Jenny Slate Rumored to Exit SNL; Why is SNL Quiet on All This?
Tuesday, September 7 at 10:34AM
The cast change leaks at SNL keep gushing but there's still no official statement on any of them. Today, Deadline reports rumors that Abby Elliott was almost let go and Jenny Slate won't be returning:
I hear Abby Elliott , daughter of Chris Elliott and the first second-generation SNL cast member, was in serious jeopardy but now appears safe to come back, while rumor is that Jenny Slate might not be returning. Slate, who joined as a featured player along with Nasim Pedrag [sic] last fall made headlines with her SNL debut. On the show's season premiere last September, in her first appearance during a sketch titled Biker Chick Chat Slate uttered the word "fuckin'" on live television.
Here's something I don't get about all these rumors: Why isn't SNL owning the cast change story? Has anyone in their PR department heard about Twitter? It's kind of ridiculous that any random blogger or outlet can break these leaks when SNL can easily do it themselves by calling the New York Times or tweet the official news as it happens. Either Lorne and company love and endorse the unchecked speculation or they have the worst publicists in the world working for them.
When an eccentric broad dies and leaves her 300MM dollar fortune to a Bichon Frise, a colorful cast of characters shows up at the funeral to find out who will inherit the pooch in Dead Millionaire, a new one woman show by
Jenny Slate
, playing on select Thursdays in May at The UCBT.
NOTES
--Snappy, stylized transitional video accompaniments give Jenny time to show off her wit and make costume changes into silly characters such as singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan, Jenny's niece (pictured above), and a seemingly tame dame with a tight perm and a hidden wild side, Ruth Diamond Phillips.
--A climactic performance from a real live Bichon Frise elicited both groans and giggles. The dog appeared to be well-trained in both comedy and the acting methods made popular by Constantin Stanislavski. It truly acted like a dog being unwittingly embarrassed in front of a strange crowd of gawkers--so real!
--With exceptional young ladies like Slate and
Violet Krumbein
rocking terrific character showcases as of late, it seems such performances can conveniently function as live audition tapes for area casting directors on the hunt for funny females. It'll be interesting to see what opportunities line up for them.
--
DEAD MILLIONAIRES EVERYWHERE:
Jenny's performance just happens to coincide with another dead millionaire extravaganza in town: the sensational fraud trial over Brooke Astor's megabucks. The main difference between the two shows is that
Astor's beloved dachshunds
,
Boysie
and
Girlsie
, aren't getting any stage time in theirs.
Eugene Mirman
and
Bobby Tisdale
brought their celebrated friends to The Bowery Ballroom for a year-end
Invite Them Up
blowout.
NOTES
--The show was sponsored by
SuperDeluxe.com
, a promising looking broadband network produced by Turner that is launching in January.
More info HERE.
--Many of the night's performers have stuff in development with SuperDeluxe.
--A lucky
Random Audience Member
was presented a 250 dollar wad of CASH on-stage with the condition that she somehow use that money to make a video for SuperDeluxe. Seconds after being handed the money, she crazily raced through the venue tossing it into the air.
--
BIG POPS:
Reggie Watts
on mouthsex,
Kristen Schaal
and
Kurt Braunohler
(as Jesus) having a
Dirty Dancing
moment to "
Gabe Leidman & Jenny Slate do a solid impression of the Indigo Girls 69-ing each other
Jonny Attitude, we thought you were sincere
Paul F. Tompkins