Latest news with #ConanOBrien
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mike Myers went into depression when SNL sketches were cut
Mike Myers used to "go into a depression" if his sketches were cut from Saturday Night Live. The 62-year-old star was a writer on the comedy series from 1989 to 1995 and has made occasional appearances over the years since, and he hated the dress rehearsal before the live show because it left him feeling "nervous" and deeply unhappy if his skits didn't make it through to the final programme. He told Variety: "Dress rehearsal bums me out and I get nervous. Then if the sketch gets in, I'm like, 'OK!' I'm way more psyched that it got in, that I'm going to be in the show this week.' 'I used to go into a depression when my sketch got cut." However, the Austin Powers star learned a new perspective from Conan O'Brien, who was one of Saturday Night Live's writers from 1988 to 1991. He said: "Then one week, Conan had worked with a very, very hard host who had put him through the wringer. "Conan was just a mess and saw that a sketch was cut and he goes, 'Perfect. It's all going perfectly to plan.' It got a big laugh, and I was like, 'You can be that way? You don't have to be depressed?' "He taught me how to say, 'OK. It's not the end of the world.'' And Mike insisted he wouldn't have tried to fight for an axed sketch to be included. He said: 'Never. I have witnessed people try it. That's when I go invisible. Too much tension! The captain has spoken, move on.' But he has fought for certain jokes, though these days he'd go with the judgement of showrunner Lorne Michaels. He said: 'When I was younger as a writer, if Lorne Michaels asked, 'Do you think you can make that work?' I'd say, 'Yes, I think I can.' Whereas now I think I'd be more likely to say, 'If you're not sure, let's not!'' Mike returned to SNL for the 50th anniversary special earlier this year, and less than two weeks later, he made his first appearance on a regular episode in 10 years when he played Elon Musk in the cold opener. And the Wayne's World star is having "so much fun" playing the billionaire businessman. He said: 'It's so much fun. Colin [Jost] and the crew write the Elons, and all I do is I add a little this and a little that, and mostly, I cut. A lot of people don't like to cut. I love to cut. "If you've got eight jokes, three of them are OK and the five of them are strong, let's just go with the five! 'I've had so much fun doing it. When I did the 50th anniversary, I had a moment going, 'Do I know how to do this?' And I was like, 'Oh, of course, I know how to do this. I did this for six years.' "
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Toys v tech: Toy Story has a new villain
The Toy Story movies have captured the imaginations of fans all over the world and Pixar has revealed a very big detail about the fifth film which comes out in 2026. Disney first announced the lovable Toy Story gang including Woody, Buzz and Jessie would be returning to the big screen last year, nearly three decades after the first film which was released back in 1996. But things have been pretty quiet since then. But now we now know the villain in the upcoming movie will be Lily Pad, a tablet looking to steal the attention and affections of Bonnie, the new owner of Andy's famous toys. While we still don't know too much about the film, it looks set to be an epic showdown between toys and tech. Pixar has released new artwork which features the troublesome tablet along with Buzz, cowgirl Jessie and her loveable horse Bullseye. Tom Hanks will be returning as Woody in the upcoming movie, Tim Allen will be back as Buzz Lightyear and Joan Cusack will voice Jesse again. They'll also be some new characters, including Smarty Pants played by TV host and comedian Conan O'Brien. Are you looking forward to Toy Story 5? Why not let us know in the comments below.
Wall Street Journal
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
Alf Clausen, ‘The Simpsons' Composer Who Wrote Songs in the Key of Springfield, Dies at 84
When the residents of Springfield gathered to discuss how to spend the $3 million Mr. Burns was forced to pay the city for dumping nuclear waste into a local park, Marge Simpson suggested it go toward something sensible—filling potholes. But a slick salesman entranced the audience with another idea: 'The Springfield Monorail.' Putting his pitch to song, he had the whole town singing: 'Monorail! Monorail! Monorail!' Marge's objections didn't stand a chance. 'But Main Street's still all cracked and broken!' 'Sorry, mom,' Bart quipped, 'the mob has spoken.' 'Marge vs. the Monorail,' a classic episode of 'The Simpsons,' was written by Conan O'Brien, just before he made the jump to his late-night talk show, but the 'Music Man'-inspired song was penned by Alf Clausen, the composer for the bulk of the series. His work was central to the animated show's DNA.
Forbes
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
TV Academy 2025 Hall Of Fame Honorees: Viola Davis, Don Mischer, Ryan Murphy, Conan O'Brien, Mike Post And Henry Winkler
Viola Davis, Don Mischer, Ryan Murphy, Conan O'Brien, Mike Post and Henry Winker will be This latest roster of inductees, all previous Emmy Award winners, will be inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame at the inaugural Televerse festival, which will take place August 14 to 16 at the JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles, California. Organized for both industry insiders and fans of television, The Televerse festival is designed to offer fans and voters 'unprecedented access' to Emmy-nominated series. 'These trailblazing performers, creators and producers have left an indelible mark on our industry,' said Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy in a statement. 'Their groundbreaking work has shaped and elevated the television landscape in profound ways. We are honored to welcome these legends into the Hall of Fame and to recognize their exceptional contributions to the evolution of television.' 'All six honorees have elevated the art of storytelling and have had an extraordinary influence on television culture and history,' noted Rick Rosen, chair of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee. 'Their transformative leadership and innovative work have made a lasting impact on the medium, and the Television Academy is proud to honor their legacy.' Since its inception in 1984, more than 150 individuals have been honored by the Television Academy, which originated in that inaugural year with honors bestowed to Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky, producer Norman Lear, newscaster Edward R. Murrow, and executives William S. Paley and David Charnoff.
CNN
09-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
First on CNN: More than 12,000 Harvard alumni unite to support university legal challenge
Thousands of Harvard University alumni have signed on to a legal message of support for their alma mater, CNN has learned, an unprecedented effort to back the school as it challenges the Trump administration's decision to halt more than $2.2 billion in federal funding. More than 12,000 Harvard alumni – from the class of 1950 to the just-graduated class of 2025 – added their signatures to an amicus brief, a legal document sent by a third party to a lawsuit offering the court additional information about the case. The brief, first reported by CNN, was submitted to the court on Monday. The signatories come from a range of backgrounds, united by a Harvard degree and concern for the future of their alma mater: a Wisconsin beer brewer, comedian Conan O'Brien, an Ohio fighter pilot, author Margaret Atwood, a South Dakota tribal leader and Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healy, among other prominent members of communities across the country and globe. The group claims it's the largest known alumni brief from a single school in history. And the alumni involved believe it's a historic moment as Harvard defends itself – and in turn, potentially sets a precedent for other colleges and universities amid a major clash over academic freedom, federal funding and campus oversight. Harvard sued the Trump administration in April over its decision to freeze federal funding and has asked for an expedited final decision in the case. Oral arguments are scheduled for July 21. 'As alumni, we are deeply alarmed by the Government's reckless and unlawful attempts to assert control over the core functions of Harvard and its fellow institutions of higher education. Without due process or any recognizable basis in law—and with complete disregard for the freedoms the Constitution secures and the constraints it imposes—the Government has embarked on a campaign to deploy every power at its disposal to damage Harvard,' the brief says. It continues, 'The Government's end goal is to narrow our freedoms to learn, teach, think, and act, and to claim for itself the right to dictate who may enjoy those freedoms. As alumni, we attest that Harvard's true greatness resides in the ways we share these values and exercise these freedoms.' The White House did not respond to CNN's request for comment on the brief. Anurima Bhargava, a documentary filmmaker, civil rights lawyer and Harvard alumna who has helped lead the effort, told CNN in an interview that it marks a moment of solidarity across traditional divides. 'We are educated in part so that we can be safeguarders of liberty and democracy. And that is certainly what we all feel like is an important stand to take in this time,' Bhargava said. She continued, 'It's about our education, not only at Harvard – it goes so far beyond Harvard to 'what are our abilities in every kind of school and college and university to be able to voice and to think and to learn freely without the kind of interference that we're seeing from the government.'' Bhargava said there were 'many' alumni who wanted to sign the brief but did not, for fear of retaliation from the administration. Efforts to target Harvard began even before President Donald Trump returned to office, with his allies arguing they're cracking down on antisemitism on campus amid the Israel-Hamas war. But the administration's actions extend to a broader agenda – and a belief inside the White House that it's a winning political issue for the president. 'We unequivocally condemn antisemitism and every other form of discrimination and hate, which have no place at Harvard or anywhere else in our society. Yet charges of antisemitism—particularly without due process and proper bases and findings by the Government—should not be used as a pretext for the illegal and unconstitutional punishment and takeover of an academic institution by the Government. Indeed, most of the Government's demands on Harvard have little or nothing to do with combating antisemitism, or any other kind of bias and discrimination, on campus,' the brief states. The university is now engaged in multiple legal battles with the Trump administration, which has launched several investigations into the school. White House officials and Education Secretary Linda McMahon have kept the door open to negotiating with the school, but the administration is not currently in talks.
