TV Zone
News, scoops, reviews and more from TV land.
'SNL:' Was this Fred Armisen's farewell show, too?
Photo credit: IFC
Everyone knew Bill Hader - AKA Stefon, "James Carville,' "Keith Morrison," Alien Greg, and lots of game show hosts - was leaving "Saturday Night Live" after eight largely terrific seasons. And he did. As Stefon, almost getting married to Anderson Cooper on the 38th season finale...
But what about Jason Sudeikis and Fred Armisen? (Seth Meyers is being deposed from "Weekend Update" next February, when he moves next door to Studio 6 B, or wherever "Late Night with Seth Meyers" will originate from...) The possibility of a mass guy exodus presented itself early Sunday morning when Armisen's recently created alter-ego punk rocker, Ian Rubbish, appeared on stage with "friends" like the Sex Pistols' Steve Jones, Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis, Aimee Mann, and Carrie Brownstein; she's his co-star in “Portlandia,” and former lead singer of Sleater-Kinney.
Sudeikis was on drums. Hader was on bass. Armisen/Rubbish sang, "it's been a lovely day..." Meaning: I'm outta here. Maybe that dude on drums too.
NBC declined comment on whether this was Sudeikis's and Armisen's swan song. For good reason: The press would have a field day.
Imagine, "SNL's" four biggest stars, Sudeikis, Meyers, Armisen and Hader gone in an instant, or almost. (Seth's around for half of the 39th...) But let us ponder the possibilities if this does indeed happen. Perhaps the door swings open for more female cast members in this still mostly-male club. Kate McKinnon, a featured player, will likely become a full castmember. Maybe even under-used Jay Pharoah will get more airtime. So not all is lost, "SNL" fans. This is a show that seems to know how to course-correct.
'SNL:' Stefon's farewell
Photo credit: AP
It's not all that often that a very major presence on "Saturday Night Live" leaves this stage -- in this instance, Bill Hader, along with his rainbow coalition of characters, impersonations, and eyebrows. So Stefon's exit last night will forever remain one of those "SNL" moments we could never forget even if we wanted to. This exit is reasonably amazing.
So goodbye Stefon, and mazel tov.
Official final season trailer for 'Dexter'
"Dexter's" eighth and final season begins in just a month or so - June 30 - but until then, fans may content themselves with the final season trailer. And here it is!
'American Idol' gets worst finale ratings in show's history
Photo credit: Getty Images
"American Idol" viewership totals for the finale are in, and they are grim: A considerable drop from last year's final in both total viewers and the bread-and-butter young adult total.
Fox, to its credit, just sent out the figures, and didn't attempt to sugarcoat anything. This is one of those "it is what it is" situations, and no reason to apply a spin no one would believe...
Read more »'The Office' finale review: Steve Carell returns
Photo credit: NBC
"The Office" finale? We must in the end take the good with the bad with only merely OK. And in the end, "The Office" finale was all of those things -- maybe that's the benefit, or drawback, of having an hour and 15 minutes to wrap.
It was, as expected, sweet and gentle. Pam's closing line was just about perfect: "There's a lot of beauty in ordinary things. Isn't that...
Read more »CW: 'The Originals' goes Tuesdays at 8
Photo credit: AP
CW's big "The Vampire Diaries" spin-off - "The Originals,"- with Joseph Morgan, Daniel Gillies, Claire Holt et al - will land Tuesdays at 8, the network announced this morning. Also: A historic "period" drama will join the lineup. Historic? Period? On the CW?! Don't worry - historic and highly hormonal teens will be involved.
In other CW news...viewers...
Read more »CBS's 'Under the Dome' gets a first look
Photo credit: Shane Leonard
"Under the Dome," one of the events of our TV summer, arrives June 24 on CBS, but the trailer arrives right now. Check it out. I think this'll be good - who doesn't love anything by Stephen King (this was adapted from the 2009 novel)? - but I simply can't help but think of "The Simpsons Movie" whenever I think of this...
USA getting into comedy business
Photo credit: AP
USA has ordered a handful of comedies, to bow in 2014. That's a first for the network which has long ceded the sitcom to rivals like TNT or FX. There are three - or two, and a pilot order. Quickly, they are: "Sirens," from Denis Leary (not starring) and Bob Fisher; about EMS crews in Chicago; "Playing House,' with Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair, about two close pals who rediscover their friendship; and an order for "Love is Dead," a rom-com about a company that breaks up romances... Why comedies and why now? Because "Modern Family" reruns will air on USA starting Sept. 24, and obviously USA is looking for companions...
Saying goodbye to 'The Office': Why we loved it, maybe still do
And so it has come to the end, as it must for all good things. The end: "The Office" wraps nine seasons tonight, and some of us are wistful, some of us could care less, and some of us stopped watching years ago. I fall squarely in the wistful camp, and this morning offer this random collection of "what I'll miss the most" thoughts about the show. For the purposes...
Read more »CBS fall lineup: Video
And here they are...CBS's newcomers. Mostly comedies...
