Bitch, pleeeeze. That sums up my reaction to the news that Saturday Night Live has dropped the hilarious Michaela Watkins from the cast. In just one short year, Watkins gave birth to a slew of memorable characters and impersonations, most notably bitchpleeze.com blogger Angie Tempura and Today’s Hoda Kotb. (Watkins’ co-star Casey Wilson was also axed.) What the heck was Lorne Michaels thinking? Dude’s not talking so I tracked down the next best thing: Michaela herself.
What was Lorne Michaels thinking?
MICHAELA WATKINS: I don’t think anyone knows what Lorne Michaels was thinking. That’s one of the exciting things about him. If he were to vanish the show would just freeze. Not a single thing would be shot because so much hinges on him.
What explanation did he give you?
WATKINS: The only explanation I got from him — and he’s not known to say things just to make people feel better — was that he felt deep down that I should have my own show. And I agreed. SNL was a dream come true for me. It was a fantastic year. I don’t have any regrets.
Lorne fired you because he thought you were good enough to get your own show? What am I missing here?
WATKINS: You tell me. I honestly don’t know. What he said is he’s trying to get what’s best for him and best for me. He said it had nothing to do with talent. And I’m just going to go on that. That was his only explanation. He’s looking at the whole mix of the show and maybe he feels that what I bring would be better served on a sitcom. They hired two new gals [Jenny Slate and Nasim Pedrad] that I think are going to be exquisite.
What was your reaction?
WATKINS: Shock. And sadness [because] it just felt premature. But on some level I feel like there are so many opportunities and things that I want to do in the future and now they’ll just happen sooner rather than later.
Did you and Lorne get along?
WATKINS: Yes. I really like him. I have a ton of respect for the man. He’s also a businessman and he thinks about things that I don’t think about and that might be reflected in this decision. I think this was more of a business decision than it was about talent. I know how much [airtime] featured players get and I surpassed my own expectations.
Have you heard from any of your former cast members?
WATKINS: Yes. They’ve been terrific. Last night we went out and had a farewell dinner with a lot of wine. [Laughs]
What’s next? Are you going to take Lorne up on his advice and pursue your own show?
WATKINS: Yes. I just want to make people laugh, and I want to do that the best way possible.
What do you think of SNL’s decision to drop Watkins? Sound off below!
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This is HORRIBLE!! She was the next Kristin Wiig on the show. I looked forward to her regular segments. Lorne, you silly little man!!
And he somehow kept craptastic Casey Wilson?!?! This is weirdness…
No, the article says Casey Wilson was fired, also.
No, the article said he also fired Casey Wilson, who is absolutely terrible and has never once gotten a laugh out of me, so I’m for sure happy she’s gone. I don’t know how she lasted more than that half a season after the strike.
I will miss the “bitch please” segments during Update. Running over to hulu right now to watch the last one she did with Timberlake.
I was a fan of BOTH women, and it’s too bad they’re both gone now. (Yet they’re keeping the not-very-good Abby Elliott?!?)
Did you not read in parenthesis that they axed Casey Wilson too. You do know that axed means fired don’t you. Pay attention please.
Casey Wilson got fired too, you twit.
though i do agree with you, she isn’t funny at all. And Michela does deserve her own show.
beotch puhleeze stop being mean.
I kove Kristn Wiig, But Michaela Watkins was 10 times as funny as she will ever be. Bad move SNL.
Loren, Bitch Pleazzzzzzze WTF. This is either a great decision as you have made so many or everyone will again repeat after me WTF
It’s not really fair to her, but she is extremely funny and does deserve her own show! Go Michaela!
If Michaela gets her own show, for her own sake, I hope it’s NOTHING like the stupid and insipid “Parks & Recreation” show that Amy Poehler is doing…or did… I don’t even know if it got cancelled or not.
unfortunately it didn’t get cancelled…horrible show
Lorne is an old man stuck in a 70’s man mindset. The women are the only reason to watch SNL anymore.
Wow, I have to stick up for Lorne, even though I loved Michaela, Lorne obviously had a reason and SNL has been running for 30 years so he’s doing something right! I tune into SNL weekly and sometimes it disappoints but I still tune in. I see MADTv is gone even though the talent there was huge in small pockets. Maybe he is working on her behalf and will be offering her something else. Don’t condemn just yet. Afterall, 30 Rock sure turns out an audience. And, Lorne if you are looking..please keep bringing Justin Timberlake back he is awesome on that show!
more like, Lorne is a gay man in his 70s who hates women.
Yeah, because all gay men HATE women. How ignorant you are Lily…
Bullsh*t. Bad move, Lorne.
I’m bummed that Casey Wilson was fired too. She was one of the few non-stick figures on TV…and funny, too.
Yes! Casey was woefully underused, but when she was allowed to be funny, she was as good as anyone there.
I adored Casey Wilson. And Abby Elliot is great… give her time to evolve beyond Angelina.
What I don’t get is why Kirstin Wiig is the great lady hope for that show. She has 2 characters tops — nervous shaky voiced girl and random hot girl who is a jerk. Whenever I see that she’s the focal point of a sketch I hit fast forward immediately.
I’m livid over this. When I heard the two new girls were hired, I thought, “Great, SNL will probably promote Michaela and Casey to regular cast member, and then they’d have more than ONE woman in the repertory players.”
But no, Lorne fired Michaela and Casey, and inexplicably kept the horrible Abby Elliot. And now, Kristen Wiig is still the only female regular player and the new ones are merely featured.
Michaela and Casey were GOOD. And I continue to think that Abby Elliot was a nepotism hire. She barely appeared in any sketches last season and the only memorable thing she did was her impression of Angelina Jolie. She had zero resume before coming to SNL.
Bad move, Lorne. Bad. Also, how does Kenan still have a job? Every character he does sounds exactly the same?
You are soooo right! Thanks – now I don’t have to write a big long post. Abby Elliot probably got to keep her job because she took NO chances and didn’t get enough lines to prove she was bad…except for the excruciating AJ impression, wherein she pouts and asks about babies. OLD and not funny when it was new! I will miss Casey and Michaela and their quirky wackiness sooo much.
casey wilson is the worst person to ever be on SNL ever. her impression of mad men’s joan was worse than the bubonic plague
wasn’t a true Casey Fan… but I feel bad for her, but she was there much longer than she should have been- and never funny… Definitely Michaela Watkins fan! now I can go to sleep at a normal hour!- as there is no reason to try to watch! I bet Abby stayed because of who her father is; Michaela got there on pure talent! Is it age discrimination?
If you think Casey Wilson was bad… you are all forgetting a chunky nugget of awful named Melanie Hutsell.
Why was “Abby Elliot a nepotism hire”? Who is her father??
The great Chris Elliot.
She sucked on the show. As did Casey Wilson. Lorne realized what the audience did months ago. Kristen Wiig was blowing every other female on the show out of the water. They need women who can at least somewhat hold their ground against Wiig.
agreed i couldnt stand her annoying screechy voice the only thing good was the kathy lee and hoda sketches and thats just cause wiig plays klg.
plus neither one of them stood out as weekend update correspondants, which is really what makes a cast member stand out, at least to me (for instance, will forte, armisen, wiig, and hader all have numerous, hilarious characters)
Agreed
Well, NBC can’t pin all of their hopes just on Kristen Wiig. Sorry, but she’s not the ONLY cast member on the show and when she leaves, who’s going to take her place?
Yay. I thought the “bitch please” sketch was rancid.
HORRIBLE DECISION!! I also feel bad for Casey, I thing they passed her over and never gave her a chance to shine. Michaela did shine though and deserved to stay
She was probably my favorite of the newcomers last year. As Hoda with Kristin Wiig as Kathie Lee. Fantastic, and of course as Angie Tempura. What a shame. It would be fantastic to see her own show. This woman is a joy to watch and has great comedic talents… on another note, I can’t say I’m sad to see Casey Wilson go.
I love Michaela. She’s such a sweetheart in person. Luckily for her she’s going to be in a movie coming out next Feb. The Back-Up Plan. Oh Lorne Michael, WTF?
How the hell could he fire 2 of the funniest cast members & yet Keenan is still allowed to recycle the same horrible character in every skit – for 17 years!!!! – WTF?!
Casey was not one of the funniest cast members. She was dreadful. I’m sure she was a very sweet lady, but her voice made me want to dig my fingers inside my head and squish my own brain.
I have no idea why Keenan Thompson is still on the show other than he is African American and they want a show of diversity? He is never ever ever funny and it annoying that he takes up space.
ooh, just looked up on IMDB. Kenan is out. No more! Yay!
they need their token black guy
This really bugs me, and I find the firing of these two hilarious comics shocking. SNL has been seriously lacking in female cast members the past few seasons and I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just add two new featured players instead of letting go two cast members, who have proven their comedic chops, for no apparent reason. SNL needs more female cast members, not less (or the same since they are losing two and gaining two new cast members this season).
Michaela should have stayed but Casey absolutely had to go. End of story.
Yeah, this sucks. Sad to hear about Casey, too. I really saw these two ladies as part of the future of the show. Too bad Lorne only cares what he thinks and not about the opinions of those who actually watch the show. All the best to Casey and Michaela.
those who watch the show generally hate casey. michaela was good though.
CASEY WILSON?! Just when you think SNL can’t get any worse. And you know, I felt like it was on the upswing with this new set of funny chicks. Casey Wilson. Damn. Bad, bad, horrible, terrible move, Lorne.
I mourn the loss of Hoda. I thought for once SNL was going to have a girl-heavy year, especially now that the modern comedy scene is teeming with female talent (take THAT, Christopher Hitchens!)
I’m fine with his decision – I didn’t think either of those women (especially Casey Wilson who just isn’t funny and is not a good actress – incuding in Julie & Julia) really created any character that I found funny. And let’s face it – SNL is supposed to be funny. I think Lorne should hire Heather McDonald from the Chelsea Lately show – she is not only FUNNY, but she’s fearless.
YES!! Heather McDonald is the best!
I agree…Heather McDonald would be a great fit for the show. I enjoyed Michaela on the show, and I just hope these new women are as good or better. Why Keenan is still around…and why they cannot hire more African Americans idk…am I correct in saying SNL has only ever had one African American woman? Ellen Cleghorn?
maya rudolph
Actually, there was a GREAT female African American cast member named Danitra Vance (who sadly passed away a few years ago) that was on the show the year Lorne Michaels returned after a 5 year absence.
I’m not too surprised, especially when I learned a couple of days ago that they hired more female cast members. That sucks. Totally smell the nepotism though with the girl they didn’t fire, although none of them were ever really featured that much anyways.
Well, this just stinks! I loved her Hoda Kotb. And Casey Wilson??? She was super pretty and had a real person figure. Plus, she can write. I dont’ knowif she wrote for SNL but I know she co-wrote Bride Wars. I just naturally presume hers were the funny lines and not the dreadful stuff.
But “Bride Wars” was such a terrible movie! I lost a lot of respect for Casey Wilson when I learned she co-wrote that.
casey wilson was horrible on this show. i am sad about michaela. bitch please has entered my daily vocabulary
A “real person figure”? Maybe in America.
SNL has been a sausage fest for years, for what reason I don’t know. Is Lorne Michaels a misogynist? Maybe. I stopped watching a long time ago because I was tired of the way SNL showcased (or didn’t, as the case more commonly was) its few female castmembers. The only time I do watch SNL these days is when Justin Timberlake is hosting.
If pushed to I could name only a couple of the current cast. She was one of the very few that stood out to me. So yes Lorne, she does deserve her own show. But maybe he could have waited until some opportunities were out there before dumping her on her ass like that.
Lorne Michaels made the best decision possible: get rid of the funny people, so that they do not upstage the remaining 95% of the cast that isn’t even remotely talented, entertaining, or funny. With the exception of one of the Sarah Palin bits, the show has pretty much been the worst thing on TV since they lost Gilda Radnor, Dan Akroyd, Jane Curtain, John Belushi, Eddie Murphy, and Chevy Chase. I long for the days when SNL was funny, and easy to watch. Maybe this season they’ll figure out how to end a skit without ruining the funny before it’s happened.
I have a ton of respect for Lorne Michaels, too. I mean, he’s the reason SNL only gets better and more hilarious each year.
*crickets*
Hands up, who think SNL deserved to stick around after 1979….almost one?
I’m more upset that Keenan is still on the show! Seriously, he’s the worst performer, but then again, Lorne hired Jimmy Fallon as Late Night’s host, and he is awful (despite having some immensely talented people around him like Steve Higgins).
SNL has a great cast (Hader, Sudeikis, Armisen, etc) but has been having horrible writing for a while now. Lorne should probably think about retiring, he’s clearly losing it with age.
The last time Lorne left the show, it turned out so horrible. Although the loss of Michaela wasn’t the best decision, it won’t get any better with him leaving.
Boo. Bitchpleez was one of the only quotable skits of the year. “Zac Efron — more like Zac so effin wrong.” Priceless.
Lorne what the wrongeffzac were you thinking?
Bitch Pleeze!
more like Zac “what the EFF is WRONG with you?” much funnier.
SNL? what’s that stand for? So Not Laughing? bitch please….
She was hilarious as the bitchpleeze.com blogger. I’ve seen that skit like 20 times, and I still bust out laughing each time. And that’s the way I say bitch please now. Ha. This is lame. Casey Wilson was good too. She was consistent. Bad choice.
Yeah, Casey was consistent. Consistently unfunny.
I think Michaela was fired because she’s too similar to Kristin Wiig.
I think you’re right. I think that If I was Kristen Wiig, I would throw around whatever weight I could to get rid of a new cast member that was clearly not only my comic equal, but outclassed me in every way. In three years, we’re going to look at Kristin Wiig’s stuff and feel guilty for ever thinking it was funny. Because it’s not. And of course Abby Elliot’s been kept around due to Nepotism. She’s not funny.
Kristin Wiig isn’t funny? Really?!? She’s the best part of the show and has created some of the best modern characters and impersonations. Her stuff will stand up for quite a while. Michaela was a wonderful cast member, but she’s not Wiig’s comic equal by any stretch.
You know, you’re right. Kristen Wiig can be funny, when she’s actually interacting with others. It’s the skits where its just her mugging and acting “zany” that get old really fast. Like pretty much every skit she was in last season. She’s not as funny as she thinks she is, and being the elder stateswoman and as popular as she is, audiences can look forward to a lot more “Gillie” and “Aunt Weirdo” type characters in the coming season.
While no one will ever match the creative ability of Gilda, who was a genius, there have been some very funny ladies on SNL. Kristen Wiig is NOT one of them – she’s one-dimensional. In the vast majority of her skits, her characters are performed exactly the same. I watch the show so rarely now that I’m not familiar with Michaela and Casey, but after reading all the comments, it sure seems Lorne axed the wrong cast member.
Agree 100% about the unfunniness of Kristen Wiig. She takes over every sketch with her repetitive one-note acting out, which ultimately goes nowhere. I can’t tell if it’s the lazy writers, willing to pimp out her unrelenting wackiness instead of make a sketch with a beginning-middle-end structure, or if she demands the attention. Her M.O. is have a physical distinction and never let anything else in the sketch eclipse that. She’s worse than Cheri Oteri.
Wow, I thought I was the only one who wasn’t in love with Kristen! I feel so much better now. Yes, she can be very funny, but now it’s old and she just grates on me. Nobody deserves to be made fun of more than Kathie Lee, but after about 30 seconds Kristen is just annoying and not funny.
I liked CW and ML both a lot. Abby needs to go.
No. Kristen Wiig is hysterical. The Gilly character – not that funny. But Penelope? Some of her others? Even when she’s acting normal – her delivery is fantastic. She’s not as popular as she is on accident; she’s quite talented.
Kristen Wiig isn’t the problem, Canadian a-hole Lorne is! Him and stumps like you
I don’t see how they kept Abby and not Michaela. Was the Angelina impression great enough to keep only her? If one went, they both should’ve gone. Now onto the bigger news: NOT CASEY!!!!
Keenen is the worst cast member ever. HE should have been fired instead.
I sure agree with this! he laughs through every sketch
This is stunning. Michaela’s impersonation of Hoda Kotb was THE funny breakthrough skit of last season. It was last year’s Rosanne Rosannadanna. What’s so really odd about this is that, as someone who has watched this show since the first episode in 1975, the only way to tolerate how really bad it is now most of the time is via the DVR. You can tell in 20 seconds if a skit’s going to suck. And almost every time Michaela was in a skit she made me laugh. I sense something totally apart from talent is happening here. She should keep doing her Hoda Kotb skit with Kristen. What a bummer she won’t be. LORNE CHANGE YOUR MIND!!!
Can we get a reaction from Casey Wilson? I’m kind of surprised about that – maybe she’s done too many movies?