Saturday Night Live produces stars, and many of its sketches live on in the pop culture zeitgeist for decades. That’s bound to make the comedians in the cast feel great. I’m sure it can also inflate egos. However, according to David Spade, there’s a piece of advice Lorne Michaels gives that helped him keep his ego in check while on the show.

This came up while Spade, Dana Carvey and Marcello Hernández were chatting about recurring characters on SNL during an episode of Fly on the Wall. Hernández, who famously has gone viral multiple times for playing Domingo, specifically mentioned that it can be tough to pitch a sketch about a character that’s already been done, because it can feel like there’s a “little bit of entitlement” behind it. That led to Spade recalling a tough piece of advice Lorne Michaels gave him:

While brutal, the point totally makes sense. There’s a lot of chatter about who gets the most screen time on Saturday Night Live, and breakout stars, like Ashley Padilla from the season that aired on the 2026 TV schedule, get lots of adoration online. However, along with the praise comes criticism too, as the way people react to sketches on SNL tends to fluctuate.

So, one moment you can be up, and the next moment you can be down. It makes sense that your ego would need to be in check to deal with all that. Therefore, a brutal reality check from Lorne Michaels can probably be helpful, as David Spade explained:

“Brutal and true” seems to be the name of Lorne Michaels game. He clearly loves his cast, and he’s helped so many of them both professionally and personally. However, he also knows how to make tough calls, and he isn’t afraid to show he doesn’t like something, as is shown when he reacts to sketches under the bleachers in his documentary Lorne and the Written By documentary (both of which you can stream alongside SNL with a Peacock subscription). So, the fact that he’d tell Spade and other cast members that they’re not the funniest people on the show feels on-brand.

Plus, while brutal, it feels like a good thing to remember. SNL is full of incredible comedians. Every week, any of them could shine the brightest. And while the show has its massive stars, from episode to episode, the best player of the night tends to change. Meanwhile, sketches get cut mid-episode, and working on this program is notoriously difficult. So, staying humble and keeping that ego in check feels important.

So, yeah, the advice Lorne Michaels gave David Spade was pretty harsh. And I can’t imagine it’s easy to hear. However, it also helped the comedian keep his ego in check while working on Saturday Night Live.

Oh Mylanta! I’m not normally the type of fan that second guesses what a movie or tv show would have been like had another actor been cast in a specific role, but as a superfan of both Saturday Night Live and Full House, I have to admit I’m spiraling right now. I just found out that a few years before Lorne Michaels brought him to Studio 8H, David Spade was called in to read for the part of Joey Gladstone.

Apparently Spade has mentioned his audition before, but I wasn’t aware of it until I listened to the comedian’s appearance on Esquire’s What I’ve Learned earlier today. Host Michael Sebastian asked Spade if it was true he almost played Joey, and I let out an audible, “Have Mercy!” The Joe Dirt star verified it happened and even gave some insight into his audition. Here’s a portion of his quote…

I love Spade, but it’s hard to imagine him being a fit on Full House. Dave Coulier, who got the Joey role, projects extreme sincerity, which is the hallmark of the show itself. It’s all about learning lessons and connecting as a family, whether you’re related by blood or just by love.

Spade, on the other hand, is all about insincerity. He’s best when he’s sliding in little comments and second-guessing everything going on around him. It’s hard for me to imagine how any of it would have blended together, except I’m positive his scenes with noted weirdo Kimmy Gibbler would have been electric.

We have no idea if producers ever seriously considered him, but he said he knows he definitely was close to landing something on In The Heat Of The Night. That’s not really a show that’s talked about a ton anymore, but it was a police procedural that ran from 1988 to 1995. Perhaps more notably, it was Carroll O’Connor’s follow-up to All In The Family/ Archie Bunker’s Place. Had Spade been cast, he likely never would have had that amazing run on SNL (or Just Shoot Me) and may have seen his career go down an entirely separate path since the show had a much more serious tone.

Full House ran for eight seasons and unlike In The Heat Of The Night, remains very culturally relevant. Reruns of the sitcom were broadcast very consistently for decades, and more recently, Netflix even gave us five seasons of a spinoff following the next generation called Fuller House. I’ve seen every single episode of both shows. I wouldn’t change a thing about the cast, but I would pay more money than I’d care to share for an alternate universe DVD set of the show featuring Spade exchanging, “You got it, dudes” with the Olsen Twins.

When it comes to the various eras of Saturday Night Live, the ‘90s arguably stands as one of the most beloved decades for the long-running sketch comedy series. Among SNL’s ‘90s stars were David Spade and Rob Schneider, who both managed to make their marks while working at Studio 8H. Even as someone with a more casual knowledge of the Lorne Michaels-created show, I’ve long been aware of Schneider and Spade’s contributions to it. What I didn’t know until now, however, was that there was “tension” between the two comics.

David Spade was on SNL for six seasons from 1990 to 1996 and, in the decades since he’s been away from the show, he’s been open about aspects of the experience. (That includes that infamous joke he made at Eddie Murphy’s expense in ‘95.) During a recent interview with Esquire that was shared to YouTube, Spade covered a wide range of topics and was eventually asked about what his relationship with Rob Schneider was like early on. From there, the Joe Dirt star explained what was at the root of his and Schneider’s issues:

This rivalry between the two stars actually falls in line with what some series alums (including Spade himself) have said about the SNL experience. Spade admitted it could be hard for newbies to get themselves written into sketches. With that, some fresh cast members may find themselves competing for material. With that, I can honestly understand why Schneider and Spade will get competitive, and their desperation makes even more sense, considering they were on the show at the same time as stars like Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and Chris Farley, who became some of SNL’s most impactful stars.

Amid his recent interview, Spade went on to suggest that he and Schneider (who was on Saturday Night Live from 1990 to 1994) have gained some perspective. The Rules of Engagement star further opened up about his take on that feud:

Both Spade and Schneider eventually found success beyond SNL, and they even worked together on 2010's Grown Ups alongside fellow series alums like Sandler and Rock. So what does the Schneider/Spade relationship look like today? Well, Spade has a positive take:

It’s great to hear there are no hard feelings at this point, and that’s truly a testament to the way in which people can change over time. Additionally, I just find it interesting to hear about the dynamics shared between members of the SNL cast, considering how unique a work environment it is. There have certainly been beefs between stars though, based on Spade’s comments, his tiff with Schneider doesn’t sound as bad as other behind-the-scenes spats.

Grab a Peacock subscription and stream David Spade and Rob Schneider’s performances in classic episodes of Saturday Night Live. Also, watch new episodes of the show when they air on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET as part of the 2026 TV schedule.

What you can and cannot get away with saying on Saturday Night Live has been an evolving fight with the censors at NBC for more than fifty years. Most cast members have a story about some hilarious line or funny cut to shot that had to be scrapped over concerns about sponsors getting upset. Fortunately, the Not Ready For Primetime Players have figured out some clever schemes to get some otherwise objectionable content through.

During a conversation with current breakout SNL cast member Marcello Hernández on their Fly On The Wall podcast, Dana Carvey and David Spade talked about some of their censorship battles over the years, and not surprisingly, the infamous Il Cantore Restaurant came up. The outrageous sketch from the early 90s stars Kevin Nealon and Kirstie Alley as a couple going out to eat at an Italian restaurant. The staff, played by Carvey and others, lavish attention on Alley and the other women in the restaurant, becoming increasingly more forward with sexual innuendos as it goes on.

The sketch remains a pop culture reference today and has been watched more than a million times on YouTube, but the censors were not a fan in the moment. Between dress rehearsal and the live show, they apparently wanted to cut the part where Victoria Jackson puts her legs over Carvey’s head, but in order to make sure it went on the air as intended, the cast reverted back to an old scheme. The writer who got the note, Robert Smigel of Triumph The Insult Comic Dog fame, “tried” to pass along the directive to the cast but wasn’t able to in time. Here’s what Carvey said…

Most of us aren’t television stars, but we’ve all been there before. A parent tells us to go tell our sibling something or a teacher says people aren’t allowed to do something, and you’re not able to deliver the message in time, allowing other people to do whatever you’re not supposed to do while giving them a free out by being able to say they were never told. I love thinking about professional comedians working at major television networks pulling the same nonsense we all did as eight year olds.

Another method, according to David Spade, is to get as close to the line as possible and ask for forgiveness later. He told the story of a Weekend Update segment where he was doing an in and out list. During dress rehearsal, he said going right home after the show was in and going to the after party to try and get some pussy was out, but he intentionally mumbled pussy.

The network censor told Spade and showrunner Lorne Michaels after dress rehearsal that three sponsors would pull their advertising dollars if Spade said the word on the air. Lorne told him not to say it; so, Spade went out there and mumbled slightly more but still did the joke. Weekend Update host Dennis Miller was in the loop and as soon as they went to commercial, he started roasting Spade for how much trouble he was going to be in..

Spade didn’t elaborate on what Lorne Michaels or the censor said when he went backstage after the joke killed, but given he was on the show much longer and turned into one of its biggest stars, I’m going to guess he wasn’t disciplined that harshly. In fact, I’m going to guess he got a don’t do that again with a wink.

The best part about Saturday Night Live is the feeling that anything can happen. Because it’s live, there’s always that sense in the back of your mind that things could go sideways. Sometimes that involves a cast member uncontrollable laughing. Other times it involves a quiet war with the censors that we, as viewers, might not even know is going on. Fortunately, there are still people over at 30 Rock fighting the good fight.

It was a long time ago that Saturday Night Live became a television institution. With SNL now in its 51st season on the 2026 TV schedule, the number of cast members who’ve become major stars is very well-known, with dozens of additional performers making their names by starring on the series. However, David Spade has an idea about why some who are new to SNL can struggle at the start, including what he did backstage so that he’d be cast in sketches.

What David Spade Said About Why Some SNL Newbies Struggle At First

Many comedians and comedically-inclined actors would kill to become a part of the Saturday Night Live cast, as not only does it give them a very visible way to show off their talents, but it’s been known to launch many careers into the stratosphere (even if some take a while to really get to lift-off, like that of Julia Louis-Dreyfus). We’ve heard more and more, though, that it’s really not an easy gig, with newer cast members sometimes having a hard time just being featured in sketches on a regular basis.

During a recent conversation with current cast member Marcello Hernández on the Fly on the Wall podcast he hosts with fellow former SNL superstar Dana Carvey, David Spade revealed his thoughts on why some newbies at Studio 8H can have a hard time when they first arrive. After Hernández explained how he landed a spotlight sketch for only his second episode on the series, Spade added that the writers don’t always know how to utilize new talent:

Hernández, who went viral for his first appearance as Domingo on the show, explained that the stars aligned for him when someone reminded SNL mastermind Lorne Michaels that he was a baseball fan. This led to the creator/producer asking the young star to come up with something based on his fandom, and his idea eventually aired as part of Hernández’s second episode, which he previously hadn’t been scheduled to perform on. And, just take a look at how well it went:

The Shrek 5 star (who got some great advice from Chris Rock before filming his first Netflix special) is now known as one of the more recognizable members of the cast who’s relied on weekly to deliver laughs, and he’s beginning to take on more roles outside of the series, as well. Basically, while he kinda lucked into Spade’s advice, making sure that the writers know what you’re funny at certainly does seem to help those new to the comedy make their presence and talents known, which is one way the series continues to mint new mega stars.

We are well into the throes of awards season right now, and if you are a person who watches the Golden Globes winners land their trophies or tunes in for all the wild Grammys fashion, you might be a little familiar with the term “seat filler.” We know, for example, that Kelly Clarkson once got mistaken for one. But what is a seat filler, how do celebrities perceive them and, most importantly, how does one land the job?

How A Real-Life Seat Filler Got The Gig

The Grammys were this past week, and one influencer spilled the tea on how one lands a gig as a seat filler at an events show. It’s both more difficult and less difficult than you might think. Per influencer Arjun Manjunath on Instagram, some of it simply came down to following directions, and having some dumb “luck.”

However, not only are people not paid to be seat fillers, so you have to foot your own bill and follow a wide swathe of specific directions, including what to dress and eating hours before the event. Despite this, the “difficult” part of the gig is actually landing it. Manjunath said they chose “around 300 of us out of 35,000 applicants.” So, signing up is easy, but also getting into the room ain’t. In fact, the influencer said he “didn’t know how” he was picked.

Recently, SNL stars Marcello Hernandez and David Spade were also talking about seat fillers. They mentioned they were even used during SNL50, so there’s all kinds of shows and events with live studio audiences that require signing on random folk to occupy seats. This includes events like the Oscars, The Grammys and other awards shows like the Golden Globes and Emmys, but it’s not strictly the types of events you might guess.

The website currently lists other types of past events they fill seats for, including the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony, The Miss America pageant, Stand up to Cancer, and a variety of other specials that air on major networks. Then, there are late night and other shows that tape with a live studio audiences, including Jimmy Kimmel Live! and more.

Marcello Hernandez And David Spade Say It’s Always Weird To Be At Events With Seat Fillers

Speaking of seat fillers, as I noted prior, one of the biggest events to incorporate seat fillers in recent memory was last years SNL50 production. There were a slew of celebrities who attended, but some who skipped (or were late). Spade recently said on his Fly On The Wall podcast that he got to the event early and was told he’d be sitting in the front row next to Bill Murray. But Billy took his time showing up (or was perhaps backstage getting emotional at this point), and instead the star found himself talking to a seat filler, who was jazzed to be there. David Spade was less enthusiastic.

Marcello Hernandez also recounted some interactions he’s had with seat fillers, most recently at the Grammys. He said he’s always seeing randos sitting next to famous individuals, which can be kind of funny and sometimes awkward, noting one poor girl had just sat down and started drinking from a water bottle before she was yanked out of a chair.

Sometimes being a seat filler can be a juicy gig. One previous Grammys seat filler was sat near Ben Affleck and JLo the year his infamous sadfleck meme ran around and reported on him not seeming happy about being there. Jon Hamm also spoke out about some kid who got a front row seat at the SNL50 concert that aired right before the event, though that had a sweeter ending than David Spade’s snarky comment.

We’ve seen several instances over Saturday Night Live’s 50 years when a sketch or segment perhaps went too far and ended up upsetting someone. One of the most recent examples saw Aimee Lou Wood speaking out about the parody that mocked her appearance. One of the most infamous instances, however, involved David Spade dissing Eddie Murphy. Now, the Tommy Boy star opened up recently about where he and Murphy stand.

David Spade addressed the issue with fellow SNL alum Dana Carvey on their Fly on the Wall podcast. Eddie Murphy’s grudge against NBC’s sketch comedy began making headlines again with the release of the documentary Being Eddie (available to stream with a Netflix subscription), and Spade acknowledged his role in it, saying:

So what exactly happened?

David Spade used to host a segment on Saturday Night Live called “Spade in America,” where he would make Hollywood-related jokes. In December 1995, one of those cracks involved Eddie Murphy after his horror comedy Vampire in Brooklyn bombed at the box office. After a graphic of Murphy was shown on the screen, Spade said, “Look, children. It’s a falling star. Make a wish.”

As an alum of SNL himself, Eddie Murphy took offense at the jab at his career, and David Spade said the two spoke about it on the phone afterward, recalling:

David Spade has admitted in the past that he regrets making the joke, and it seems time has done a lot to heal things on Eddie Murphy’s side, too. Murphy returned for SNL’S 40th and 50th anniversary shows — the latest of which he called “a trip” to be amongst so many legends — and has served as the host, as well, on the show that made him a superstar.

The Joe Dirt star confirmed everything is copasetic between him and Eddie Murphy now, concluding:

In Being Eddie, the comedian said he always put more of the blame for that SNL diss on the show itself and not David Spade. He admitted that his feelings were hurt that his “alma mater” would take a shot at his career like that, but says he “wasn’t like, ‘Fuck David Spade.’”

It’s good to hear from both sides of the issue that it’s all water under the bridge.

Saturday Night Live will resume on the 2026 TV schedule, with Finn Wolfhard set to host January 17 with musical guest A$AP Rocky. Stay tuned for the rest of SNL’s Season 51 hosts and musical guests to come.

Eddie Murphy has been reflective as of late, and that’s in great part due to his new documentary, Being Eddie, which recently became available to Netflix subscription holders. The doc covers a myriad of topics related to Murphy’s personal and professional life, including his relationship to Saturday Night Live, the show with which he rose to stardom. Yet Murphy also recalled the moment the sketch comedy show took a shot at him years after he left and explained how that sparked some hard feelings.

What Was The Eddie Murphy Joke That David Spade Made, And How Did Murphy Say About It?

During his final season on SNL, David Spade used to host a segment called Spade in America, during which he’d share jokes about Hollywood-related developments. One particular edition of the segment, which aired in December 1995, saw Spade make a joke at Eddie Murphy’s expense. After a graphic of the Beverly Hills Cop icon appeared on screen, Spade quipped, “Look, children. It’s a falling star. Make a wish.” Those comments came after Murphy’s horror comedy, Vampire in Brooklyn, bombed at the box office. Check out the clip:

As can be heard in the video above, a number of the people in the live studio audience weren’t too pleased with the Joe Dirt star’s comments. That also went for Murphy himself, who clarified his feelings in his new documentary. As Murphy explained, he felt hurt that his “alma mater” would make fun of him in such a way:

What the Dolemite Is My Name star also made clear, though, is that his issue wasn’t specifically with David Spade. At the time, his displeasure was aimed towards the overall Saturday Night Live institution as a whole:

This particular joke remains a widely discussed topic even nearly 30 years on, and that could very well be why Murphy was asked about it while being interviewed for the documentary. And, over the years, David Spade has shared his take on the matter as well.

What Did David Spade Say About The Murphy Joke?

Spade notably spoke about the Murphy jab back in 2015 and expressed regret over it for a few reasons. Aside from admitting that he “can’t take” criticism when it comes to his own work, Spade also said he’d since “come to see Eddie’s point” on the matter. The Tommy Boy star can understand how “everybody in showbiz wants people to like them” and that that’s how they build up their fanbases. With that, it “staaaangs” when a star takes a shot from someone making a pun at their expense.

All in all, any kind of animosity regarding the Murphy joke seems to have dissipated. Murphy notably returned for SNL’s 40th anniversary special in 2015 and, in 2019, he returned to host the show and reprised a number of his classic characters. On top of that, Murphy also appeared during the sketch series’ 50th anniversary special, later calling the experience of being around so many stars “a trip”

So it seems everything is copacetic between Eddie Murphy and Saturday Night Live at this point. That's great, especially given Murphy remains one of the most impactful stars to ever grace the stage at Studio 8H. Anyone who’d like to check out the best moments from Murphy’s four-season tenure on the show can stream classic episodes using a Peacock subscription.

We all know there are some celebrities who are out there having a good time, and if they want to have a good time with other consenting adults (or ghosts), more power to them. People should be free to hook up without everyone being all up in their business, but now and again, a story comes out that’s so ridiculous that it needs to be commented on. This is one of those stories.

Davis Spade was recently on his podcast Fly On The Wall, the one he co-hosts with Dana Carvey, and the guest was Isla Fisher, who is starring in the upcoming Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. During the episode, she roasted him about how one time she tried to hook him up with one of her friends, and her friend later told Fisher he texted her and said, “I’ll pick you up at 4” without even introducing himself. He was a good sport about the roasting, but during the conversation, he mentioned he’s heard stories about another celeb who has a wild scheme for hooking up with women.

I’ll just let Spade explain it himself because it’s a total WTF.

Not surprisingly, both Dana Carvey and Isla Fisher were blown away by the story. Fisher called it “outrageously arrogant” and said she wants to know what the hit rate for something like that is. Carvey asked if the person was more or less famous than Nic Cage, and Spade said it was someone definitely less famous than Nic Cage, though it was clear from the context of the conversation that it was a well-known actor.

What I want to know is whether these women are supposed to respond in the group chat or respond in a side text. It seems like whoever is texting wants them to respond in the group chat, but that feels incredibly uncomfortable and awkward. Then again, maybe that’s the point of this entire scheme that is flush with exploited power dynamics and just general douchiness.

Also, of course, I want to know who it is, but I highly doubt it’ll ever come to light. Spade doesn’t seem like he’s sharing, and while it’s all kinds of weird and gives off the ick, it’s not illegal. So, I’ll just guess in my mind who I think it is and assume it’s that person forever. I suggest you do the same. Your only clues are he’s an actor who is less famous than Nic Cage (which is almost everyone) but clearly some level of famous and likely has at least friends or acquaintances in common with Spade.

Many still feel the absence of Saturday Night Live star Chris Farley, who passed away due to a drug overdose in 1997. In his five-season run on SNL, Farley brought an entertaining blend of high energy and outrageous physical comedy, which he infused into unforgettable characters. Given Farley's impact, it's not surprising that a biopic about him is in the works, with Paul Walter Hauser steps into his shoes, Now, Hauser is opening up about talking to Lorne Michaels, David Spade and Tim Meadows about Farley.

Work on the Chris Farley biopic has yet to officially begin, as Paul Walter Hauser recently revealed to EW that an official green light has yet to be given. While Hauser hasn't started preparing to deeply, his conversations with those in Farley's inner circle have apparently been invaluable for him. On the subject of having spoken to so many SNL bigwigs, Hauser said:

I can understand the pain that comes with talking about a Hollywood icon who didn’t make it past the age of 40. Fans may mourn the loss, but it's hard to compare those feelings to those of the people who knew Farley personally. But, at the same time, it looks like Lorne Michaels and co. are doing their late cohort's memory well by sharing their "funniest stories" of him. These are personal recollections, but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't want to be a fly on the wall while they're being shared.

Lorne Michaels, David Spade and Tim Meadows were close with the Airheads actor, but they all had different stories to tell Paul Walter Hauser. The Americana actor got real about what made each conversation different to him:

I’d love to know what Lorne Michaels’ anecdotes on the comedy actor were about David Spade -- who was a good friend of Chris Farley's -- surely has some wonderful stories. And, since Tim Meadows got his start on Second City with Farley in 1989, he can likely speak to the Coneheads actor’s early comedic genius.

Previously, Paul Walter Hauser said the most “difficult” part of getting to play Farley had been worrying about how audiences would judge his portrayal. Biopics can be tricky for an actor, as they're about more than just putting on an impression or impersonation. An actor has to embody the spirit of the person they're portraying. Still, Hauser is smart to be chatting with those who knew Farley, and I'd imagine that a story like the one Tim Meadows shared with him will help inform his work:

The Chris Farley biopic may still be in the early stages of development, but I’m already confident Hauser has got this big role in the bag. He’s shown his acting chops in films like I, Tonya, Richard Jewell and BlacKkKlansman. Of course, he's also a natural born comedic actor, as evidenced by his work in the 2025 movie releaseThe Naked Gun and the hit show Cobra Kai. The Emmy winner is a multi-faceted actor who I'm sure can play out Farley’s comedic highs as well as his tough battles with addiction and more.

Paul Walter Hauser just continues to prove just why he's one of the most thoughtful actors working in show business today. Here's hoping that he's able to use those stories from Chris Farley's friends and colleagues to help his performance in the film, which I also hope does get the green light. In the meantime, check out Hauser in both Americana and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which are in theaters now.

David Spade and his funniest one-liners bring a certain type of matter-of-fact energy to the table that is uniquely his own. It’s something that can be troublesome, but continues to resonate against fellow Saturday Night Live peers Chris Farley’s larger-than-life and Adam Sandler’s off-the-wall energies. And just like his characters, he can’t help but laugh during some odd moments. Spade reveals how he couldn’t stop chuckling throughout an awkward moment on an Adam Sandler set.

That Sandler movie was The Wrong Missy. That particular anecdote arose because the source of laughter, Bobby Lee, was a guest on Dana Carvey and David Spade’s podcast. While Lee only had a small role in the film (and was invited personally by Spade), as a check-in desk employee, he left a big mark on set. Apparently, he couldn’t hit his single line, “Mr. and Mrs. Tim Morris. Welcome to Alawan,” straight enough.

The MadTV actor went from feeling comfy and buddy-buddy on set with his one line and slew of familiar faces to completely uneasy after Sandler had notes for him. He said:

What a time that must have been! The 57-year-old comedian is known for his goofy voices and silly antics in projects, so to see him flop a single cleaner line is pretty hilarious. Even still, the dream-like scenario was shaken pretty quickly for the cameo actor, even with the continuing A+ Sandler set conditions.

That’s when Spade jumped in and explained why giggles started erupting between him and other cast members. The continuing miss-mark of the lone sentence and the call of redoing it emitted an energy that felt "tense and weird." And the feeling only persisted because everyone was tired, as Spade shares:

I can’t imagine being on either side of this coin, to be frank. Obviously, this just off-center delivery is more than commonplace for anyone working on a set, but the circumstances make it all the odder but funnier.

While Lee wasn’t the only one who had issues in scenes (parts were tricky for Spade to film), he apparently had quite a time hitting this one. The movie’s lead, after every take, asked if it was it. And each time they had to take it from the top, as the Joe Dirt star said:

Oof. I can only imagine Lapkus and Spade trying to hold in their fits of laughter during the awkward vibes. There’s nothing worse than trying to stifle a laugh because it generally only makes you want to do it more! This story certainly incentivizes me to go catch The Wrong Missy with my Netflix subscription to watch the infamous delivery.

And thankfully, it seems like the "tense and weird" feeling was simply a flub because Lee is a part of the highly anticipated 2025 Netflix guide Sandler sequel, Happy Gilmore 2. As for where we can learn about Spade giggling next, that remains to be seen since all of his projects are in production.

While the podcasting market continues to expand, with everyone and their mom seeming to have one, there truly are some gems on the airwaves. Regardless of your familiarity and regularity in dabbling, where does one start? As someone who dabbles in a few series and loves a good pop culture injection of any form, a celebrity-hosted show can offer a lot! These stars’ pods cover plenty of ground from BTS on favorite sets to politics to emotionally forward conversations. If you’re lost, in a rut or just looking for another stellar title to add to your audio arsenal, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in!

Oprah’s Super Soul - Oprah Winfrey

We know her, we love her, and the dynamic Oprah Winfrey continues to evolve and push interviewing bounds. Super Soul is more or less an adaptation of her inspiration and often a spiritual talk show that ran through the early 2020s. Be prepared to hear some deep conversations if you aren’t already, though we all know it tends to come with the unmistakable Hollywood giant.

Literally! With Rob Lowe - Rob Lowe

The 61-year-old Hollywood vet has wide-ranging conversations with plenty of well-known professionals. Whether it's well-established or rising stars in movies and TV, music or sports, Lowe jumps right in with them. And as a member of The Brat Pack, the pull he has with landing guests is pretty impressive and diverse.

Renegades: Born In The USA - Barak Obama, Bruce Springsteen

Though it only ran for one season and has 8 episodes to its name, the former president and The Boss’ collab rocked. Their conversations consisted of the changing dynamics of the USA through the lens of music, personal happenings, fatherhood and future revitalization. They also share their backstory on how the friendship and pod came to be.

Goop - Gwyneth Paltrow

Paltrow and Goop’s virality continues to regularly break the internet (especially those body-forward scented candles). But the Hollywood A-lister and her empire went to new heights with the addition of their own podcast, which she hosts. Naturally, it dives in holistically to grander topics with today’s ‘brightest thinkers and culture changers’ to dissect the conversation at hand.

Wiser Than Me - Julia Louis-Dreyfus

As always, when Louis-Dreyfus commits to a project, she knocks a role out of the park. One of her most recent titles as host of Wiser Than Me is no different; her interviewing women who are expert veterans in their given career is a true delight. She’s had everyone from Jane Goodall to Jane Fonda, and she’s just getting going.

Good Hang - Amy Poehler

Don’t overlook the Parks & Rec star’s Good Hang, even though it may be one of the newest entries on the list. Poehler’s sunshine bright vibes radiate through the show while she chats with A-list Hollywood names. But the most signature part shines through when she has a mini cameo from a friend of the guest who praises them ahead of the main convo. (If you haven’t seen or know where the viral clip of Rachel Dratch fumbling with headphones on a Zoom, now you do.)

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend - Conan O’Brien

In the comedian’s corner of the interview world, you can certainly expect his signature smart silliness he has brought to the masses over the decades. But why did he jump into the world? As the title implies, and per his summary, O’Brien realized after years of interviewing celebs, ‘the only people at his holiday party are the men and women who work for him,’ and wanted to change that.

Fly On The Wall - David Spade, Dana Carvey

While not an outright Saturday Night Live podcast, two huge alums, Spade and Carvey, lead this industry-leaning show. The pair has their fair share of guests and covers plenty of Studio 8H lore depending on who’s with them that week. Beyond the sketch show conversations, they often jump into current pop culture, current events and even fan-submitted fare.

Bill Gates And Rashida Jones Ask Big Questions - Bill Gates, Rashida Jones

Gates and Jones came together at the beginning of the pandemic in search of musing about some big questions. Though there are only five episodes, nothing seems off the table, from climate change to the psychology behind lying. But the unexpected co-hosts tackle these larger sociological and worldly topics with intentionality and ease.

The Big Podcast With Shaq - Shaquille O'Neal

The dynamic retired basketball player continues to surprise us with his plays (he just confirmed he was a Swiftie on the Kelces’ pod), and did just that when he kicked off his new podcast network by way of his own. Aptly named, Shaq and co-host Adam Lefkoe, of course, talk sports among themselves and alongside guests, but also hit a range of topics.

Minnie Questions - Minnie Driver

The Good Will Hunting actress’ offering sets up each interview through seven thoughtful questions. Though each question is relatively simple, it’s proven time and again that it unearths quite a conversation. Her therapy session meets fireside chat structure stands apart from other celebrity podcasts since its intention dives into a soulful exploration of life’s questions.

All There Is With Anderson Cooper - Anderson Cooper

While plenty of entries on the list cover an array of subjects from casual conversations, behind-the-scenes Hollywood magic and love and relationships, Cooper dives into loss (which he’s experienced multiple times over since childhood). What started as the beloved CNN news anchor processing the passing of his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, and the ins and outs that go along with it, has blossomed into something much more. He’s built a safe ground for guests and listeners alike to reflect and process the big topic.

Red Table Talk - Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, Adrienne Banfield-Norris

The multi-generational, familial women-hosted show has gone viral a few times over since its inception on Facebook. Nothing, as we’ve seen, is off limits in this conversational style show and doesn’t shy away when things get nitty gritty. Though the OG got the axe in 2023, it got going again with no ties to Facebook, and its episode catalog continues to rank with some of the best Hollywood fodder out there today.

The Weekly Show With Jon Stewart - Jon Stewart

The beloved TV host has a podcast that pairs with his regularly scheduled show. The Weekly Show offers a more expansive look into our ever-developing world with notable minds in essential roles across the professional field. If you’re looking for even more Stewart material, he had a short-lived but excellent 2 season show called The Problem with Jon Stewart that dove into topics that were ‘too big for TV.’ With either, you can count on a laugh paired with some big, thought-provoking discussions.

SmartLess - Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Sean Hayes

SmartLess is like an improv dinner party you weren’t invited to, but somehow snuck into. Each episode brings a surprise guest to the table, and with it comes comedy, curiosity, and the kind of bromantic chaos that three A-listers with zero filters can deliver. It’s part talk show, part therapy session, and all charm—who would’ve guessed the vibe would be achieved by the Michael and Gob Bluth actors with a dash of the Jack McFarland actor.

Armchair Expert - Dax Shepard

Maybe one of the most recognizable and longstanding on the list, Shepard started his series in 2018. Though the premise is relatively simple in terms of chatting with well-known faces, things can go deep quickly. The CHiPs alum has had ex-costars like Lauren Graham, incidentally spill about Parenthood peer, Mae Whitman’s baby daddy, and Oscar-nominated stars like Michelle Williams reflect about her late ex-partner, Heath Ledger. Needless to say, there’s a lot to work with here (and a 300+ episode backlog to sift through).

Office Ladies - Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer

Of course, there was bound to be at least one rewatch pod in the bunch, and with The Office ranking as one of the best sitcoms ever, it’s a natural pick to include. Kinsey (who played Angela Martin/Lipton/Schrute) and Fischer (who played Pam Beesly Halpert) recount excellent tidbits and memories as they rewatch the NBC classic while hosting Dunder Mifflin cast and crew members.

Life Is Short - Justin Long

First and foremost, I’ve got to give the Jeepers Creepers actor’s name for his show is A+ play on words (specifically short and long). But, behind the small chuckle the title of the pod offers is a surprisingly poignant base for Long and his brother, who co-hosts the show. The siblings jump in the deep end with their guests and discuss all there is about life, which includes everything from emojis to their perspective on life.

LeVar Burton Reads - LeVar Burton

Fiction lovers and previous PBS Kids unite! The beloved Reading Rainbow star’s pod is a modern-day take on the classic 26-year run show, but now catered toward adults. Short form stories are the main genre he dives into each week, and the whole thing feels just like a little bit of a time machine, for those who tuned in regularly to RR.

New Heights - Jason, Travis Kelce

No, I’m not talking about their mom, Donna Kelce, landing a spot on S4 of The Traitors US, but it’s worth mentioning. The NFL family show is full of BTS looks into being brothers while also playing football professionally. They also often go out of bounds of the shared ground and discuss everything from pop culture to UFOs.

The High Life - Ricki Lake

The former television host is getting back to her roots with The High Life. And while she still has plenty of Tinseltown names as guests, the focus with her offering is health and wellness. Nothing is off the table within the larger landscape; she hits everything from menopause to energy healing.

Las Culturistas - Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers

In case you’d like to know, this is my ride or die pick of the list. The college besties-turned-Hollywood-darling co-hosts have amassed a cult turned mainstream following thanks to culture catch-ups, regular bits they have A-list guests participate in (what sparked their interest in culture and their wry ‘I Don’t Think So Honey!’ critique of something) and their own award show. Clearly, I could go on about it, but if you need more proof, Tina Fey’s iconic advice to Yang speaks to why we, ‘readers, kayteighs, publicists, finalists and kyles,’ love it all.

WTF With Marc Maron - Marc Maron

The rough around the edges comedian and actor’s podcast is one of the most well-known celebrity series. As a blueprint of public figures' iterations to come, Maron got started in 2009 after his radio show got canned. In the decade-plus he’s been at it, he hosted writers, directors, comedians, actors and many more in the typical style that is commonplace today. But, heads up, he just announced his show will end this fall, so don’t miss out!

Podcrushed - Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, Sophie Ansari

The Gossip Girl alum’s shared show isn’t a far cry from the hit teen series fodder. They’ve just spun the clock a little further back to schoolyard drama and middle school crushes. Badgley, alongside Kavelin and Ansari, takes on listeners' stories, reads them and explores all the ins and outs of starting to grow up (and all the turmoil that tags along).

Broad Ideas - Rachel Bilson, Olivia Allen

While you may know of Bilson’s other pod, Beyond The O.C., involving ex-castmate Melinda Clarke, Broad Ideas includes her longtime bestie, Olivia Allen. The new duo essentially cover any ground two girlfriends would in any given conversation (mental health to ghosts are promised). But hosting a new guest to join in on the fun each week brings it to the next level.

The Mess Around With Hannah And Lamorne - Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone

If you know anything about where these two co-hosts met, you can probably guess this is a New Girl rewatch series. And if you know that, you probably know they played CeCe and Winston (Bishop), respectively, and the title comes from a bit that the characters shared. Also, plenty of past cast and crew come through to reminisce about all the shenanigans that went down in 4D.

Films To Be Buried With With Brett Goldstein - Brett Goldstein

Though he’s still relatively new to the scene, the Ted Lasso star is hitting it big (and is now on Shrinking). With that success, his unique corner of the recording studio has only found more success. And while the title of Goldstein’s show is pretty straightforward and self-explanatory, it has me hooked. I think it’s safe to say he’s just getting started.

At Your Service - Dua Lipa

While I haven’t actually listened to the singer and actress’ show, it may be the hidden gem on the list. Heading into her third season, she continues to host a slew of knockout guests, and her collection of candid conversations runs the gamut of interesting fare. Everything from psychedelics to running Apple.

Getting Better With Jonathan Van Ness - Jonathan Van Ness

Ever since being introduced as the current generation’s hair & grooming lead on Queer Eye, JVN has been stealing the show as they help build up others. By natural curiosity and the drive to learn, the Getting Better podcast helps them grow and build spaces to learn even more. The weekly episodic content comes in all shapes and sizes–from finance lessons to discourse on culture, they’ve got it covered.

Why Won’t You Date Me? - Nicole Byer

The Nailed It! host is also a pro-podcaster. If you go looking for Byer’s love and relationship pod, you may find quite a slew aside from the aforementioned one (Best Friends!, 90 Day Bae and Newcomers). But this humorously titled one is the most well-known and long-standing one, where she has everyone from friends and experts to an occasional ex or two dish all about dating and love.

Lovett Or Leave It - Jon Lovett

While Jon Lovett’s beginnings aren’t traditional Hollywood standards material, the comedian was a former speech writer for Barack Obama. From there, he and fellow Obama peers (Dan Pfeiffer, Tommy Vietor and Jon Favreau–not to be confused with the A-lister) then co-hosted Pod Save America. His newest show is a hybrid of political news mixed with fun, well-known guests, and a bit of shenanigans all tied into one, always providing a laugh.

The Bald And The Beautiful - Trixie Mattel And Katya Zamolodchikova

One of RuPaul’s Drag Race’s biggest winners, Trixie and ride or die fellow queen, Katya, have taken the world by storm together. After meeting on season 7, they quickly went on their way to make creative projects together, starting with their viral cult followed series, UNHhhh, to their aptly titled pod. It’s a lot of the same banter, just funneled into discussing pop culture and Tinseltown-leaning topics.

Doing an impression, especially a political impression, isn’t just about sounding like the person or looking like the person. Those things are obviously important, but it’s also about how you’re trying to portray the person. What are you trying to say to the audience about the person you’re doing the impression of? Well, it turns out for Dana Carvey, who recently played President Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live, that last part was very complicated.

Appearing on his podcast Fly On The Wall alongside co-host David Spade, guest Julie Bowen asked him about his Biden impression. More specifically, she asked him what it was like to play such a relevant person on SNL and whether he has any weird or guilty feelings because of how it all turned out. He took a few moments to “gather intellectually” before he gave a really interesting and thoughtful answer…

During his answer, Bowen shouted, “But it’s comedy” and Spade replied, saying, “You’re right. That’s the idea, but that’s not what everyone thinks.”

Clearly, the implication that Spade and Carvey are getting at is that there are some cast members and some people in the comedy world who felt there was a moral responsibility to portray President Biden in a more positive light, or at least not paint him in such a negative light that it could affect how people would vote. SNL has been accused of being left-leaning or outright liberal on a semi-regular basis since the show premiered 50 years ago. If we’re being honest, however, how accurate that is really depends more on the era you’re talking about.

I think that’s best exemplified by the three most popular impressions of Donald Trump. The first one happened before he was President and was done by Darrell Hammond. He played Trump in a very goofy and self-aggrandizing way. It was Trump as a Domino’s spokesman, a larger than life character you couldn’t help but be amused by. Trump has said publicly that he loved it, and it was a staple of the show for many years.

When Trump got into politics, however, SNL switched to an Alec Baldwin impression, which really seemed to highlight the President’s negative qualities. Baldwin repeatedly contorted his face in uncomfortable ways and used changes in vocal pitch to make his portrayal seem more unhinged and villainous. It was very well received on the left and widely disliked by some on the right including President Trump who openly took shots at it.

Now, President Trump is portrayed by James Austin Johnson who does a much more accurate, middle ground impression. It sometimes leans into Trump as a villain, but it also gives him moments of humor, where that weird out of touch billionaire but also relatable everyman quality sort of comes through. It’s a balance of what Hammond did and what Baldwin did.

If we’re being honest, I think Carvey’s impression falls into that third category and is most similar to James Austin Johnson’s. Carvey didn’t shy away from Biden’s problems and often made him look confused and out of touch. He certainly wasn’t trying to paint him as an ideal president or a paragon of intelligence, but at the same time, he also never turned the knife in the way Alec Baldwin did. I think a lot of jokes were left out because they would have come across as mean or painted him as incompetent, which Carvey always stopped short of doing.

Ultimately, we didn’t get as many Carvey appearances as Biden as were originally planned because he, of course, dropped out of the race after his mental fitness was questioned. The original plan was for Carvey to spend the Fall in New York appearing as the President during the election and aftermath, but that plan went south as soon as the debate aired. Instead, we ended up getting some of Carvey’s Biden and some appearances he did as other characters. What could have been.

You know, there are some movies that you rewatch as an adult, and you wonder, “Why the heck did I enjoy that when I was a child?” There are plenty that I could name right here alone.

From some of the silly Barbie movies I used to watch to ridiculous Scooby-Doo straight-to-DVD films to some comedy flicks that had no substance whatsoever, our tastes change as we grow older. And often, when we revisit things that made us happy as kids, we don’t feel the same way.

But what movie did I actually feel the same way about? Grown Ups. And I’m tired of people making fun of the film. I recently rewatched it just for fun – on a day where it felt like I had nothing to do and wished to revisit a movie that I absolutely loved as a kid, and now, I still don’t get why people don’t like it more. Here is my reasoning.

Yes, It’s Not Like Adam Sandler’s Classics

Now, am I going to sit here and tell you that Grown Ups is one of Adam Sandler’s best films? No, I am not, and I’m pretty sure if I did, I’d get whatever imaginary license for entertainment journalism I have taken away from me. I’m not that protective of this film.

It’s not a Sandler rom-com. It’s not Happy Gilmore. It’s not The Waterboy. It’s not The Wedding Singer – and it never will be. I think there is an inherent charm about a lot of Adam Sandler’s earlier films, even if they most certainly did not age super well with time. And nowadays, it’s challenging to pull something like that off with how the political climate has shifted over the last several decades.

While Grown Ups was released in the early 2010s, even then, the culture was far different from how it was when Sandler first began making movies, so of course, it’s not going to be the same.

Even so, there is still a lot to love about this movie.

But That Doesn’t Mean It’s Not Funny

I think my biggest issue is that a lot of people don’t find this movie that funny – or, at the very least, most highly ranked critics don’t. The 10% rating on Rotten Tomatoes speaks for itself. And I think that’s a load of BS.

Look, I’m going to be honest with you – do I sometimes want a very clever comedy film where the jokes are highly thought out, and you sometimes need to rewatch the movie again to understand? Sure. Occasionally, I need a film like that, one that really tests my comprehension skills as a movie and TV journalist. Without those, I wouldn’t be able to advance as a writer.

But I also sometimes don’t want that. There are great comedy movies out there that define the definition of what comedy can be, but Grown Ups is the type of film where it’s not looking to do that – it’s looking to make you chuckle with the most simplest of humor, and at the end of the day, that’s all you need.

The Five Comedians Have Such Fun Chemistry

You can’t have a good comedy film if you don’t have chemistry, and the Grown Ups cast is the definition of chemistry, which is why it astounds me to see that Rotten Tomatoes score so low.

These five comedic actors – Adam Sandler, Kevin James, David Spade, Chris Rock and Rob Schneider – work so well off of each other and create moments in this film that genuinely have made me snort out my morning coffee even now as an adult. Granted, I am my father’s daughter – most things very easily amuse me, and I think that’s a great way to live life.

But I wouldn’t get to that point in this film if the comedians didn’t already have that inherent energy. And you want to know the best part? They’re all friends in real life, which is what makes the chemistry so good.

At a certain point, you’re not watching the characters on the screen – you’re watching Sandler and his buddies rip on each other, and you love that aspect of this comedy. It’s like you’re back in high school with your teenage cohorts, and you’re trying to do some ridiculous dare to prove yourself to the person you like. It’s reminiscent and makes you smile.

And The Kids Actually Work Well Together, Too

Something else that I didn’t realize as a kid but do now as an adult is that the kids in this film are actually perfect, too, comedic-wise. And to me, that’s one of the biggest compliments, and another reason it baffles me is that critics don’t at least enjoy this film. Heck, some of these child stars are acting today.

Do you know how hard it is to find an actually good comedic child actor who’s not cringy or trying to put too much energy into their role? I can’t tell you how many movies I have viewed where it’s nearly impossible because they have the worst child imaginable portraying a kid who makes me want to scream and not laugh because they are so stiff.

However, in Grown Ups, these kids are actually good. Like, really good. Their comedic timing is on point, and they have some hilarious one-liners that still make me snicker to this day. I mean, I still say, “I wanna get chocolate wasted!” now because I find that line hysterical. How many little girls can you get that will authentically say that with their whole chest and have it feel believable?

I mean, it makes sense in a way – these child actors have to keep up with Adam Sandler and his whole slew of buddies. They had to lock in tight to make sure they could keep up with them, and they did on a whole other level.

It’s The Kind Of Movie Where You Can Turn Your Brain Off, And That’s A Good Thing

My biggest gripe about people not liking this film, however, is that it’s okay to watch a comedy movie – or just a film in general – and turn your brain off.

Sure, there are so many notable films out there that display the brilliance of cinema. I just saw Sinners and fell in love with movies all over again because of how incredibly well-done that entire story and experience were. But sometimes, I don’t need a movie phenomenon such as that to make me enjoy the film as a whole.

Sometimes, I need a movie like Grown Ups, where I laugh at simple things, share a drink with a friend or a family member, and relax on the couch—no thoughts, just vibes.

And that’s okay. The film world, inherently, is filled to the absolute brim with lovers of cinema, where they feel the need to comment on every waking aspect of how a movie is shot, who is in it, and the quality of everything – from a single set all the way down to how a burger was framed in the lens of a camera. They care about their craft.

However, I feel that if we don’t take a second to have fun with these movies every once in a while and enjoy films like this one, where it is just there for fun, we risk losing parts of ourselves that we can’t get back. In fact, watching Grown Ups reminds me that there’s still a little piece of my childhood innocence that resides within my heart because I still laugh at the same jokes, and while to some that may feel immature, to me, that’s beautiful.

Most should watch Grown Ups, if not for the silly jokes, then for the fun that you experience watching five friends have fun with their families during the summer. It’s not Adam Sandler’s best, but it’s a fun film regardless – and that’s something I always value, and you should value as well, irrespective of what Rotten Tomatoes says.

Try as the 2025 TV schedule might, there’s no guarantee that we’ll see something as meteoric as Netflix’s insane documentary Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness. That’s not a knock on what’s coming down the pipe, but rather a comment on how you really can’t tell what’ll hit as hard as the true story of intrigue, potential murder, and big cats.

At the same time, if Joe Exotic’s wishes to have David Spade play him in one of the three movie deals he’s got floating in the open ever comes true, that could be the closest we get to rekindling that magic. And sure enough, the Joe Dirt legend shared some exciting feelings on whether or not he'd take the gig.

Joe Exotic Thinks David Spade’s Joe Dirt Is A Closer Representation Than Joe Vs. Carole’s

I have to admit, when I saw the title “TIGER KING calls From Prison” on the latest episode of Fly on the Wall’s “Superfly” sub-series, I thought it was a joke. But apparently it was not, as there’s clearly a YouTube video of Spade, along with co-host/fellow SNL vet Dana Carvey, talking with the man himself.

Calling out Joe vs. Carole’s version as “way over the top,” Exotic actually suggested that the Joe Dirt star would have been a much better option than series star John Cameron Mitchell. Though if you’re curious about how the man also known as Joseph Allen Maldonado felt about Nicholas Cage almost being cast in the role, you can learn more about that in his remarks below:

Coincidentally that Peacock subscription driver co-stars another Saturday Night Live alum, as Joe vs. Carole's trailer put Kate McKinnon front and center as holding up the other end of that series' dynamic. So maybe that’s another part of why Joe Exotic thinks David Spade would be such a good pick.

Placing David Spade in the middle of the Exotic spectrum is a rather interesting choice I’d have never thought of. That only compliments the fact that I also never thought I’d hear someone calling Mr. Cage “too dry” to play someone as wild as . Then again, after hearing Spade’s eager impression of Joe Exotic, I will admit that I’m totally on board.

David Spade Seems Super Up To The Task, And I Think This Should Happen

Later on in Joe Exotic’s interview with David Spade and Dana Carvey, our Joe Dirt icon provided a little bit of his take on how he’d play the man at the heart of the Tiger King mythos. As you’ll read in the further excerpt below, Spade is already taking notes and putting his metaphorical resume on the table:

With David Spade’s recent SNL cameo still fresh in everyone’s mind, we clearly know that the comedy pro still has his edge. So why not roll the dice and do a Joe Exotic film with him in the lead? Or, even better, how about a Joe Dirt three-quel that reveals Joe Exotic is his actual dad? Why not both?

There’s clearly no wrong answers here, and if Mr. Exotic’s claim that he’ll be out of jail soon is valid, this could be a more pressing concern than anyone could have ever imagined. Well, anyone who doesn't happen to be named Joe Exotic.

Released 30 years ago this month, Tommy Boy is one of the most iconic ‘90s comedies and an all-time great comedy filled with one ridiculous and hilarious scene after another. As strange as it may sound, a lot of those moments came from real-life events. And better yet, a lot of those ideas came about when the Chris Farley and David Spade classic was on the verge of almost not happening.

Ahead of the Tommy Boy 30th anniversary, I sat down for a chat with director Peter Segal. During our conversation, he opened up about how shooting around Farley and Spade’s Saturday Night Live schedule was initially something that almost led to him quitting before he and screenwriter Fred Wolfe took a step back and retooled everything. As Segal put it, they started over and pulled from their memories to create what would end up being some of the movie’s best moments:

The hood blowing up on the highway, Tommy breaking Richard’s car door, and all those other unforgettable moments were stories that Segal and Wolfe peppered in throughout Tommy Boy, which allowed them to start piecing together a great road trip comedy.

Segal, who would go on to direct hilarious Adam Sandler movies like The Longest Yard and 50 First Dates, added that the great scene where Tommy and Michelle’s (Julie Warner) date is ruined by a group of heckling kids on shore was inspired by something that had happened to him prior:

All of this came out when I asked Segal how Farley’s outrageously funny “Fat Guy in a Little Coat” scene came to be. Basically, it was something that the late comedian would do on the SNL offices for laughs, and they thought it’d be a good bit to include.

After hearing these behind-the-scenes stories from what has been one of my favorite movies for 30 years, I think it’s about time to watch it again (maybe I’ll even show it to my kids). And with multiple ways to watch Tommy Boy, including streaming on AMC+ and the new 4K Blu-ray, maybe it’s time I retire that old VHS copy of mine.

Have you ever gone out to dinner and the evening didn’t go according to plan? I think we’ve all been there before. Between the food, the service and the conversation, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Let the record show comedian David Spade can commiserate. The popular actor somehow found himself having a dream dinner following the SNL musical special a few weeks ago with a table full of absolute legends, but what should have been an all-time memory turned into a night of recurring frustrations.

Spade was apparently supposed to have dinner with Chris Rock, but at the last minute, Rock told him plans were changing and they were instead going to dinner with a bunch of other celebrities who also attended the SNL 50 event including Paul McCartney. Sounds great, right? Well, much to his frustration, Spade found himself several seats away from the former Beatle and spent the entire night trying to hear stories and getting distracted by waiters during every key punchline. Here’s his hilarious recollection…

One of my favorite things about David Spade is how both relatable and unrelatable he is. He’s done like fifteen seasons of network TV and has been the star of a bunch of memorable comedies, but he’s also less famous than a bunch of his friends like Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. He told the above story during a recent episode of Fly On The Wall, the podcast he hosts with Dana Carvey, and in a way, it feels like a microcosm of every episode. The two of them come off like normal dudes who somehow got famous and go about their lives having these amazing adventures but reacting to them exactly how most of us would, except with more wit.

Unfortunately for Carvey, he got sick prior to SNL 50 and wasn’t able to appear. He certainly would have given how often both he and Spade have been making cameos on the regular show lately, but sadly for him, he missed out on the chance to crank his neck and lean in to try and hear Sir Paul McCartney talk about the good old days. What could have been.

Spade, however, did not miss out on the festivities. He appeared in John Mulaney’s wild musical sketch (the same one where Jenna Ortega got her personal space invaded), getting a really funny line when he just went back to his seat before it was over, and he obviously got a ton of fun interactions with plenty of legends of the game. He’ll probably be telling that story for years too, just as the rest of us would.

If you’ve read a lot of behind the scenes stuff or watched a lot of documentaries about Saturday Night Live, you likely have a certain picture of Lorne Michaels in your head. You likely see him as aloof, maybe a little standoffish and unapproachable but kind-hearted deep down. That comes from numerous former cast members telling stories about him, most of which involve being intimidated by him, having problems with him and/ or not really knowing how to read him. Some of that still exists, but according to David Spade, a lot has changed since he worked in Studio 8H.

The popular comedian recently made a cameo appearance on SNL to play Hunter Biden in a sketch alongside his longtime buddy Dana Carvey. The two reflected on the appearance during the most recent episode of their Fly On The Wall podcast, and Spade revealed he was “floored” by how the cast interacted with Michaels. Apparently Sarah Sherman just came right out and texted him to ask why her sketch got cut, which was shocking to Spade. Here’s a portion of his quote…

Some cast members have always had a bit more of a friendly relationship with Michaels, but in general, it seems pretty clear that for the first three or four decades of the show, he was a much more intimidating presence than he’s been the last decade. In fact, Bowen Yang and other current cast members have talked about how they’ve formed very friendly bonds with him after being very intimidated initially.

That’s likely a sign of Michaels relaxing a little bit as he’s gotten older (he’s 80 now), but it’s also likely a sign of how communication styles in the workplace, both in show business and outside of it, have changed quite a bit over the last decade. People are often a lot more comfortable now to address concerns directly with their bosses, and they’re also a lot more comfortable airing their concerns in public, which we’ve seen from the SNL cast in recent years when they’ve been upset about various hosts or things going on behind the scenes.

On another note, it was a joy to see David Spade back on SNL. The comedian was a central cast member in the early to mid 1990s, and while he’s had a great career playing a key role on numerous sitcoms and cranking out some underrated movie gems, there’s a segment of the population that will always remember him most fondly on Saturday Night Live.

Thankfully, the show is turning 50 this season, and they’ve been working in a steady stream of cameos and former cast member appearances to celebrate. There will also be a special in February, and if it’s anything like the 40th Anniversary, we’ll all be in for a treat. Details, as well as the show’s next slate of upcoming hosts, should be revealed soon.

Saturday Night Live's 50th Season is ending this year with a bang! With two more episodes on the 2024 TV schedule, the sketch show is gearing up to close out the year with two mega alums, Chris Rock this weekend (December 14) and Martin Short the following Saturday (December 21). Rock’s promo just dropped last night too, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how silly and inaccurate the comedian’s Studio 8H spiel (which weirdly included a lot of talk about David Spade) is! While not factually correct, the hilarious energy of this ad is infectious, and I’m really looking forward to watching the comedian this Saturday night.

The Madagascar actor's SNL promo opens with new cast member, Jane Wickline, hosting a tour in the iconic studio for a small group. While sharing history about the comedy institution, Rock walks in. All are thrilled to see him and are okay that he jumps in to take over the talk. However, of course, it’s incredibly and hilariously inaccurate. Everyone except Wickline accepts what he’s saying, and when he's done he thanks everyone for their time and mistakes the current SNL actor for another Jane, OG cast member Jane Curtin.

Check the spot for yourself below and see how goofy it gets:

From Jackie Robinson being an intern to Tupac being shot on stage and the audience being captivated by it all, I’m loving this obviously wrong history lesson. And let’s not forget that David Spade bit about being bit on the ass by a llama, which was a weird, but relevant, joke to throw in since the comedian popped up in last week's SNL episode.

Honestly, I think Rock's episode could cement him as one of the best SNL hosts of all time if it’s anything like that 51-second promo. His vibe makes it clear that he's absolutely ready for this Saturday, and now I'm hopeful that he'll bring that high energy and nostalgia to his sketches.

As Saturday Night Live gears up for the holidays and ends the first half of its 50th Season, it’s no surprise they have Rock and Short hosting. Fans of the show know both comedians, and it’s a really smart move to combine these two with Christmas and holiday classics to encourage viewership. We already got a surprise Church Lady cameo from David Spade, so I am optimistic that more fun callbacks and guest stars are also on the way. And SNL's seasonal bits are always some of their most viral and long-lasting, so it should be a fun time.

So, be sure to tune in to NBC (or stream it with a Peacock subscription) on the titular night at 11:30 p.m. ET to catch Chris Rock and musical guest Gracie Abrams on Saturday Night Live, because this is bound to be a memorable episode!

Saturday Night Live promised surprise appearances, cameos and returning cast members heading into its anniversary 50th season, and Lorne Michaels and company have certainly delivered. That continued last night too, as fans were treated to not only a surprise Church Lady sketch from beloved former cast member Dana Carvey but also an appearance from his podcast co-host David Spade. The Joe Dirt star played Hunter Biden, one of the guests on Church Chat, who pointed out he has more in common with Jesus than we’d like to give him credit for.

Carvey, of course, has been a pretty regular fixture on Saturday Night Live this season. The funnyman has played both President Joe Biden and Elon Musk. Fans were, of course, surprised we got a reprisal of his most famous character on this week’s episode, but it was nothing compared to the surprise of seeing David Spade. Despite being among the more successful former SNL cast members, the actor has only hosted the show twice since he left and made a handful of cameo appearances, most memorably ten years ago when he appeared as his flight attendant character during the SNL 40 special to tell The Californians sketch that it was running long and needed to get out.

You can watch Spade and Carvey do their thing below…

There is no show currently on television that can more easily lean into nostalgia than Saturday Night Live. The sketch comedy staple has fifty years of good memories, and it has the most impressive group of alumni in Hollywood history. As an example, Spade himself would be hard pressed to crack a top 20 list of most successful Not Ready For Primetime Players, and he’s been a main character in more than 250 episodes of network television shows… not including SNL. That’s how extensive the pool SNL can draw from is.

But it’s also important that the show continues to move forward and creates a connection with fans of a new generation. These cameos from Carvey and Spade are a thrill to me because I grew up watching them, but they’re not going to create any new fans. It’s the next generation of stars that need to do that.

Fortunately, the current cast is extremely talented and seems to be doing that. SNL has definitely leaned into nostalgia more than usual this season, but that’s quite clearly a combination of it being the 50th anniversary and the presidential election. The latter brought out famous faces like Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg, but that’s no different than previous cycles which brought out the likes of Tina Fey to play Sarah Palin and most famously, Alec Baldwin to play President Trump.

A few weeks ago, I guessed that SNL would lean away from politics a little bit moving forward, and that seems to be happening. How much it leans into or away from the nostalgia, however, will likely fluctuate week to week, especially given the upcoming hosts.

Saturday Night Live will return with new episodes for the next two weeks and some exciting upcoming hosts, both of whom are former cast members. Chris Rock will handle the duties next week, and Martin Short will handle them the week after.

Most of this most recent episode was dedicated to current cast members and host Paul Mescal, and I suspect we’ll see a similar dynamic moving forward, with maybe one random cameo or sketch dedicated to the old timers each week, at least apart from the actual SNL 50 special which is coming in February.

When a performer says goodbye to the Saturday Night Live cast, it does not necessarily mean forever. Often, the sketch comedy TV show will invite an esteemed alum to appear in an episode either as a special guest or as a headliner, sometimes resulting in a hall-of-fame hosting gig. The following are some of our favorite times a former SNL star made a grand impression when they came back to Studio 8H.

Eddie Murphy

After leaving SNL in 1984, Eddie Murphy came back to host (actually his second time, having hosted while still on the cast in 1982) for an episode later that year, on which he debuted, arguably, his best SNL sketch, "White Like Me." After being honored at the 40th anniversary special, the Academy Award nominee came back to host a third time, resulting in one of the most acclaimed episodes of Season 45.

Ben Stiller

You might have forgotten that Ben Stiller was a cast member since he only lasted four episodes in 1989, which he acknowledged when he first came back to host in 1998 after becoming a bigger name in comedy. He would return to host again 2011 in, followed by a series of recurring appearances as Donald Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, in 2018.

Norm Macdonald

Famously, Norm Macdonald was fired from the SNL cast in 1998 for, as the NBC executives at the time claimed, not being funny. Just a year and a half later, he came back to host an episode, during which he joked in his monologue that he had not gotten any funnier but the show had gotten "really bad" since his exit.

Robert Downey Jr.

Before becoming one of the most beloved A-list actors in Hollywood, Robert Downey Jr. was one of the most heavily criticized cast members from one of the most heavily criticized seasons of SNL from 1985 to 1986. He only came back to host once in 1996, during which he proved was the supremely talented performer we know and love and, eventually, became the first former SNL cast member to win an Oscar for Oppenheimer in 2024.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus would not become a comedy icon until after her three-year stint at Studio 8H from 1982 to 1985 when she joined the Seinfeld cast as Elaine Benes. In 2006, fresh off her Emmy win for The New Adventures of Old Christine, she became the first female former SNL cast member to return as a host, which she would follow with two more gigs.

Jimmy Fallon

After a successful six years at SNL from 1998 to 2004, Jimmy Fallon would return for three hosting gigs and countless cameos. Each time the late-night TV host comes back to Studio 8H tends to be a celebrated affair, especially because there is a good chance that his friend, Justin Timberlake, will show up to participate in a new edition of "The Barry Gibb Talk Show" or some other sketch.

John Mulaney

While he was never part of the SNL cast, John Mulaney would perform a few funny segments on "Weekend Update" during his five years on the writing staff. He would later become one of the biggest names in stand-up comedy and such a beloved host that he joined the Five-Timers Club within only four years.

Dan Aykroyd

Sometimes, for a cast veteran, the key to a memorable hosting gig is to wait an exceptionally long time to come back as an SNL host, much like Dan Aykroyd did. The legendary, Canadian-American comedy star, known for sketches like “The Coneheads” and “Super Bass-o-Matic ‘76” from his tenure as a Not Ready for Primetime Player, headlined an episode in 2003, more than two decades after leaving the show.

Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman is actually one of several SNL cast members who only lasted one season but still ended up becoming a huge success in the end. Two decades after she was let go from the series, the acclaimed comedian hosted a funny episode from Season 40.

Martin Short

It is hard to believe that a performer like Martin Short was only an SNL cast member for one season but he has, luckily, continued to demonstrate his dynamic comedic talents through memorable hosting gigs. His first hosting gig from 1986 was shared with his Three Amigos co-stars, Chevy Chase and Steve Martin – the latter of which he would co-host with again in 2022.

Adam Sandler

Surprisingly, despite making a couple of cameos over the years, Adam Sandler would not host SNL until 2019, which resulted in an instant favorite episode in which he sang two memorable songs. The former "SNL Bad Boy's" first tune (including a Chris Rock appearance) was during his monologue and discussed how he was fired after four seasons in 1995 and the other was a tribute to Chris Farley.

Kate McKinnon

After 10 wonderful years at SNL, the great Kate McKinnon would return a year and a half later to host the last episode of 2023, which proved to be a very successful episode, and not just because it featured cameos by Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and her Barbie director, Greta Gerwig. Also, in Season 49, she would also come back for one more appearance as alien abduction victim Colleen Rafferty to make host Ryan Gosling laugh uncontrollably once again.

Chevy Chase

Only two weeks after his final episode as an SNL cast member, Chevy Chase made a hilarious, self-mocking cameo in the cold open as himself, performing music for tips outside of 30 Rock. He would continue to return for more cameos and eventually became the first host to join the Five-Timers Club before the idea of it had been suggested by Tom Hanks.

Billy Crystal

In a unique twist on this topic, Billy Crystal was actually meant to appear on the very first episode of SNL in 1975 but was ultimately cut for time, as depicted in the 2024 movie Saturday Night. As his notoriety increased, the comedian was asked to host twice in 1984 before being hired later that year as a cast member, during which he lit up the screen with his impersonation of Fernando Lamas and other notable characters.

Tina Fey

Having served as both "Weekend Update" host and head writer near the end of her nine-year tenure, Tina Fey was a true SNL MVP but some of her most memorable moments on the show occurred after her 2006 exit. Prior to her Five-Timers Club induction, the 30 Rock creator and star made numerous appearances as Sarah Palin that earned rave reviews.

Dana Carvey

A key element to SNL's new golden era from 1986 to 1993 was Dana Carvey and his wonderful talent for impressions, which he would continue to lend to Studio 8H in the years since his exit. The Wayne's World star is one of the most frequent returning cast members, especially in Season 50 as President Joe Biden.

David Spade

Many of David Spade's funniest quotes originate from his six years on SNL in the early-to-mid-1990s. His blunt, sarcastic, and sometimes unapologetically brutal delivery of mockery at other celebrities' expense would serve him well in his hosting gigs – the first of which included a cold open featuring Brad Pitt as his therapist.

Kristen Wiig

The final episode of SNL's 37th Season was the final episode for a few notable cast members but it ended with a grand send-off purely dedicated to Kristen Wiig's esteemed seven years, which included some hilarious quotes. It was not long before the Oscar nominee was asked to bring back her famous characters as a host and her Season 49 episode saw her induction into the Five-Timers Club.

Chris Farley

After becoming one of SNL's most esteemed icons during his five-season run and proving to be a box office draw with movies like Tommy Boy, Chris Farley was at the height of his fame when he came back to host two years after leaving. However, his October 1997 episode is now remembered more somberly because, only two months later, he would pass away from a drug overdose at the age of 33.

Maya Rudolph

Maya Rudolph proved herself as an all-time great during her seven years on SNL in the 2000s. She would return for multiple hosting gigs and an innumerable amount of special guest appearances, most notably as her Emmy-winning portrayal of Kamala Harris.

Pete Davidson

For his clever "Weekend Update" commentaries, fascinating personal life, and title as the youngest SNL cast member on record, Pete Davidson was one of the series' most talked about performers when he left at the end of Season 47. He was initially meant to return as a host for the following season but, due to the Writers' Strike, he instead returned for the Season 49 premiere, which featured a viral pre-filmed bit poking fun at his post-SNL career inspired by Barbie's "I'm Just Ken."

Tracy Morgan

Impersonations of the likes of Al Sharpton and Oprah Winfrey and hilarious original characters like Brian Fellow and Astronaut Jones made Tracy Morgan a force to be reckoned with during his seven years on SNL. As a result, each of the 30 Rock cast member's returns to the Studio 8H stage as a host or guest have been warm celebrations of his best moments as a cast member.

Paul Shaffer

Starting off as a member of Studio 8H's house band, Paul Shaffer later made history as the first person to drop the F-bomb on SNL during his 1979-1980 stint on the cast. Of course, he bounced back from the incident without issue and would make cameos on the show and host an episode from 1987 after being David Letterman's bandleader greatly increased his notoriety.

Damon Wayans

One of the most infamous SNL cast firings is that of Damon Wayans, who changed the nature of a character on the fly in the middle of a broadcast in 1986. The comedian would find even greater success as a member of the In Living Color cast and, in 1995, was asked to come back as a host.

Phil Hartman

It is easy to understand why some argue that Phil Hartman is the greatest SNL cast member of all time and why, just two years after his exit, he was asked to host twice in 1996. We have no doubt we would have seen more of the Emmy winner gracing the Studio 8H stage again if not for his untimely murder in 1998 at the age of 49.

Chris Rock

The first "Bad Boy of SNL" to return as a host was Chris Rock in 1996, which was three years after his departure. At that point, the comedian had found decent subsequent success by making appearances on the show's biggest competitor at the time, In Living Color.

Jason Sudeikis

While he would make several post-exit guest appearances, Jason Sudeikis' first time hosting in 2021 was eight years after he left the show, which was actually a year later than he had intended. The gig was a big moment, given his Emmy-winning success on Ted Lasso at the time and his heartfelt opening monologue celebrating his time as a writer-turned-cast member.

Will Ferrell

Despite a hiccup or two in his early days on the cast, Will Ferrell became one of the most beloved SNL cast members of the 90s and early 2000s. His many appearances since, including five hosting gigs, have resulted in some of the show's most celebrated moments in recent years.

Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler's impeccable skills of impersonation and arsenal of uproarious characters made her seven years on SNL a one-of-a-kind era. Her many notable appearances since include co-hosting with her friend and one-time "Weekend Update" co-anchor Tina Fey in 2015 and making cameoing as Leslie Knope alongside her fellow former Parks and Recreation cast member, Aubrey Plaza, in 2023.

Darrell Hammond

One of the all-time longest-standing SNL cast members is Darrell Hammond with 14 seasons but his time at Studio 8H would not stop there after all. In addition to making special appearances – most notably in "Celebrity Jeopardy!" sketches as Sean Connery – the actor would succeed Don Pardo as the show's announcer when Pardo passed away in 2014.

Molly Shannon

Three-time Emmy nominee Molly Shannon is the driving force behind one of the most iconic SNL characters to earn their own movie, Mary Katherine Gallagher. The misfit Catholic high school student is just one character she has brought back for her numerous appearances on the show since leaving in 2001, including two hosting gigs.

Bill Murray

After Chevy Chase left in 1976, stepping in to join the Not Ready for Primetime Players was Bill Murray, who hilariously acknowledged his struggle to make an impression on SNL early on in a famous sketch. Of course, the Oscar nominee would quickly achieve wild notoriety in the 1980s, which made his subsequent five hosting gigs and additional cameos much-celebrated occasions.

Of the many '90s comedies that I hold near and dear to my heart, few rank anywhere near Tommy Boy. Fortunately, the 1995 Chris Farley movie is still as funny and delightful to me today as it was decades ago. As fun as it is to revisit Chris Farley’s best quotes from his various projects, I absolutely love any opportunity I have to dive right into Tommy and Richard’s shenanigans. There’s just something about the combination of Chris Farley’s goofy humor and David’s Spade’s ultra-dry sarcasm that does the trick every time. And this movie makes the absolute most of that dynamic in every scene the duo share, as the two characters set off across the midwest to try to save Tommy's family's auto parts company. So let’s get into the funniest and most ridiculous scenes and quotes from Tommy Boy.

"I Got A D+! I'm gonna graduate!"

We’re introduced to Tommy (Chris Farley) through a series of mishaps that give us a pretty good indication that he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. That impression is sealed when we see him celebrate his D+ grade after taking a college final. He passed!

"And did I catch a niner in there? Were you calling from a walkie talkie?"

While many might be polite enough to let Tommy’s awkwardness slide, Richard (David Spade) isn’t among them. In fact, he’s quick to call Tommy out when he starts rattling off phone numbers in his attempt to prove he called about his flight earlier. (Tommy was not actually calling from a walkie-talkie, as Richard inquires. It was a cordless.)

"A lot of people go to college for seven years." "I know, they're called doctors."

Tommy clearly feels no shame about having spent the better part of a decade in college. After all, plenty of people take just as long to get their degree. Of course, as Richard has to point out, those are typically doctors.

"Your brain has the shell on it."

While Tommy’s sure that the thin candy shell around the M&Ms will protect Richard’s dashboard from melted chocolate, he’s not nearly as confident about the comeback he delivers after Richard tells him his brain has a thick candy shell.

When Tommy Faces Off With The Hooks

Tommy may be smart enough to put on his hard-hat (eventually, and only after he walks into something), he’s still going to get up to mischief if left to his own devices at the auto parts plant. That includes facing off using what seems like his own brand of martial arts when confronted by a series of assembly line hooks.

"Anything that you want to keep cool."

This line might seem random to you but it’s actually one that I find myself quoting more often than others, usually when someone lists a few too many examples (and only if I know they’ll get the reference). I don’t know why it’s so funny to me. Maybe it’s the way Tommy’s father, “Big Tom” (Brian Dennehy) says it so patiently in response to Tommy listing off all of the drinks and snacks he plans to store in his new office mini-fridge.

"Holy Schnikes"

Tommy apparently has his own way of reacting to something he just can't believe. "Holy Schnikes" is the first thing he says as he takes in the sight of the beautiful woman emerging from the pool. Of course, that's right before he learns that she's about to be his stepmother.

"Brothers don't shake hands. Brothers gotta hug!"

If Paul (Rob Lowe) thought he was going to be able to waltz into the Callahan house and not make any attempt to bond with his new "step-brother," he had it all wrong. Tommy makes that clear the moment Paul arrives and Tommy insists that they hug.

"I'm a maniac!"

While some might be upset to find themselves covered in mud and… well, whatever else is all over Tommy after he takes his new brother cow-tipping, Tommy sees the hosing-off process as an opportunity to go full Flashdance, and it’s glorious.

"LUKE! I am your Faaa-ther"

What would you do if someone just left a perfectly good fan on your desk and you had nothing better to do with your time? Well, if you’re Tommy Callahan, you’d do your best Darth Vader impersonation. Lo-la-la-lo-laaaa.

"I have what doctors call a bit of a weight problem"

Tommy’s more self-aware than you might think. And he’s not too awkward to point out what doctors might call a bit of a weight problem… which is literally how he describes his situation when Michelle (Julie Warner) offers him a donut, which he politely declines.

"Watch your language in front of the lady, punk!"

Tommy might stand for a group of “rascals” making fun of him and his rowboat, but he will not tolerate kids using foul language in front of Michelle. Fortunately, she also has a low tolerance for their behavior and manages to one-up his outburst, but I still just love the way he yells from the boat.

"I swear to everything holy that your mothers will cry when they see what I've done to you."

Michelle seems like a very sweet, charming woman, but when she sees the three kids being relentlessly cruel to Tommy while they're trying to enjoy a private boat ride, she lets loose on them with the kind of threat that these kids don't want to test.

"It's a clip on" "Hehe, are you sure?"

Ok, Richard is less than impressed with Tommy’s tie, which is — as he points out — a clip-on. But he did show up dressed up for the sales pitch, so that’s something, right?

Tommy Uses Model Cars For His Sales Pitch

We’re all Richard in this scene, watching with severe apprehension as Tommy does a demonstration with the potential break-pad purchaser’s prized model cars. You’d think Tommy would’ve stopped the demonstration after he brutally crashed the car, but no, he goes as far as to light it on fire.

"I'm picking up your sarcasm." "Well, I should hope so because I'm laying it on pretty thick."

As much as I absolutely love Chris Farley’s brand of goofy humor, I’m also a massive fan of David’s Spade’s dry delivery. The fact that this scene offers a bit of both — with Tommy seen in the background desperately trying to fix the car door — makes it a must-include for the list. Also, extra credit has to be given to Dave Huband as the gas station attendant, because his “22 mileszzzz away” gets me every time.

"What'd you do?!"

Richard’s car goes through a whole lot throughout the run of this road trip comedy. In this hilarious scene, when the car was still more or less in one piece, Tommy basically tore the door off of its hinges after backing the car up without closing it near the gas pump. But does he take the blame for it? Absolutely not. Instead, he gets the door back in place, forgets about pumping gas altogether and lets Richard take the blame the moment he touches it and the door falls off of the car.

"Poor little furry thing."

It’s not all happy moments throughout Tommy Boy. Yes, tears are shed more than once in this movie, and that includes when a distracted Richard doesn’t manage to stop the car in time to avoid a deer in the road. Poor little furry thing. (Fortunately, the deer just needed a rest, it was fine later.)

Richard: "Why not? I'd take you to the vet." Tommy: "Yeah, I'll take you to the..." Richard: "Got that?" Tommy: "Shut up"

Chris Farley being awkward is my favorite version of the SNL icon, and Tommy's version of awkward is to mumble or trail off when he doesn't have a good comeback. While Richard (being Richard) never hesitates to spit back a quick retort.

"No, it's gotta be your bull."

You can’t accuse Tommy of not trying, though it doesn’t always go so well. In this case, he’s attempting to use a phrase his father once delivered with ease in a sales pitch, except Tommy gets it all mixed up and well, it gets awkward.

"No way that just happened."

Remember the time Tommy and Richard hit the deer with the car? Well, being the good people that they are, they loaded the presumably deceased deer into the back of the car, only for it to turn out not to be dead. Upon waking, the deer panics and literally tears through the roof of Richard’s car, leaving Tommy and Richard in complete shock.

Tommy Tries To Make Richard Laugh By Wearing His Coat

Tommy’s not the kind of guy to let the mood sour, even if he and Richard are down on their luck. He’s the kind of guy who will do whatever it takes to lighten things up. That includes putting on Richard’s jacket (in a scene inspired but an actual bit between Farley and Spade), which is much too small for him, and singing the “fat guy in a little coat” song until his friend laughs (or until the coat rips down the seam, whichever comes first).

Tommy and Richard Singing To The Carpenters

There’s a moment in any true friendship where you have to decide if you’re ok singing tearfully along to a cheesy song together. For Richard and Tommy, that moment comes when “Superstar” by The Carpenters comes on. They act indifferent for a moment or two before giving in to the emotional song at full force.

"Nope. Ship shape."

During a fight outside, Richard may have taken things too far when he broke a piece of wood over the side of the side of Tommy’s face. Soon after, a bewildered Tommy is concerned about the pain in the general area of his face where the wood hit him, but Richard’s acting as though there isn't a giant bruise forming there. Ship shape!

"I love my little naughty pet. You're naughty!"

It happens when the stakes are low, and maybe that’s all it took for Tommy to find his salesman groove. After being told by the server at a diner that the ovens are off, Tommy goes into an elaborate tale about his struggles, using a piece of bread to play the role of his naughty little pet, which he inevitably destroys. And somehow, this works to win over the woman, who agrees to get an order put in for him.

"Tommy likey. Tommy want wingy!"

Of course, Tommy is happy when he succeeds in convincing the server to take his order, but he’s barely aware of what he did when Richard points it out to him. All he cares about is that he’s getting his wings.

"Do you know where the weight room is? Ill check it out."

If you’re wondering if Tommy has a line for the ladies, well, he does. We see him use it when he spots a pretty woman near the pool at a motel they’re staying at. Apparently, flexing his muscles and asking where the weight room is in a deep voice is how he goes about it.

"I gotta go."

The moment we see Michelle's pneumatic tube system set up at Callahan’s, it seems obvious that something funny is going to happen with it. Sure enough, it does when Paul gets caught using Michelle’s computer, and then casually stands near one of the tube openings, causing the suction to literally rip his shirt off of him and transport it to… wherever that tube goes. Paul decides it’s best not to acknowledge that he’s now shirtless and abruptly leaves.

"Please go away let me sleep for the love of god!"

Being on the road is exhausting, so it’s no surprise that Tommy loses his temper when Richard pretends to be a cleaning person and keeps knocking on the door.

"Bees!"

When Tommy and Richard are about to be pulled over, Tommy quickly uses one of his father’s techniques to evade arrest by immediately running away from the car while screaming about bees and ensuring the cops that their firearms are useless against them. Somehow it works.

Richard and Tommy's safety announcements

David Spade is already well remembered for the flight attendant sketch on SNL (including the hilarious “buh-bye” catchphrase). While he isn’t especially rude to the passengers in this role, he does put his talent at sarcasm to good use while posing as a flight attendant with Tommy and doing the safety announcements, while Tommy demonstrates how to inflate the life preserver.

"Listen up, this'll only take a second."

In what has to be one of the most random moments of hilarity in the entire movie, Tommy’s attempt to find Zalinsky goes awry quickly when he decides to shout to get everyone’s attention in a bank lobby. When people understandably panic and drop to the floor in response, he realizes his mistake.

"Great, you've pinpointed it. Step 2 is washing it off."

SNL legend Dan Aykroyd makes a grand cameo in Tommy Boy as Zalinsky, the successful businessman Tommy and Richard need to do a deal with in order to save Callahan Auto Parts. They manage to find him as he’s boarding an elevator, and Zalinsky is quick to point out that Tommy went a little heavy on the pine cone perfume. When Tommy explains that it’s from a car air freshener, Zalinsky offers some helpful advice on what to do next.

When Richard Gives Tommy A Hand

There are more than a few jokes referencing Tommy's weight throughout Tommy Boy, but this one came at his lowest point. Just as Tommy is listing off all of the things that have recently gone wrong, his side of the bench he and Richard are sitting on breaks. Farley's delivery with the "could've done without that" line is perfect, but what I actually love most about this scene is the way Richard refrains from making any kind of comment and instead quietly offers Tommy his hand to help him to his feet. It's a mark of how far their relationship has come.

"It looks real."

Tommy and Richard get to know each other pretty well throughout their adventures. But we learn that there’s one thing Tommy doesn’t know about Richard, and it creates a moment of major awkwardness for both of them. A puff of air sends Richard’s hairpiece momentarily airborne, which is amusing on its own, but it’s the way that Tommy tries to not react that makes it truly hilarious.

When Paul Becomes The Test Dummy

It was always sort of obvious that Paul was the worst, but that becomes clearer and clearer throughout the movie as he continues to try to thwart Tommy and Richard’s efforts to save the company. So it’s hard to feel bad for him when he attempts to flee after being found out, and ends up on the front end of a test vehicle. It only gets worse for him from there.

When Tommy Becomes President Of Callahan Auto

It was a tough road, but Tommy and Richard pulled it off. The payoff at the end of the movie is seeing Tommy celebrate having saved the jobs of everyone at the plant and proving he can lead the company as he's named president of Callahan Auto Parts. (But not before making a couple of awkward admissions during his speech.)

With Saturday Night Live parading into Season 50 and toting some incredible hosts and musical guests, it’s sure to be a year for the books. The historically late night sketch comedy show has always made a name for itself — good, bad, or ugly — as a comedy career incubator for young performers and writers. Learning about how network TV made a historic shift that changed things for the show, and not for the better, is in fact, dumb.

In a recent episode of the SNL-centric podcast, Fly on the Wall, hosts Dana Carvey and David Spade interviewed current Weekend Updaters Michael Che and Colin Jost, and the quartet talked about a variety of topics related to the long-running sketch series, including Che’s threshold for jokes. It was later in the episode when the duo reminded Carvey and Spade, and shocked unbeknownst listeners like myself, why the show currently airs in real-time for all timezones.

Previously, those in the Pacific time zone watched taped versions of SNL episodes during their late-night time blocks. The change was made relatively recently, in the past five years or so, the decision to air SNL live across the country has been part of an effort to give audiences on the West Coast the same "live" experience that East Coasters get. The catch though, as Che highlights, is about content guidelines, explaining:

Jost chimed in to point out the material has to meet the standards for what can air during the primetime hours on NBC, as opposed to the slightly looser reins for late night, and the general lack of censorship for Peacock. So the shift, which was made maybe five years ago, has altered the cast’s writing and style, and I hate that for all of us. Especially since primetime on NBC has historically emphasized keeping content generally safe, family-friendly, and advertiser-friendly, albeit with all of the criminal horrors of Law & Order: SVU.

Though the live experience is now available to people across the country, we live with this newer version. It feels a little sanitized in some regards but the current cast has a lot of promise, including the two anchors. All the same, it is just incredibly dumb that all of this boils down to a corporate decision where audience agreement likely can't be measured to prove it right or wrong. A variety of successful, long-running primetime shows technically have more of a mature edge than modern day SNL.

Moving past the disdain for network TV standards and air times, the cast and crew have made it work regardless of restrictive creative standards. Ariana Grande and Stevie Nicks, the latest duo to grace Studio 8H, really showed up–and people loved the fun game show cold open.

All that said, I guess it is nice to get an authentically live sketch like this where Andy Samberg tried to make Kenan Thompson crack.

As an SNL fan year in and year out, here’s hoping that as the 50th Season continues, and the restrictive standards in place, it continues to find its way. The show has always found different ways to be creative, make waves, and reflect the times, no matter how cringy. You can watch the show, live on Saturday night, on NBC, or if you have a Peacock subscription.

Earlier this month, Punkie Johnson told a stand-up audience during a Q&A that she was leaving Saturday Night Live after four seasons. Of course, that news was everywhere by the following morning, and she quickly released a video clarifying there wasn’t any bad blood and it was just the right time to move on. Fans, however, were hoping they’d get more of an explanation, and that finally came a few days ago when she appeared on a podcast with SNL vets Dana Carvey and David Spade and talked in way more detail.

The entire appearance on Fly On The Wall is worth listening to, as everyone involved is hysterical, candid and knows the inner workings of Saturday Night Live very well. In it, Punkie Johnson talks about how she came from a stand-up background and never totally felt like SNL was her place. She was able to figure out how to play the game and do some work she’s proud of, but it never felt completely comfortable, especially after writer Ben Silva left the show. That cast member/ writer relationship is a key factor in finding success on the show that people don’t talk about enough.

The way Saturday Night Live works goes something like this. On Monday, there’s a big pitch meeting where everyone talks out random ideas, some of which are fully formed and some of which are just vague concepts. For example: David Spade threw out the idea of a caveman who is afraid of caves as a possible pitch someone might bring up. Afterwards, people then form smaller groups where they start writing ideas. In a perfect world, one of the writers, if they liked an idea, will approach one of the cast members and ask to work on that idea together.

Well, after a few years on SNL, Johnson finally found a writer she clicked with in Ben Silva, who also previously wrote for Last Week Tonight With John Oliver. According to her, he knew how to turn her “scribble scratch” into an SNL format that worked. The two started collaborating on a regular basis, and this past season, she started finding, by far, her best run of success on the show. They apparently got 3 or 4 of their sketch ideas on the show during the first half of the season, which was more than she’d ever gotten in an entire season before, but then he got married and left Studio 8H and she felt like she was back at square one. Here’s a portion of her quote…

Success on Saturday Night Live, of course, has a correlation with talent, but it’s also its own eco system that is absolutely reliant on collaboration. If you look at the most popular cast members of all-time, chances are you will find both writing partners who they formed a close bond with and other writers and cast members who found space for them in what they were doing.

It’s really a two part thing. First, you need to figure out how to get your own sketches into a place where they get picked to be on the show. Having the right writer helps with that tremendously, as you can together produce more pitches and chances are, the writer has a better sense of how to put the script together to maximize the potential. Second, you can get significantly more screentime if other writers and cast members approach you about being in things they wrote separately. That’s the only way you can appear on the show if none of your own ideas get through.

Ultimately, it seems like Johnson didn’t want to start that process over when Silva left. She’d finally found a space to be successful on the show with the right collaborator, and when he moved on, she felt that was the perfect time to move on as well. Fortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any hard feelings at all for anyone involved. The comedian was very complimentary of creator and longtime showrunner Lorne Michaels, saying he’s one of only four men in the industry who has ever believed in her, and she’s ready to go do her own thing, as she’s already getting offers inside and outside the stand-up world.

As for Saturday Night Live, it'll return this Fall for the much anticipated 50th season. Former cast member Maya Rudolph will join the show for frequent guest spots to play Presidential candidate Kamala Harris, and there will no doubt be plenty of fun anniversary related surprises and specials.

It can be pretty amusing when two celebrities look enough alike to confuse people. Jesse Plemons, for instance, has said he’s been mistaken for Matt Damon, and the Vampire Diaries cast has a whole running joke about Paul Wesley looking like Justin Bieber. The entertainment industry is full of pretty people, after all, so if fans are going to get mixed up, at least the comparison is usually flattering. Apparently that’s not the case when it’s your mom, though, or David Spade’s mom to be exact. The Saturday Night Live veteran revealed who his mother said he looks like, and he could not sound more disappointed.

David Spade shared this peek into the mind of his mother on his Fly on the Wall podcast, where he explained how she came to the conclusion that her son resembled none other than Clint Eastwood. The Tommy Boy actor said:

That was certainly not where I would have thought the conversation was going, and apparently David Spade was just as surprised. But who knows a son better than his mother, right? So, does he resemble the four-time Oscar winner?

Sorry, mom, I don't really see it. Clint Eastwood stays clean-shaven for most of his professional work, so we don’t get the beard David Spade’s mom talked about, but I can see maybe a similar thing going on with their hair.

David Spade’s hangup seemed to be more about the age, and I can understand a 59-year-old man not wanting to be compared to someone who’s 94 (not 97, as the comedian said on the podcast). However, while he’s closer in age to Brad Pitt and George Clooney, I’m not sure I’d buy the Ocean’s Eleven stars as Spade look-alikes either.

One thing’s for sure, though. David Spade wasn’t getting confused for any other celebrity when he dressed up as his titular character from Joe Dirt over the Fourth of July. That big mullet, complete with goatee and sideburns is pretty unique, to say the least, especially when Spade starts spouting some of the funniest lines from the movie.

The actor may not have been too impressed with his mom comparing his appearance to Clint Eastwood, but she undoubtedly meant it as a compliment. After all, the Million Dollar Baby star has to be one of the better-looking nonagenarians, right?

With the exception of Clue and possibly Dirty Work, there’s not a single movie I’ve watched more times in my life than Joe Dirt. To paraphrase This Is Spinal Tap, it finds that fine line between stupid and clever and rides along it in a Rambler Wagon for 93 glorious minutes of mullets, meteors and screaming mimis. That last part, its unapologetic obsession with fireworks, gives the movie arguably its most referenced scene, a ridiculous trip to a roadside sparklers stand where David Spade goes off about the lack of options. It’s hilarious and quintessentially American, which is why the comedian, who has found a way to be funny in a ton of different projects, decided to reference it more than two decades later in honor of The 4th Of July.

Spade was apparently in Kentucky and decided to go looking for a fireworks stand. As someone who grew up in Indiana and now lives in Missouri, I can confirm it’s not hard to find them in most states in the Midwest, and to Spade’s credit, he found a big one. You can tell the woman is starstruck the second he walks in, but she loosens up and has a great time with the longtime Saturday Night Live star as he uses the Joe Dirt voice and riffs on the beloved scene. He’s clearly in his element, at least until she tells him the price for The Godfather. Watch the magic below, which Spade dropped on social media…

Like I said, I’m a Midwest guy. I know my way around fireworks. I watched multiple neighbors risk blowing off their fingers last night to light up some redneck flammables that probably shouldn’t even be legal. I’m sure I’ll see more of that tonight. So, nothing about fireworks really surprises me, but like David Spade, I did a double take when I heard this woman say The Godfather costs $899, discounted from $1300. That’s more than a lot of people around here pay in rent each month. I can’t even begin to imagine how loud and vibrant that must be. You can probably see it for miles.

Expensive fireworks or not, I can’t imagine David Spade thought Joe Dirt would be so well remembered decades later while he was making it, but there’s something to be said for movies that fully embrace their tone and never waver or apologize. Everyone involved in Joe Dirt just got the assignment perfectly. Spade is obviously great, but so are his co-stars Jaime Pressly, Adam Beach, Brittany Daniel, Kid Rock, Dennis Miller and of course, Christopher Walken who leans into weird even by Christopher Walken standards. They're collectively the reason it got a sequel and the reason it's still so widely referenced today.

Happy 4th Of July, everyone. Celebrate in whatever way you feel best, whether that’s watching Joe Dirt, visiting your local fireworks stand or doing whatever it is you do to celebrate America.

Saturday Night Live is one of the best sketch comedy shows of all time, and over the years some of SNL’s most popular sketches have definitely tested the limits with sometimes-controversial humor. With time, it can become obvious that things went too far, and Dana Carvey apologized to Sharon Stone for a sketch during her 1992 guest-hosting stint in which he played an Indian man who asked Stone to take off her clothes to get through airport security.

What’s considered humorous changes with time, and Dana Carvey acknowledged on the podcast Fly on the Wall that he would be “literally arrested” now if he participated in the “Airport Security Check” sketch that he was a part of during Sharon Stone’s appearance. Carvey said: 

Podcast co-host David Spade agreed the sketch was “so offensive,” in how the airport security team — which comprised characters by Dana Carvey, Rob Schneider and Kevin Nealon — asked the Basic Instinct actress to remove her jacket, stockings and ultimately her shirt. 

Sharon Stone offered grace in response, telling the comedians:

The actress, indeed, had likely seen bigger problems earlier that evening, as she also recalled on the podcast how people had stormed the stage saying they were going to kill her as she prepared to give her monologue. Sharon Stone also commented on the state of comedy as a whole, lamenting that this “weird and precious time” has people putting up boundaries, and everyone is so afraid that “people can’t be normal with each other anymore.”

Dana Carvey reiterated that he intended no harm — either through his portrayal of an Indian man or his character’s actions — and praised Sharon Stone for her performance. He told her:

The podcast hosts called Sharon Stone a “good sport,” and it’s good to know that she hadn’t felt uncomfortable with the sketch back when she did it. However, as David Spade and Dana Carvey pointed out, we’re unlikely to see anything of that nature happen in SNL’s current age. 

Up next on Saturday Night Live, Ramy Youssef will host at 11:30 p.m. ET March 30 on NBC with musical guest Travis Scott. The show can also be streamed with a Peacock subscription. Be sure to check out the other upcoming SNL hosts, as well as all of the other upcoming premieres with our 2024 TV schedule. 

If you’ve gone skiing or snowboarding, I'd bet you’ve stared at a mountain map debating which run to go down. It’s quite the process of trying to figure out the plan of attack to get down the hill, and David Spade hilariously pointed that out in his comedy special My Fake Problems. Now, this really funny joke, which is actually quite old, is going viral on TikTok as families and friends take to the mountains to get some runs in.

David Spade’s Joke About Skiing Is Going Viral On TikTok

While folks reference David Spade's funniest quotes from his wildly successful movies with Chris Farley and his time in one of Saturday Night Live’s best casts frequently, this winter a deep cut from one of his comedy specials has risen to the point of being viral on TikTok. This is because multiple videos, like this one from everyjauncooks, are getting millions of views on the social media platform: 

The video above has over 5 million views, and it was posted this January. However, this trend was also going on last year, it just went super-duper viral in 2024. For example, in 2023 this video from baileyburke96 accumulated over 10 thousand views:

Overall, the trend has really picked up steam this winter, and it’s been so fun to see this hilarious bit find a new life. 

What Is This TikTok Trend Based On?

As I noted, this hilarious sound originated from David Spade’s comedy special My Fake Problems. It aired on Comedy Central in 2014, and it marked the comedian's first hour-long special in over a decade since 1998’s Take The Hit. In 2022 he released his special Nothing Personal on Netflix, however, My Fake Problems and the skiing joke specifically continue to live on.  

The setup for this joke that’s become the base of many viral TikToks is basically just that David Spade is not the best at skiing, and he’d prefer to take the easier runs down the mountain. Relatable, right? This leads to him saying:

He goes on to impersonate himself trying to move around the hill and talk about the overall clunkiness of ski gear. It’s a hilarious bit that really taps into what it’s like to ski with folks at different levels of experience as well as the silly names runs tend to have. As a skier, I find this joke hilarious, and almost want to recreate the bit the next time I click into my skis. 

To go back and watch the entire special that this skiing joke came from, you can find My Fake Problems on YouTube. To check out David Spade’s most recent special, Nothing Personal, all you need is a Netflix subscription. And even though the comedian won’t be appearing on the 2024 TV schedule, have no fear, because along with seeing (or hearing) him on TikTok, he also returned to podcasting with Dana Carvey, and you can listen to Fly on the Wall and Superfly wherever you get your podcasts. 

Spoiler alert! This story contains spoilers from the February 19 episode of The Bachelor.

So far Bachelor Nation seems to be enjoying Joey Graziadei’s season of The Bachelor, with the cast members giving us the dumb drama we crave and going above and beyond for group date challenges (like that wild game of musical chairs). But one aspect of Season 28 hasn’t been so welcomed by fans. Every contestant seems to have a tragic story to share with the Bachelor, and social media users expressed their concern for the emotional toll the “trauma dumping” was taking on Joey. The Bachelor superfan David Spade, meanwhile, had a different take, sharing why he feels for Joey’s women. Let’s break it all down. 

Bachelor Nation Is Concerned For Joey Amid The ‘Trauma Dumping’  

It’s not unusual for The Bachelor contestants to come on the show with some kind of obstacle to overcome, but this season has featured way more than the typical, “My last boyfriend cheated on me,” stories. The experiences they’ve gone through are truly heartbreaking, and their trauma is certainly valid. Bachelor Nation’s issue largely seems to be that Joey Graziadei is shouldering a lot, as evidenced by him breaking down in tears at the beginning of the February 19 episode. One fan tweeted: 

The contestants of Season 28 have been through some serious life events, including Daisy Kent’s hearing loss from Ménière’s disease, Lexi Young being diagnosed with endometriosis and several cast members opening up about the deaths of their parents. These things are relevant to their personal journeys and important to share with someone they hope to get engaged to, but it’s just a lot all around. As one X (Twitter user said): 

Other fans appealed to producers to “Quit making this the standard of advancing on this show,” because it made it seem like the women were getting a “pity rose.” Joey Graziadei isn’t the only one drawing the sympathies of the audience, though, as comedian David Spade shared his views on the latest episode and one of the most recent eliminations. 

David Spade Weighs In On The Bachelor: ‘They’re All Crushed’ 

David Spade is a longtime Bachelor superfan — his love of the franchise even got him a gig guest-hosting Bachelor in Paradise Season 7 — and he regularly provides commentary on social media during episodes. He seemed particularly affected by Lexi Young’s self-elimination, as she chose to leave because Joey Graziadei’s timeline for having children wasn’t realistic for her due to her fertility issues. The comedian said on Instagram Stories:  

Sometimes the reality of what The Bachelor is hits a little too hard, it seems! The latest episode was super emotional for all involved — both Joey Graziadei and the remaining contestants — and it seems Bachelor Nation really felt the weight of that through their screens. 

You can continue to watch Joey’s search for love with new episodes airing each Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The Bachelor can also be streamed the next day with a Hulu subscription, and stay up to date on all of the upcoming premieres with our 2024 TV schedule.  

At the end of 2023, Dana Carvey tragically lost his son Dex. He was 32 when he died of an accidental drug overdose in November, and the comedian and his family have been taking time to grieve. Now, the legendary Saturday Night Live alum is getting back to work co-hosting his podcast with his friend and fellow SNL star David Spade, and he explained why now was the time to return. 

After paying tribute to Dex and confirming his death, Dana Carvey spent the holidays away from the public and with his family. However, now, he’s back at work and he opened the episode of Fly on the Wall, addressing his tragic loss, and why he decided to come back to the podcast a few months after it happened. He said:

Following the news about Dana Carvey’s son Dex, many in the comedy world shared their condolences with him. This included Colin Jost, who sweetly paid tribute to the Carvey family as the credits rolled on the Season 49 episode of SNL hosted by Jason Momoa. Along the same lines, David Spade’s first comments on this podcast were about all the love he’s received from others for his friend, noting that Chris Farley’s mom sent him a letter to pass on to his fellow co-host. 

Carvey went on to say that he’s enjoyed his time with his family and they do “fun things” together. He emphasized the importance of moving and staying busy as they recover from this devastating loss, and getting back to work is part of that, as the Wayne’s World star said:

David Spade agreed with Carvey’s candid points about how getting back to work and joking about their time on the legendary sketch show and working on movies inspired by SNL characters is very helpful for his recovery. The Tommy Boy star went on to talk about how he’s been supporting his friend through this tough time, saying:

The episode then moved forward, and the duo, who are considered two of the best SNL cast members from the ‘90s, went back and forth joking about things like award shows, Jo Koy getting roasted over the Golden Globes and trading bits, as they typically do. 

Normally, Fly on the Wall features guests who have a connection to Saturday Night Live, however, this candid installment was all about the two hosts. As the new year kicks into high gear, and Carvey and his family continue to grieve and heal, his podcast will continue. You can expect more hilarious as well as sincere moments between him and Spade as new episodes drop every Wednesday. 

As Dana Carvey said, while he’s still grieving, he’s excited to be back at work and laughing with his pal, co-host and fellow SNL vet David Spade, because laughter is the best medicine. 

What is it that makes a Saturday Night Live character worthy of becoming the star of their own recurring sketch? Is it the way they dress or style their hair, the general ridiculous nature of their given situation, or is it their manner of speaking? We would actually say that much credit goes to that last example of criteria, based on the many great SNL character catchphrases we have compiled below.

“Well, Isn't That Special?” - The Church Lady

The chameleonic Dana Carvey has portrayed many recurring characters, but perhaps his single funniest SNL sketch is “Church Chat,” in which he plays Enid “The Church Lady” Strict. The deeply religious TV host has returned to Studio 8H several times and the secret to her enduring success is her hilariously sarcastic delivery of her signature line with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, That's The Ticket" - Tommy Flanagan

The phrase, “That’s the ticket,” is not exactly unique to Jon Lovitz’s Tommy Flanagan — the president of Pathological Liars Anonymous (or so he claims). However, it became imbedded in the SNL character’s legacy by the way it accompanies his most amusing fibs.

"We Are Two Wild And Crazy Guys!” - The Festrunk Brothers

Legendary Not Ready For Primetime Player Dan Aykroyd and Steve Martin — arguably the greatest SNL host of all time — make up the swinging Czechoslovakian duo called the Festrunk Brothers. Of course, most people might know them better as the “Two Wild and Crazy Guys” from their vigorous mantra.

"New York's Hottest Club Is..." - Stefon

“Weekend Update” hosts just want Stefon (Bill Hader as the wild character he and John Mulaney created) to talk about the best family-friendly activities in New York. Instead, he would start his spiel by announcing the city’s new popular after hours joint, and it would only get funnier from there.

"We're Not Worthy!" - Wayne And Garth

Wayne Campbell (“Wayne’s World” creator Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) have come into contact with several celebrities (both on their cable access program and in their classic SNL spin-off movies). But, rarely have they been able to keep their cool around them, resorting to dropping to their knees, bowing, and declaring their undeserving presence.

"... I Live In A Van Down By The River!" - Matt Foley

The definitive performance by, arguably, the definitive ‘90s-era SNL cast member, Chris Farley, is his gut-busting portrayal of Matt Foley. In addition to being one of the most iconic divorced TV characters, the ill-advised motivational speaker’s most recognizable trait is his unfavorable place of residence (“a van down by the river”), which he reminds people of any chance he gets.

"Oooh, It's A Lady!" - Leon "The Ladies Man" Phelps

The most iconic character played by Tim Meadows (one of SNL’s longest-running cast members) is Leon Phelps, who would receive calls from men and women alike during his live romantic advice program. However, he always made it clear that he especially enjoyed attention from the opposite gender, which is exactly why they called him “The Ladies Man.”

"Cheeburger, Cheeburger, Cheeburger" - Pete Dionisopoulos

When Don Novello created the beloved SNL sketch from Season 3, “The Olympia Restaurant,” he might not have realized that simply repeating the word “cheeseburger” would create such an impact. Yet, John Belushi’s distinct pronunciation of it as the cafe’s Greek manager, Pete Dionisopoulos, served up a decadent comedy feast. 

"I’m Good Enough, I’m Strong Enough And Doggone It, People Like Me" - Stuart Smalley

Easily one of the most wholesome SNL characters ever conceived is Stuart Smalley, played by longtime series veteran and former U.S. senator Al Franken. He would begin each episode of his talk show, Daily Affirmations, with this personal affirmation that, perhaps, we should all be starting our days with.

"I'm Verklempt" - Linda Richman (Coffee Talk)

For various reasons — be it her strained relationship with her daughter or Barbra Streisand’s latest Oscar “snub” — Linda Richman often found herself overcome with emotion as host of “Coffee Talk.” By referring to these episodes as her being “verklempt,” the catchphrase became one of Mike Myers’ funniest quotes and never failed to get the audience howling.

"... Makin' Copies!" - Richard Laymer

Office worker Richard Laymer (Rob Schneider) is better known as “the Richmeister,” in reference to his tendency give his colleagues similar-sounding nicknames. This was typically followed by Rich acknowledging they were “makin’ copies” with the machine that just happened to be near his desk, much to their chagrin.

"We Want To Pump You Up!" - Hans And Franz

Austrian fitness “experts” Hans (Dana Carvey) and Franz (Kevin Nealon) had a pretty apt slogan for their program, Pumping Up, stating that they “want to pump [clap] you up!” However, we would discover that they failed to earn the respect of their famous bodybuilder cousin, Arnold Schwarzenegger, when he appeared in one of the most jaw-dropping SNL cameos as himself.

"Party On..." - Wayne And Garth

It was always a party on Wayne’s World, as co-hosts Wayne and Garth often reminded  audiences with this endearing, celebratory greeting. Of course, this phrase is also associated with another famous duo from the same era: Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter’s titular dudes from the Bill and Ted movies.

"I’m Chevy Chase And You’re Not" - Chevy Chase (Weekend Update)

We can sum up Chevy Chase’s signature style of charming smugness and dry wit in just six words. It is with this same phrase that the future Community cast member began nearly every “Weekend Update” segment he hosted during his short, but memorable run on SNL in the 1970s.

"... But I Love Him" - Jodi Deitz (Bronx Beat)

The talk show Bronx Beat was, essentially, an excuse for New York housewives Betty Caruso (Amy Poehler) and Jodi Deitz (Maya Rudolph) to voice their boisterous, and sometimes condemning, opinions on various subjects — with Jodi’s husband being a frequent topic. However, her complaint over her spouse’s moronic tendencies was always accompanied with a tearful affirmation that he still made her happy.

"Give Me A Break" - Ed Grimley

It’s hard to believe that a legend like Martin Short was only on SNL for one season, especially with his impressive assortment of characters like Ed Grimley. The pop-culture obsessed, erratic man-child — borrowed from the actor’s SCTV days — had a few different catchphrases, but his delivery of and situational choices for using “Give me a break” made it a classic.

"It Just Goes To Show Ya, It's Always Somethin'. If It's Not One Thing, It's Another" - Roseanne Roseannadanna

One of the most iconic “Weekend Update” guest characters was Roseanne Roseannadanna, who ended each of her nauseating appearances declaring that, “It’s always somethin’.” The phrase would serve as the title for the late, great Gilda Radner’s memoir, in which she reveals she borrowed it from her own late father’s favorite expression. 

"Superstar!" - Mary Katherine Gallagher

While her intentions may have been hard to interpret at face value, Mary Katherine Gallagher’s commitment to becoming a “superstar” was made clear in the way she exclaimed the phrase with an irresistible gusto. As such, Superstar became the name of a 1999 movie that put Molly Shannon’s quirky Catholic school student in the cinematic spotlight.

"Would You Like To Touch My Monkey?” - Dieter (Sprockets)

West German talk show host Dieter (Mike Myers) is another one of those characters who had many iconic catchphrases at his disposal, with the most famous being “Would you like to touch my monkey?” While it initially sounds a bit suggestive, he is genuinely curious if the guests on his show, Sprockets, would be interested in petting his pet, Klaus.

"Oh No!" - Mr. Bill

Few SNL bits are more traumatic than the short films starring Mr. Bill. The meek, indefensible clay figure could never do anything to prevent the painful situations he found himself in, but to exclaim, “Oh no!” right before they occurred.

"Bring It On Down To ...-Ville!" - Dancing Mascot

Nearly every one of Five-Timers Club member Justin Timberlake’s SNL gigs see him dressed in a ridiculous outfit, performing spoofs of hit songs to promote a local business — such as Omeletteville or Wrappingville — and upstage the competition on the same sidewalk. The pop star and actor even referenced the recurring sketch and its signature quote during a “Weekend Update” appearance when he imagines a non-existent Thanksgiving episode in which we would have brought it on down “Turkeyville.”

"Talk Amongst Yourselves. I'll Give You A Topic..." - Linda Richman (Coffee Talk)

When in need of a moment to compose herself after becoming “verklempt,” Linda Richman always avoided leaving her Coffee Talk audience empty-handed by offering them a conversation piece to pass the time. Examples of her given discussion topics include “Rhode Island is neither a road, nor is it an island” and “Ralph Fiennes is spelled neither rafe nor fines” among many others.

"Buh-Bye" - Flight Attendants

One of the funniest David Spade quotes comes courtesy of a flight attendant who wastes no time letting passengers know he does not want to be there. The character and his iconic “Buh-bye” debuted in a Season 19 SNL sketch also starring Helen Hunt as his equally rude colleague.

"Oh. Well, That’s Different. Nevermind!" - Emily Litella

As the elderly Emily Litella, Gilda Radner appeared on “Weekend Update” numerous times to present an opposing viewpoint to an editorialized topic, only to be informed that her supposed hearing problems led her to dish on something entirely different from the intended subject. Some of the most classic examples include “violins on television” instead of “violence on television” or questioning why the Supreme Court made a decision on a “deaf penalty” when, in fact, it was a decision on the “death penalty."

"What're YOUUUU Doin' Herrre?" - Stuart (The Californians)

The key as to why a sketch as simple as “The Californians” has stood the test of time is Fred Armisen’s preposterously over-the-top West Coast accent when portraying Stuart, especially when asking why certain acquaintances are in his house. Apparently, as Bill Hader shared with Seth Meyers on Late Night, he and Kristen Wiig did not know Armisen would pronounced “What’re you doing here?” so cartoonishly, causing the sketch to not go quite as planned with their uncontrollable laughter.

"You Look Marvelous" - Fernando Lamas

The peak highlight of Billy Crystal’s brief SNL stint was his portrayal of Fernando Lamas as a talk show host who often gushed over how “mahvelous” his guests looked. The Argentinian actor’s son, Lorenzo Lamas, even said that his father actually loved the impression.

"It's Reno Time!" - Janet Reno

For as long as Janet Reno served the U.S. Attorney General, Will Ferrell played her for years as the misplaced host of a teen-centered musical program called “Janet Reno’s Dance Party.” On the final edition of the sketch, the real politician herself crashed through a brick wall to shout out her SNL doppelgängers catchphrase.

"... Is That Bad To Do Do Do...?" - Junice Merill

No character portrayed by Academy Award-nominated SNL star Kristen Wiig is really known for having any definitive catchphrases, but Junice Merill does have her own “catch-lyric.” When she and her sisters appear on The Lawrence Welk Show, she takes one moment of their performance to confess something grotesque and possibly illegal before asking if it is “bad” in song.

"Delta Delta Delta! Can I Help Ya, Help Ya, Help Ya?" - Delta Delta Delta Sorority Sisters

One of the youngest SNL cast members (being 23 at the time) is Melanie Hutsell, whose most famous character was a sorority pledge named Di. She and her fellow sisters (played by Siobhan Fallon and Beth Cahill) would answer the sorority house phone in this most hilariously upbeat way.

"I Got A Fever And The Only Prescription Is More Cowbell!" - Bruce Dickinson

One of the most iconic SNL sketches prominently featuring an A-list host is a faux clip of Blue Öyster Cult recording “Don’t Fear the Reaper” under the supervision of Christopher Walken as Bruce Dickinson. His likening of Gene Frenkle’s (Will Ferrell) cowbell as a cure for his metaphorical illness in this one-off sketch may not exactly count as a catchphrase, but is undeniably one of the most celebrated lines in the series’ history. In fact, Walken claims it “ruined” his life with how often people quote it at him.

"Don't Look At My Bum" - Simon

Mike Myers stars in a recurring sketch as a young British boy named Simon, who likes to show the audience his drawing from a bathtub. In many instances, as he would turn around to reach for another example of his artwork, the child felt compelled to remind his viewers not to stare at his “bum.”

"That's What Your Mother Said Last Night" - Sean Connery (Celebrity Jeopardy!)

For no discernible reason, Darrell Hammond’s Sean Connery was more interested in spending the entirety of his appearances in SNL’s best Celebrity Jeopardy! sketches taunting Will Ferrell’s Alex Trebek than winning the game. Most of his insults involved the host’s mother, whom he jokingly claimed to have a relationship with.

These SNL catchphrases prove that, sometimes, it is not what you say, but how you say it. These characters said it hilariously.

It's hard to believe Entourage ended its eight-season run so long ago, in 2011 (not counting the less-than-well-recieved movie in 2015). For the length of the show, one thing that kept audiences coming back for more each week was the great celebrity cameos. What started as a trickle in the first season, became a flood towards the end, with big stars always showing up, usually with hilarious results. Here is our list of some of the funniest celebrity cameos on Entourage. 

Mark Wahlberg

It makes sense that Mark Wahlberg would be the first cameo on the show, appearing in the very first episode of Season 1. Entourage was (very) loosely based on his experiences in Hollywood as a young actor, and the Boogie Nights star was a producer of the show. 

David Schwimmer

A great thing about the cameos was that often the celebrities weren't afraid to poke a little fun at themselves. Take, for example, David Schwimmer's spot in the Season 6 episode "Running on E." Schwimmer sits in a pitch meeting with super agent Ari Gold's (Jeremy Piven) team and offer after offer is for the Friends star to play some sort of neurotic character for comedic effect. The frustration for Schwimmer is palpable. 

Peter Dinklage

One of the most common tropes on the show was the stars taking potshots at Ari. Ari was a character we all loved to hate, but it turns out most of the celebrities playing themselves also hated Ari. Peter Dinklage is one of those when he trades barbs with Ari at a party in the Season 2 "Sundance Kids."

John Stamos

John Stamos was the perfect type of celeb to show on Entourage. It was always fun to see how a cameo appearance might just be an opportunity to take down lovable loser Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon). In a bit of a twist, after getting insulted by Stamos a few times, the two play an epic match of ping pong that ends predicably for Drama in the Season 7 episode "Tequila Sunrise." 

Jeffrey Tambor

Jeffrey Tambor plays a jerk like few others can in Hollywood. When he's playing a fictionalized version of himself being to jerk to his kids, it's comedy gold. Fictional life as a jerk and real life have blurred together for Tambor, but his appearance in Season 6 is still really funny. 

Matt Damon

Matt Damon takes charity very seriously, so his cameo on Entourage, in the Season 6 finale, fits perfectly. It's also a rare time that Vince (Adrian Grenier) is the one getting clowned when he tries to dodge both Damon and Bono into giving money to their charity to help children.  

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer's guest spot on the show is a little different than most on this list. He doesn't play himself, but the role is so brief – and so funny – that it had to be included. In Season 1, the Top Gun: Maverick star plays a "sherpa" living in a giant house in Beverly Hills like a '60s hippie. 

Snoop Dogg

No one brings joy like Snoop Dogg. There is never a time when people are unhappy to see the legendary rapper show up somewhere on TV and Entourage is no exception. The brief interaction between Snoop, Vince, and Eric (Kevin Connolly), partly highlights the confusion of how to pronounce "Cannes" in the Season 4 episode "The Dream Team."

James Cameron

The Season 2 episode "Sundance Kids" really kicked the cameos on the show into overdrive and one of the best of the whole series is James Cameron. Vince is trying to land a role in his Aquaman movie, so Turtle and Drama try to help (and fail). The best part, though, is Cameron's interaction with a barista (played by This Is Us star Chrissy Metz). 

Tom Brady

Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) is a die-hard New York Giants fan, so when he meets Tom Brady at a charity golf tournament, he does what any self-respecting fan would do, he blows him off and refuses to shake his hand. It's brilliant. 

Martin Scorsese

Entourage proved just how big it was for celeb cameos when none other than Martin Scorsese appeared for a brief scene to offer Vince a role in his fictional The Great Gatsby movie in the finale of Season 5. You know you've made it when Scorsese gets involved. 

Scarlett Johansson

Season 1 ends with a big-time star appearance when the one and only Scarlett Johansson cameos on the phone with Vince, after Eric promises him to land a date with the superstar actress. It works, though it's the last time we'd see Johansson on the show. 

Stan Lee

Comic legend Stan Lee became the king of cameos with his iconic moments in the MCU universe for years, a streak that ended with his death in 2018. It's all too appropriate that we include him on this list, not only due to Lee's status as a cameo-king but because his quick role is just so funny as he can't quite place where he's seen Vince's adult film star girlfriend, Sasha Grey, before.

Lamar Odom

Entourage was replete with professional athletes throughout its run. Lamar Odom shows up pretty early in the show's run, in "An Offer Refused" in Season 2. The cameo is notable because of the way Drama gets obsessed with how men's calves look, including Odom's, which understandably freaks the NBA star out. 

Bono

Bono's appearance in the Season 6 finale is brilliant. He only appears via computer screen, as he's on a video call with Matt Damon and teams up with Damon to gang up on Vince to guilt him into getting on board with their charity. It's vintage Bono, pushing a charity but not taking himself as seriously as the world perceives him to be. 

Bobby Flay

Ari being a jerk to someone isn't a surprise, but Ari being a jerk to Bobby Flay is, pardon the pun, pure gold. Flay is great playing himself as the chef at his own restaurant, one of Ari's favorites, but the two bicker before Flay has had enough in the Season 8 episode "Whiz Kid." 

Sofia Vergara

Sofia Vergara's cameo is notable because she's not playing herself. While she herself is perfect for the role as a Colombian actress auditioning for the movie Medellin, it's funny because of how ridiculous the rest of Vince's team reacts to her. The first episode of Season 2 is one of the most unique, and funniest, of the show's run. 

M. Night Shyamalan

M. Night Shyamalan's appearance in the episode "Sorry, Harvey" in Season 4 is classic Entourage. Playing himself, he's angry at Ari for not reading his latest script and confronts the super agent to call him on it. It's the kind of cameo we've come to expect from this show, a major star fighting with Ari. 

Christina Aguilera

The Season 7 finale, "Lose Yourself" is one of the saddest of the show, for a few reasons. One is Ari throwing a lavish party for his wife to keep her from leaving him complete with Christina Aguilera singing "You Are Beautiful," only to have his wife not show.  Aguilera gets mad at Ari (naturally) and demands his Lakers playoffs tickets to keep performing. 

Adrian Peterson

NFL superstar Adrian Peterson selling a dinosaur skull. Is there anything more that needs to be said? The Season 7 episode "Tequila and Coke" has a great moment poking fun at people investing in fossils, and yes, Nic Cage gets a shout-out. 

Zac Efron

It's no surprise that Ari would be trying to steal a client from another agent, but what makes Zac Efron's cameo on Entourage so funny is his interaction with a fan while on the phone with Ari. A mom using her daughter to get Efron's autograph (and pushing for, um, more) is hilarious. 

Kanye West

Vince and his crew have no problem asking anyone for a favor. Kanye West is the victim of one of the most outlandish requests when they beg him for a ride on his private plane to France, even though Ye is headed for London in "No Cannes Do" from Season 4. The rapper is stunned and doesn't hide it, but still, who can turn down Vince? No one, not even Ye.

David Spade

David Spade is the perfect star for a cameo on Entourage. In his, he's got women on both arms and plays a total jerk. While he's surely not a jerk, he somehow has that public perception, which is what makes the cameo so much fun in the Season 8 episode titled "The Big Bang." Spade is just hilarious. 

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson is clearly a good sport. Despite the show taking a shot at the pro golfer's failure at the 2006 U.S. Open, he later agreed to appear on the show, if only to show up Ari. A chance meeting on the golf course between Mickelson, and Kevin Dillon and Jerry Ferrara, led to the role. Kizmet. 

50 Cent

50 Cent makes one of the briefest cameos on the show, but it's one of the best. When he sees Turtle driving, he pulls up alongside and manages to take Turtle down a notch, despite the fancy ride he's driving in. Turtle has a rough time in his birthday episode, "One Car, Two Car, Red Car, Blue Car," from Season 6.

Aaron Sorkin

Aaron Sorkin's first cameo (he made two) on Entourage came in an episode named after him, "The Sorkin Notes" in Season 6. Sorkin is caught up in some drama in Ari's office that he wants no part of and is hilarious in a rare acting role for the writer and director. Now can we get that West Wing revival starring Sterling K. Brown that Sorkin had an idea for, please?

Dean Cain

Another very brief cameo comes from Dean Cain. The former Superman actor disrupts one of Drama's auditions, which crushes Drama, as he figures there's no one he can compete with Cain for the part. It's vintage Johnny Drama in the Season 6 episode "Scared Straight." It's another moment in which you can't help but feel terrible for Drama. 

Eminem

The Season 7 finale, "Lose Yourself," not only foreshadows Vince's downward spiral, but Eminem's cameo. In one of the lowest moments of Vince's life, he first insults Minka Kelly, then gets into a fistfight with Eminem. It's as sad as it is funny, a line the show walked brilliantly in the episode. 

Alex Rodriguez

How tragic would be to hear that you lost out on a ton of money from former Yankee Alex Rodriguez? That's what happens to Turtle when the shortstop-turned-third-baseman shows up on screen to tell Turtle that the tequila company he once owned a lot of stock in went public after he sold out. Ouch. 

Steve Nash

Poor Steve Nash. The NBA star was at the height of his fame when he was unwittingly cornered by Eric at his manager's office (Scott Caan). Eric dumps all of his girlfriend problems on the Canadian basketball player's feet in the Season 6 episode "Murphy's Lie," and all Nash can do is look stunned. 

Johnny Galecki

Johnny Galecki's role in Entourage was a little more than one cameo, it was more like three cameos over three episodes and he plays a fictionalized version of himself who makes Eric's life hell by dating Eric's ex-girlfriend Sloan (Emmanuelle Chriqui). This version of Galecki is terrible but completely hilarious. 

Jessica Simpson

As Ari tries to protect his client base, he's forced to go hat in hand to a client who's mad at him for not caring when her dog died. Jessica Simpson meets Ari at the door in "Bottoms Up" from Season 7, and in classic Entourage fashion, makes Ari look like the jerk that he is, despite his insincere attempt to gift another dog to Simpson. It sums up everything a great Entourage cameo should be. A big star, an unrepentant Ari, and some choice lines. 

This is a list that could be almost endless, and we didn't even get into the multiple cameos in the Entourage movie, one of which featured Channing Tatum that didn't actually happen. 

Known best from the show, in particular, for his “Weekend Update” segments and “Spade in America” commentaries, David Spade is among the biggest stars to get their start on SNL. He has remained a notable name in comedy, thanks to a pretty successful film career that includes Tommy Boy and The Emperor’s New Groove and his impeccable talent for delivering even the driest dialogue in a somehow lively manner. Our favorite examples of this can be seen below with our picks for the best Spade quotes from the big screen and Saturday Night Live as well.

"Look, Children, It's A Falling Star. Make A Wish" - Saturday Night Live 

Easily the most infamous David Spade quote comes from his revival of “Hollywood Minute” during an edition of “Spade in America,” in which he makes a blunt comment about the state of Eddie Murphy’s career circa 1995. Spade actually came to regret the joke made about the Oscar-nominated former SNL star, whose later box office hit, Shrek, was actually somewhat inspired by Spade’s dynamic with Chris Farley, apparently.

"I Think Your Brain Has A Thick Candy Shell” - Tommy Boy 

Richard Hayden’s (David Spade) feelings about his business and road trip partner, Thomas “Tommy” Callahan III (Chris Farley), in Tommy Boy are summed up perfectly by his response to Tommy’s mentioning that M&M’s have a “thin candy shell.” One BTS fact about the comedy is that the characters’ combative relationship reflected the actors’ on-set attitude toward one another.

"Buh-Bye" - Saturday Night Live 

In a Season 19 SNL sketch, David Spade and host Helen Hunt played aggressively sarcastic flight attendants who cannot wait to send off their travelers after landing. The bit was referenced during SNL’s 40th anniversary special, during which Spade and an attendant played by Cecily Strong told Bradley Cooper, Taylor Swift and more “Buh-bye."

"No Touchy" - The Emperor's New Groove

David Spade’s royal Kuzco has a few notable catchphrases from the underrated Disney animated movie, The Emperor’s New Groove, from 2000. None, however, better represent his vainglorious attitude as his repeated demand of people who get too close to him.

"We Didn't Have Any Pudding In There, Buddy" - Black Sheep 

In Black Sheep — which could have been the second of three David Spade and Chris Farley movies if not for the latter’s death — Mike (Farley) gets nearly crushed by a refrigerator and complains that it caused a chocolate pudding spill in his underpants. To make matters worse, Steve (Spade) let him in on some info that suggests it was not pudding that flooded his undergarments.

"Yeah? Who Does Your Acting?" - Saturday Night Live 

Even outside of “Hollywood Minute,” David Spade still finds a way to hilariously poke fun at A-listers like Vin Diesel, much like he does when playing himself in a sketch from his second SNL hosting gig in 2005. While filming an action movie together, the Fast and Furious movies star (played by Horatio Sanz) tells Spade he does his own stunts, leading Spade to share this sharp dig.

"This Is Yzma, The Emperor's Advisor. Living Proof That Dinosaurs Once Roamed The Earth" - The Emperor's New Groove

A Disney villain who deserves her own movie is Yzma, voiced by Eartha Kitt. She's introduced in The Emperor’s New Groove via narration from David Spade’s Kuzco that doesn't paint her in a very flattering light.

"Well, I Should Hope So, Because I'm Laying It On Pretty Thick" - Tommy Boy

David Spade is a master at playing sarcastic characters — none of which are more iconic than Tommy Boy's Richard Hayden. No line of dialogue from the film spells this defining characteristic out more efficiently than his response to a blank-faced gas station attendant who takes a little too long to realize his customer is being facetious with him.

"In: People That Recognize Me From This Show Even Though I've Only Been On Twice. Out: People That Think I'm Dana Carvey" - Saturday Night Live

It's tradition for SNL to poke fun at cast members who struggle to get noticed during their first year, and David Spade was no exception. He even made himself the butt of this kind of joke during one of his “In and Out” segments on “Weekend Update." During it, he points out his resemblance to fellow ‘90s-era SNL star Dana Carvey.

"Hey, Y, Where's MCA?" - Grown-Ups

Of all the comedy all-stars in the Grown-Ups cast, you could argue that David Spade has many of the wittiest lines. An example is when he references The Village People’s immortal disco hit at the expense of Wiley (Steve Buscemi), whose body cast keeps him in “Y” stance.

"Oh, I'm Balding?" - Hotel Transylvania: Transformania 

David Spade returned to join the Hotel Transylvania: Transformania voice cast as the normally invisible Griffin — who, along with his other monster friends, suddenly becomes human after a freak accident. Upon seeing himself for the first time in a while, he discovers he has lost some of his hair.

"In: Lorne Michaels. Out: Kissing Up To Your Boss" - Saturday Night Live

It is always fun to see SNL actors go meta and pay homage to executive producer Lorne Michaels. One notable example occurs during one of David Spade’s “In and Out” segments on “Weekend Update,” in which he uses the bit’s conceit of judging certain topic’s popularity to earn some brownie points with the boss.

"That's Funny, I Didn't Know Athlete Had Three Syllables. A-tha-lete? That's Ama-za-zing" - The Benchwarmers

David Spade stars alongside Rob Schneider and Jon Heder as a trio of nerdy adults who start playing baseball on behalf of bullied children in 2006’s The Benchwarmers. When Richie (Spade) and Clark (Heder) run into one of their childhood bullies who demonstrates his unique way of pronouncing the word “athletes,” Richie comes up with a funny to turn the tables on him. 

"Hi, I'm Earth. Have We Met?" - Tommy Boy 

In Tommy Boy, Richard struggles to book a flight to Chicago with a reservationist who offers him increasingly unhelpful solutions. The final straw is her offer to book him on a flight returning from Chicago, to which he makes a remark that rivals most of his insults at Tommy’s expense. Even better, the airport employee's response is, "I don't think so."

"It Made Me Wanna Throw 'Like A Rock' At Like His Head" - Saturday Night Live 

Once during SNL’s 19th season, David Spade appeared on “Weekend Update” to express his frustration over famous musicians excluding their greatest hits from their concert set lists. One example he uses is when he saw Bob Seger, who did not play “Night Moves,” inspiring a quip that references another one of the rock star’s best-known songs.

"Bring It On" - The Emperor's New Groove

One of the most memorable moments from The Emperor’s New Groove sees David Spade’s Kuzo and Pacha (John Goodman) floating down a river while tied to opposite ends of a tree truck. When they learn they're approaching a huge waterfall, Kuzco decides, after all he has been through so far, to just face it head-on.

"You Should Go To A Spa, And Then Maybe, You Know, Like Canoe Out To An Island And Just Chill, Like If There's One Nearby, Or Far" - The Wrong Missy

In one of David Spade’s best Netflix movies, The Wrong Missy, he plays a businessman who, attempting to invite his dream woman (played by Molly Sims) to a Hawaiian work retreat, accidentally texts a disastrous blind date of the same name (Lauren Lapkus). One of his many attempts to ditch her is this not-so-subtle suggestion to, basically, get lost.

"In: Edward Scissorhands. Out: Edward Rockhands And Edward Paperhands" - Saturday Night Live

David Spade’s “In and Out” segments were always at their best when he used clever puns. For example, this funny reference to one of the best Tim Burton movies, Edward Scissorhands, was a hit at the time.

"Try Starting Out Life As A Maggot. Nobody Wants To Pet A Little Maggot!" - Racing Stripes

In the 2005 talking animal movie, Racing Stripes, Frankie Muniz voices a zebra named Stripes who aspires to be a competitive horse. Upon meeting the down-on-his-luck animal, David Spade’s character, a fly named Scuzz — whose brother, Buzz, is voiced by Steve Harvey — tells Stripes things could be worse, in reference to his own challenging childhood.

"Did Anyone See Scanners?" - Tommy Boy

In a pivotal Tommy Boy scene, Tommy and Richard learn their company is at risk of being shutdown. To emphasize what kind of horrible, mind-boggling pain this news is causing him, Richard seems to borrow a line from one of the best SNL movies, Wayne’s World, and references one of the best David Cronenberg movies, Scanners. The 1981 horror film focuses on a group of telekinetics whose abilities are so powerful they can, literally, cause people’s heads to explode.

"Uh, Would You Mind Ending This Sketch?" - Saturday Night Live 

In a Season 18 SNL sketch, Seinfeld cast member Jason Alexander plays a man who asks for more juice on his gyro, which the guys behind the counter seem to be a little too enthusiastic about. The joke begins to take on a few too many variations and for a little too long until David Spade puts an end to it by going meta.

"It Puts The Joe Dirt In The Hole" - Joe Dirt

The 2001 comedy, Joe Dirt, traces the adventures of the mulleted title character (played by David Spade) as he tries to find his family — one of which leads him right into a The Silence of the Lambs parody. Similar to Catherine Martin in that Best Picture Oscar winner, Joe finds himself held captive in serial killer Buffalo Bob’s pit, where he is referred to as “It” and forced to moisturize regularly. When Bob is arrested, he uses the same rhetoric in hopes to get the authorities’ attention.

"I Know. They're Called Doctors" - Tommy Boy

In Tommy Boy, Tommy (Chris Farley) proudly asks Richard (David Spade) if he heard about his college graduation, which Richard then acknowledges took a bit longer than it does for the average student. When Tommy tries to prove that a seven-year college stay is not out of the ordinary, Richard then, quite rudely, mentions that that most often applies to people of a specific profession that he didn't study for.

"I Don't Think It Will. I Took The Spark Plugs Out" - Grown Ups 

The guys in Grown Ups are shocked to discover that Rob (Rob Schneider) has a daughter named Jasmine (Madison Riley), whom they find to be very attractive and decide to just stick around and observe her mechanical skills. Kurt (Chris Rock) quips that he would rather the car she is working on remain unfixed, to which Marcus (David Spade) assures that it will.

"You Have A Lovely Wife. They're Both Very Pretty" - The Emperor's New Groove

Pacha (John Goodman) takes Kuzco (David Spade) to his home, only to discover that Yzma (Eartha Kitt) and Kronk (Patrick Warburton) are already there looking for him. When he tries to explain the situation to his wife, Chicha (Spade’s Just Shoot Me co-star, Wendie Malick), the emperor-turned-talking-llama suddenly chimes in and a startled Chicha reacts by hitting him in the face with a frying pan. Apparently, that really sent him spiraling based on how he perceives his new friend’s spouse.

“Did I Catch A Niner In There? Were You Calling From A Walkie-Talkie?" - Tommy Boy

We first meet David Spade’s Tommy Boy role, Richard Hayden, when he picks up Chris Farley’s recently graduated title character from the airport and asks why he hadn’t arrived earlier when his dad (played by Brian Dennehy) tried to pick him up. Tommy swears he tried to call his father but, attempting to recall the number, prompts a quip from Richard accusing Tommy of using a different, less efficient communication device.

"This Here’s Rocky, And He Ain't No Puppy" - Joe Dirt

Throughout his crazy journey, Joe Dirt takes on many odd jobs, including an alligator wrangler at one point. He really doesn't need to size up his scaly opponent, Rocky, for the crowd of onlookers as he is already threatening enough. But comparing the beast to a small doggy is pretty funny.

"I Was Just In The Pool! The Water's Cold. Don't Judge Me!" - Hotel Transylvania 

The first installment of the Hotel Transylvania movies shows us what fearsome creatures do in their spare time, such as taking a dip in the pool, which Griffin (David Spade) does right before his werewolf friend, Wayne (Steve Buscemi), pulls his trunks down in front of their peers. Even though such a prank should have no effect on an invisible man like him, he seems very embarrassed by the ordeal, with a reaction that mirrors one of the George Costanza’s funniest moments on Seinfeld.

"What Are The Odds Of Us Actually Hitting A Lake? My Money Says If Anything, It's Gonna Be A Mountain" - Tommy Boy 

Trying to make it to Chicago as quickly as possible, Tommy (Chris Farley) and Richard (David Spade) pose as flight attendants to infiltrate the next available plane, on which they must fake their way through presenting the safety instructions. Tommy demonstrates the tips and precautions while Richard stays back on the intercom and takes the liberty of poking fun at his travel partner and even satirizing the logic behind flight safety itself.

"This Is Nuckin' Futs!" - Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star 

While not one of David Spade’s better reviewed comedies, 2003’s Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star does have its moments of clever pop culture commentary. For instance, we are sure there many ‘70s sitcom stars who are constantly asked to repeat their characters’ famous catchphrases, much like what happens to Dickie anytime he bumps into a fan. In his case, the quote is something the FCC probably approved with much hesitation.

"Why Would Only My Glasses Be Visible?" - Hotel Transylvania: Transformania 

The monster reversal in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania brings about an interesting revelation about David Spade’s character, Griffin, being that he never actually wears any clothes. His response to Murray’s (Keegan-Michael Key) question regarding his nudity may seem a bit pompous, but, then again, his friends probably should have realized his wardrobe was not visible, too, if they could see his glasses.

"Luckily, My Neck Broke My Fall" - Joe Dirt

While working for an oil company, Joe Dirt (David Spade) makes enemies with a co-worker (pro wrestler Tyler Mane), who challenges him to a fight. Obviously — save his opponent catching fire in a peeing accident soon after — it does not end well for our hero, who is dropped into the dirt on his head. However, as he assures the radio host listening to his story, he was able to survive, thanks to his neck.

We also should not forget about David Spade’s sitcom following his SNL exit, Just Shoot Me, on which he stole the show as perverted Blush receptionist, Dennis Finch. He had some pretty good quotes on that hit NBC show, too, as well as in his hilarious Capital One ad campaign. However, his SNL and movies come up in spades for us especially.

Remember that time MacGruber had a Super Bowl commercial? It was all the way back in 2009, and it featured sketch regulars Will Forte and Kristen Wiig, along with the original MacGyver himself Richard Dean Anderson. Some fans loved it. Those out of the loop were mostly confused. Upon further review, it turns out it almost didn’t happen.

Will Forte appeared on Dana Carvey and David Spade’s podcast Fly On The Wall earlier this week (though it was filmed prior to the strike) and the subject of Richard Dean Anderson came up. Carvey has apparently been watching Stargate with his son and asked about Forte working alongside him for the Super Bowl commercial, and apparently there’s a much more complicated story behind it than I realized.

According to Forte, Pepsi originally approached Lorne Michaels and said they’d like to turn one of the recurring sketches into a Super Bowl commercial. The longtime SNL headman went back and said he’d like to do MacGruber, and they said thanks but no thanks. Instead of bailing, however, Michaels and Forte decided to just film the commercials anyway and try to convince Pepsi after they were done. Here’s a portion of his quote…

Forte and company filmed three commercials for the big game. Pepsi liked them enough to move forward with the project, but only one of them ultimately aired during the broadcast. In fact, the company reportedly didn’t decide to air one of them until days before The Super Bowl. The rest of them ultimately ran on Saturday Night Live itself as commercials attached to the show, and they are utterly outrageous. One even features Forte saying Pepsi over and over again with different inflections, sorta like John Malkovich in Being John Malkovich. 

In addition to having a Super Bowl commercial, which must be pretty freaking amazing, one of the highlights for Forte was working with Richard Dean Anderson. He said he couldn’t have been nicer and immediately made it clear he was a big fan of the MacGruber sketches and watched them with his 10 year old daughter, which was prefect then but maybe not as much after the movie came out and got way way raunchier. Here’s what he said…

Early in the interview, Carvey and Spade talked about doing research on Forte ahead of the interview (even though they’d all met thanks to SNL), and they said they came across a website describing Forte’s humor as “bizarre.” They saw it as a compliment, and I couldn’t agree more. No one else is like Will Forte, and if you want a reminder of that, check him out in the recently released Strays, which is, of course bizarre.

Unlike most live-action films, which have a (at least mostly) completed script before cameras ever begin to roll, animated films are usually much more in flux. The “story” part of an animated film is never really done, which has resulted in many animated movies going through big changes from their inception to their completion. It’s not unusual for entire characters to be added or removed from stories, or to see plots go through major overhauls. But few films have gone through quite as many changes as The Emperor’s New Groove, which was so different at the beginning that it's fair to call it an entirely different movie. 

Titles change so often in all kinds of movies. Disney’s Frozen was originally going to be called Anna and the Snow Queen, but despite the fact that Elsa went from being a villain to a misunderstood hero of the movie, the core elements of that movie never really changed. However, The Emperor’s New Groove is a movie that was built from the ashes of a very different film called Kingdom of the Sun. 

Kingdom Of The Sun Was Supposed To Be An Epic Follow Up To The Lion King

The story of The Kingdom of the Sun actually begins following the surprise success of another animated Disney film, The Lion King. That and Pocahontas had been in production around the same time, with the animators divided between the two films. However, Pocahontas was largely seen as the top project, with Disney Studios chief Jeffrey Katzenberg seeing it as the film that might finally win the Best Picture Oscar for an animated movie that Beauty and the Beast had made look possible. The Lion King was then largely made by the "B-team." 

However, the "B-Team" would create something amazing. Pocahontas would struggle and certainly wouldn’t be the awards darling that it was intended to be, while The Lion King would go on to become the highest-grossing animated film ever at the time. This made its director, Roger Allers, something of a star, but it also increased expectations for his next project.

Allers was encouraged to look for a movie idea in South American culture, and he decided to set a movie in the Inca Empire. The hope was that Kingdom would be just as epic a story as Lion King had been. In an attempt to make the music suitably sweeping, Sting was asked to join the project to play a similar role as that of Elton John in Allers’ previous film by handling most of the movie's songs.

What The Kingdom Of The Sun Was About 

While Kingdom of the Sun would use the Inca Empire for its setting in time and place, its plot would be significantly more contemporary. The story was inspired by Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper. In this version, Manco (David Spade) would be an obnoxious and conceited emperor who discovers that he looks identical to a llama herder named Pacha (voiced at the time by Owen Wilson). 

The pair would agree to switch places, but High Priestess Yzma (Eartha Kitt), who wishes to resurrect the shadow god Supai, would discover the deception and attempt to kill Manco, but inadvertently transform him into a llama. Meanwhile, Pacha would attempt to keep up his deception with the help of Huaca, an advisor to the emperor who was a talking stone talisman. Pacha would, of course, be a very different sort of leader, and Manco would learn how to rule by watching what the common man did.

Kingdom of the Sun would also include at least one love story. Nina would be the bride-to-be for Manco, but neither one had any particular interest in the other. He was only marrying because he was required to do so as emperor, and she had no choice once he chose her. Pacha, however, would fall in love with Nina, and as the two became closer during Pacha’s impersonation, the feelings would begin to be reciprocated. A later iteration of the story would also include a llama herder named Mata, whom Manco would fall in love with while in his llama form.

As that description makes clear, there was a lot going on in Kingdom of the Sun. This was one of the film’s major problems. Upper-level executives like producer Thomas Schumacher and Walt Disney Feature Animation President Peter Schneider felt the characters were too hard to follow, the tone and pacing didn’t work, and the movie was too similar to countless versions of The Prince and the Pauper that had been made before, including one starring Mickey Mouse only a few years previously. 

How Kingdom Of The Sun Became The Emperor's New Groove 

Two years after production had begun, Mark Dindal was brought in to act as co-director on Kingdom of the Sun in the hopes that he could fill in the gaps and bring the project into better focus.  Unfortunately, Dindal’s style tended to drift more towards comedy than Allers’ epic musical drama, so that didn’t really work out. 

It was decided by 1998 that the movie was likely not going to make its summer 2000 release date. Allers didn’t actually disagree with this assessment, but felt that with an additional year, he would be able to make it all work. Disney refused to give him any more time, and in frustration, Allers quit the project entirely.

At this point, Kingdom of the Sun went dormant, with most of the animators going to work on other projects, including Fantasia 2000. When work resumed under Dindal as the sole director, the movie had shifted from Allers' epic drama to more of a buddy comedy. With the new title The Emperor’s New Groove, the story had been trimmed down, with fewer major characters and a much simpler plot.

With the change in story came several other significant changes. Pacha was no longer a dead ringer for the young Kuzco. Instead, he was an older father figure, and this change in character would necessitate a change in voice actor, resulting in Owen Wilson being replaced by John Goodman.

The movie was also no longer a musical, which meant Sting’s music would be removed from the film. While a few of the songs would still be included on The Emperor’s New Groove soundtrack album, the only Sting songs in the final version of the film would be "Perfect World," sung by Tom Jones in the film's opening, and “My Funny Friend and Me,” which is sung by Sting himself over the closing credits.  

The Legacy Of The Emperor's New Groove

Ironically, the attempted production of one movie we'll never see also led to the creation of another movie you've probably never seen. As part of Sting's deal to write songs for Kingdom of the Sun, his wife, Trudy Styler, produced a documentary film made up of interviews from the chaotic production. The Sweatbox was produced in 2002, and while it was shown in a few private screenings, the film has never been officially released.

In the end, The Emperor's New Groove would make it to theaters in December 2000, only a few months later than originally planned, which a pretty impressive feat all things considered. Still, the movie would largely fail to impress audiences and would be seen as a failure at the box office. However, in retrospect, while The Emperor's New Groove certainly isn't the best Disney animated movie, it has achieved a sort of cult status as it is recognized for its uniqueness as one of Disney's great underrated movies. The buddy comedy formula is one we hadn't seen from Disney before this, and we really haven't seen it since. 

But one certainly has to wonder what Kingdom of the Sun could have been. An epic, dramatic story set in the Inca Empire with the music of Sting sounds, on paper, like an absolutely fascinating movie, it's one that a lot of people would love to see. It's a shame that in order to get one of Disney's most unique animated features, we had to sacrifice another one. 

“Cancel culture” may have started out with the intention of ensuring that people were held accountable for offensive actions or behavior, but the practice of “canceling” someone has always been a controversial one. This has seemingly been particularly true for celebrities, many of whom have lost jobs and income as a result of such displays of public outcry. Despite if or how they’ve been affected by cancel culture, a number of famous faces, including Kevin Hart, Kim Kardashian, Lizzo and Johnny Depp have used their respective platforms to share their views on the phenomenon.

While social media has been a huge tool for putting certain behaviors on display in the court of public opinion, it’s also been helpful in continuing the dialogue about what we’re trying to accomplish in doing so. Over the years, the effectiveness of “canceling” people has often been called into question, and everyone’s got an opinion about what cancel culture means in regards to free speech and censorship. Celebrities in all corners of the entertainment world have spoken out, so let’s take a look at what some of them have said about cancel culture.

Lizzo

Lizzo seemingly needed no reason to speak her mind on cancel culture early in 2023. The self-love-promoting singer took to Twitter to share why she thinks the practice has become “misused and misdirected.” Her full statement: 

Many of the commenters agreed, saying the focus should be put back on accountability. 

Joe Rogan

It wasn’t just Joe Rogan who experienced backlash in February 2022, but Spotify as well, when the UFC commentator and TV personality was accused of spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and the vaccine, as well as using a racial slur in multiple episodes of his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience. Rogan said the efforts to cancel him backfired, telling British pundit Douglas Murray (per the NY Post): 

Spotify does not disclose its podcasts’ subscriber numbers but THR sources said Joe Rogan’s show has had steadily increasing numbers but didn’t spike due to any one event. 

Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart spoke about cancel culture in 2021, noting how he thinks things have gone too far, but he agrees that there should be consequences to people who inflict real damage. In his words: 

The Hart to Heart host was the subject of controversy in 2018, when old tweets resurfaced with homophobic language, causing Kevin Hart to step down as host of the 2019 Academy Awards. When he spoke on the subject in 2021, he said people need to be allowed to learn from their mistakes. He continued: 

The assertion that people aren't going to be perfect and need to be allowed to make mistakes seems to be one commonly made.

David Spade

Famed Saturday Night Live comedian David Spade opened up in 2022 about his thoughts on comedy in the age of cancel culture, saying: 

David Spade admitted he’s not typically one who “starts a lot of shit” with his own comedy. 

Ricky Gervais

British comedian Ricky Gervais shared a similar opinion back in a 2020 interview with Metro. As a comedian who does stir the pot a bit more, it's no surprise he's commented on the phenomenon, noting that everyone has a different idea of what cancel culture means, and some people take it too far. The Office star said:  

He said everyone doesn’t have to agree with everyone else, but people who think others don’t have the right to say something they don’t agree with are opposing free speech. 

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against Amber Heard was one of the biggest pop culture moments of 2022, and in the midst of his legal battle, he issued a warning about cancel culture, saying: 

Johnny Depp was forced to step down from the Fantastic Beasts franchise amongst abuse accusations in the years-long legal battle with his ex-wife. 

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian has had her share of scandals over the years, but in 2021 she called cancel culture “ridiculous,” telling the podcast Honesty (per People): 

She went on to say that if we cancel someone for past behavior, we’re “not inviting them into the conversation to really understand.” 

Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone didn’t mince words when discussing cancel culture on the Just Jenny podcast in 2021. She called it the “stupidest thing I have ever seen,” pointing out that we can all grow from listening to different perspectives. The actress said: 

She further implored people to “stop being so small” and “grow some empathy.” 

Megan Fox

Megan Fox has spoken about being “objectified” in certain jobs during her career, but when fans went after director Michael Bay in 2020, the actress defended the Transformers director and publicly stated her distaste for canceling people: 

The actress appeared to note her fans’ good intentions, but didn’t want the director to face consequences for something he didn’t do. 

Bryan Cranston

In January 2021, Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston appealed for more forgiveness in the world and less canceling, telling the AP: 

He implored people to remember that asking for forgiveness is a human strength, not a weakness. 

Rowan Atkinson

Mr. Bean actor Rowan Atkinson blamed social media for today’s society of “us vs. them” mentality, telling the Radio Times (via Deadline) in 2021: 

He said that thought fills him with fear about the future. 

Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin shared his thoughts on cancel culture in a lengthy video on Instagram, saying the situation was getting out of hand. While he admitted there are people who deserve to be punished, we shouldn’t punish everyone the same way, pointing out that “even the criminal justice system recognizes that.” He continued: 

He seemed to fall in line with a number of other celebrities who said people who get “canceled” don’t deserve to have their whole lives ruined. 

Kelly Osbourne

Kelly Osbourne shared her 2 cents on the phenomenon in 2021, after her mother Sharon Osbourne parted ways with The Talk following allegations of racism. Kelly said: 

Ozzy Osbourne’s younger daughter pointed out that nobody feels like they can make a mistake because of what the online chatter might do to their careers and lives. 

Phillipa Soo

Rather than expressing her opinion about cancel culture, Hamilton actress Phillipa Soo shared her advice for those who have been “canceled,” imploring them to listen to what is being said and learn from the experience. She said on Twitter: 

In the opinion of many celebrities, it seems cancel culture may not be achieving the desired outcome in holding people accountable for offensive actions and statements. Hopefully we can continue figuring out the appropriate action to take to effect real change, and it seems many celebrities think that listening to each other and acknowledging that people make mistakes is one step in the right direction. 

Jennifer Aniston loves the holiday season and loves her friends (pun intended). She regularly hosts dinners and parties with some of her A-list pals, and even starred in Office Christmas Party to celebrate Christmastime in 2016. This year, she celebrated the holidays by sharing some of her festive Christmas decorations, including a massive tree. Additionally, Aniston hosted a big holiday bash with some of her very best friends, including stars like Sandra Bullock and Courteney Cox. 

This past week, Aniston posted some adorable photos of her festive decor for the holidays. She picked out her tree and an adorable reindeer made out of tree bark. She also shared some cute photos of the reindeer with her dogs, who also seem to be celebrating. You can see her sweet Instagram post below:

In addition, the Morning Show star hosted a star-studded Christmas blast to honor the season. It took place at her Bel-Air home and welcomed several of her best Hollywood friends. Along with Cox and Bullock, Jason Bateman, Tobey Maguire, David Spade, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Bradley Cooper were also in attendance. There was also allegedly a no-cell-phone policy, so you are unlikely to see many social media posts honoring the event (via Page Six). I think this is a great idea at any party, and allows friends to catch up and live in the moment.

While there may be no pics from the party, the holiday decor gives fans insight into what the gathering may have looked like. The Christmas tree is essential for setting the holiday vibe at such a soiree, and I hope the dogs were able to participate in all of the merry entertainment as well, as they look perfectly party ready. 

I’m sure Jennifer Aniston received some help planning such an event, as the actress has been plenty busy with a slew of many upcoming projects down the pike. While we are still patiently waiting for Season 3 of the hit Apple TV+ series The Morning Show, Aniston has been working on two movies. The Friends alum recently wrapped filming Murder Mystery 2 for Netflix alongside longtime collaborator Adam Sandler. She is also attached to star in Hail Mary, which is about a former beauty queen who becomes a sports manager. Aniston clearly has a lot going on, but I’m glad she took the time to celebrate the year with her friends. 

You can catch Jennifer Aniston in the latest season of The Morning Show streaming now with an Apple TV+ subscription. For those looking for some raunchy holiday cheer, you can also see Aniston in Office Christmas Party, which is available to rent on Amazon Instant Video. For more information on where to watch Christmas favorites, make sure to check out our 2022 Christmas movie schedule.

Adam Sandler is known for his silly tunes, and hilarious jokes during his live shows, but the moment that always brings the house down, according to the SNL alum, is when he sings his tribute to his friend Chris Farley. While he likes singing the song, he also opened up about how hard it still is to play even though he’s done it so many times. 

While on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, Sandler talked about his funny Gotham speech where he roasted Timothée Chalamet, how he and his costars dealt with tough reviews, and he reflected on his relationship with Farley, as well as how hard it is for him to sing his song about the Tommy Boy star. 

I think it makes perfect sense why Sandler would get so emotional every time. The tune is somber and the comedian doesn’t hold back from candidly singing about Farley’s death. He references the tragic parallels between his friend and John Belushi, including their deaths, however, he also talks about just how gifted Farley was as a comedian. Going through his friend’s life, and his untimely death must be an emotional task, and Sandler noted that it is, explaining: 

I’d imagine the song, while hard to sing, must be a cathartic experience too. Sandler did talk about how nice it is to hear the crowd react to his tribute to the iconic SNL alum, saying: 

In the video of Sandler singing the song in his Netflix special from 2018 you can see just how into it the crowd gets, and at the end it gets a standing ovation, check it out: 

After talking about how the crowd loves the song, Sandler mentioned that David Spade was on tour with him for a few shows. He said when that song came on Farley's Tommy Boy co-star would have to walk away for a minute because it was hard to listen to. Spade has been open about his success with Farley in the Tommy Boy movies as well as their friendship.  

Along with Spade and Sandler, many other actors and comedians have spoken about the impact Farley had on their lives. Jim Carrey once posted a tribute to Farley, explaining that he believes in angels along with a photo of the two comedians. Farley's brother, Kevin Farley included stories about Chris in his stand-up set that was both touching and hilarious. 

All this love really proves the final words Sandler said about Chris Farley in his interview: 

I love that Sandler sings about Farley in his live shows all the time, and I hope that if he returns to host SNL again he’ll be able to pay tribute to his friend -- like he did during Season 44 when he performed the song. I’d assume since Sandler’s movie Hustle (which can be watched with a Netflix subscription) is a notable entry on the 2022 movie schedule we’ll see him back on the SNL stage soon. However, for now it’s wonderful to hear the stories about his time on the iconic sketch show, and his friendship with Chris Farley. 

Fred Armisen’s silly accent and actions from the over-the-top soap opera sketch the Californians is something that lives rent-free in my head, specifically him saying “What are you doing here?” whenever the week's guest shows up. It turns out this outlandish accent has surprising origins, as Armisen revealed he was inspired by SNL alum Dana Carvey’s son.

In the sketches, Armisen leads an ensemble of silly characters who talk almost exclusively about driving in Los Angeles (because it’s notoriously difficult to drive in Southern California). Armisen’s character Stuart fumbles over his words, speaks with an outlandish Valley accent, and is overall a very goofy character. While chatting with Dana Carvey and David Spade on the podcast Fly on the Wall the comedian revealed who helped inspire the character, saying: 

He went on to say that the way his character talks is based on Carvey’s impression of his son. The comedian behind the Church Lady went on to do the impression of his kids in a funny Valley accent on the podcast, and it became clear how this all helped inspire the iconic Californians sketch. 

It’s hilarious that Carvey’s kid helped inspire this character for a few reasons. One: it’s fun to know that this goofy bit is based on a real person, and two: this adds to the list of characters that Carvey’s family has inspired. It’s famously known that the Wayne’s World actor based his character Garth on his older brother Brad. Also, Mike Myers has opened up about how Carvey indirectly inspired Austin Powers. So, not only is Carvey a beloved Saturday Night Live alum, but he’s also inspired multiple classic characters over the years. 

During Armisen’s tenure on SNL, the Californians was a popular recurring bit, many of the sketches have over 2 million views on YouTube, with some that have more than 7 million. Big stars have also played ridiculous characters in this sketch, including Mick Jagger, Josh Brolin and Justin Bieber. You can check out this hilarious classic sketch here: 

Both Armisen and Carvey are some of the best in the business in my opinion, and it’s fun to learn about how the younger comedian was inspired by the ‘90s SNL alum. 

While Armisen left SNL back in 2013, he’s gone on to have a wildly successful career in comedy. You can catch the actor all over the 2022 TV schedule in shows like Big Mouth and Documentary Now! He’ll also appear as Uncle Fester in Wednesday, which can be watched with a Netflix subscription on November 23. Armisen will also make an appearance on the 2023 movie schedule in The Super Mario Bros. Movie as Cranky Kong. As for SNL, you can catch watch Season 48 of the show on Saturdays at 11:30 ET on NBC or you can stream it with a Peacock subscription. 

From Donald Trump to Barak Obama all the way back to Gerald Ford, Saturday Night Live is well known for its political impressions. In the latest presidential administration, we’ve seen many do their Joe Biden impression (Jim Carrey, Woody Harrelson and James Austin Johnson to name a few), but Maya Rudolph has been the one always playing the first woman to be vice president, Kamala Harris.  

Over the years some of these comedians have met the political leaders they play. Rudolph thought she never would because she played Harris during the height of COVID. However, she recently got to meet the vice president, and spoke with David Spade and Dana Carvey about it on their podcast Fly on the Wall.  

Rudolph explained that her impression is based in joy and how much she admires Harris. You can tell this is true. She’s clearly having a blast up on stage, dancing with Lysol cans in her hands during a Vice Presidential debate sketch. Earlier in the year, she used her screen time during a Presidential debate sketch to “have fun and get some viral moments” out of her facial expressions because she is the “funt,” America’s fun aunt.

Spade and Carvey gushed over her impression during the interview. Carvey, who impersonated George H.W. Bush back in the day, told her that because he could tell how much fun she was having doing the impression, it made him want to watch her more. Maya Rudolph responded to that compliment by saying her impressions feel like playing dress-up when as a kid. 

In fact, she wants to play pretend as these people and embody their confidence, noting her Kamala Harris impression reminded her of her Beyoncé impression in this sense.  This admiration for these women is what fills her impersonations with joy, which Rudolph explained when she met the Vice President. 

While Rudolph has said she wasn’t ready to return to SNL, it sure has paid off. Her impression of Harris has been popular among audiences. For example, in the cold open before the election she stole the show, getting tons of attention on social media for her portrayal of the VP. 

While we know SNL regulars like Kate McKinnon and Pete Davidson have decided to leave the show, hopefully, Maya Rudolph will return to Studio 8H to play the Vice President. It’s entirely possible considering Harris will be in office until 2024… and will likely be a part of the upcoming election season. But, for now, go enjoy all the goodness that is Rudolph’s TV shows and movies and be sure to check out the Fall 2022 TV schedule for updates on when Saturday Night Live will return for its 48th season. 

As a close friend and former SNL co-star of Chris Rock, a stand-up comedian with plenty of crowd interaction experience and a former awards show host, David Spade is in a unique position to speak on the Will Smith slap at the Oscars. He defended his buddy in the aftermath of the original assault, and now, he’s offered up some additional, extremely thoughtful comments about what happened and how much comedy has changed.

Appearing as a guest on Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson, David Spade was asked about his views on doing comedy in the age of cancel culture. He said he’s not typically one who “starts a lot of shit” in his stand-up, but he pointed to guys like Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle and Bill Burr who really push the boundaries. According to him, that was “really the idea” when he first started doing comedy. You wanted “to push it a little bit” to get people laughing, but nowadays, some people want to tear comedians down if they’re offended when most of the time “there’s no malice” behind the joke. Here’s a portion of his thoughts…

Obviously, his answer is speaking broadly about society and how much people and perceptions have changed since he first started doing stand-up in the 1980s, but it’s also addressing what happened with Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars because he didn’t like his joke about his wife too. That came up broadly and more directly during the podcast conversation. Spade said he likes how quiet Rock has been about the whole thing and said he thinks he doesn’t want to talk about it much publicly because he doesn’t want to feel like he’s “ratting someone out.” 

Of course it wouldn’t be a conversation about cancel culture, however, without Spade pushing the envelope himself and making a risky joke too. During the chat, the longtime actor mused that it would really “help” Rock if there was a more famous slapping incident. He singled out The Royal Family as a possible option…

As of press time, there haven’t yet been any other high profile slaps to deflect some of the heat off Chris Rock. The Queen’s Jubilee went off without any major hitches, or at least any high-profile acts of violence among the Royals. Thankfully for Rock, however, the chaos seems to be dying down, and now that Smith officially apologized on record, it may slowly fade away until it’s simply one of a thousand wild Hollywood stories that gets referenced now and again.

Saturday Night Live’s recent season finale saw Pete Davidson leave the show alongside other cast members like Kate McKinnon. These departures came after months of speculation, which especially swirled around Davidson. What's still interesting, however, is the lengthy stints the stars had on the show. SNL tenures were arguably shorter back in the day, just ask series alum David Spade. Following the most recent exits, Spade explained why it’s wild that people like Davidson stay for eight or more years.

During SNL’s 1990s rebirth, the Just Shoot Me actor, along with Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Chris Farley, and other players didn't stay at 30 Rockefeller Plaza too long. David Spade stayed with the sketch series for six years before his film and TV career took off. That was the usual trajectory for most Saturday Night Live alums. But in recent times, viewers have seen cast members stay much longer. When speaking to TMZ, Spade admitted that he wouldn't have been able to stick around too long:

He’s correct to a certain extent. Watching any SNL sketch is like seeing a theatrical performance in real-time. There are so many moving parts, from cast members pitching and writing their own material to them later having to nail their lines without breaking character.  And then, of course, all of this is done before a live studio audience, which can be daunting on its own. So yeah, there's a lot that comes with the gig.

Aside from the work itself, many also tend to leave due to offers brought upon by one's rising star status. In the '90s and 2000s, cast members would head to the sitcom realm (like David Spade) and many would also start venturing into film. The same thing happens even now, as we've seen of late. And with this increase in opportunities, one is forced to make a decision: either stay put on the NBC sketch series or venture into the next phase of one's career.

But SNL’s culture has shifted, as more cast members are indeed staying longer. The show’s longest-running cast member, Kenan Thompson, has even reached a major milestone with his historic tenure. And even he, like Kate McKinnon and Pete Davidson, has had other career obligations throughout the past several years. 

It's clear that the series has become more flexible when it comes to letting its stars branch out, which could be one reason why so many decide to stay on so long now. Still, it's inevitable that stars will leave, which can be bittersweet. But thankfully, many past alumni like Maya Rudolph return (and end up stealing the show). 

Regardless of how long stars like David Spade or Pete Davidson stay though, you needn't worry, because SNL will always have a stream of steady stream of performers walking through its doors. And I'm curious to see who comes in this coming season to succeed the actors who've just departed. 

While you wait for Saturday Night Live to return, check out CinemaBlend's 2022 TV schedule for info on what's coming your way this year.

Years after Chris Farley’s sudden death, generations continue to discover and watch cult classics like Black Sheep and Tommy Boy. The one thing viewers still cite is the amazing chemistry between Farley and his Saturday Night Live castmate and friend David Spade. Their off-screen friendship made the funny guy-straight man dynamic sweet and enduring. More than three decades after those movies were released, Spade reminisced about their Hollywood success and how close they were to collaborate on a third movie.

Their onscreen pairings allowed the late comedian to play the goofball while the David Spade played the snarky underling in charge of him. They fell right in place in those two movies, building on their SNL personas.

Spade opened up about his time with the late comedic actor to Esquire. He recalled meeting the comedian along with fellow SNL castmates Adam Sandler and Chris Rock on their first day at the late-night institution. The actor remembered the two actors hitting it off immediately, laughing and goofing around. He emphasized Chris Farley got every joke – high-brow or not – as the four actors shared a small office. Upon being asked about their work together, the comedian broke down why their films were so successful during the mid-1990s.

It's sweet that David Spade still has his coat from the cult classic. All I can think about is Farley swinging his arms in Spade’s jacket saying, “Fat guy in a little coat.” The fact that they were thinking of re-teaming again was a missed opportunity. It‘s bittersweet to think about the direction the duo would’ve gone in for the film. Unfortunately, the comedic actor’s career was extinguished before the duo could reunite on the big screen. At least, the Emperor’s New Groove actor can look at the late comedian’s coat to remember their friendship and movie partnership.

The comedian’s final run-in with the late actor recalled the last time fellow SNL alum Chris Rock saw Chris Farley before his death. As the late comedian was battling substance abuse, Rock felt after touring the Tommy Boy actor’s apartment that it would be the last time seeing his friend alive. Though both stories were heartbreaking, the comedy icon’s legacy has continued to live on through yearly tributes from his family and friends as well as recollections from SNL star Kenan Thompson and Dune’s Timothee Chalamet.

If you want to love Chris Farley even more, check out these cool behind-the-scenes facts. In the meantime, get your fill of Farley’s onscreen antics by watching Black Sheep and Tommy Boy through an Amazon Prime subscription.

David Spade has been trying some new things as of late. Those who are deep into the reality TV world are probably aware that he was tapped as one of the Bachelor in Paradise hosts last summer. The producers were convinced that Spade would be a perfect host for Season 7, and his work was mostly well received. But the entertainer is best known for being a comedian, and it’s been a little while since he last released a comedy special. Well, worry not Spade fans, because the star has announced a new project with Netflix and even managed to slip a sweet SNL reference into the announcement video. 

Over the course of his six years on Saturday Night Live, David Spade wrote and starred in a number of notable sketches and played some memorable characters. Gap Girl Christy Henderson, Karl of Karl’s Video and even Dick Clark’s receptionist are among the roles he played. Of course, there’s also the rude stewardess of “Total Bastard Airlines,” who Spade perfectly referenced while announcing his upcoming special, Nothing Personal. Check out the fun nod in the Twitter post down below:

The “Total Bastard Airlines” sketch revolved around a fictional airline filled with employees who were bitter about their professional and personal lives. With this, the workers would (humorously) take out their frustrations on their passengers. The Joe Dirt star’s stewardess (who worked alongside one played by guest host Helen Hunt) would dismiss those departing his plane with a sarcastic “Buh-bye.” Take a look at the original 1994 sketch down below: 

The comedian’s nod to his work on the iconic NBC show is cool, and longtime viewers are sure to appreciate it. Those who are fans of David Spade in general are also probably thrilled to know that he has new material on the way. As Spade mentioned in the video, this will mark his first stand-up comedy special for Netflix. That’s honestly surprising, especially considering that so many of his comedic contemporaries have already done them for the streamer. For example, his old SNL co-star and Zoom hangout buddy, Adam Sandler, released a special of his own back in 2018. Such a project is long overdue for Spade, but better late than never, right?

It’s important to note that this won’t be the Tommy Boy star’s first-ever collaboration with the massive streaming company. He previously starred as the lead in 2020’s The Wrong Missy, which was coincidentally produced by Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions. David Spade has said that he found the movie “tricky” to work on due to having to play off the wild energy of co-stars Lauren Lapkus and Nick Swardson. But their collective efforts were successful, as the movie trended at #1 on the platform, prompting Spade to thank fans who checked it out using their Netflix subscriptions. 

The comedian may be known for his sarcastic persona, but his appreciation for his career and his fans are also reasons why he’s been embraced by audiences for so long. It’ll be fun to see how he’s “crammed every joke” he has into his latest production. And if we’re lucky, maybe he adds one or two other SNL references in as well. 

You can see David Spade throw down in Nothing Personal when it makes its Netflix debut on April 26th.

There are some movies that I grew up watching and loving more and more each time I saw it. While Grown Ups wasn’t the best received Adam Sandler movie, it was one of my favorites for the sheer hilarity it offered, as well as the fun cast that it gathered to portray this funny group of friends. 

Speaking of the cast, with this movie being nearly twelve years old now (I know, I can’t believe it either), where exactly is the cast of Grown Ups now? From Adam Sandler to Salma Hayek, everyone has had their own projects and big films, while also returning to do movies and films together. Here is what the cast of Grown Ups is doing now.  

Adam Sandler (Lenny Feder)

Starting off with the main star of Grown Ups, we have Adam Sandler, who portrayed Lenny Feder. And unsurprisingly, Sandler has been up to his teeth in movies. 

For one, he was the main star of the Hotel Transylvania series, up until the 2022 movie, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. Besides his fun voice-acting skills, he’s appeared in several movies, most of which he also produced. This includes, but is not limited to Grown Ups 2, Pixels, The Ridiculousness 6, Hubie Halloween and more.  He’s also had two movie that he’s co-starred with Jennifer Aniston with, Just Go With It and Murder Mystery, which is receiving a sequel on Netflix soon. 

In addition to his numerous comedies, Adam Sandler starred in the 2019 crime thriller Uncut Gems from Josh and Benny Safdie. 

Sandler has also popped up in several TV shows, such as Kevin Can Wait, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and he guest starred on Jessie with his late Grown Ups on-screen son, Cameron Boyce.

Coming up, he has a number of movies lined up, including Murder Mystery 2,  Spaceman and Hustle.

Kevin James (Eric Lamonsoff)

Next up, we have Kevin James, who played Eric Lamansoff in Grown Ups. James has appeared in many movies, like Grown Ups 2, Zookeeper, Pixels, the Paul Blart: Mall Cop series, Sandy Wexler, Hubie Halloween and more. James also received a starring role in the Hotel Transylvania series alongside Adam Sandler. 

On television, James has had many guest roles, but two of his biggest projects were his own sitcom, titled Kevin Can Wait, as well the comedy series, The Crew. Coming up, James is going to appear in Home Team, which is being produced by Adam Sandler. 

Chris Rock (Kurt McKenzie)

Another hilarious comedian, Chris Rock played Kurt McKenzie in Grown Ups, and has been quite active in the movie industry. He has appeared in a variety of genres, showcasing his acting skills. Since the family film he's been in Grown Ups 2, What To Expect When You’re Expecting, the Madagascar series, Top Five, the Eddie Murphy-led film, Dolemite Is My Name, the 2021 horror film, Spiral: The Book of Saw, and more. 

In television, he’s guest starred on many shows, as has many of his co-stars, but one of his most notable TV roles in recent years was playing Loy Cannon on the FX series, Fargo. Rock has also had a comedy special on Netflix, titled Chris Rock: Tamborine that you should check out. 

Coming up, he’s going to be appearing in three new projects, two with titles, Rustin and I Am Maurice, and one untitled David O. Russell project, although there hasn’t been any new news about that since January 2021. 

David Spade (Marcus Higgins)

Moving on, we have former SNL star David Spade, who played Marcus Higgins in Grown Ups. Since his appearance, Spade has been active in both movies and TV. Some of his biggest roles in recent years have been appearing in the Hotel Transylvania series, Grown Ups 2, The Ridiculous 6, Sandy Wexler, Father of the Year and more. 

With television, Spade has had roles in many shows as a recurring character, including Fameless, Roadies, Rules of Engagement and more. Spade also hosted his own talk show called Lights Out with David Spade, as well as appeared several times as himself in many shows. He’s going to be in a new HBO series, but not much else is known about that just yet. 

Rob Schneider (Rob Hilliard)

Another former SNL star, Rob Schneider played Rob Hilliard in Grown Ups, and while he didn’t appear in the sequel like many of his other co-stars, he still continued to have a very successful career since the family film. With movies, he’s appeared in films such as The Outback, Wings, The Ridiculous 6, Norm of the North, Sandy Wexler, Hubie Halloween and more. 

Schneider has also been active in television, appearing in many shows such as the sitcom series, Rob, in which he starred, Real Rob, another sitcom series in which he starred, and several guest roles. He also competed on The Masked Singer in 2021. Soon, he’s also going to be making an appearance in Home Team. I’m starting to see a trend here. 

Salma Hayek (Roxanne Chase-Feder)

I think out of all the on-screen love interests Adam Sandler has had in his movies, Salma Hayek from Grown Ups, who played Roxanne, is one of my favorites thanks to her amazing personality that she adds to the movie. Since her role in Grown Ups, Hayek has continued to have a very successful career. 

She’s had roles in movies like Grown Ups 2, Here Comes the Boom, Everly, The Hitman’s Bodyguard as well as its sequel in 2021, Like A Boss, and was a part of both the Eternals cast and the House of Gucci cast, in addition to other movies. Hayek has also had some fun with television as well, with two recurring guest-star roles on both Ugly Betty and 30 Rock. 

The actress doesn’t seem to have anything coming up just yet, but I can’t wait to see what else she does after her stellar year in 2021 with both Eternals and House of Gucci. 

Maria Bello (Sally Lamonsoff)

Moving on, we have Maria Bello, who portrayed Sally Lamansoff in Grown Ups, the wife of Kevin James’ character. Since her role in the family comedy, Bello has continued to have quite the career in both movies and TV. 

In film, she’s has big roles in films like Grown Ups 2, Beautiful Boy, Abduction, McFarland USA, Prisoners alongside the lead actor, Hugh Jackman, The 5th Wave, Max Steel, Every Day, Better Start Running, The Water Man and more. Television is where Bello has shined even more. She’s had several recurring roles in shows like Touch, Prime Suspect, and Goliath, but her biggest role so far was playing Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane in NCIS, a role she left in 2021. 

Maya Rudolph (Deanne McKenzie)

Next up, SNL alum Maya Rudolph played Deanne McKenzie, the wife of Chris Rock’s character, in Grown Ups. And since her appearance in the movie, Rudolph has had quite the career. Not long after Grown Ups did she star in the Bridesmaids cast, another comedy that blew up, and she only continued to grow afterwards. 

She’s appeared in many films, including Grown Ups 2, Big Hero 6, Wine Country, The Willoughbys, Life of the Party, the Angry Birds franchise, Hubie Halloween and more. She was also a part of the Luca cast, the Mitchells vs. the Machines cast, and the Licorice Pizza cast all in 2021 - talk about a packed year. 

Rudolph has also had success in television. She’s had recurring and main roles in shows such as Up All Night, Portlandia, The Awesomes, The Good Place, Forever and more, as well as being a part of the adult animated series, Big Mouth on Netflix and having her own baking show, called Baking It. Coming up, she will be in the new Disenchanted movie, as well the Big Mouth spinoff TV series, Human Resources. 

Joyce Van Patten (Gloria Noonan)

The next cast member to talk about is Joyce Van Patten, who played Gloria Noonan in Grown Ups. Since her role in the movie, Patten has appeared in films such as Angel’s Perch, God’s Pocket and more. She’s also guest starred in several television shows like The Good Wife and Boardwalk Empire. 

Patten doesn’t have anything in the works right now, but hopefully it won’t be long before we see her on our TV or movie screens again. 

Colin Quinn (Dickie Bailey)

Next up, we have Dickie Bailey, who was played by Colin Quinn. The SNL alum has been active both in the acting world and in the writing world, having roles in both TV and film, as well as working behind the scenes. 

As an actor, Quinn has popped up in roles in movies like Grown Ups 2, Trainwreck, Sandy Wexler, Hubie Halloween and others. He’s also been active in television, having recurring roles in shows like Girls, The Awesomes, Inside Amy Schumer, and more. 

Quinn has also been very active in comedy and writing. In 2015 and 2020, he wrote two biographies titled The Coloring Book: A Comedian Solves Race Relations in America and Overstated: A Coast-to-Coast Roast of the 50 States. He’s also had several comedy specials on Netflix and HBO, and has gone on tour for his stand-up.

Steve Buscemi (Wiley)

Steve Buscemi, while he wasn’t in the film for long, had an impactful part as Wiley in Grown Ups, and has continued to succeed in Hollywood, both on the big screen and the small screen.

As well as appearing in Grown Ups 2, Buscemi has appeared in many movies such as the Pixar movie, Monsters University, On the Road, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, the Hotel Transylvania series, The Ridiculous 6, The Boss Baby, The Death of Stalin, The Dead Don’t Die, The King of Staten Island and more. 

Buscemi has also had an active career in television. Besides appearing on several TV shows, like 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Buscemi has had leading roles in both Boardwalk Empire and Miracle Workers. He also hosted his own talk show called Park Bench with Steve Buscemi. Coming up, he’s going to be appearing in a new movie titled The Year Between. 

Tim Meadows (Malcolm)

Last but not least, we have another former SNL star, Tim Meadows, who played Malcolm in Grown Ups. Since his appearance in the movie, Meadows has appeared in both film and television. With movies, he had roles in Grown Ups 2, Trainwreck, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, Hubie Halloween and a couple of other independent movies. 

In television, he had many recurring roles including The Colbert Report, Suburgatory, Bob’s Burgers, The Goldbergs, No Activity and more. He’s also had lead roles in shows such as Son of Zorn, Marry Me and Schooled (which was a spinoff of The Goldbergs). Coming up, he’s going to appear in a new film titled Saurus City as a voice actor, so keep an eye out for him. 

With so many talented actors, it’s no wonder they went on to succeed so well. I for one can’t wait for Home Team to come out as part of the 2022 movies so I can see a lot of them together again. Or watch any of their awesome movies or shows.  

After what seems like an eternity spent locked up in a spooky castle, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania has finally premiered (on Amazon after skipping a theatrical release), kicking off the next chapter in the beloved animated franchise from Sony Pictures Animation. And, even though Adam Sandler didn’t return as Hotel Transylvania founder Count “Drac” Dracula, several longtime members of the series are back, along with some new additions.

So, after watching the movie for yourself, there’s a good chance you’re wondering where you’ve seen (or heard) the Hotel Transylvania: Transformania cast before and why some of those monstrous characters sound so familiar. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Just check in and we’ll get started on this wild and crazy bunch of monsters-turned-humans.

Andy Samberg (Jonathan “Johnny” Loughran)

Back again as Jonathan “Johnny” Loughran in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is Andy Samberg, who has been part of the franchise since it first opened back in 2012. One of the biggest Saturday Night Live stars of the past couple of decades, Samberg has managed to find success with various film and television projects, as well as having a successful music career.

Whether he’s showing up in movies like the delightful time-loop romantic comedy Palm Springs, leading the acclaimed comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or releasing hit albums with his comedy troupe The Lonely Island, there isn’t much Andy Samberg can’t do. And, with that Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers reboot in the works over at Disney+, we’ll be seeing (or hearing) a lot more of him in the near future.

Selena Gomez (Mavis Dracula)

Selena Gomez is also back in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania as Mavis Dracula, the daughter of Count “Drac” and wife of Johnny Loughran. Already a major star by the time she joined the voice cast of the first movie 10 years ago (thanks to Wizards of Waverly Place and several other projects), Gomez has somehow become an even bigger name since then.

With movies like The Dead Don’t Die, A Rainy Day in New York, and The Fundamentals of Caring all giving her room to show off her talents, the former Disney Channel star has also stayed true to her TV roots as one of biggest names in the star-studded Only Murders in the Building cast. And there’s more where that came from, as Selena Gomez is set to reprise her role in the Hulu murder mystery’s upcoming second season, which sounds bigger than the last.

Kathryn Hahn (Ericka Van Helsing)

Kathryn Hahn is back for a second round of action after her character, Ericka Van Helsing, was introduced in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation as the wife of Count “Drac” and great-granddaughter of Abraham Van Helsing.

Over the course of the past few years, Kathryn Hahn has gone from a successful and hilarious film and television actress to one of the most prolific names in Hollywood, with the Bad Moms franchise and one hell of a portrayal of Olivia Octavius is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Also, let’s not forget her amazing turn as Agatha Harkness on WandaVision, a role she will soon reprise in her own spinoff series Agatha: House of Harkness which will land on Disney+ at some point in the near future.

Jim Gaffigan (Professor Abraham Van Helsing)

Taking on the role of Professor Abraham Van Helsing, the former monster hunter and Count Dracula's great-grandfather-in-law who is responsible for the all the Transformania in the Hotel Transylvania 4, is again Jim Gaffigan. 

One of the funniest comedians around (and superb CBS Sunday Morning commentator), Jim Gaffigan has also made a name for himself while not talking about his food obsessions and kids as a stand-up comic. With appearances in movies like Troop Zero, Tesla, and Luca, Gaffigan has been all over the place on the big screen. Gaffigan has also had his own comedy series, The Jim Gaffigan Show, in addition to appearances on other shows, such as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and even Stargirl.

Steve Buscemi (Wayne)

Wayne the Werewolf has been a major player in the Hotel Transylvania film franchise from the very beginning, and even though he’s still voiced by Steve Buscemi, he appears like nothing we’ve seen before in Transformania. 

Throughout his career, Steve Buscemi has been in everything from gritty dark comedies like Fargo to zany family-friend action spectacles like Spy Kids: The Island of Lost Dreams, and just about anything and everything in between. His voice work alone, which also includes The Boss Baby and Monsters, Inc., and other successful film and television franchises, is also definitely something worth mentioning.

Molly Shannon (Wanda)

Back again as Wanda the Werewolf in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is former Saturday Night Live superstar Molly Shannon, who has been a part of the franchise since its beginnings back in 2012.

Outside of SNL and movies based on characters from the long-running sketch comedy series, like Night at the Roxbury and Superstar, Molly Shannon has also popped up in movies like Promising Young Woman, Other People, and Bad Teacher, to name only a few. Her TV work includes The White Lotus, The Other Two, and the Wet Hot American Summer continuation series, First Day at Camp and Ten Years Later.

David Spade (Griffin)

Another longtime franchise star, David Spade, is back once again for Hotel Transylvania: Transformania where he provides the voice of Griffin, the invisible man.

Over the years, David Spade has been in some of the most unforgettable comedies, the most notable being Tommy Boy and Joe Dirt. Spade has also spent a large portion of his career working with former Saturday Night Live co-star Adam Sandler (including the first three movies in the Hotel Transylvania franchise). 

Keegan-Michael Key (Murray)

Keegan-Michael Key is back in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania as Murray the mummy, a character he first voiced in the second installment of the franchise back in 2015. 

The former Mad TV  cast-member and co-creator of Key & Peele has gone on to find a tremendous amount of success as a voice actor in recent years, including SuperMansion, Green Eggs and Ham, The Lion King, and Toy Story 4. His live-action work includes titles like Keanu, Playing with Fire, and The Prom. Keegan-Michael Key is also set to appear in the upcoming Wonka remake as well as the long-awaited Super Mario Bros. animated movie, both of which have impressive cast lists.

Brian Hull (Count "Drac" Dracula)

Taking on the role of Count “Drac” Dracula in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is Brian Hull, who stepped in after Adam Sandler departed the franchise. But, don't worry, Hull is a master impressionist who is more than capable of pulling this off.

Brian Hull doesn’t currently have all too many voice-acting credits in feature films, though he did appear in the Pup Star franchise. However, Hull has a massive following on YouTube, where he has gained 2.3 million followers for his insane impressions that include everything from various animated characters singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” to Disney and Pixar characters singing “Let it Go.”

Fran Drescher (Eunice)

Appearing once again as Eunice, a.k.a. Frankenstein’s wife, in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is none other than Fran Drescher, who happens to have one of the most recognizable voices in all of show business.

In the years since becoming a massive star as the main attraction of The Nanny cast, Fran Drescher has continued to work on various television projects over the years, including Happily Divorced, Broad City, and most recently, Indebted. Her film work, which goes all the way back to a small role in Saturday Night Fever, also includes The Creatress, After Class, and The Christmas Setup.

Brad Abrell (Frankenstein)

Taking on the role of Frankenstein (who was previously voiced by Kevin James) in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is veteran voice actor Brad Abrell. 

With credits going all the back to the original Swamp Thing series in 1990, Brad Abrell has provided the voices for characters in Men in Black (the movies and the 1998 animated series), The Bold and the Beautiful, and Green Eggs and Ham, to name just a few. And, if you've played a video game in the past decade or so, there's a good chance you've heard Abrell's voice on more than one occasion.

Asher Blinkoff (Dennis)

Returning for his third round of action in the animated franchise, Asher Blinkoff again provides the voice of Dennis, the dhampir son of Johnny and Mavis, in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.

In the years since joining the Hotel Transylvania franchise with the second installment in 2015, Asher Blinkoff has gone on to show up in Bling, Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs, and Sing 2, in which he provided the voice of one of the Rosita’s (Reese Witherspoon) piglets.

Hopefully, all of this helps you out in the event you’re scratching your head trying to figure out why the voices of the Hotel Transylvania: Transformania cast sound so dang familiar. If you’re looking for even more ideas of what to watch after you finish streaming the new Amazon animated release, take a look at all the promising upcoming 2022 new movie releases that will be coming to theaters and streaming platforms in no time at all.

Paradise is officially open, and along with a new mix of our favorite Bachelor Nation castoffs, and Bachelor in Paradise Season 7 is treating fans to a variety of guest hosts, with ABC going in a different direction when replacing longtime host Chris Harrison. Where Harrison often brought the sage advice of a father-like figure, Bachelor in Paradise has always taken itself less seriously, and is doubling down with hosts from comedic and musical backgrounds, including David Spade, Lil Jon, Tituss Burgess and Lance Bass. And franchise vet Wells Adams seems pumped about the changes.

As someone in charge who’s been around the Paradise block before, the contestant-turned-bartender Wells Adams spent the Season 7 premiere embracing the role of confidante to the love-seekers. Adams recently spoke to US Weekly about how each of the celebrity hosts brings their own flavor to Paradise, with fans getting their first taste of superfan David Spade’s hilariously casual hosting expertise in the premiere. According to Wells:

Wells Adams highlighted David Spade’s longtime love for the Bachelor franchise, and I can’t imagine what it must have been like for the actor to be right there in the middle of the action. In the Bachelor in Paradise preview for what’s coming up this season, viewers were privy to small peeks at the rest of the guest hosts, with Lil Jon providing his signature “Yeah!” Tituss Burgess said he could feel the tension in the air (tonight), while Lance Bass showed off a little dancing. Adams spoke to how incorporating musicians into the show contributed to the overall jovial mood in Paradise.

Bringing in guest hosts with musical backgrounds does seem to be like a great way to keep the energy high. And why did it take seven seasons to realize Bachelor in Paradise needed a hype man to counterbalance Chris Harrison's sobering energy?

After seeing how David Spade fit into the hosting role in the Bachelor in Paradise Season 7 premiere, I’m excited to see more of the other guest hosts, as it looks like things are going to get pretty heated on the beach this summer. (And that ain't no lie, baby, bye, bye, bye.)

Bachelor in Paradise returns with new episodes on August 23 and 24 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. And be sure to check out our 2021 Fall TV schedule so you don’t miss the premieres of any of your other favorite shows.

Spoilers ahead for the Season 7 premiere of Bachelor in Paradise on ABC. 

The first season of Bachelor in Paradise since former host Chris Harrison was ousted from the franchise premiered to reveal just how different the show will be from the previous six seasons. While there was the usual mixing of Paradise returnees like Grocery Store Joe Amabile and Demi Burnett with newcomers along with some commentary from trusty bartender Wells Adams, the biggest difference was undoubtedly comedian David Spade as the first of a series of guest hosts. And it didn't even take half of the episode for me to be convinced that Spade was the perfect pick to host the Season 7 premiere.

Admittedly, David Spade seemed like a supremely random pick to me when he was first announced, but it turns out that Spade has been a fan of Bachelor Nation for years, posting about the show on social media and even going on the late-night circuit with his thoughts (and complaints). So he has the ties to Bachelor Nation to make him a solid fit, but apparently doesn't quite have the same reverence for the process that could get to be a bit melodramatic with Chris Harrison, and his commentary didn't feel scripted or rehearsed. And this is Bachelor in Paradise we're talking about! It's not supposed to be perfectly polished or scripted.

If anything, David Spade as host felt more like he was winging it than anything else, and I mean that in a good way. He embraced the chaos and messiness that is fundamental to the fun of Bachelor in Paradise. Sure, he was there to be master of ceremonies to launch a new season of Bachelor in Paradise, but I got a kick out of him talking about eating tacos, complaining about crabs, and hitting up Wells Adams for the lowdown on what happened because he left early the night before and went to sleep early. He had much more to offer than just going through the usual motions of welcoming contestants to Paradise.

In fact, he even cracked a joke about meeting contestants who viewers have already met plenty of times already. David Spade as host truly felt like a fan who doesn't take the franchise so seriously that he can't poke fun at the craziness. And no part of the franchise is crazier than good old Bachelor in Paradise.

If David Spade was going to serve as full-time host for this season of Paradise rather than just host of the premiere, I would be perfectly happy. Wells Adams seemed to be having fun with Spade as well, and even the contestants seemed excited (if somewhat bemused) to walk into Paradise and see David Spade – or as Tammy Ly thought, Dave Chappelle – waiting to greet them. Plus, his closing rant about crabs everywhere in Paradise was icing on the cake. I've never been menaced by crabs everywhere, but his monologue still feels relatable:

Give me a web series of Wells Adams dishing all the gossip to David Spade while David Spade tries to avoid crabs at all costs, and I'm not even sure I'd need to see as much of the dating action as usual. Unfortunately for me, Spade was indeed just a guest host, but how well he did definitely encourages me that the guest host format can work. Upcoming guest hosts include Lil Jon, former NSYNC singer Lance Bass, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's Titus Burgess, and possibly Wells Adams and Modern Family's Sarah Hyland.

None of this is to say that I think David Spade or the guest host format should extend to The Bachelor or The Bachelorette after Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams host the next season. Rotating through hosts who haven't been part of Bachelor Nation for years already works for the craziness that is Bachelor in Paradise, and should probably be kept there. See what happens next in Paradise with new episodes on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, starting next week. For more of what's on the way to TV, check out our 2021 fall TV premiere schedule.

Saturday Night Live legend Chris Farley served as the best man in comedian Tom Arnold’s wedding. If you’re assuming there must be a story there, you are, of course, correct. The funnyman apparently got the entire bachelor party kicked out of a strip club after he got on stage and took off his clothes.

Tom Arnold was recently on The Howard Stern Show and he reminisced about his buddy Chris Farley. During the conversation, he mentioned that Farley was his best man. The radio host asked him if there was a bachelor party and out came the story, which was sadly a bit light on details. You can read the basic outline of his version of events below…

Obviously I wish this story was ten minutes long and included way more details, but the basic framework here is just amazing. I love the idea of people sitting in the crowd, waiting to see the next dancer at Scores take the stage and suddenly being blindsided with a naked Chris Farley living it up. What must have been going through their heads? Did he do the Chippendale's routine he did on SNL? Was he asked to get off the stage and he refused, which led to him being kicked out? Or was it just an immediate ejection since he wasn’t one of the designated people that was supposed to be naked? I have so many questions.

Chris Farley was definitely a man capable of pushing things to the edge. That’s actually how he became friends with Tom Arnold. Longtime SNL headman Lorne Michaels apparently pushed the two together because he thought it would help the troubled comedian stay sober. Arnold later became his sponsor and helped him through a lot of ups and downs, but unfortunately, Farley ultimately passed away from a drug overdose. He was just thirty-three.

He’ll always be remembered first for how far he was willing to go for a joke. A lot of his most famous SNL sketches and movie roles involve doing things and pushing comedy to places many others would have been uncomfortable with. Even amidst those over-the-top jokes, however, there was always a more touching and vulnerable side to his comedy. He was able to be very emotionally affecting when he wanted to be, and some of his best work could be subtle and quiet (like in some moments in the Chris Farley Show sketches).

Long story short, Chris Farley is missed by fans and clearly remembered very fondly by those who knew him. I’m convinced there were some really incredible Jim Carrey-style dramatic performance in there somewhere we never got to see, but thankfully, there’s plenty we can still watch and plenty more stories still left to be told, some of which probably involve him getting naked.

Chris Harrison’s longtime gig as host of the Bachelor franchise may have ended dishonorably, but it’s fair to say that Harrison weathered a number of Bachelor Nation storms during his tenure before the split, particularly with the more loosely structured spinoff Bachelor in Paradise. Harrison and the cast somehow overcame the sexual assault scandal from Season 4 that temporarily shut down production, and the former host witnessed countless meltdowns, with gallons of contestant tears shed. Harrison was even the target of some verbal abuse when Season 3 contestant Chad Johnson got kicked out of paradise, so anyone taking his hosting spot will have their work cut out for them.

Now that Harrison has been officially removed from the franchise, who will be helping the Bachelor in Paradise cast navigate those rough waters when Season 7 returns in August? It doesn't seem like the Bachelor's producers are ready to give their final rose to any one new host just yet, as they’re bringing a variety of celebrity guest hosts who will alternate duties. The diverse selection of temporary hosts indicates The Bachelor's powers that be might not be exactly sure which direction they want to take the franchise, but it’s going to be a lot of fun while they figure it out, judging by these names. Let's take a look at everyone who has been announced by ABC as guest hosts for the upcoming season of Bachelor in Paradise.

David Spade

Longtime Bachelor fan David Spade caught fans’ attention with his hilarious (and R-rated) Instagram commentary, and what makes the choice so interesting is that Spade absolutely loves to make fun of the show and its contestants. I don’t think the Joe Dirt and Tommy Boy funnyman will be the shoulder to cry on that past contestants got in Chris Harrison, but more intentional humor and self-awareness on Bachelor in Paradise are definitely things I’ll show up for. As far as hosting goes, the format shouldn’t be a problem for the Saturday Night Live alum, who most recently hosted his own beloved late-night talk show, Lights Out with David Spade, in 2019 and 2020 before COVID-19 shut everything down.

Lil Jon

Lil Jon is not the obvious choice for Chris Harrison’s successor, but I’m here for this, OKAY?!? The rapper may just be the hype man that paradise never knew it needed. This stint won’t even be Lil Jon’s first appearance within the franchise, either, as he was first featured on an episode of The Bachelorette’s Season 14, during a one-on-one date between Becca Kufrin and eventual Bachelor in Paradise villain Blake Horstmann. Lil Jon provided the music and moral support as Becca and Blake took their rage out on a race car, champagne bottles, TVs and more. I’d love to see Lil Jon inject some MTV Spring Break vibes into the show's casual, lounging atmosphere.

Lance Bass

Lance Bass of NSYNC fame is definitely a fun choice for Bachelor in Paradise guest host. Let’s be honest — pretty much every NSYNC song could be a tag line for the Bachelor franchise. "Bye Bye Bye," "It’s Gonna Be Me," "Dirty Pop," and the list goes on, amirite? The former boy-bander’s hosting experience comes via his radio show, Dirty Pop with Lance Bass, which provided insight into the pop music industry. He’s also made numerous guest appearances, mostly as himself, on TV and film over the years, including an episode of Netflix’s competition show The Circle. And if you remember the pop culture enigma On the Line from 2001, you know that looking for love is right in Bass' wheelhouse.

Tituss Burgess

This multi-hyphenate is a big win for the Bachelor franchise. Perhaps best known as the randomly musical Titus Andromedon on Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Tituss Burgess has touched all corners of the entertainment industry, from Broadway performances to releasing music albums to multiple appearances on the big and small screens. He's also hosted taken on hosting duties before, heading up the Netflix gameshow Sing On! in 2020. Burgess isn’t the type to shy away from any topic on the planet, so I’m excited to see him interact with the franchise alums in Bachelor in Paradise's carefree environment. I can totally see Burgess providing (presumably high-volume) empowerment to the love-seekers, and his overall presence is so enjoyable to watch.

Wells Adams and Sarah Hyland (Rumored)

Though this news has not yet been confirmed, the rumored involvement of Wells Adams and his fiancee Sarah Hyland, seems destined to happen. Adams has been a Bachelor in Paradise mainstay, first as a contestant in Season 3, and since then as the resort’s trusty bartender, while the former Modern Family actress is a longtime Bachelor superfan who connected with Adams on Instagram after watching him on JoJo Fletcher’s season of The Bachelorette. The couple started dating in 2017, but had to postpone their wedding in 2020 due to COVID. Would an impromptu beach wedding be out of the question? Anything can happen in paradise.

Chris Harrison’s exit from Bachelor Nation came after racial controversy surrounded the 25th season of The Bachelor, in which Matt James — the first Black lead in the series’ history — vied for love. The ultimate “winner” of the season was Rachael Kirkconnell, who became mired in a backlash after past photos of her at an Antebellum party resurfaced during the season’s airing. Harrison overtly defended Kirkconnell in an interview with Rachel Lindsay, who was the Bachelor franchise's first Black lead for The Bachelorette Season 13. After making a public apology in which he admitted the interview "perpetuates racism,” Harrison took a step back from the franchise, and the break became permanent.

Bachelor in Paradise has always been the less-serious, less-structured Bachelor Nation spinoff, and the choices for guest hosts seem to back that theory up. While The Bachelorette chose former contestants Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe to host Katie Thurston’s current season, this selection of alternating celeb hosts should breathe new life into Bachelor in Paradise, and I’ll be tuning in. The Bachelorette airs at 8 p.m. ET on Mondays on ABC, and Bachelor in Paradise is set to premiere Aug. 16. In the meantime, check out all of the new and returning shows in our 2021 summer TV schedule.