Conan O’Brien Hitting the Road
Former “Tonight Show” host Conan O’Brien announced via his wildly popular Twitter page that he is launching a tour that will take him to 30 cities over 2 months beginning April 12.He tweeted, “Hey Internet: I’m headed to your town on a half-assed comedy & music tour.”
The “Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television” tour is being sponsored by American Express and will kick off in Eugene, OR. O’Brien is bringing along his sidekick, comedian Andy Richer and the former “Tonight Show” band.
The show is being described by promoters as “a night of music, comedy, hugging, and the occasional awkward silence.”
Betty White to Host ‘SNL’
Comedic legend Betty White will take up the hosting duties on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” on May 8.
Executive Producer Lorne Michaels said in a statement, “I can’t think of a better way to spend Mother’s Day weekend than with Betty White.”
The announcement comes after a months-long campaign on Facebook to encourage both White and the show to have the 88-year-old host. The fan page attracted almost half a million followers.
White recently told MTV, “Years ago, I turned it down three times. It’s so New York, and I’m not New York at all. But my agent said he'd divorce me if I didn’t do it, and I love my agent.”
She also said, “It’s lovely, and at my age it’s certainly unexpected.”
Reynolds, Bateman Cast in ‘Change-Up’
Actors Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman will star in the upcoming film Change Up from the writers of The Hangover, Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, according to Variety.
Bateman will play a responsible family man who somehow switches bodies with his best friend (Reynolds), a lazy, immature opposite to Bateman.
The film, still in development, will be directed by David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers).
Phil Collins to Receive Coveted Songwriter’s Award
Musician Phil Collins will be honored with the Jonny Mercer Award at the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame Awards dinner on June 17 in New York.
He will join Leonard Cohen, Jackie DeShannon, David Foster, Johnny Mandel, and the members of Earth, Wind & Fire as inductees into the hall.
Hal David, Songwriters Hall of Fame Chairman/CEO, said of the award, “Phil has churned out a massive stream of classic songs that have resonated with audiences around the globe in a career that has won him admiration beyond cultural and linguistic boundaries. In our professional community, he is among the most respected musical creators of our generation.”
