Hopefully, “SNL’s” new black female castmember won’t be stuck playing only black female celebs
That’s how “SNL” can achieve real diversity with the hiring of Sasheer Zamata, says James Poniewozik. “hat will make Zamata’s hire worthwhile, for her and for the show, is making sure that she gets written great, memorable characters who aren’t black female celebrities as well,” he says. “It’s the difference between being an African American woman SNL star (a funny performer who is black and female) and being the African American woman SNL star (a performer who’s specifically there to be black and female).” PLUS: A video guide to Zamata’s work, she has her own web series, “Pursuit of Sexiness,” and happy 30th birthday, Kate McKinnon.
Stephen Colbert will make his Super Bowl ad debut, pitching pistachios in 2 commercials
Wonderful Pistachios has hired Colbert to replace Psy as its new brand ambassador.
How to create the perfect “Bachelor” contestant
Be between the ages of 24 and 26, be from California, Chicago or Florida and be employed by a beauty-related industry. PLUS: That “Bachelor” tribute to Gia Allemand was “gross,” and create a “Bachelor” fantasy league.
NFL is worried about Esquire network’s “Friday Night Tykes”
The show about football players under 10 years old has the NFL concerned. “The trailer is definitely troubling to watch,” says an NFL spokesperson.
NBC News denies a report that Ann Curry’s contract isn’t being renewed
Says an NBC spokesperson: “It’s completely untrue, and, as a matter of fact, she’s going on a big assignment for NBC News this week.”
FX puts “Chozen” on Xbox One 1 week before its TV debut
The animated comedy is now available to watch for users of the Microsoft service.
3D TV is essentially dead
Vizio today became the first major TV manufacturer to announce it is quitting 3D TV.
About that “Good Wife” surprise cameo
“They called my agent and said would I do a cameo as myself?” says the person who played himself. PLUS: “Carl Reiner and Steve Martin came to our rescue.”
Watch a preview of PBS’ Stephen Hawking documentary
“Hawking” is narrated by Hawking himself.
Katee Sackhoff: I was rejected for the “Wonder Woman” TV show
“I’d love to play Wonder Woman,” she tells Total Film. “I remember auditioning for the Wonder Woman television show and being told that I wasn’t the Wonder Woman type, but if I wanted to play the best friend, I could audition for that. And remember thinking to myself, ‘You obviously haven’t seen my work!'”
Emma Roberts gets engaged to her “American Horror Story” co-star
She’s set to marry Evan Peters.
“2 Broke Girls” stars enlist their sitcom writers to help write People’s Choice Awards jokes
“What they have planned is amazing,” says Beth Behrs. “It’ll be interesting and fun for people to see us as ourselves – but a heightened stage version of ourselves.”
Men who dress up as dolls get their own British TV special
“Welcome to the secret world of female masking,” says the trailer for “Secrets of the Living Dolls.”
“Pretty Little Liars” star Troian Bellisario reveals eating disorder, self-harm past
“I kept a lot of it bottled up inside, and it turned into self-destructive behavior,” she says in an interview with Seventeen magazine.
Alec Baldwin grills Robert Osborne in a TCM special
“It seemed very strange having someone like Alec, so prominent in his career, ask me questions rather than the other way around,” the 81-year-old Osborne says of tonight’s “Private Screenings” special.
Is NBC going too far with its “Chicago PD” campaign?
On Twitter, the fictional Chicago cops are portrayed as angry, perhaps too aggressive.
Roku announces Roku TV
Roku will be selling its own brand of smart TV sets.
“Teen Wolf” is back with “more adult” episodes
“It’s definitely gone darker,” says the show’s creator.
Why did ESPN show a weird infomercial for Tim Tebow?
“Sunday NFL Countdown’s” five-minute segment on ESPN’s new hire seemed to have no news value.
Showtime also puts online the “House of Lies” and “Episodes” season premieres
You can watch the full episodes online now.
7 shows that need an aftershow
From “Scandal” to “SNL.”
“Sex and the City’s” 107 men, ranked
Is Mr. Big No. 1?
PBS tacks on 15 minutes to the “American Masters” J.D. Salinger documentary
“Salinger” will have a longer run on TV, compared to the theatrical version.
Elle creates covers with Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Zooey Deschanel and Allison Williams
Their part of the Women in TV issue.
Watch the 1st episode of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s variety show
“HitRECord on TV” premieres on Sundance Channel on Jan. 17.
See pics from “The Vampire Diaries'” 100th episode
“500 Years of Solitude” airs Jan. 23.
Chilli: I’m not dating Wayne Brady
“Don’t believe everything u read,” tweets the TLC star.
Voice of Yukon Cornelius from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” dies
Voice actor Larry D. Mann was 91.