Lizzo poses in the press room at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards at the Los Angeles Convention Center on March 14 with both live and prerecorded segments63rd Annual Grammy Awards - Press Room, Los Angeles, United States
Photo by Jordan Strauss/AP/Shutterstock
Lizzo dazzled on her SNL debut this weekend, but fans might have noticed another source of energy and talent emanating from next to the "Truth Hurts" singer as she belted out her tunes.
That would be Celisse Henderson, who shredded on guitar as Lizzo sang.
Henderson is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who is a member of the band Ghosts of the Forest. She took center stage during Lizzo's performance, adding a layer of gritty, bluesy rock to the unbelievably catchy song about getting over a man who doesn't deserve you.
Henderson styled her look and guitar after the legendary Sister Rosetta Tharpe, whose gospel and blues recordings were instrumental in shaping rock and roll. As one of the first guitarists to use distortion, she inspired many blues and rock players, and her voice and stage presence helped make her a star.
Seeing Lizzo's pristine, very 21st-century pop mixed with a tribute to one of the greatest rock and roll guitarists of all time gave scope and depth to the performance and helped make it the unforgettable showstopper that it was.
Celisse Henderson - Stuck On You Blues | Sofar NYCwww.youtube.com
Lizzo, who took to the stage covered in head-to-toe Gucci and hit stratospheric notes from start to finish, also posted a heart-warming tribute to her journey.
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Between Henderson's masterful guitar playing, Lizzo's unbelievable pipes and stage presence, and the dancers that lit up the stage, it was a performance to remember.
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Lizzo's sets were highlights of Eddie Murphy's star-studded, highly acclaimed, and hilarious SNL episode, which also braided tributes to icons of the past (like Gumby, dammit) with very modern humor.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge has had a successful past few years, to say the least.
The Emmy-winning writer of Fleabag and Killing Eve brought her brand of unfiltered brashness to the SNL screen this Saturday in an episode that felt like a victory lap. Still, while worth watching for any Waller-Bridge fans, the show wasn't quite able to live up to the level of comedic brilliance we've come to expect from her.
The best part was probably Waller-Bridge's opening monologue, in which she stated that everything she writes has a "grain of truth" to it, discussed genit*lia for several minutes, and definitively explained why Fleabag's "Hot Priest" is so hot: It's because he actually listens. She discussed psychopathy, which is brought to the fore on Killing Eve, and theorized that she herself might even be a psychopath (or at least, everyone she knows is). She closed with some killer lines like, "Back then horny women were to be burned at the stake. Now they're given Emmys!"
Unfortunately, the rest of the show took a slightly downward turn following that monologue. While it might be a bit harsh to call SNL an "aging, decrepit beast that should've been put out of its misery seasons ago," as Vice did in its review of this episode, several of this show's sketches faltered dangerously. Last week's debut episode was promising with its clever depiction of the Democratic presidential candidates, but then again, those jokes kind of write themselves.
At least this episode, despite no shortage of lackluster jokes, we got to see Phoebe Waller-Bridge use many different accents and play a couple of memorable roles, including a psychopathic war wife who gallivants around with Hitler in the sketch "Words of the War." That sketch was possibly one of the episode's best, mostly thanks to Waller-Bridge's excellent deadpan and the scene's escalating absurdity. Weekend Update was also a highlight, featuring Kate McKinnon's lovably aggressive Elizabeth Warren, a well-placed Pete Davidson joke, and a flamboyant Chen Biao, played by freshman cast member Bowen Yang. "Mid-Day News" was also excellent, bringing racial politics and stereotypes to the fore as South Floridian news anchors try to determine whether the criminals they're reporting on are black or white.
Weekend Update: Chen Biao on US-China Trade War - SNLwww.youtube.com
On the other hand, the odd sketch "Royal Romance" made fun of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry but never quite hit its stride, and its jokes pushed the boundaries between satire and racism. Then there was the painful "Kaylee, Crystal, and Janetta," a sketch which featured four women at a bar. Perhaps meant to be a subversion of the super-feminine, stereotypical Sex and the City type of girl gang, characters portrayed are loud, tattooed, mullet-wearing, totally unfeminine, and frequently violent women. But that sketch doesn't seem to do many favors for any of them, instead asking the audience to laugh off a sequence where they each attack an ex-lover, refusing the kind of self-aware nuance that makes Fleabag such a standout example of how to write a "difficult woman" character.
It's hard to say exactly why SNL has struggled so much over the past few years. Comedy writing is incredibly hard, but with all the absurdity in the modern era, we need excellent satire now more than ever to put it all into perspective. Still, the show could benefit from more diverse perspectives, more boundary-pushing and nuanced comedy, and stronger characters—the latter of which, specifically, Waller-Bridge is so good at creating. One has to wonder what would've happened had Waller-Bridge been able to write a few sketches herself.
Netflix comedy-bingers are being forced to diversify their comedy diets.
Despite the streaming platform's multi-million dollar deal to keep Friends, Netflix couldn't pull the same strings for the NBC classic The Office. Many fans took to Twitter to vent their dismay, while others praised the Lord, because maybe now people will stop basing their entire personalities on the show.
It's true; there are worthwhile shows other than The Office to fill the void of your empty, meaningless soul. Branch out and explore comedies old and the new! Find new friends through a fictional program! And finally, learn to let go when your imaginary friends outgrow you.
Mike Schur's Staples:
If you're truly an Office fan, then you will have checked out Mike Schur's other ingenious comedy projects. If not, then you're a fraud.
Parks and Recreation
This show is the obvious and safest choice to fill the The Office void in your life. With Parks and Rec, you won't miss the spectacular mockumentary format and the odd but lovable relationships that blossom in the workplace environment. Even better, the show is also set in the Middle of Nowhere, U.S.A. just like The Office!
Parks and Recreation: Chris Pratt Explains The Series In 30 Seconds | Entertainment Weeklywww.youtube.com
Runtime: 125 episodes of approximately 22 minutes.
The Good Place
Mike Schur debuted without his writing partner, Greg Daniels, as the only showrunner for The Good Place. The original sitcom king, Ted Danson, flourishes as the "architect" of the version of heaven Ellen Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) is accidentally placed in. Just when the show gets good, it gets better in ways one would never expect. Enjoy!
Runtime: 39 episodes of approximately 22 minutes. More episodes are coming.
An Oldie, But A Goodie:
Cheers!
Kids these days don't know about the Holy Grail of TV comedy. Ted Danson played the cultural phenomenon Sam Malone, a Red Sox relief pitcher who owned the bar, Cheers! This show practically founded the "will they, won't they" narrative with Sam's iconic on-and-off relationship with Diane (played by Shelley Long), a graduate psychology student turned barmaid. Cheers! became one of the first American sitcoms to explore love and loss while redefining the notion of family— it's simple and epic.
You'll never have to worry about Netflix originals disappearing off the platform. Choose one of their many original comedies to enjoy, and then petition after Netflix cancels it.
Grace and Frankie
Imagine, your husband of over 40 years takes you out to dinner with his longtime law partner and his partner's wife. You and the wife are hopeful and confident your husbands are going to announce their retirement. Instead, they tell their wives they are leaving them, for each other.
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin shine as Grace and Frankie, the two wives in their '70s who have no one in their lives who understand their situation except each other. It's an absurd and hilarious effort to showcase the trials of aging women in the modern era, changing family dynamics, and sisterhood.
Grace and Frankie | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflixwww.youtube.com
Runtime: 65 episodes of a variation of 25-35 minutes. More episodes to come.
Big Mouth
You know that American Doll puberty book you read when you were 12? No? Does that only apply to women? Well, try to imagine a puberty book that came to life as an animated show starring John Mulaney and Nick Kroll. Are you intrigued? Are you already invested? I thought so. Also, Maya Rudolph voices the Hormone Monstress—I probably should've started with that.
Runtime: 21 episodes of a variation of 25-46 minutes. More episodes to come.
American Vandal
American Vandal took mockumentaries to a whole new level by deep diving into the world of high school investigative journalism. The show kicks off with the trial of Dylan Maxwell, a troubled high school senior, who is accused of vandalizing 27 vehicles with phallic images (dicks). The true crime satire showcases what it's really like to be a teen today, using social media to propel the story forward in a ridiculous fashion. Netflix may have cancelled the show after its second season, but American Vandal has already earned its cult status.
American Vandal | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflixwww.youtube.com
Runtime: 16 episodes of a variation of 25-42 minutes.
The original cast of Nickelodeon's All That are cursed by a strange phenomenon that wards off any and all success.
This week it was announced that SNL star and All That alum Kenan Thompson is helming a reboot of the show. This calls for an examination of how the show has impacted its cast and their careers.
Let me back up. From 1994 to 2005, the sketch comedy kids' show shaped 90s kids' sense of humor and made us believe that we could get away with saying anything if we said it in a funny voice. Cast members included Kenan Thompson and Nick Cannon as teenagers, as well as young Amanda Bynes and Britney Spears' little sister. Since the show's end, we've seen Bynes' bizarre behavior while struggling with addiction and depression and Jamie Lynn Spears' scandalous teen pregnancy. Instead of being fleetingly curious about our favorite childhood stars with "where are they now?" the more urgent question we're left with is: "what happened?"
Now, Thompson is appointed to executive produce and contribute writing to the reboot of All That. He told Variety, "It means everything to me. It was my first job that I ever had. It gave me an opportunity." Co-creator of the original series and current president of Nickelodeon, Brian Robbins, proposed the idea: "We think there's a great opportunity to find the next pool of stars. We want to bring the show back in a real fun way. This summer, we are going to bring back a lot of the original cast and the cast through the years, and let them introduce the new cast of 'All That' to the world."
But what the next generation of cast members needs to know is that the promising careers of the original All That cast were sacrificed to a greater plan at work behind the scenes at Nickelodeon. In hindsight, it's clear that only one network star could channel the powers of stardom to become a cultural phenomenon. Only one childhood actor could rise to prominence as the voice of Nickelodeon's coming-of-age generation: Ariana Grande.
In her role as Cat Valentine, the Grande's television career started on iCarly and Victorious, but she was always destined for greatness. When Grande was born in 1993, a blinding pillar of light pierced the sky. This is what Nickelodeon was waiting for, a superstar who could gain the prominence necessary to redefine pop music and establish a new world order. Without delay, television execs cobbled together All That, shepherding together the company's first flock of sacrificial lambs. From there, they built more shows, more false TV idols, all in the service of Grande, the path to her success slowly being paved with the failed careers of lesser stars.
As for the cast of All That, just look at the evidence:
1. Lori Beth Denberg (1994-1998) - "The Loud Librarian"
One of the greatest performers on the show, Denberg went on to impress as Lydia on the TheSteve Harvey Show from 2008 to 2012. Since then, Lori Beth has guest starred as "Lori Beth" on three TV series since 2017–and nothing else. Clearly, we miss her talent, but consistent success was never in the cards for her.
Known as the only original cast member to remain for all six seasons, Server was the go-to guy for character freak outs. After All That, he guest-starred on other Nickelodeon shows like The Amanda Show, Drake & Josh, and Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. Now the 39-year-old...has a Twitter account.
3. Danny Tamberelli (1997-2000) - "Fat Cop"
Danny Tamberelli On Fat Cop | All That Reunionyoutu.be
The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1992-1996) had already cemented Tamberelli's place in the hearts of 90s kids. As a cast member of All That, the raucous redhead brought us "Fat Cop." After providing the voice of Arnold in The Magic School Bus, his guest-starring roles petered out to a voice acting role in Grand Theft Auto V. Apparently, he's released music with his folk/pop band Every Good Boy, but most recently he started a podcast in 2013 with Pete & Pete costar Michael Maronna.
4. Alisa Reyes (1994-1997) - "Island Girls"
Reyes' most memorable performance was as the most annoying girl to be stranded with on a deserted island, opposite Lori Beth Denberg. Her manic energy and nonstop talking were perfectly insufferable. After leaving the show, Reyes had a recurring role on NBC's One World and a slew of one-off guest appearances. Despite playing roles in obscure movies from time to time, she remains best known for her three seasons on All That.
One of her recurring characters was Thelma Stump, "the oldest bodyguard in the business." As an elderly southern woman, she once called Justin Timberlake "white chocolate" and pulled down his pants before sexually assaulting him with a kiss. After becoming a Nickelodeon darling with her own show Zoey 101, Spears infamously had her first child when she was 16 and quickly left the spotlight. Now the 27-year-old mother of two is only heard from when getting into trouble for promoting unhealthy diet shakes on Instagram.
6. Nick Cannon (1998-2000) - "Latanya in Dudco Enterprises"
All That Season 6 - Latanya in Dudco Enterprisesyoutu.be
The 38-year-old has gone on to have a short-lived film career, host the improv show Wild 'n Out, manage to stay married to Mariah Carey for eight years, and host America's most popular cringe-worthy talent shows. As current host of the bizarre celebrity singing competition The Masked Singer, Nick Cannon will probably host a whole generation of garbage reality TV unless someone decides to reboot his 2002 teen movie Drumline.
7. Kel Mitchell (1994-1999) - "Good Burger" sketch
Classic Good Burger Sketch w/ the Whole Cast of All That | #TBTyoutu.be
90s kids owe Kel Mitchell a lot for introducing us to Good Burger's Ed, the worst fast food employee to ever not wash his hands after using the faculty bathroom. Mitchell's acting career mostly consisted of guest starring roles until the Nickelodeon Group tapped him to rejoin the network on Teen Nick in Game Shakers, "one of the lowest shows" on Nick network. Recently, he reprised his role as Ed in a "Good Burger" skit on Jimmy Fallon.
8. Gabriel Iglesias (2000) - "Pizza Guy in Class"
Iglesias tried to be funny during his one season on All That. Afterward, he tried to be funny as a professional stand-up comedian. For some mysterious reason, the comedy circuit decided to never let him go, putting him in the spotlight like a hamster on a wheel never getting anywhere. Gabriel Iglesias is forever trying to be funny but to no avail. He's comedy's Sisyphus.
9. Kenan Thompson (1994-1999) - "Ishboo Goes to a Sleepover"
Arguably, Thompson never left All That, since he's been on SNL for 15 years, which has devolved into All That: Drunk Babysitters since Tina Fey's departure in 2006.
10. Amanda Bynes (1996-2000) - "Ask Ashley"
Amidst her highly publicized personal struggles, the 32-year-old actress has elected to become her volatile "Ask Ashley" character.
Clearly, the alumni of the original All That are all adrift in an ocean of despair. There are only two possible explanations for why Nickelodeon would want to bring this show back.
1. Kenan Thompson, along with Brian Robbins, is attempting to sadistically perpetuate this cycle of abuse.
Freshman congressional representative and speaker of truth to power, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez made a very important public statement on Wednesday: she will be the first guest on Desus & Mero, the new late night talk show from Desus Nice and The Kid Mero. AOC joins her Bronx brethren, whose pop-culture commentary first made waves via their podcast before evolving into a Viceland weekly, for the first installment of their premium cable iteration. Desus & Mero premieres February 21 at 11pm on Showtime.
Breaking's Back
Aaron Paul is stepping back into the lab as Jesse Pinkman in an upcoming, feature-length sequel to Breaking Bad. In an unconventional move, the movie will premiere on Netflix before moving to the series original home on AMC. Details remain largely unknown, but sources say the movie will be written and directed by creator Vince Gilligan and "will follow the escape of a kidnapped man and his quest for freedom," according to The Hollywood Reporter. No word on whether or not there will be a Walter White appearance, but Bryan Cranston has signalled he'd be there in a heartbeat. Yeah, bitch!
Amazon to Stay Marvelous
While Amazon may have ditched its deal for NYC headquarters, it's production arm, Amazon Studios, has no plan to get rid of the Marvelous Sherman-Palladinos. The studio has signed an overall deal with Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino, the team behind Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. "We celebrate the critical success...and our extended overall deal with them, which will allow our Amazon Prime audience to continue to enjoy their groundbreaking show and future original series from this incredible duo," said studio head Jennifer Salke at the Television Critics Association winter press tour on Wednesday.
Eve & Villanelle Return
Sandra Oh's killer hair will return in season 2 of Killing Eve, airing on both BBC America and AMC beginning April 7. The latest trailer, released on Thursday, promises more spiraling obsessions, knife porn, and Jodie Comer in comic-themed pjs. We're already obsessed.
And, Finally, Nick's Got Your Nostalgia Fix
Nickelodeon doesn't want their fans to outgrow them. The kids' network has announced plans to hang onto both Gen-Z and Millennial demos, according to Variety. New network president Brian Robbins revealed plans for a reboot of the '90s tween sketch comedy show, All That, to be executive produced by original cast member and current SNL staple Kenan Thompson, as well as potential spin-off shows that focus on Spongebob favorites Patrick, Sandy, or Plankton.
Rebecca Linde is a writer and cultural critic in NYC. She tweets about pop culture and television @rklinde.
Actors and actresses and those behind the scenes and the camera will be decked out in their designer duds, cheer for small screen celebs, and hope to take home a shiny statuette. But there's more to television than scripts and storylines…make room for MUSIC! What better way to kick off this week than with a Music Monday dedicated to the songs and all things surrounding them that made this TV season music to our ears?!
“In The Market For A
Miracle”
A Christmas Story Live! was a television experience for those who love the holiday spirit as much as they do vegging out with a big bowl of popcorn at home. The classic Christmas tale taken to the TV set was fun to watch, and the songs made the season even merrier. And aren't we all in the market for a miracle? This year, the song "In The Market For A Miracle" is nominated for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.
“Totally Gay”/”I’m
Gay”
Another nominee for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics is "Totally Gay"/"I'm Gay" from Big Mouth, a Netflix Original Production. The animated video is full of theatrics and clever lyrics, with a big sound and a big message. Watch for yourself and you'll feel the essence of Queen come to the screen.
“Come Back Barack”
Leave it to the folks at Saturday Night Live to find a way to add even more Emmy noms to their roster. Here we have "Come Back Barack" from the late night comedy show when Chance the Rapper was host. And they've already snagged the honor of Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics (you may recall some awards are handed out pre-air date). The funny fellas from SNL did their thing and did it well. Although, we're pretty sure the current guy in the White House would beg to differ.
Godless Main Title
Theme Music
Fans of Netflix's Godless hear that powerful theme song and just can't wait to "Netflix and chill." Minus the "chill" since their eyes will be glued to the set and their ears will be listening for every familiar note. This theme music already took home the 2018 Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music written by Carlos Rafael Rivera. Congrats!
Marvel’s The Defenders
Main Title Theme Music
A nominee for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music was given to Marvel's The Defenders on Netflix. The anticipation as the music builds gets die-hard fans ready for entertainment that only Marvel can master. This extended cut is captivating and creative.
“Everything’s Alright”
Both John Legend and Sara Bareilles are up for Emmys for their work on the TV version of Jesus Christ Superstar: Live in Concert. Legend was a producer for the show as well as the title lead playing Jesus Christ (with Emmy noms for both categories), and Bareilles played Mary Magdalene in a supporting actress role for which she's in the running to take home. Watch their top-notch performance of "Everything's Alright." And in this clip, it sure is!
Bruno Mars: 24K
Magic Live at the Apollo
The voice, the showmanship, the magic! It's no wonder Bruno Mars is in the running to snag the award for Outstanding Music Direction for his very first special, Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo. This would be his first Emmy and one to be proud of. Check out the energy in this video!
Stranger Things Outstanding Music Supervision
Netflix's Stranger Things is one to watch, and the powers that be at the Emmys took notice. This show is up for an Emmy for Outstanding Music Supervision led by Nora Felder, Music Supervisor. While there's music throughout each episode, from the background to the build-up music, this video offers up an eerie remix of the title theme song.
This Is Us
Outstanding Music Supervision
One of the hottest shows on TV is NBC's This Is Us. From the plotlines to the people playing the parts, this series never gets stale, and the characters are close to our hearts. Jennifer Pyken is the show's music supervision, surely thrilled to be in the running to take home the award. Here you'll watch the This Is Us score suite for a taste of one of television's best.
Elton John: I’m Still
Standing – A Grammy Salute
The 2-hour star-studded salute covering some of Elton John's classics is up for an Emmy for Outstanding Music Direction. Ed Sheeran, Alessia Cara, John Legend, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Kesha, and others took to the stage to join John and prove that his music stands the test of time. "Still Standing," indeed.
Melissa A. Kay is a New York-based writer, editor, and content strategist. Follow her work on Popdust as well as sites including TopDust, Chase Bank, P&G, Understood.org, The Richest, GearBrain, The Journiest, Bella, TrueSelf, Better Homes & Gardens, AMC Daycare, and more.
