Since MADtv aired the cast members we grew to love have done many things. They've been on television shows, movies, and even sidekicks on popular radio shows. You would think that there is nothing else that a cast member could have accomplished, but next month will be a first, as a cast member of ours who kept us smiling even during the darkest hours of the show will grace the cover of a magazine, but not just any old magazine. For those of you trying to guess who it is I will give you a hint. She's short, her name sounds like part of a dessert, and she often injured herself while trying to make meals in a hurry.

If you haven't guessed who it is by now, it is our one and only Miley Cyrus impersonator herself Crista Flanagan, and the magazine she will don, is not just any regular magazine like GQ, or People, it is a magazine that has made it by showing the revealing parts of women, that magazine that I am talking about is Playboy Magazine. That's right. That is not a typo. Our Crista will be appearing on the cover of friggin' Playboy Magazine!

Now even though Crista was a cast member on MADtv for 5 years, and I think we can all agree that that is where her best, and most famous work was, the world and its inability to notice great shows like MADtv fails to agree with us. That is why the magazine will not be centered around Crista's great 5 years at MADtv, but will focus on her 4 seasons of not even full time cast membership on another "MAD" show, AMC's Mad Men.

Due to Mad Men's 60's style look and premise, the 2 covers Crista will don, are both throwbacks to classic covers the magazine had in the 60's, because before this internet thing came along, people had to satisfy there need to see naked women by looking at them in something called a "picture" on "paper" (it's like a streaming video, but it's just one scene that doesn't move, on a thin peace of something that is put in the magazine so people could see it). One is from the beginning of the decade in which Crista imitates Toni Lacey November 1960 cover with an impression that was surely missed by MADtv, and the second (and I think we can all agree more attractive one) is from the end of the decade featuring Crista in the great tie no shirt combination made famous by Sharon Kristie on the April 1969 cover. According to the cover of the magazine, the inside is "An Eight-Page Homage to Cold Martini's and Naked Secretaries Starring Crista Flanagan". Both covers can be seen below you, including the image it was based off of.



Now, even though Crista is in the magazine and on the cover, there are still things we do not know. Will Crista be appearing fully nude in the magazine? Will she just Olivia Munn it and just fill it with hand bras, and tastefully covered up shots? Will MADtv be talked about for half of the interview she gives, or none at all? Will this open the door for other former cast members to appear nude in the magazine like the Nicoles or Arden? We will have to wait and see, but what I do know is that this is a big moment for a cast member who entertained us for so many years, and I encourage all of you to go out and buy the magazine when it comes out tomorrow!

P.S.: The Playboy cover won't be the only thing that Crista appears in come August, as she will also be appearing in the new Friedberg, Seltzer spoof film Vampires Suck coming out August 28th. She will be playing the adopted vampire mother to Edward Sullen (Edward Cullen in the real films), that was originally played in the Twilight films by Elizabeth Reaser, but seeing as it has already been released via work print on the internet, and that it's made by Friedberg and Seltzer, she appears in only one scene, and the movie is made by the same douchbags who made Disaster Movie, Epic Movie, and Meet the Spartans, let's just forget she is appearing in this. But if you would like to see the small scene she has in the trailer, and curse the lord as to why those dumb and dumbers get to keep making movies you can see it here.

UPDATE: So the magazine has been released, and I can now confirm that Crista is indeed nude in the magazine. Now though this is a big moment for one of our best MAD members, I must tell you all that there will be no pictures posted regarding Crista's nudity on this site. Certain logistics prevent us from showing them. If any of you post them they will be removed. If you do wish to see them, we can only suggest searching Google. Sorry for any inconvenience the site may have caused to any of our members and our guests.

Hey there, Planet... er uh... Sketch. What's up?

First off, I'm not dead.

Secondly, I just wanted to let you know, if you're interested, that a live sketch show I'm doing called Lost Moon Radio is playing this week during the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Backstage West just called it "hilarious," "intelligent," and a "too-rare theater occurrence." And LAist made it their Editor's Pick.

Anyway, if you're in the L.A. area, check out our show and stick around to say hi afterwards. Here's our page on the festival's main site where you can get tickets:

http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/project/view/105

Thanks, guys. I have another really cool sketch-related project in the works, but I'll need to wait just a bit longer before I can spill the beans on that one.

Ah, screw it, here's a sneak peak.

Talk to you soon!

- Dan

See, I told you all, I told you all it would be back!!! In all your faces! That's right people MAD is returning in 2010, but as you have noticed not in the way you think, as the Cartoon Network announced today that they have picked up a show based on MAD Magazine, that will be a sketch comedy show, only it's going to be animated.

It is described as "an animated sketch-comedy series utilizing a chaotic mix of animation styles and twisted humor to pull back the curtain and expose the truth behind movies, TV shows, games, pop culture and, of course, curtains!" Ok, so it's not really like MADtv is returning, but it will feature sketches with Alfred E. Neuman, and Spy vs. Spy, which is a throwback to the classic MADtv days.

I know most of you won't think that this is MADtv, or even close, but to me, with this show, and the possibility of MADtv 2.0 possibly coming on Fox, this is all proof that you can kill MADtv, but it'll still live on, even if it's only as a host inside other shows bodies. You can kill MADtv, but you can't kill MADtv's spirit!

On February 25th 2008, MADtv fans were stunned when they found out that Anjelah Johnson, the promising young feature player who's Bon Qui Qui character found immense popularity, not like any other sketch before it through Youtube, was fired after her mere 4 episode contract was through. Though this was a surprising blow for such a talented cast member, many of us could probably tell that this girl was going to go places beyond the show, and as we enter the end of 2009, that is starting to happen, as Anjelah is now in the movies, co-starring with some of the most talented and popular actors today. Along with the movies, Anjelah is set to star in a something very few comedians ever get, that will surely solidify her as one of the best young comedians today.

Let's first start with her movie roles. The first big role Anjelah is in is a role which has her moulding the young and small minds of children. These children however, have a very interesting handicap. That handicap being that they are chipmunks. No she is not a chipmunk trainer, she is the teacher of high voiced chipmunks in the new "Alvin and the Chipmunks" movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel" released earlier this week. However, what might be better is not the role she plays, but the person who plays her love interest. That person is no other than the star of "Chunk" himself Zachary Levi who is in love with her. Her first big movie role and she gets to be the love interest of Zachary Levi. Not a bad way to begin her movie career.

Another movie that Anjelah has forthcoming is "Our Family Wedding" which has her playing the annoying sister opposite of "Ugly Betty" star America Ferrera. She also has a yet to be named role in the movie adaptation of the lovable dog Marmaduke starring Judy Greer, William H. Macy, and voice starring Owen Wilson, and Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson among others.

These movie roles are great for a rising young actress like Anjelah, but she has still not forgotten her stand up comedy roots, as tonight she will be bestowed with an honour that very few comedians ever get to have. Tonight, Anjelah will be performing in her first ever "Comedy Central Stand Up Special". A true achievement for any stand up comedian.

Anjelah may be one of the shortest serving cast members in MADtv history, but it is clear that MADtv was not the end of her career like it has been for so many. MAD was just a stepping stone, but with the exposure of Bon Qui Qui among other things, it was a valuable stepping stone. Anjelah is climbing the entertainment ladder, and the top looks to be endless right now.

Interview with Anjelah, and a trailer for "Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel" containing Anjelah here.

Where would we be in this world if we didn't have people like PETA, and the Parents Advisory Council to tell us what is bad in the world? Could we live? Could we exist without these watchdogs telling us what's inappropriate or not?

This past Saturday's SNL episode featured a sketch involving the controversial Tiger Woods situation, in which Tiger (played by Kenan Thompson) is progressively beaten by his wife for sleeping with other women (for summary, see link above). The sketch seems sound, but it is addressing a lot of controversy. You see, on any other night, this sketch would have most likely gone without a whisper, but it didn't due to the musical guest Rihanna. For those who cannot remember, back in February, Rihanna had a little incident with former boyfriend Chris Brown, in which he beat her up, in one of the most memorable acts of domestic abuse in recent super stardom.

Well, remembering this, some anti-abuse activists worked into there brains that SNL was making fun of this incident with an unrelated story, and the roles switched. So now there is some anger towards SNL for making such an obvious parody of a serious event.

Are they valid here, or are they overreacting? If Rihanna wasn't in this episode, would it have made any difference? Did it offend you? What say you?

Link to article here.

For 2009 years, people have come together around this time to remember the birth of a little baby called Jesus. For almost that long, SNL has come together around this time for the last 35 years to remember the birth in there own special way. Wheather it's Gumby's Christmas special or the introduction of the newest Christmas treat Schweddy Balls, SNL has roasted Christmas like a plump turkey. To honour the Christmas season, SNL will be writing another chapter on to there Christmas legacy with a best of Christmas 2-hour specialpalooza.

To host this special will be none other than Kristen Wiig's most beloved character of all time Gilly. Gilly will be dancing and strutting the stage as she introduces some of SNL's most classic sketches. Gilly won't be the only one manning the helm for the night, as soon to be Oscar hosts Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin will be stopping by to introduce some of there classic sketches.

What do you all think. Should the hosting right be going to Gilly? Is 2 hours too long for a Christmas special? Would they have been better off sticking with the special they did in 2002 with Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon? Let your voice be heard here!

The special will air Thrusday the 17th from 8:00-10:00.

Hello Planet MADtv... I mean Planet Sketchcom.

I hope you are all doing well. I wanted to say hello and let you know about some stuff I've been doing. I did a guest spot on NCIS and some commercials, but for the most part have been busier doing theatre than TV.

I have been improvising at iO West and Second City LA as well as traveling a bit. I went to China (Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong) earlier this year to do some improv shows and performed in the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival. Matt Braunger was there too. He did stand up, I did a non-verbal sketch comedy show called Reverie. Sounds interesting, right? It was a fun and challenging experience, reviews for Reverie were very good.

I do weekly shows in LA at Second City with two groups: FrankenMatt and DITKA.

FrankenMatt is me and my fellow Second City alum, Matt Craig. We improvise and do sketch and have done lots of touring and festivals. In my humble opinion, we are really good. Audiences and reviewers agree:

• "Future rock stars of comedy." --Chicago Tribune
• "A+" --Charleston City Paper
• "Sketch comedy at its best." --The Digitel
• "Nothing short of amazing." --LAist.com

We just got back from the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival. We had a ball and rocked both shows.

Check out FrankenMatt.com (basically a MySpace page reroute). We are improvising at Second City in LA every Tuesday at 10pm. We are also doing our sketch show at UCB LA on January 21st, 2010 at 8pm. I do DITKA every Wednesday at 10pm at SCLA. If we're ever in your neighborhood of a show, swing by. You'll laugh.

DITKA is an improv show with some SC alums: Maribeth Monroe, Brian Gallivan, and Marc Warzecha. In October, I did a staged pilot called Ghostfighters with Jordan Peele that Marc and Maribeth wrote.

If you're interested, join the group FrankenMatt on Facebook, follow @FrankCaeti on Twitter, and follow this douchebag as well: @BroNumberOne.

Have a great day. Thanks for reading.

Frank

Looks like the newer cast members aren't the only ones getting into the former MADtv cast member in newer roles party, as Orlando Jones is coming back to the network that got his start, as he will be playing Marcus Foreman, the brother of Eric Foreman (Omar Epps) on the hit Fox tv show "House".

Marcus, according to Entertainment Weekly has been a long lost member of character Eric's family tree. Unseen on the show, and only mentioned in passing. The reason for Marcus's large scale invisability on the show has been due to him being incarcerated, which he will be up for release when he and Eric reunite. The reason for his incarceration may be due to the troubled childhood he and Eric were placed in. According to the source, main character Gregory House will be "sticking his nose where it doesn't belong" when Eric and Marcus reunite.

At this point, being a former MADtv cast member is looking more and more like a profitable decision outside of the show than ever before, as MAD cast members are getting more work outside of the show than ever before. It really makes you wonder who will be the next former cast member to enter the party. Mo? Debra? At this point it could be anyone, and I can't wait to see who will be next.