It's official. The ax has swung at Saturday Night Live, and three heads have been chopped: Chris Parnell, Finesse Mitchell, and thankfully, Horatio Sanz. Earlier reports set the number of SNL rejections at four, but with Rachel Dratch leaving for 30 Rock (from which she was subsequently and unwisely dropped), the Lorne Michaels firing squad only needed to release three birds into the wild. The identity of these (former) cast members isn't that much of a shock. Even though Chris Parnell had made a splash recently with Lazy Sunday, his shtick had for the most part run its course. Besides, he'd already been fired once before. Finesse Mitchell, while likable (and forever appreciated for introducing us to Starkeesha), pretty much did nothing this past season as Kenan Thompson took over the majority of black roles on the show.
As for Horatio Sanz, well, this had been in the making for quite some time. While at first his chuckling through skits was amusing, it soon became a lame crutch that only served to take actors out of character, ruin comic pacing, and sink probably many enjoyable skits. He also appeared to get lazy over the years as his performances seemed less and less rehearsed and more reliant on cue cards (and even those he couldn't read properly). I'm sure he'll be fine in the film world, and we're looking forward to seeing the pared down cast this Saturday for the season premiere (as long as it's funny). [E! Online]
Comments (13)
Enchanting!
1 of 13 | Posted by m_ruv | Posted on September 20, 2006 1:34 PM
I haven't seen SNL in over 15 years. But I am always amazed that Lorne Micheals thinks only one black man can have face time during any given season.
I think Lorne Micheals doesn't care about black people. Racist azz MuthaSucka!!
BTW. Who is Lorne Michaels blowing or finger f*cking at NBC to have this lame show on for sooooo looooooong. Cancel this shit already!
Keep rocking funny skits MadTV!!
2 of 13 | Posted by America's Next Top Fan | Posted on September 20, 2006 1:41 PM
So who's gonna be the unfunny fat guy this season?
Oops. THAT was politically incorrect...
So who's gonna be the unfunny gastronomically-challenged guy this season?
3 of 13 | Posted by whawha | Posted on September 20, 2006 4:34 PM
Why is this corpse of a show still around?
4 of 13 | Posted by Ubiquitous | Posted on September 20, 2006 4:57 PM
I will miss Carol.
hb
5 of 13 | Posted by HoneyBunny | Posted on September 20, 2006 6:07 PM
me too HB. Let's meet for a Jagerbomb and a Dunkin Donuts cappucino and toast to her memory.
6 of 13 | Posted by zoobabe | Posted on September 20, 2006 8:58 PM
Wow, didn't know MadTV fans actually existed.
7 of 13 | Posted by Zharak | Posted on September 21, 2006 6:31 AM
Zharak,
Sorry to dissapoint you. But we're attracted to shows that are actually funny. lol
8 of 13 | Posted by America's Next Top Fan | Posted on September 21, 2006 6:57 AM
Can't remember last time I watched an entire episode, but will turn it on if I'm around. I'm usually curious to see how the guest host will fare.
Awww, I liked Chris Parnell. He's the perfect "straight" man, and is subtly hysterical in a deadpan kinda way. I think last time they fired him, Will Ferrell pretty much demanded he be brought back. No one to save him this time, too bad. Pretty much kills Appalachian Emergency Room, which is about the only consistently funny sketch on SNL.
Dunno about Finesse. Saw a Weekend Update solo skit, and it was painfully unfunny.
But how Horatio Sanz has not been fired until now, is a mystery for the ages. Dude, sucks big big monkey balls.
9 of 13 | Posted by chronic | Posted on September 21, 2006 8:36 AM
Horatio has been so unfunny for so long. So long SUCKA!
I always liked Chris Parnell and agree with Chronic. He was always a good straight man to the goofier cast members. I'll be sad to see him go :(
10 of 13 | Posted by MDiddy | Posted on September 21, 2006 9:52 AM
eh, SNL always ebbs and flows, according to how quickly lorne michaels can replace the big stars when they make the jump to movies and/or prime-time. it'll take a while, but eventually SNL will be funny again, as it remains the surest path to stardom for comedians/comic actors.
as for horatio: FINALLY. i've assumed for years that he must be somebody important's drug connection, 'cause there's no other explanation for how he avoided getting canned this long. yeah, i know SNL has to have at least one belushi/farley type, but there are a lot of funny fat guys out there who don't drop their lines and can make it through a sketch without laughing at their own jokes. guess lorne must be back on the wagon.
11 of 13 | Posted by jack | Posted on September 21, 2006 10:21 AM
Artie Lange must be scared that Sanz will be free to take all his movie roles.
12 of 13 | Posted by jrc2g | Posted on September 23, 2006 6:06 AM
When the show went into HD format it lost me. I don't have an HD tv and I can't handle how you can't even watch the News Update because the screen is dramatically cut off on both edges. I think it's great that people with HD can see a better show -but I think it sucks that they wrote off the rest of us.
13 of 13 | Posted by TinkerbellAPixie | Posted on September 23, 2006 5:04 PM