SNL Shakeout: Changes in Store For Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock

With Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch already leaving the nest to work on their own sitcom, NBC’s 30 Rock, Lorne Michaels finds himself in a situation where he’ll have to cut even more talent from Saturday Night Live. Citing budgetary concerns from the network, Michaels will announce how he plans to pare down the cast before Labor Day. “We want to get the cast closer to 10, as opposed to the 15-16 that were there the year before,” he said. The current cast includes Darrell Hammond, Chris Parnell, Maya Rudolph, Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler, Fred Armisen, Will Forte, Finesse Mitchell, and Kenan Thompson, as well as recent newcomers Jason Sudeikis, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, and Kristen Wiig.

30 Rock, another Lorne Michaels produced show, has also announced a change concerning Rachel Dratch. Originally set to play a regular role in the cast of the 30 minute “show within a show” based on SNL, Dratch will now play a variety of characters who will make their way onto the set either in recurring roles or in a one-time appearance. The Tina Fey led sitcom will focus on behind the scenes feuds and struggles between Fey, Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan as they strive to make “The Girly Show” a hit.

Many have called for a shakeup of SNL, whose on and off years in terms of quality are of a cyclical nature. My speculation would be that the current cast of SNL will be cut down to less than ten, with one or two new additions, hopefully along with some new writing talent to inject some life in the franchise set to start it’s 32nd season. As far as Dratch is concerned, the move to change her role on 30 Rock is a gimmick at best. You would think that viewers only catching an episode here and there of the new show would scratch their heads on why Dratch was appearing as a new character every time they tuned in. Her job security on the Rock appears to be tenuous already.

Source: Variety

Update: Adding insult to injury for Rachel Dratch, former Ally McBeal star Jane Krakowski has been given Rachel’s previous, meatier role.

tedzee | Permalink | August 16 2006 | Comments (View)