SNL 40: Selection of Memorable Sketches.

http://youtu.be/bg8NS6s0fkw

http://youtu.be/dMZFpf-1wp0.

http://youtu.be/UdHwCTwwhlk

http://youtu.be/USHPc90MPl8

http://youtu.be/KDK9HAZoBIk

http://youtu.be/Qz1hYXpdk1U

http://www.hulu.com/watch/4189

http://www.hulu.com/watch/4136#i2,p0,d0

Bill Cosby as America's Nanny--then and now.

Summary of Bill Cosby's recent appearance on THE DAILY SHOW:
http://t.entertainment.msn.com/bill-cosby-to-jon-stewart-cursing-makes-me-cry

And, for some historical context, here's Eddie Murphy talking about being lectured by Bill Cosby (from EDDIE MURPHY RAW with NSFW content):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0aKNwsrtXw

Brett Ratner does it the "Old Hollywood" sexist/gay-panic way..

http://www.deadline.com/2011/11/brett-ratner-out-as-oscar-producer/
http://www.deadline.com/2011/11/brett-ratner-explains-his-oscar-resignation/

Adding my perspective to the above:
Brett Ratner's distasteful, unnecessary and regrettable incident (referring to the too-common use of "fag" or "gay" as a synonym for "weak"/"weakling") proved to one of the most egregious examples of reckless and thoughtless "guy's guy" Hollywood behavior since ex-New Line majordomo/now producer Mike De Luca was the recipient of a woman's public sex act at an A-list Hollywood party:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,282635,00.html

I can't help but wonder what Ratner's career as a producer/director of mainstream star-driven movie/TV entertainment would be like if he put all his attention into making better product (certainly TOWER HEIST could and should have been more than it is)--and less to emulating the never-will-completely-go-away sexist/homophobic "player" behavior prevalent in Hollywood male power figures.

Random thoughts after seeing THE HELP's Octavia Spencer on THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO.

1. Octavia Spencer seems like a smart person doing a lot of eye-rolling, face-pulling schtick to make nice with "Middle America."
2. If Octavia Spencer wins a supporting actress Academy Award next year for THE HELP, then she'll use it for higher-salary leverage towards co-starring with Janet Jackson in Tyler Perry's WHY DID I GET MARRIED THREE.
3. Safe to guess what Eddie Murphy as Academy Awards host won't say next year if Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis both win Academy Awards....for playing maids (the time-honored role going back to the more overtly racist Hollywood days when even Billie Holiday in a rare acting appearance in the 1940s was cast as a domestic servant).
4. Safe to guess what Chris Rock might have said if he had been allowed to host the 2012 Academy Awards.
5. I'm sorry, but I can't bring myself to see THE HELP.  It looked like a big cartoon mess from the trailer--and the clip with Ms. Spencer, Ms. Davis and Emma Stone on last night's TONIGHT SHOW didn't alter my opinion at all.
6. I'm really sorry, but it's hard for me to wrap my mind around what's so allegedly uplifting about a film climaxing with a sequence involving a pie made from excrement.  Guessing, though, that the aforementioned scene gets PORKY's-sized laughs and cheers from most audience members.

John Lesher and Brad Weston to be demoted to production deals at Paramount.

Here's Nikki Finke's DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD DAILY column with updates on the fates of two studio execs (John Lesher and Brad Weston) at Paramount: http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/exclusive-paramount-shakeup-john-lesher-to-exit-as-studio-president-soon/

Assuming the above has to do with flopping mainstream product such as Eddie Murphy's IMAGINE THAT and the Wayans' comedy DANCE FLICK and fears that the upcoming G.I. JOE might not make enough megamoney.

It's safe to predict that you'll see a lot more small, big-star-free product being churned out--with few attempts at quality films like those Lesher supervised at Paramount Vantage [THERE WILL BE BLOOD, DEFIANCE].

SLATE.com on the comic book HOWARD THE DUCK--and the fowl movie made from it.

Some essential reading from Keith Phipps, who writes for THE ONION's AV Club section: http://www.slate.com/id/2214067/

The cinematic HOWARD THE DUCK, along with 1984's snide, sour, deservedly-forgotten BEST DEFENSE (which at least had a good David Rasche supporting performance), offers ample explanation as to why Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck (who deserve a positive place in film history for their work on the screenplay for George Lucas' AMERICAN GRAFFITI) won't be remembered for their on-their-own spasms of auteurism.

HOWARD THE DUCK should be remembered for waste and misuse of its human actors--such as Tim Robbins (who, as Phil Blumburtt, plays the Missing Link between Dan Aykroyd and Rainn Wilson), Lea Thompson and Jeffrey Jones.

Don't forget the hideous duck suit and the yuppie-izing of Howard's anarchic-in-comic-books character as well.