We highlighted it last week when the single hit the nets, and here it is in all its video glory. From the upcoming album Incredibad, here's The Lonely Island with their single featuring T-Pain, "I'm on a Boat." The video speaks for itself (NSFW language).

Labels: Andy Samberg, Incredibad, Saturday Night Live, SNL, SNL Digital Short, The Lonely Island

People certainly will always complain about the current cast of Saturday Night Live. It doesn't matter how many good sketches there are, there's always dismay and longing for the good ol' days, some long lost time when comedy wasn't in short supply and laughs were a dime a dozen. I'm a big believer in that this sentiment is always unfounded, and the quality of SNL's product (like a good president) can't be seen until years after it's in the can.

A couple years ago there was a very in depth retrospective about the cast and seasons of SNL during the 90's. My favorite commentary in this look back came from producer Michael Shoemaker when he looked back on the ratings free fall that took place in the mid 90's when there was a huge drop of cast members followed by an influx of fresh meat. This new talent consisted of future SNL favorites and now multi-million dollar comedians Adam Sandler and Mike Myers. But there was still backlash and criticism and a blasting New York Magazine cover story didn't make things any easier. Shoemaker points out "Now people look back and say, 'Those were the good times; it's this bunch I don't care for.' And it's always that way."

Having said that, despite some break out hits, this is once again one of those times. The cast is full of young new talent like Bobby Moynihan, Abby Elliot, Michaela Watkins and Casey Wilson, and even the veteran players are young in their own right, especially Andy Samberg. But personally, I think the show is as good as it's always been, but people are blinded by continually seeing only the good sketches from the infamous "good ol' days." Luckily the release of the full seasons of SNL on DVD put things in perspective and we can see that the sketch comedy show has always had it's highs and lows.

But there's been one recent part of SNL that has been as consistently funny as the staple Weekend Update segment. I'm talking of course about the SNL Digital Short. Brought to the table by Andy Samberg and his comedy troupe known as The Lonely Island, this has become a staple of every episode of SNL. Modern classics like Lazy Sunday, and D*ck in a Box (as well as the very recently popular Jizz in My Pants) border on Weird Al Yankovic kind of comedic musical brilliance. Lucky for us The Lonely Island has decided to release an entire album of their outrageous and vulgar musical stylings (including the aforementioned hits). Collaborators on the album include Jack Black, Justin Timberlake, Norah Jones and more. Even professional rapper T-Pain gets in on the action in the newly released single of the forthcoming album Incredibad hitting stores next Tuesday, February 10. The single is "I'm on a Boat" and takes aim at the glamorous cash money lifestyle represented so fruitfully in today's musical culture. We've embedded the audio below, and I anxiously await a proper video...maybe even on Saturday Night Live.

Labels: Andy Samberg, Saturday Night Live, SNL, SNL Digital Short, The Lonely Island

Ever since Will Ferrell left Saturday Night Live back in 2002, there has been a huge fault with the SNL cast to find someone to fill such a gaping hole in their political satire line-up.

After Ferrell left the show, he was replaced by Chris Parnell, whose Bush impression left something to be desired. Parnell was replaced by go-to political impersonator and resident senior citizen Darrell Hammond. However his portrayal of Bush was liked even less. Hammond stepped down to let Will Forte have a crack at it, making Bush seem more of a timid, lost president than a cocky, country imbecile. In my opinion this was one of the worst choices in casting I've ever seen. Recently Jason Sudeikis has taken over the role of still-President Bush as Fred Armisen primes up his inconsistent depiction of President Elect Barack Obama.

Although fans got a taste of a return of Ferrell's iconic Bush impersonation that really helped his career take off from SNL, there's plenty more to come as Will Ferrell takes to Broadway his beloved caricature of George W. Bush. You're Welcome America. A Final Night With George W. Bush is a one-man show by Will Ferrell structured as a farewell address from the outgoing Commander-in-Chief. The show begins previews on Inauguration Day, January 20, and opens officially on February 5 with a stage run extending until March 15.

The awesome news for people who can't get tickets or don't have the money to drop on a plane ticket to NYC ? HBO has bought the rights to a telecast of the Broadway show that will air sometime either late in the stage run of the show or sometime after it has ended.

Personally, I'm psyched to see Will Ferrell do something like this. First, it's quite a ballsy choice to do a Broadway show when Ferrell's career isn't exactly at a low point (usually the staple of a choice to do Broadway by an actor/actress) and second, it's going to be great to see how Ferrell does on a stage with no alternate takes, and no other actors to play off.

No exact date is set for the telecast of You're Welcome America. A Final Night With George W. Bush but as soon we know, you'll know.

In the meantime, here's a message from President George W. Bush encouraging you to take action.

Labels: Broadway, Chris Parnell, Darrell Hammond, Fred Armisen, George W. Bush, HBO, Jason Sudeikis, Saturday Night Live, SNL, Will Ferrell, Will Forte

This week two staple late night comedy programs will be losing vital cast members who have become an integral part of their respective shows.

First off, earlier this week, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart bid a fond farewell to resident fill-in-the-blank correspondent Rob Riggle. As Variety reported back in October, Riggle will be taking his comedic persona over to CBS where he has been given a talent holding deal, which includes development of a half-hour comedy show in which Riggle will create and star. While CBS certainly has comedy success in How I Met Your Mother and Two and a Half Men, but is CBS really the place for Riggle to go for comedy?

Along with Riggle, husband and wife Daily Show correspondents Jason Jones and Samantha Bee are also developing a half-hour laffer, but it remains to see how long those two will stick around before joining the ranks of other departed correspondents like Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Ed Helms who left for broadening careers. I'm glad to see Riggle stretching his wings, but I just don't know if CBS is the right home for these edgy comedians. Check out Daily Show's tribute to Riggle embedded below. Jon Stewart and company will be back will be back with new episode of Daily Show after the New Year.

Another great cast member from another great and incresingly improving comedy team is also looking to branch out as Amy Poehler appears on her last episode of Saturday Night Live as a regular cast member. As it has been said on air in recent episodes of Poehler's absence from Weekend Update, she will have her hands quite full with her and husband Will Arnett's newborn son.

Poehler joined SNL back in 2001 (actually her first episode was SNL's return to television after 9/11) and has since become a highlight of the late night sketch show and creating a close knit personal and comedic relationship with then head writer Tina Fey. It became clear in recent years that the only place Poehler had to go was up as she has had bit parts in numerous films and even co-starred with Tina Fey in this past year's comedy Baby Mama (not the best endeavor, but a stepping stone to more for sure).

Poehler's residence at SNL is now only bested by Seth Meyers who also joined the cast in 2001 and Darell Hammond who is 417 years old and was on SNL before Lorne Michaels was born. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what Poehler may do on the big screen or elsewhere on the small screen.

You can catch Poehler's farewell tonight when SNL airs at 11:30 EST on NBC with host Hugh Laurie and musical gues KanYe West (And I still don't understand why his name is spelled like that now).

Labels: Amy Poehler, Daily Show, Rob Riggle, Saturday Night Live, SNL, TV News