Saturday Night Live

Andy Samberg, Witty Script Lift Animated ‘Space Chimps’ Off Launching Pad

HollywoodChicago.com — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:07:09 -0700

CHICAGO – So far in the 2008 summer animation season we’ve seen cuddly martial artists (“Kung Fu Panda”) and robots in love (“WALL-E”).

Rating: 4.0/5.0

But where are the monkeys and how long before the first joke about flinging their poo? Both desires are satisfied in the playfully visual and wryly funny “Space Chimps,” which is anchored by the vocal talents of Andy Samberg (“Saturday Night Live”).

Read Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Space Chimps” in our reviews section.

View our full, high-resolution “Space Chimps” image gallery.

Samberg is the voice of Ham III: the chimp grandson of the first NASA monkey in space. He has been reduced to being an attraction in a cheap circus under the guidance of his grandfather’s old buddy Houston (Carlos Alazragui).

Meanwhile at Cape Canaveral, the reputation of the space program rests on the discovery of a wormhole in space that has sent a probe to a distant and life-sustaining planet.

On that planet, it turns out the probe has been captured by a rubbery, blue life force named Zartog (Jeff Daniels). Zartog’s intent is to use the multi-tasking machine to enslave his fellow inhabitants.

“Space Chimps,” which stars Andy Samberg, Jeff Daniels, Cheryl Hines, Patrick Warburton, Kristin Chenoweth, Carlos Alazragui and Stanley Tucci, opened on July 18, 2008.

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full “Space Chimps” review.

Ham III (Andy Samberg) – the slacker grandson of the first chimp blasted into space before manned spaceflight – takes off into out-of-this-world adventure and comedy in “Space Chimps”.
Image credit: Vanguard Animation

Cheryl Hines voices Luna in “Space Chimps”.
Image credit: 20th Century Fox

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full “Space Chimps” review.

George Carlin Dies at 71 of Heart Failure; Comedian a Voice For Counter-Culture

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:11:56 -0700

CHICAGO – “Death is caused by swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of time,” comedian George Carlin once said. The iconic and award-winning figure died of heart failure on Sunday at the age of 71.

Carlin, who had a history of heart problems, went into the hospital earlier in the day and complained of chest pains. Still very active, he had just performed last weekend in Las Vegas.

Legendary comedian George Carlin.
Photo credit: Public domain

With an extensive career in comedy for more than 50 years, it was announced just days ago that George Carlin would be 2008’s recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at The Kennedy Center in Nov. 2008.

Carlin got his big break on “The Merv Griffin Show” in the 1950s playing such memorable characters as “Al Sleet”. He would give the night’s forecast as simply: “Dark, darker, then some widely scattered light in the morning.”

Throughout the 1960s, Carlini made more than 80 appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and Johnny Carson’s “The Tonight Show” as well as a recurring role on the television show “That Girl”. His first album in 1967 “Take-Offs and Put-Ons” featured Carlin’s mastery of wordplay and won him rave reviews.

Carlin felt the need to change in the 1970s. During this time, he shed his clean-cut suit and tie look and became more in touch with counter-culture by picking up the mantle left behind by Lenny Bruce. In 1972, Carlin won a Grammy for his album “FM & AM,” which featured a mix of his older humor and new, edgier style.

His seminal album from the same year “Class Clown” contained his famous “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television”. This led to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling about which words are found to be indecent for FCC broadcast during hours in which children might be listening. In 1975, he was the first person to host “Saturday Night Live”.

A voice for the counter-culture, Carlin was candid about his illicit drug use, disdain for the government and strong opposition to all forms of religion. Though typically thought of as an atheist, Carlin once described himself as a “Frisbeetarian” (when you die, your soul flies up to the roof and gets stuck).

The comedian faced some struggles in his life. Early on, Carlin was arrested on counts of obscenity. In the 1980s, he faced major tax issues as well as a heart attack and two open-heart surgeries. He also had a continuing fight with addiction and most recently checked himself into rehab in 2004 for pain-killer abuse.

Carlin continued to enjoy success as a touring comedian, actor and director throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

He authored several best-selling books including “When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?” and almost every year produced a new HBO comedy special. Carlin continued to act with memorable roles in “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” “The Prince of Tides” and “Dogma” and for one season on FOX’s “The George Carlin Show”.

Carlin always spoke light-heartedly about death. In a more recent special, he joked about people’s empathy for grieving with these words: “Is there anything I can do for you? Yeah. How ‘bout you come over and paint my garage.”

By DUSTIN LEVELL
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
dustin@hollywoodchicago.com

Adam Sandler is White Ladies Man in Judd Apatow’s ‘You Don’t Mess With the Zohan’

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:01:00 -0700

CHICAGO – In the relatively anemic anthology of recent Adam Sandler flops, “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” hangs above with comedic charm and a nonsensically amusing plotline. The story is divisively intermingled with racial and ethnic sensitivities between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

At first, it even feels like a scribe sat down for a few weeks, slammed back a few brewskies and toked daily on the good ganja while attempting to ink a forcefully novel plot.

Surprisingly, its idiosyncratic nature tends to work as you build esteem for the libidinous man Adam Sandler has transformed into. While Sandler has played the full gamut of roles in recent memory, this time he’s actually a Thor who beckons women to his sexual mercy.

Read Adam Fendelman’s full review of “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” in our reviews section.

View our huge, high-resolution “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” image gallery.

Sandler as Zohan is the white version of the legendary Tim Meadows character The Ladies Man from “Saturday Night Live” but with a thick Israeli accent. Zohan is an Israeli counter-terrorist commando who fakes his own death in order to pursue his unlikely and embarrassing dream of becoming a hairstylist in New York.

To make matters more outlandishly canned, Zohan’s arch nemesis, Phantom (played by John Turturro), has a similarly humiliating reverie: selling shoes.

Lainie Kazan is welcome motherly relief – except when she’s revealed utterly nude from the rear and causes an eruptive audience gasp – and Rob Schneider, of course, can’t let an Adam Sandler flick make it to the big screen without joining him on it. As well, you might notice Dave Matthews in the film, but I didn’t.

In “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan,” Emmanuelle Chriqui stars as Dalia: a Palestinian immigrant to New York and owner of a hair salon who gives Zohan his big break in his dream to become a hairstylist.
Photo credit: Columbia Pictures

In “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan,” Adam Sandler stars as Zohan: an Israeli commando who fakes his own death in order to pursue his dream of becoming a hairstylist in New York.
Photo credit: Columbia Pictures

Read Adam Fendelman’s full “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” review.

Hookup: 10 Passes to VIP Chicago Party, Screening For ‘The Bill Engvall Show’ on TBS to Meet Tim Meadows

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:09:41 -0700

CHICAGO – In the inaugural edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: TV, 10 admit-two VIP passes will be given away to the exclusive Chicago opportunity to meet Tim Meadows (“Saturday Night Live,” “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” “Semi-Pro”) for the return of “The Bill Engvall Show” on TBS.

“The Bill Engvall Show” on TBS is back this summer with all-new episodes.
Image credit: “The Bill Engvall Show”

This giveaway is for an invitation-only, VIP party and screening of two episodes of “The Bill Engvall Show”. The event will take place at the Hollywood Blvd. Cinema in the Chicago suburb of Woodridge on May 29, 2008 beginning at 7 p.m. Winners are strongly advised to arrive early as the event will be overbooked and seating is not guaranteed. This is a description of the TV series:

Tim Meadows is featured in the second season of “The Bill Engvall Show” on TBS.
Image credit: IMDb

The TBS hit family comedy “The Bill Engvall Show” (No. 1 among households and people 25 to 54) is back this summer with all-new episodes. Comedian Bill Engvall (who has won over audiences with his hilarious stand-up show) brings his unique take on family and parenting to TBS for a sitcom the whole family will love.

Engvall stars as Bill Pearson: a family counselor, loving husband and father of three kids whose own family could use a little dose of counseling. Bill’s wife, Susan (played by Nancy Travis from “Becker” and “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”), tries to keep the clan in line.

Their three children (Lauren, Trent and Bryan) definitely know how to manipulate them. With a humorous perspective on family life, this comedy series shows the authentic yet playful side of parenting and portrays a father who’s the heart of the family.

To secure your VIP tickets now, make sure you’re logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Next, click “Add new comment” below. In your comment, you must include an answer to this simple question:

What makes you burst into laughter?

This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: TV is simple: The first 10 people to comment below win! We will be in touch with the 10 winners with digital passes.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com