seasons or pick off from major–and literal–cliffhangers.

As 2015 approaches, find out when the biggest shows of 2014 are returning, along with when a host of new series will debut to fill in the gaps.

Jan. 1
Ridiculousness–MTV
Lucas Bros. Moving Co.–FXX
Stone Quackers–FXX
Jan. 2
Mysteries at the Castle–Travel Channel
Undercover Boss–CBS
Hawaii Five-O–CBS
Blue Bloods–CBS
Jan. 3
Raising Whitley–OWN
Sag Harbor–OWN
Jan. 4
Galavant–ABC
Revenge–ABC
Resurrection–ABC
The Good Wife–CBS
Madam Secretary–CBS
CSI–CBS
The Celebrity Apprentice–NBC
Downton Abbey–PBS
Thicker Than Water–Bravo
Sister Wives–TLC
The Simpsons–Fox
Brooklyn Nine-Nine–Fox
Family Guy–Fox
Bob’s Burgers–Fox
Jan. 5
Antiques Roadshow–PBS
The Haves and the Have Nots–OWN
The Bachelor–ABC
Gotham–Fox
Sleepy Hollow–Fox
2 Broke Girls–CBS
Mike & Molly–CBS
Scorpion–CBS
NCIS: Los Angeles–CBS
Jan. 6
Marvel’s Agent Carter–ABC
MasterChef Junior–Fox
Pretty Little Liars–ABC Family
Switched at Birth–ABC Family
Cougar Town–TBS
Child Genius–Lifetime
NCIS–CBS
New Girl–Fox
The Mindy Project–Fox
NCIS: New Orleans–CBS
Person of Interest–CBS
About a Boy–NBC
Marry Me–NBC
Chicago Fire–NBC
Forever–ABC
Jan. 7
American Idol–Fox
Empire–Fox
Love Thy Neighbor–OWN
Hindsight–VH1
My 600-lb. Life–TLC
Duck Dynasty–A&E
Wahlburgers–A&E
Donnie Loves Jenny–A&E
Mysteries of Laura–NBC
Law & Order: SVU–NBC
Chicago PD–NBC
Modern Family–ABC
Black-ish–ABC
American Horror Story: Freak Show–FX
The Mentalist–CBS
Jan. 8
Archer–FX
Expedition Unknown–Travel Channel
Babylon–SundanceTV
Portlandia–IFC
Parenthood–NBC
The Big Bang Theory–CBS
Mom–CBS
Two and a Half Men–CBS
The McCarthys–CBS
Elementary–CBS
Jan. 9
Banshee–Cinemax
Glee–Fox
Cold Justice–TNT
Jessie–Disney Channel
Masters of Illusion–The CW
Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars–WEtv
David Tutera’s CELEBrations–WEtv
Comedy Bang! Bang!–IFC
Jan. 10
Archer–FX
Ghost Adventures–Travel Channel
Jan. 11
Shameless–Showtime
House of Lies–Showtime
Episodes–Showtime
Girls–HBO
Togetherness–HBO
Looking–HBO
Jan. 12
Eye Candy–MTV
Castle–ABC
Jan. 13
Parks and Recreation–NBC
Face Off–Syfy
Younger–TV Land
Kroll Show–Comedy Central
Genealogy Roadshow–PBS
Hotel Showdown–Travel Channel
Jan. 14
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia–FXX
Man Seeking Woman–FXX
Melissa & Joey–ABC Family
Baby Daddy–ABC Family
Broad City–Comedy Central
Criminal Minds–CBS
Stalker–CBS
Rock This Boat–Pop
The Story Behind–Pop
Snoop & Son: A Dad’s Dream–ESPN
Web Therapy–Showtime
Jan. 16
12 Monkeys–Syfy
World’s Funniest Fails–Fox
The Fall–Netflix
Helix–Syfy
Grimm–NBC
Constantine–NBC
Jan. 17
The Musketeers–BBC America
Jan. 18
Grantchester–PBS
Jan. 19
The Fosters–ABC Family
Chasing Life–ABC Family
The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore–Comedy Central
Jane the Virgin–The CW
The Originals–The CW
Jan. 20
Justified–FX
The Flash–The CW
Supernatural–The CW
Jan. 21
Arrow–The CW
The 100–The CW
Jan. 22
Backstrom–Fox
The Vampire Diaries–The CW
Reign–The CW
Nightwatch–A&E
Jan. 24
Black Sails–Starz
Jan. 25
Sons of Liberty–History
Jan. 26
Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations–Travel Channel
Mud, Sweat, and Gears–BBC America
Jan. 27
Sirens–USA Network
Jan. 28
The Americans–FX
Suits–USA Network
Jan. 29
Grey’s Anatomy–ABC
Scandal–ABC
How to Get Away with Murder–ABC
Fortitude–Pivot
Feb. 1
The Blacklist–NBC
Feb. 4
EARTH A New Wild–PBS
Fresh Off the Boat–ABC
Nashville–ABC
Feb. 5
Allegiance–NBC
Feb. 8
The Walking Dead–AMC
Better Call Saul–AMC
Feb. 12
The Slap–NBC
Feb. 17
Rizzoli & Isles–TNT
Perception–TNT
Feb. 19
The Odd Couple–CBS
Vikings–History
Feb. 23
The Voice–NBC
The Night Shift–NBC
Feb. 25
Survivor–CBS
The Amazing Race–CBS
Feb. 27
House of Cards–Netflix
March 1
Once Upon a Time–ABC
Secrets and Lies–ABC
The Last Man on Earth–Fox
Battle Creek–CBS
March 2
The Following–Fox
March 3
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.–ABC
Hell’s Kitchen–Fox
March 4
CSI: Cyber–CBS
Broadchurch–BBC America
March 5
DIG–USA Network
American Crime–ABC
March 17
Undateable–NBC
One Big Happy–NBC
March 20
Mr Selfridge–PBS
March 23
The Late Late Show with James Corden–CBS
March 26
Bones–Fox
March 29
Call the Midwife–PBS
March 31
Weird Loners–Fox
Younger–TVLand
April 4
Outlander–Starz
April 5
Wolf Hall–PBS
A.D.–NBC
Odyssey–NBC
April 18
Orphan Black–BBC America
May 14
Wayward Pines–Fox

Report: Netflix bags rights to new Pee-wee Herman movie

Netflix has reportedly snapped up the rights to the new Pee-wee Herman movie.

Earlier this year Paul Reubens – the actor who created and plays the much-loved character – confirmed rumours that a new Pee-wee movie is in the works.

Now a member of the film’s production team has apparently told TheWrap that the project moved from Universal Pictures, its original home, to Netflix “a gazillion months ago”. However, a representative for the streaming service has insisted there is no deal in place yet.

Judd Apatow will serve as a producer on the new Pee-Wee Herman movie, though the project has no director yet and plot details are unknown. Reubens will return as his much-loved alter ego and also co-wrote the film’s script.

Reubens first played Pee-wee Herman in the late 1970s and the character became incredibly popular in the following decade, starring in the films Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and Big Top Pee-wee as well as the TV show Pee-wee’s Playhouse. Having rested the character for much of the 1990s, Reubens has revived Pee-wee in recent years for a popular Broadway stage show and numerous TV guest appearances.