Tag Archives: Saturday Night Live

Aug 12 2014

Remembering Our Friend, Robin Williams

 

By Stacey Longo

 

2014-08-12 13.00.09

The death of comedic genius Robin Williams hits especially hard, because he was a part of all of our lives. My parents’ generation remembers him getting his start as an alien on Mork & Mindy. Gen-Xers remember him as an inspirational teacher in Dead Poets Society, an inspirational therapist in Good Will Hunting, and an inspirational doctor in Patch Adams. For younger generations—for all of us—he will always be Aladdin’s genie. The loss of Robin Williams hurts as much as losing an old friend.

As children, my sister and I laughed right along with my parents at Mork & Mindy, though we didn’t always get the jokes. For us, the monumental moment when Robin Williams really became somebody in our minds was watching his poignant portrayal of the title character in The World According to Garp. Williams’s work in this film showcased his ability not only to be funny, but to be able to portray the struggles and achievements that we all face: hope, betrayal, loss, and redemption. His talent was limitless.

Robin Williams was so interwoven into our daily lives that it will take time to adjust to his absence. Besides his numerous film roles, he sometimes popped up on popular television shows like Saturday Night Live, Happy Days, The Larry Sanders Show, and Friends, among others. Imagine my delight when watching my favorite holiday special, A Wish For Wings That Work, and realizing the voice of the kiwi was someone very familiar to me. Robin Williams was like a well-worn blanket, something to wrap us in comfort on a rainy day.

His death, a suspected suicide, is unthinkable. How could this funnyman, who brought such joy to so many people, kill himself? For those who suffer from depression, it’s particularly hard: if Robin Williams couldn’t handle it, how can I? His drug problems were well documented—his cameo in Bob Woodward’s scandalous Wired: The Short Life and Fast Times of John Belushi was the first indication I saw, about 30 years ago. Williams also made no secret at his attempts, successes, and failures at sobriety, an open book for all to read. Those left behind have to wonder: how could someone so good at making us laugh be so unhappy inside?

It’s a question to which we will never have an answer. Though angry at his method of death, this is not how I choose to remember the beloved comedian. I’m sorry he was so miserable that he felt suicide was the best answer. But I am thankful for the sweet entertainment, the moving portrayals, and above all, the laughs he gave me while he lived.

As a blue genie once said, a woman appreciates a man who can make her laugh. And Robin Williams did that for me, countless times.

Oct 10 2013

Celebrate the Holidays Minion Style with the #1 Comedy of the Year!

DESPICABLE ME 2

 

BE THE FIRST TO OWN IT ON DIGITAL HD NOVEMBER 26, 2013

BRING HOME THE BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK DECEMBER 10, 2013

INCLUDING BLU-RAY™, DVD & DIGITAL HD WITH ULTRAVIOLET

GET THREE ALL-NEW MINION MINI MOVIES NOT SEEN IN THEATERS WHEN YOU BUY THE BLU-RAY

The holiday season just got even brighter with the news that Despicable Me 2, the $872 million worldwide box office phenomenon and the year’s #1 comedy, arrives onBlu-ray™ and Blu-ray 3D™ Combo Packs, DVD and Digital HD including UltraViolet™ on December 10, 2013, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The film will also be available on Digital HD November 26, 2013, just in time for families to watch on the go as they gear up for holiday travel. In addition to more than 45 minutes of hilarious and insightful bonus features, Blu-ray Combo Packs will include, from the makers of Despicable Me, three all-new mini-movies starring the film series’ breakout stars, the mischievous but lovable Minions. For a sneak peek of these mini-movies, and other great weekly offers from Despicable Me 2, call Gru at **DM2 (**362) from your mobile phone.*

“Despicable Me 2 is the top box-office comedy of the year and is poised for spectacular success on home entertainment this holiday season,” said Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “This adored franchise, with its iconic lovable Minions, stands apart from all others and is sure to be at the top of everyone’s wish list this December.”

In this follow-up to the 2010worldwide blockbuster, Steve Carell (The Office, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) returns to play Gru, the newly reformed master criminal now trying to live life as a normal dad to his three adopted daughters. Carell leads a voice cast of comedic powerhouses that includes Kristin Wiig (Bridesmaids,Saturday Night Live), Benjamin Bratt (Miss Congeniality, Snitch), Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly, Despicable Me), Russell Brand (Get Him to the Greek, Hop), Steve Coogan (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,Tropic Thunder), Ken Jeong (The Hangover, Turbo), Elsie Fisher (Despicable Me, Raising Hope), Dana Gaier (Despicable Me) and Moisés Arias (Ender’s Game, Hannah Montana). Despicable Me 2 is hailed as “Brilliant! One of the funniest, laugh-out-loud, most enjoyable movies ever” by MovieGuide.

This Thanksgiving, Manhattan will share a memorable moment of Minion Madness with the world whena brand new Despicable Me 2 float joins the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in celebration of the home entertainment release. Despicable Me 2 will roll out a deliciously decorated cupcake parlor inspired by the hilarious and heartwarming film and featuring Gru, the reformed master criminal turned devoted dad, and a gaggle of his unpredictable helpers, the Minions — including a surprise new character — to keep things lively and entertaining for the film’s millions of fans, both young and old. The 86th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs nationwide on NBC-TV, on Thursday, November 28, 2013 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM in all time zones.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack and Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack include a Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD with UltraViolet.

  • · Blu-ray unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6x the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
  • · DVDoffers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.
  • · DIGITAL HDwith UltraViolet™lets you watch movies anywhere, on any device. Users can instantly stream or download movies to watch on iPad®, iPhone®, Android, smart TVs, connected Blu-ray players, game consoles and more.

Bonus Features Exclusive to Blu-ray Combo Pack & Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack.

  • · Three All-New Mini-Movies Starring the Minions—Introduced by Gru

o Puppy

o Panic in the Mailroom

o Training Wheels

  • · The Making of the Mini-Movies—A fun-filled take on the making of the mini-movies through the eyes of the artists who made them.
  • · Deleted Scene
  • · The Minions—A visit to Illumination Entertainment in Paris and Los Angeles to hear what it’s really like to work with the Minions.
  • · Evil Minions—Bigger, badder and more purple than ever, the newest and fiercest addition to the Minion species can chew through metal and swallow a car. Find out more about the process that led to their creation and design.
  • · A Gru-Some Transformation—A sit-down with Steve Carell as he discusses the transformation of Gru from the ultimate super-villain to super-dad and international spy.
  • · El Hombre Malo: The Villainy Of El Macho—Every great story needs a good villain, andDespicable Me 2 brings on the diabolico in the form of El Macho! Learn about the creation of this character and the actor who brought him to life—Benjamin Bratt.

 

Bonus Features on Blu-ray & DVD

  • · Gru’s Girls—Miranda Cosgrove, Elsie Kate Fisher and Dana Gaier weigh in on working with Steve Carell and playing the daughters of a world-famous super-villain!
  • · Gadgets Galore—Lipstick tasers, magnet ships, foam dart dispensers and jelly guns—these are the nifty gadgets of Despicable Me 2. Illumination Entertainment pulls back the curtain on what it takes to build a world that would leave even James Bond envious.
  • · Feature Commentary With Directors Chris Renaud & Pierre Coffin

 

SYNOPSIS

Gru, his adorable girls, and the mischievous Minions are back with a cast of unforgettable new characters in the blockbuster sequel to the worldwide phenomenon. Just as Gru has given up being super-bad to be a super-dad, the Anti-Villain League recruits him to track down a new criminal mastermind and save the world. Partnered with secret agent Lucy Wilde, Gru, along with the wildly unpredictable Minions, must figure out how to keep his cover while also keeping up with his duties as a father. Assemble the Minions for laugh-out-loud comedy in “one of the funniest, most enjoyable movies ever!” (MovieGuide®)

 

CAST AND FILMMAKERS:

Cast: Steve Carell, Kristin Wiig,Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, Steve Coogan, Ken Jeong, Elsie Fisher, Dana Gaier, Moisés Arias

Directed by: Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin

Screenplay by: Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio

Character Designers: Carter Goodrich, Eric Guillon

Producers: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy

Production Designer: Yarrow Cheney, Eric Guillon

Editor: Gregory Perler, A.C.E.

Original Songs and Themes by: Pharrell Williams

 

TECHNICAL INFORMATION –BLU-RAY 3D

Street Date: December 10, 2013

Copyright: 2013 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Selection Numbers:61127723 (U.S.) 61128861 (CDN)

Running Time: 1 hour 38 minutes

Layers: BD-50

Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.85:1

Rating: PG for “Rude Humor and Mild Action.”

Technical Info: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/DVS DD 2.0 (English); DTS Digital Surround 5.1 (Spanish and French)

Subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish

 

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – BLU-RAY

Street Date: December 10, 2013

Copyright: 2013 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Selection Numbers: 61120670 (U.S.), 61125036 (CDN)

Running Time: 1 hour 38 minutes

Layers: BD-50

Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.85:1

Rating: PG for “Rude Humor and Mild Action”

Technical Info: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/DVS DD 2.0 (English); DTS Digital Surround 5.1 (Spanish and French)

Subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish

 

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – DVD

Street Date: December 10, 2013

Copyright: 2013 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Selection Numbers:61120669 (U.S.), 61125037 (CDN)

Running Time: 1 hour 38 minutes

Layers: Dual Layer

Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1:85:1

Rating: PG for “Rude Humor and Mild Action”

Technical Info: Dolby Digital 5.1/DVS DD 2.0 (English); Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spanish and French)

Subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish