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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2019)
hollywood q&a Late laughs By Adam Thomlison TV Media A Little Late With Lilly Singh Q: When a non-comedian hosts “Saturday Night Live,” do they write their own monologue or do they use the staff writers? A: In the bizarre world that’s been built in and around NBC’s Studio 8H, where “Saturday Night Live” is produced, it’s not a question of whether you col- laborate, but how much. Most people who’ve talked about the writing process on the iconic sketch show describe it almost like one long story meet- ing. The writers and the guest host pile into creator Lorne Michaels’ office on Monday to pitch ideas and basically don’t separate again until the early hours of the following Sunday. In that context, even the seasoned comedian hosts take input on their monologues. But the inexperienced ones, unsur- prisingly, get quite a bit more support. Former head writer Adam McKay, for example, says one of his favorite memories was of literally running through the studio halls minutes before air to bring new monologue lines to a host. McKay’s successor, Seth Meyers, said the challenge with inexperienced hosts is less about the writing and more about the performance. “Oftentimes by the time it’s a problem, you know they can’t [deliver jokes] ... and sometimes they’re holding on to the idea that they can.” I’ve noticed here in L.A., when anyone gets sick, they have 17 different ways to fix it, and none of them are medicine. Instead, they turn to crystals and sage and spiritual guidance, which are somehow sold at Urban Outfitters. Q: Did Clarence Gilyard Jr. ever compete in rodeos? He wears a large cowboy buckle most of the time when in jeans. A: The love of horse riding and all things western is not acting for Clarence Gilyard Jr. Indeed, he says his rodeo skills are a part of what earned him his most famous role — Ranger Jimmy Trivette on “Walker, Texas Ranger.” His agent directed him to the casting call, he said, and he immediately thought it was a good fit. “I was pretty much a cow- boy back then,” he said in an interview with Get.tv. “When I 12 | Screentime “Saturday Night Live” showrunner Lorne Michaels looked at the breakdown for the However, it seems that he had character, it was pretty obvious nothing to do with it. … because of the physicality — Rather, they’re selected inde- because I was a martial artist, pendently by numerous different because I rodeoed, because I set dressers because of what played college football. All those they symbolize. things, that was what the char- “Apparently it is the paragon acter was.” of Americana,” “Roseanne” pro- There doesn’t seem to be a duction designer Garvin Eddy list anywhere of rodeo competi- said in an interview with Slate tions that he’s won, so I can’t magazine. He also supported say for sure which or how many your interest in the blankets. “In of his belt buckles were prizes, all of the thousands of TV show but he’s earned his rodeo cred in sets that I have designed over another, maybe more valuable 42 years in Hollywood, no other way. piece of set dressing has gotten Gilyard is the honorary chair- as much attention.” man of the charity Cowboys for Set decorator Ann Shea said Kids, a Phoenix-based organiza- that she had never seen a single tion that raises money for chil- episode of “Roseanne” when dren in need. He also competes she made the same blanket in celebrity rodeo competitions choice for “Big Bang Theory” as a fundraising activity. character Amy’s room. She said But these days, his devotion she chose an identical afghan to riding and roping is a pastime blanket — known affectionately at best, playing second fiddle as the granny-square — be- to his true love of acting. But cause they have “great texture, his devotion to the West is still color and lots of character.” strong. As for who supplies them, Eddy said that the “Roseanne” Q: I have noticed in the set blanket came from a spe- last few years that a variety cific crafter in Los Angeles who of handmade afghans are makes them to sell in antique showing up on the backs stores. of the couches of vari- As for a trend towards homi- ous shows: “The Big Bang ness, that might be a byproduct Theory” had a classic granny- of the larger trend towards square afghan, as did “Rose- what’s being called the Middle anne” and now “The Con- American sitcom. The common ners.” “The Middle,” “Young element among all these shows Sheldon” and others have — apart from the blankets — is them as well. Is this a trend that they all seem to take place towards hominess? Who sup- about a million miles away from plies them? New York or L.A., which used A: More amazing than the to be the default settings for TV fact that these blankets show up shows. on TV so often is the fact that it’s Have a question? Email us not intentional. at questions@tvtabloid.com. The first thing I noticed about Please include your name and your question is that all but town. Personal replies will not one of the shows you list came be provided. from sitcom guru Chuck Lorre. January 1, 2020 | East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald Astrology is another big thing that people believe in. They’ll use it for guidance, for support, even for an excuse! You can’t be on trial for murder and say, “I plead not guilty, Your Honor, because Mercury was, like, totally in retrograde, and it wasn’t my fault!” Conan Democrats are now deciding which of President Trump’s crimes to include in the articles of impeachment. So far they have bribery, obstruction of justice and fathering Don Jr. He could get the chair for that one. Nancy Pelosi said she doesn’t hate the president because she’s a Catholic, and Catholics don’t hate people. I just want to say, as a lifelong Catholic, I think that was the funniest thing I have ever heard in my life. We hate everyone! this, the victims of Chernobyl said, “Totally worth it!” The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon It’s looking like Trump could be impeached before Christmas, but if he behaves, Nancy will let Trump open one of his charges on Impeachment Eve. Wal-Mart has apologized for selling a sweater that features Santa with cocaine — I guess that explains why Rudolph’s nose is so red. I read that the tube in London will now have first class cars where the rich can drink champagne and eat hors d’oeuvres. Meanwhile, on the New York subway, you can still play the fun game, “Is that man passed out or dead?” The Late Show With Stephen Colbert For years, undocumented workers served Trump’s meals, cleaned his homes and ironed his boxer shorts. That’s right, boxer shorts. The only tighty whitey in Trump’s White House is Mike Pence! Among Jewish voters, Trump’s approval rating is 29%, which, among Jewish voters, is slightly less than Mel Gibson. Due to a doping scandal, Russia is banned from the 2020 Olympics and the 2022 World Cup. Russia replied, “No problem, at least we can still participate in America’s 2020 presidential election.” Jimmy Kimmel Live The miniseries “Chernobyl” got four Golden Globe nominations. After hearing Tomorrow, Time magazine will name their Person of the Year for 2019, which is exciting. They’ve whittled the finalists down to five, [which] is crazy because we all know the person of the year is Baby Yoda. There’s a lot of fake stuff on Instagram. For instance, you know how when you see photos of people and they look happy? They’re not. I have no problem with the president not working. In fact, that is what I want. I don’t want him working. You know you’re on a bad road trip when you’re glad the driver fell asleep at the wheel. That’s how I look at it. Late Night With Seth Meyers A team of three men announced last week that they have set a new cross-country speed record, driving from Manhattan to Los Angeles in 28 hours. “How did you get from New York to L.A. that fast?!” said Spirit Airlines. A dentist in Alaska is on trial after he was caught on video extracting a patient’s tooth while riding a hoverboard. The jury will rule next week, while the dentist already does. Officials in Las Vegas are searching for a person who has been placing miniature cowboy hats on the heads of pigeons — hopefully to give them the key to the city. President Trump met with the Russian minister of foreign affairs today. On the same day he’s being impeached. That is brazen. That’s like buying a boat and naming it “The Missing Wife.”
