Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin is scheduled for tonight’s Saturday Night Live, although no one has said exactly what she’ll be doing. There was speculation when the idea first came about that she would spoof Tina Fey, the way Fey has skillfully spoofed her for a few weeks now. Then came speculation that she would play herself, in the vein of Hillary Clinton’s visits to the SNL. Palin herself never said what she’d do, just that she’d be doing it, until Friday when she spoke to Neal Boortz. From her statements, I’m not sure she understands the Saturday Night Live concept.

“I just want to be there to show Americans that we will rise above the political shots that we take because we’re in this serious business for serious challenges that are facing the good American people right now,” Sarah told Neal Boortz on his syndicated radio show today.

[From OK! Magazine]

Someone should really tell Sarah that Saturday Night Live isn’t serious business for the serious challenges facing Americans right now. It’s respite from those things. No one goes to Loren Michaels when they want to prove anything other than their ability to laugh at themselves and be funny. I’m not sure Palin has that ability, especially after that comment.

It would be golden if they had Sarah Palin, herself, in “serious business” mode, debate Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, point, counterpoint. I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do with her, especially if Fey is involved. Even last night on Letterman, Tina wouldn’t confirm that she would be on tonight’s SNL, but she was coy about it, so let’s assume they’ve got something excellent planned.

Sarah Palin and her husband Todd are shown at a rally in Scranton, PA on 10/14/08. Credit: BauerGriffinOnline

Tina Fey’s name recognition has gone through the roof in the last month due to her amazingly accurate spoof of Republican vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Not that she needed it, her TV show, 30 Rock, is a hit and her movies have done very well, but most would feel whatever gets their face in front of more eyes can only be a good thing. Not so much for Fey, though. Tina has declared her intention to drop out of the part, and life on earth, if Palin is elected in November.

Tina Fey opens up about spoofing Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin on “Saturday Night Live!” “If she wins, I’m done. I can’t do that for four years. And by ‘I’m done,’ I mean I’m leaving Earth,” Fey tells TV Guide.

The “30 Rock” star says she’s taking her Palin impersonation week by week. “Election time is always good for [SNL] and this is a bonkers election. And that lady is a media star.”

[From Entertainment Tonight]

It’s universally accepted that Tina Fey was born to play the role, and even Palin supporters recognize the uncanny impersonation, so it would be at least 4-years of job security if there were a McCain/Palin administration. SNL parodies tend to get snarkier once a candidate is in office, too, and Tina is clearly not a fan, so she could really skewer Sarah if that were to happen.

Not that she hasn’t enjoyed the opportunity. She says she likes portraying Palin, and that Sarah is really fascinating and likeable. Fey says she especially liked doing the two sketches with Amy Poehler as Katie Couric and Hillary Clinton. But, it looks like Tina no longer subscribes to her “Bitch is the new black!” philosophy she had when she supported Hillary in the primaries. Who would have thought Tracy Morgan would have things figured out over Tina Fey?

Tina Fey is shown filming scenes for 30 Rock in NY on 10/6/08 with Peter Dinklage and Jane Krakowski. Credit: Bauergriffinonline.com

Talk about awkward. Former cast member Isaiah Washington joined the cast of Grey’s Anatomy on the WGA picket lines on Wednesday. Washington was fired from the show after he “reportedly” referred to gay castmate T.R. Knight as a “f*g.” According to pretty much everyone who was there and has talked about it, Washington was referring to Knight. According to Washington, he was referring to himself and/or Patrick Dempsey (depending on which of his interviews you read) in a derogatory manner. However he definitely repeated the word at the Golden Globes, leading to one of the most awkward cast interviews in history.

The WGA dubbed Wednesday “Diversity Day,” and requested that writers and actors who are gay or a minority show up on the picket line. Washington is currently on NBC’s “Bionic Woman.”

Even without a script, the cast of “Grey’s Anatomy” generated plenty of drama Wednesday when they showed up to support picketing writers outside the fabled Paramount Studios lot. Katherine Heigl, who plays Izzie Stevens, and T.R. Knight, who plays her on-screen love interest George O’Malley, were posing for pictures and giving interviews – when controversial former cast member Isaiah Washington showed up. Washington, who played Dr. Preston Burke, was fired from the show in June amid tension that began when he allegedly used a gay slur to refer to Knight and used the word again during a Golden Globes appearance.

He has since apologized, met with gay leaders and checked into rehab on the advice of his handlers. Grey’s creator and writer Shonda Rhimes [who made the decision to fire Washington], considered one of the most powerful black women in Hollywood, was among those picketing at Paramount. Asked if Washington was with the Grey’s group, Heigl, who had previously publicly criticized Washington told The Daily News, “He’s not with me.”

But Washington denied there were problems with his former co-workers. “They’re former castmates. I’ve been in over 25 movies, I have lots of former castmates.” he said.

[From the Daily News]

Sounds like a pretty awkward reunion to me. And while I’m sure Isaiah Washington has lots of former castmates, to my knowledge he hasn’t referred to any of them with unsavory gay slurs. Frankly if I were in his shoes, I would try to keep a low profile for a few years and do my best to keep getting steady – but not attention-producing – work.

In other WGA strike news, there are some pretty loud rumblings that all of the late night hosts – including Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, David Letterman, Craig Ferguson, and Jimmy Kimmel – will be returning to their shows in mid-to-late January. Though they all stood by their writers and refused to cross picket lines from the beginning, their shows have lost a massive amount of viewership and most of their staff and crew have been fired. No word on how they’ll return. One would assume less or no monologues or sketches, so probably a mostly interview format. Here’s a funny video about the strike starring Saturday Night Live cast member and writer Fred Armisen as fictional studio head/Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers member (they’re the Writer’s Guild’s foes) Roger A. Trevanti.

It’s August 30th, which means there’s only 116 days left ‘till Christmas, so we best whip out the “Dick in a Box” video again. It’s like Christmas in July, but we’re on the quarter system here. It turns out that there actually is a real – and wonderful – reason to tune into the Emmys this year: Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake will be performing their (now) classic holiday song “Dick in a Box.” It’s right up there with “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” now. The lyrically gifted song – a Freudian lovefest and feminist nightmare – is nominated in the Original Music and Lyrics category. But it turns out there’s a bit of controversy of the lyrics – I have no idea why.

“Justin Timberlake doesn’t want to cover up his ‘Dick’ at the Emmys. As I first reported, Timberlake and Andy Samberg are said to be in talks to perform their Saturday Night Live skit ‘Dick in a Box’ at the Primetime Emmys Sept. 16. A source reports that things may have hit a snag because the show’s producers have apparently asked Timberlake and Samberg to change the words of the racy ditty to make it more family friendly. The ceremony airs on Fox at 8 p.m.

“I’m told the singer and the actor have balked at the request. When the holiday-themed skit debuted on SNL in December, the word ‘dick’ was bleeped out 16 times. The skit features Timberlake and Samberg bearing gifts attached to their man parts while crooning to their ladies. The funny thing is that if the Emmys performance were to occur, it’s possible Timberlake and Samberg could have already been named winners by that time, since ‘Dick in a Box’ is nominated for Original Music and Lyrics. It goes up against Family Guy’s ‘My Drunken Irish Dad,’ MADtv’s ‘Merry Ex-Mas’ and double-nominee Scrubs for ‘Guy Love’ and ‘Everything Comes Down to Poo.’ The Original Music and Lyrics award will be bestowed Sept. 8 at the Creative Arts Emmy ceremony, a week before the Primetime Emmys.

[From E! News]

Oh man, I think I just found my dream Emmy category. As much as I love “Family Guy” more than any other show, and admire any song titled “Everything Comes Down to Poo” (because it’s both funny and true) “Dick in a Box” is infinitely better than all the rest. I’ll even dare to say that it’s the greatest 3 minutes of singing ever put on television. Don’t challenge me on this, I will hear no arguments. The song, inspired by ’90s R&B bands, is lyrically genius, as it explains the male psyche more succinctly than any psychologist ever could. It also sounds oddly like most of *Nsync’s Christmas CD – not that I’ve ever heard it, nor do I own it, nor do I play it from the day after Thanksgiving through January 1st – which is okay, because there’s a New Years song on there. Let’s pray that the FOX sensors back down (it’s not like it’s Cock in a Box… thought that’d be funny too) and our television screens are graced with a live performance this September 16th.

Here’s the video one more time, because you know you wanted to watch it again, and were about to head over to YouTube anyway.