42 Things and 10 Days. The Just for Laughs Comedy Festival takes over Toronto for the next 10 days and among the Funnymen and Funnywomen in the City this year are the likes of Aziz Ansari, Mila Kunis, Seth McFarlane, Seth Green, Janeane Garofolo, Sarah Silverman and several more.
Saturday Night Live Alumni Colin Quinn is one of the first to arrive in the City and he promoted his appearance tonight at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre earlier today at Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition). Watch his appearance here.
Before heading off in his cab, at one point accidentally heading into someone else’s cab on Bloor Street, the amazingly-nice Quinn stopped for Photos with Fans outside the Shaw Media Building. The Brooklynite jokingly said “No!” to me after asking for a Photo before obliging kindly some Snaps.
For more on the Just for Laughs Festival, click here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Carol Rosegg)
Concluding the 66th annual Cannes Film Festival, the Main Jury (headed by Steven Spielberg, including Nicole Kidman and Ang Lee) handed-out their Prizes earlier today. Winning top honours this year, the Palme d’Or, was Blue is the Warmest Colour (La vie d’Adèle), directed by Abdellatif Kechiche. The racy Drama, clocking-in at over three hours, is about a teenage Girl who has an affair with a Woman. It also has the distinction of winning the FIPRESCI Competition Prize.
In the acting categories Bérénice Bejo, who received an Oscar nomination for her silent performance in The Artist, won Best Actress for Italian-French Production The Past, about a Parisian Woman looking to divorce her Iranian Husband. Bruce Dern won Best Actor for his work in Nebraska, directed by Alexander Payne (Sideways, The Descendants), about a Father and Son who reunite to claim a Sweepstakes prize. The Drama which stars SNL Alumni Will Forte, gets a November release via Paramount Pictures in North America.
Winning the Grand Prix was eagerly-awaited Coen Brothers Film, Inside Llewyn Davis. Set in the ’60s, the Drama about the Folk Music Scene stars an exciting Cast of Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, Garrett Hedlund, John Goodman and Oscar Isaac.
Mexican Filmmaker Amat Escalante won Best Director for his work on Heli, a Mexican Drama about a Family torn-apart by drugs.
On our radars is Fruitvale Station, to be distributed by eOne Films in select Canadian Citiies on July 26, 2013. The Ryan Coogler Drama, which was a Hit at Sundance earlier this year, picked-up the Future Prize and is about a 22-year-old Man’s final day on New Year’s Eve 2008.
Clearly on the Awards Trail and release dates scheduled for later this year, perhaps we can expect Nebraska, Inside Llewyn Davis, The Past and Blue is the Warmest Colour to surface in Toronto at TIFF this September?
Complete list of Winners here.
(Photo credit: Quat’sous Films)
There couldn’t have been a better choice! Saturday Night Live Alumni Seth Meyers officially has been named to take-over hosting responsibilities for Jimmy Fallon on NBC‘s popular Late Night Franchise. He is preceeded by TV Greats like David Letterman, Conan O’Brien and Jay Leno.
The Transition begins next February after the completion of NBC‘s Winter Olympics Coverage in Russia. Likewise, Jimmy Fallon at that time will be transitioning over to host The Tonight Show, taking the reins from Jay Leno, as announced previously. Meyers begins preparations in January, after appearing on the first-half of the forthcoming season of Saturday Night Live, which he has been a part of for 12 seasons already.
We actually spotted Seth Meyers out partying at the Met Gala last week in New York City with his Girlfriend Alexi Ashe and were one of the lucky few who got a Pic with him! Amazing Guy!
See our Snap below:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Saturday Night Live Alumni Kristen Wiig has been absent and trust me, it seems like it’s been forever. As a real SNL Fan, her absence has been felt! The Funnywoman returned last night for her first time ever hosting and Friends like Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd and a v. pregnant Maya Rudolph even came out to show their support at the NBC Studios in New York City.
Opening the Show with a rendition of The Pointer Sisters‘ I’m So Excited, poking fun at how everything’s changed at the Studio in just eleven months, Wiig gave the Episode some much-needed connection to seasons past, with so many new faces on the Show this Season. Although most of last night’s Show was comprised of Sketches which brought back some of her best Characters throughout the years, the highlights were definitely the Video Sketches.
With it being Mother’s Day, Wiig paid tribute to the occasion and particularly good was a 1-800-Flowers Parody Sketch pairing her with recent addition Kate McKinnon (and worthy Successor!) as her irritating but beloved Mom.
See it below:
You also cannot miss this Korean Horror-inspired Sketch for a new Disney Show:
Of course, she had to bring back those famous mini doll hands for fictitious The Lawrence Welk Show:
Have you seen Wiig‘s brand new Girl Most Likely (formerly known as Imogene)? Check it out here!
So pretty much everyone on the Internet is raving about Justin Timberlake‘s fantastic fifth time hosting Saturday Night Live and despite the dependency on lewd humour, there never was a dull moment as he charmed his way through Pre-taped/Live Sketches and Performances of his latest two Singles.
Timberlake started off tonight with a Cold Open, doing a parody of Elton John performing Candle in the Wind in memory of recently-deceased Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez. “Goodbye Hugo C…”, he sang. The Actor/Singer/Songwriter/Entrepreneur was joined also by Saturday Night Live Veterans, who like him previously hosted five times including Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Chevy Chase, Martin Short, Candace Bergen, Steven Martin and Dan Aykroyd. The latter two even came back to reprise their roles as the sleazy Festrunk Brothers in a Dating Game Sketch enticing Vanessa Bayer, while Timberlake and Andy Samberg too tried seducing her with some raunchy ’90s-inspired R&B. Think Dick in a Box, but like a fivesome.
Also brought back was his Liquorville Sketch, which prior saw him perform alongside Lady Gaga. This time around he dressed-up as a giant piece of Tofu promoting Veganism, with his own takes of Chic‘s Le Freak, Rihanna‘s We Found Love, Vanilla Ice‘s Ice Ice Baby with Vegan-friendly Lyrics.He capped it all off with his own take on Internet Viral Sensation The Harlem Shake but instead, The Vegan Shake. Amazing!
Watch it below:
With his third solo Disc The 20/20 Experience due later this month, Timberlake made us remember why it is we love him so with stunning renditions of Suit & Tie (joined on-stage by Jay-Z) and Mirrors, both drawing loud cheers, sounding impeccable backed by The Tennessee Kids Band.
Just when we thought the laughs weren’t big enough, a Video Sketch of a fictitious Series with Nasim Pedrad titled She’s Got a Dick, where Timberlake‘s Character has to come to terms with the Woman he loves having some “surprise” male anatomy. Keenan Thompson also appears on the Sketch curiously questioning Timberlake about its size.
Full Videos will be up on Global Television‘s Website tomorrow for Canadian Viewers.
We’ve got an exciting Justin Timberlake Giveaway coming this week. Stay tuned for more!
(Photo credit: NBC)
Canadian Pop Sensation Justin Bieber stretched his wings last night, doing double duty as both Host and Musical Guest on Saturday Night Live. Although the laughs admittedly were pretty dispersed, his Fans (many who camped-out in the Storm which crippled much of the North-East) were out in full force, screaming at every opportunity. Bieber played-up his new-found singleness and tied-in upcoming Valentine’s Day every opportunity he had.
In his Monologue (7:30), which celebrated both Black History Month and Valentine’s Day, telling the v. Female audience “I’m looking for the one special Girl to help me find love… and the great progress African-Americans have made in this Nation.”. Bieber adds, “Tonight I’m looking for a future Mrs. B. We’re gonna do it right, we’re gonna celebrate it right”, eventually before he finds Whoopi Goldberg in the audience, presents her with Roses and drags her on-stage for a kiss on the cheek.
By far the most surprising and funny moment was the on-going The Miley Cyrus Show (43:45) Sketch featuring Vanessa Bayer, where Bieber addresses his recent Marijuana Scandal. An over-enthusiastic Bayer as Cyrus interviews the young President of the Lafayette Club. Pete DeFalco, who questions why she’s friends with Bieber. “You’re kidding me right? He looks like a f– … a Lesbian… I also heard he got busted for smoking weed and that he’s really sorry and that people make mistakes and that he’s never gonna do it again.” “Yeah right! Me too.. so okay!”.
Watch the entire Episode below:
Comedian, Singer, Writer, Actor and Entrepreneur Dan Aykroyd truly is a National Treasure, so who more fitting to present a Diamond Jubilee Medal tonight at Roy Thomson Hall than him? The Funnyman earlier taped an Interview at CBC for George Stromboulopoulos Tonight, only to be joined by that popular TV Personality at the Gala, which honoured Members of the Order of Canada who reside in Ontario. The Medals recognize outstanding contributions and achievements from all sectors of Society. Other Presenters tonight included Jian Ghomeshi, Tom Cochrane, Craig Kielburger, Peter Mansbridge, David Mirvish and Brian Williams.
All dappered-up, Aykroyd was awesome enough to stop for a quick Snap and other Fans-in-waiting had nothing but praise for him being a great sport. Noticing my Camera Strap in the way, he did a quick adjustment to ensure we got a winning Shot!
The Primetime EMMY Winner and Oscar-nominated Actor is attached to the long-overdue Ghostbusters III (Ivan Reitman rumoured to direct) and this year will be featured in Dorothy of Oz which features the Voice Work of Hugh Dancy, Lea Michele, Patrick Stewart, Kelsey Grammer, Meg Hilty, Jim Belushi and Martin Short. The Actor was last seen in 2012’s Box Office Hit The Campaign and coincidentally, we spotted his Co-Star Katherine LaNasa here the other day!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Crystal Head Vodka)
You probably know Horatio Sanz most for his eight years of work on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, but the Funnyman has been keeping busy of late lending his talents to popular titles like Girls, Wreck-it Ralph, The Dictator and Video-on-Demand Hit Bachelorette. Sanz arrived in Toronto late last week with his former SNL Castmates Rob Schneider and Chris Kattan to co-headline a Show at Mississauga’s Living Arts Centre and he has extended his stay in the City, co-hosting all week long on one of my favourite shows, Global Television‘s The Morning Show – National Edition.
The still-slimmer Sanz touched-upon some Hot Topics today with Liza Fromer, Rosey Edeh, Antony Robart and Kris Reyes, including a recent brawl between Singers Chris Brown and openly-gay Frank Ocean. He posed the question on Twitter earlier this week: “Chris Brown: Rihanna, Frank Ocean…What’s next ‘Old Ladies’??”. He added today on the Show, “I think for a little of Girls he’s the Bad Boy and a for a lot of young Boys and Girls that’s what they’re into.”.
Rosie O’Donnell also came-up on today’s Show as Entertainment Tonight Canada Host Cheryl Hickey stopped by to promote her upcoming guest appearance on Season Two of Bomb Girls. O’Donnell was announced recently to be guest-starring on the Toronto-filmed Series and as you might recall, Sanz also used to impersonate her on SNL also. He recalls, “I’d watch certain things she’d do like her laugh and I’d do certain things she’d do like shoot those Koosh Balls around.”.
Despite it pouring out, Sanz was kind enough to stop for a quick Snap as he head into his SUV – but not before he put-away his Tim Hortons, getting a quick Crash Course from his Driver on navigating our tricky Toronto Waste Receptacles. Incredible getting to meet him after enjoying his work for many years now!
Watch more here.
Follow Sanz on Twitter here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Some mixed reactions to Jennifer Lawrence‘s first time hosting Saturday Night Live last night. The twice Oscar-nominated Actress started off strong with a hilarious opening Monologue poking-fun at the upcoming Oscars Race, going through each and every one of her fellow Nominees. “Ladies I love you all, but you’re about to get served”, warns Lawrence before throwing wooly-mitten punches at each of the nominated Actresses. “Jessica Chas-ain’t-not-winning-no-Oscar-on-my-Watch“, she says about Jessica Chastain. On Naomi Watts, she says, “You were in The impossible… you know what else is impossible? You beating me on Oscar night.”. Neither the old nor the young got a break as she also went-on to ask record youngest-ever Nominee 9-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis, “What ‘chu talking ’bout Wallis?”. On Amour Star Emannuelle Riva, she doesn’t hold back one bit stating, “An 85-year-old French Lady? Umm… yah I think I can take you. You know what you can say to your Oscar chances? Emmanuelle Arrivaderci!”. LOL Of course all in good humour.
Performing alongside Musical Guests The Lumineers, Lawrence had a few bright moments such as the super-cute Top Dog Chef Sketch which had her dressed as a Yorkie and preparing a culinary creation for a panel of Judges. One Sketch had her parodying The Hunger Games with herself as Katniss, before a panel of Reporters at a Press Conference asking burning questions which poked fun at some of the rules of the Games and also Lawrence and Co-Star Josh Hutcherson‘s height differences. Bobby Moynihan took hunger to a new level making all his questions about food because apparently he’s starving out there in District 12. Truly versatile in reaching young to old(er), Lawrence held her own in some of the more sex-oriented Sketches like Danielle, a deliciously trashy Parody of late-night French Soaps with horrible dubbing. Also, a Lincoln-inspired Sketch had her writing her Boyfriend-at-War (Newcomer Tim Robinson) Love Letters, but it seemed all he wanted were Tit Pics.
Those of us in Canada, it shouldn’t be long before Global finally uploads their Page with Clips.
Check here in a bit.
(Photo/video credit: NBC)
Alright Hunger Games, let’s see what you’ve got! In the event you haven’t paid your Cable bill these past couple months, you otherwise are well aware probably that Jennifer Lawrence is hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend. The stunning Golden Globe Award Winner brings out the laughs here along with Funnyman Jason Sudeikis, in this just-release Promo for the eagerly-awaited Episode. Watch her pull a Katniss on poor Bobby Moynihan.
In addition to her Awards Blitz which includes an appearance at next month’s Oscars, for which she’s nominated with Silver Linings Playbook, Lawrence also covers the February 2013 Issue of Vanity Fair. Read the fascinating Piece here by as she chats with Jim Windolf about her rise to success over Beer and a Beef Burrito.
One interesting quote from Lawrence about her modest Start: “I was 14. And my brothers were star athletes. And one of them was a straight-A student. I always felt like I sucked at everything, that I could never find the thing that I liked. I auditioned and I probably sucked, but I had decided 100 percent that this is what I wanted to do. And, fortunately, my mother and I had fallen in love with New York, so the idea of living there for the summer wasn’t as scary.”.
Watch Lawrence‘s SNL Promo below:
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