R
umors have been swirling about the impending shakedown at "Saturday Night Live."
TMZ has learned that due to low ratings, NBC execs wanted to cut the show's episode order to 19 - as opposed to the usual 20.
Lorne Michaels, the show's executive producer, stepped in and promised to bring the show in on budget. Network brass reconsidered and gave the go ahead for the 20 episodes for "SNL's" 32nd season.
Unfortunately, in order to stay on budget there need to be cutbacks. Translation: many cast and crew won't be getting raises and others will be let go. Somebody cue Debbie Downer.
As has been reported, Tiny Fey and Rachel Dratch are leaving the seminal late-night sketch show to work on Fey's new NBC sitcom based on "SNL" called "30 Rock."
And a source tells TMZ that it also looks like Horatio Sanz and Will Forte won't be back either. More cast and writing staff changes are said to be looming.
TMZ contacted a rep for "SNL" who said this is "unconfirmed and uncorroborated. We are not commenting. "
NBC is expected to make a formal announcement regarding the new season of "SNL" around Labor Day.
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(Page 3 of 4) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Most Recent | Next 15 CommentsAre you guys KIDDING ME?
Did you even see the last season...that was funny s**t!!!!
The Chronicles of Narnia rap? The Prince Show skit? Horatio's Aaron Neville impersonation? Scarlet Johansen's My Sweet 16 skit? The Natalie Portman gangsta bitch rap? Keenan's MTV3 sketch? The Al Gore skit? 2 A-Holes? Seindfeld, Alexander and Dryfus reunited? The Smigel episode?
You guys missed out!!!!!!!!!
Dear Lorne,
Mark Twain once said, "Humor must not professedly teach and it must not professedly preach, but it must do both if it would live forever. Laughter without a tinge of philosophy is but a sneeze of humor. Genuine humor is replete with wisdom..To string incongruities and absurdities together in a wandering and sometimes purposeless way, and seem innocently unaware that they are absurdities, is the basis of the American art, if my position is correct. Another feature is the slurring of the point. A third is the dropping of a studied remark apparently without knowing it, or as if one were thinking out loud. The fourth and the last is the pause. Repetition is a mighty power in the domain of humor. If frequently used, nearly any precisely worded and unchanging formula will eventually compel laughter if it be gravely and earnestly repeated, at intervals, five or six times." Lorne, it is time to go back to the basics. And finally, Twain last said," Humor is mankind's greatest blessing. The humourous writer professes to awaken and direct your love, your pity, your kindness--your scorn for untruth, pretension, imposture....He takes upon himself to be the week-day preacher." I rest my case. I remain,
Sincerely yours,
Bruce M.Pierce
It has not been good since WIll Ferrell left! Well know since Sheri O'Teri and Molly Shannon left. Well Know its hasn't been good since Eddie Murphy Left. Well know it hasn't been good since Chevy Chase left.
It was over for me when Jimmy Fallon and Will Ferrell left. I wish they never left. It's been horrible since they left and Alec Baldwin is funny when they give him better sketches but I think they need new writers because the sketches just aren't funny to me and a new varity of people. Like black a lady for once!
SNL has become too political. That is why I think that people have stopped watching. It used to be a lighthearted show that you could sit around with friends on a Saturday night, drink beer and laugh about... but now the segments are all either politically charged or just down right stupid. It would be sad to see it cancelled, but I wouldn't blame the network. The show needs to go back to it's roots, find some truly talented young comedians with great chemistry, some creative, original, funny writers - like SNL had in the 80's.
SNL has only some good and funny stuff now.
It was good when Eddie Murphy and Adam Sandler and some others were on it... and Nothing can EVER compare to when Gilda Radner and John Baluchi (spelling?) were on it
They need to make it like the old days...cause it just is not half as funny as it used to be... MAD is pretty good.
If the SNL needs a new infusion, how about a new Executive Producer? Lorne, just hire someone young & fun and then step out of the way.
There are one or two semi decent skits, but it's sagging like grandma's old tits. Grandma needs some implants alone with her infusion.
Don't be like Dan Rather who refused to step down even when he knew he was the cause of low ratings. Just get someone else to do your job so you can jet off to LA & do movies. Hey, Don Cornelius did it with Soul Train & now it's better with all the young, hip, new blood.
Think about . . . okay, time's up! Who'd you hire for this season to executive produce . . . tick . . . tick . . . tick . . .
As if! Debbie Downer is hilarious and I love Rachel Dratch! I also love me some Chris Parnell especially in the Appaclachian Emergency Room skits. Horatio is hilarious because he can never keep his composure. When Jimmy Fallon was on the show ANY skit that he and Horatio did together was sure to involve them cracking up. I am sad to see some of the good ones go. I hope SNL doesn't completely go down the tubes, I've grown up with it!
mya rudolf, chris parnell, rachel drach are great. horatio sans sucks. they need better guests for sure.
SNL is horrible now & has been for the past few years due to the writters. Before they cut back the episodes they shoudl cut back the writtters.
I mean they some funny people on there but its just not like it was in the Ferral, Carvey, and Farley days....they just need to get some better writers and funnier people.
NBC makes a big mistake by not allowing internet viewing of programs like SNL or listings on YouTube... I regularly watch Comedy Central's Daily Show and MADTV on these sites... SNL misses all of this momentum for buzz when they do offer something funny... their political comedy is still the best. They'll rise again if they can just shake some of the corporate influence holding them down.
Lorne, if you're reading this, please rethink the possible firing of Will Forte. He was one of the strongest players you had. The "Falconer" sketchs were terrible, but his impressions -- such as Bush -- were the best. I really hope this is just a rumor.
i think horatio santz is one of the best comics around although they have not utilized him that much this season. he is a blend of jim belushi and chris farley and dont forget darrell hammond he is also one of the reasons to watch snl
the women on the show dont do much

















