[MADtv] Season 13 of MADtv: Update #2

[blackwind]

Each summer, we at Planet MADtv take it upon ourselves to piece together the upcoming season's prospects from various tidbits found around the web. Generally, the pickings are slim, and nothing we report is particularly earth-shattering. Such is the nature of the show. This year, however, in what I can only describe as an unwelcome change, we have an exclusive that's sure to ruffle a few feathers.

Here's what we currently know:

• Your favorite cast member and mine, Michael McDonald, has stated that he'll be returning for S13. Put away the balloons and streamers, folks -- we have at least one more year to go.
• As previously reported, Bobby Lee is developing an original series for Comedy Central, but he plans to juggle both that and MADtv for the foreseeable future. While this by no means definitively confirms his status for next season, he seems like a safe bet at this point.
• It has been said that Arden Myrin is in and Crista Flanagan is out. Until we receive further confirmation, consider these to be rumors.

As for the show itself, it seems MADtv is currently undergoing major changes in at least three key areas: shooting schedule, format, and cast. Details are scarce at this time, but we're able to confirm that, as of this moment...

• Five cast members are departing. Yes, that's half of the S12 cast.
• Three new players have been hired -- one of whom is Anjelah Johnson.

It's unclear where, if anywhere, mid-season addition Lisa Donovan fits into these figures. Does she count as one of the newcomers, leaving only one more slot available? Is it possible that she'll be the cannon fodder that softens the blow of this mass cast exodus? We'll find out soon enough.

With all that out of the way, I now present to you the Season 13 cast lineup as we currently know it:

Returning: Michael McDonald (confirmed), Bobby Lee (safe bet), Arden Myrin (rumored), [?], [?], [?]
Joining: Anjelah Johnson, [?], [?]
Departing: Crista Flanagan (rumored), [?], [?], [?], [?]

With 2-3 of 6 returning slots already occupied by some of the show's least popular cast members, how many of our favorites will be back in September? Where will these sweeping changes leave a show that was only just beginning to once again rise from its own ashes? And how many death threats will the network executives receive if Nicole Parker hits the ol' dusty trail? Let the speculation begin!

UPDATE (06/28): We've just confirmed that MADtv contracts -- historically, at least -- are five-year deals. Furthermore, to this date, no cast member has ever left the show after four seasons. This means that, if Bobby and Arden are, indeed, returning, this is most likely your final Season 13 cast:

Returning: Keegan-Michael Key, Bobby Lee, Michael McDonald, Arden Myrin, Nicole Parker, Jordan Peele
Departing: Ike Barinholtz, Frank Caeti, Lisa Donovan, Crista Flanagan, Nicole Randall Johnson

This eliminates Lisa Donovan from the proceedings and leaves us with two new featured players yet to be announced. Is it possible this will be the first year we hammer out the complete cast listing before the official announcement is made? Stay tuned to find out! Oh, the drama!

UPDATE (06/30): This report has now been called "pretty accurate" by an alternate source. While our source was unable to provide any further details about the cast (which may signify that we were bang-on), he or she *did* pass along a few more tidbits about the aforementioned "major changes" taking place on the show:

• Shooting has been moved to a different studio.
• Usage of remotes is set to rise sharply.
• Once again, the episode count has dropped -- this time, from 22 to 18.

Doesn't inspire a whole lot of confidence in the possibility of a Season 14, does it?

UPDATE (07/05): Based on an article from the Chicago Sun-Times, we reported yesterday that Keegan-Michael Key, Arden Myrin, Nicole Parker, and Jordan Peele have been rehired for Season 13. Unfortunately, this information was, in turn, primarily based on *our* report, so it holds no more weight than it did previously. We apologize for the misunderstanding.

The Sun-Times article mentions that Frank Caeti and Ike Barinholtz have moved on. This is true. In addition, we can definitively confirm, based on our own research, that Arden Myrin is returning to the show. Beyond that, we know nothing further at this time.

UPDATE (07/12): Details are once again scarce at this time, but it seems we're now looking at 4-6 departures, with six being unlikely, four being entirely possible, and five still being the odds-on favorite. Keep your fingers crossed, folks -- there may be hope for S13 yet!

[wonder8484]

5 cast members departing?? Whoa there!

Thank heavens it won't be Michael McDonald, who in all seriousness is my favorite cast member, Blackwind, and it wouldn't be Nicole Parker either. She's pretty much confirmed she'll be back.

But the departing ones will be, and mark my words: Crista Flanagan, Frank Caeti, Ike Barinholtz, Lisa Donovan, and either Bobby Lee or Nicole Randall Johnson.

The show will be taking a gamble by ridding itself of these performers, but I think it would be a safe bet to say that they fully expect Michael McDonald and Keegan-Michael Key to re-up their contracts after the season. Otherwise, the turnover would be too big for words.

And if the network fired Nicole Parker, it would be the only way, wouldn't it, that a cast member could depart after four seasons on the show. Somehow, I think that even in budget cuts, they wouldn't fire NP.

And then again, the network might decide to fire Jordan Peele if they didn't think he would re-up his contract after the season. Anything's possible. But I doubt it.

Here's the S13 cast as I see it:
Michael McDonald
Nicole Parker
Arden Myrin
Keegan-Michael Key
Jordan Peele
Bobby Lee
And I also suspect, Wikipedia rumor or not, that the show will bring back Will Sasso. Why? Because the three new performers- one would be a Caucasian female, one would be an African-American female, and one would be a male. I find it hard to believe that MadTV could function with two Caucasian males in its cast, one of them without MadTV experience.

[wonder8484]

By the way, I think that the losses I've mentioned are quite severe. Frank didn't "prove himself" to the network executives, although I can say that I found him to be one of the funniest cast members in MadTV history. Crista's Wendy Walker will be missed, but good riddance for the Krumpers, and whatnot.

I can't believe they'd get rid of NRJ, but it's really down to her or Bobby Lee, and since Bobby has said he'll return.... Getting rid of NRJ will come down to haunt the show more than any other loss.

Happy trails to Ike and to Lisa.

And this is all speculation on my part, but...

[potroastpig]

I doubt the Will Sasso thing....I wont repeat my views on it...cause I don't feel like typing them again.

I hope hope hope hope Crista and Nicole P aren't leaving! I LOVE THEM! THey are the funniest people on the show!

5...wow. They really are trying to shake things up....I'm nervous now.

And I thought Arden comfirmed herself!?!?!

[wonder8484]

Originally Posted by potroastpig

I doubt the Will Sasso thing....I wont repeat my views on it...cause I don't feel like typing them again.

I hope hope hope hope Crista and Nicole P aren't leaving! I LOVE THEM! THey are the funniest people on the show!

5...wow. They really are trying to shake things up....I'm nervous now.

I would bet anything on Sasso returning, actually. He's young enough, and talented enough.

Yes, Arden is in.

[TheGooseGoblin]

OK bet me via paypal because there is no way in hell it will ever happen. He is basically a film producer now. It is good that you are optimistic but I hate to burst your bubble...

Losing 5 cast members is not good IMO, I was really hoping that they would keep the same cast almost the exact same as season 12

[wonder8484]

Okay, maybe Sasso won't return. But as for Crista, do you think she's gone the way of Mary Scheer? I mean, just judging from the skit from last year's final episode. I guess it's possible, don't you?

Edit: I'm going to watch Cliffhangers right now if it's still on Youtube. I'm beginning to wonder if there were some elements of truth in it.

[wonder8484]

And I'm watching it right now- the five cast members who appear in the sketch Cliffhangers in order are Crista, Jordan, Ike Barinholtz, Frank Caeti, and Nicole Randall Johnson. What a cruel sketch! A cruel way of the writers kissing the unsuspecting cast members goodbye.

There are repeated references to you'll find out next season, but perhaps the inside joke is that the cast members won't be around to find out next season.

I find this reprehensible.

[potroastpig]

you have me paranoid now that, that is true! I don't want Crista to leave She is so talented, and is amazing. Her and Nicole Parker were helping this show grow.

That would be cruel if that was true, but let's hope it isn't. Doesn't Crista have an e-mail on her offical site? Couldn't be just e-mail her?

[Rurry]

5 cast members?!? And to think we thought the S13 cast would be the same as the S12 cast...

This is how I see it as of now:


-Crista is leaving. (its probable at this point)
-Frank is leaving. (see: Crista)
-Ike is leaving. (6 years and his work was trimmed down in S12).
-Lisa isn't returning.

The other one, I can't figure out. Nicole P, Keegan, and Jordan aren't leaving - I think there's something with contracts that says they have to stay for 5 years...I could be wrong, though. Arden and Michael are confirmed, so it HAS to be Bobby or Nicole RJ. Maybe Bobby changed his mind afterall...or maybe they fired him. Good possibility.

Seeing Crista go is going to suck. No more Wendy Walker, no more Luanne, no more Heidi Klum, no more Krumpin, NO MORE SESAME STREET!!! (well, I guess they can just get someone else to play the girl, but it'd be different.)

Oh, and if Nicole Parker was fired, I will be livid. Like, more then livid.

All I can say is, these three new cast members BETTER be pretty freakin' awesome.

[blackwind]

Originally Posted by potroastpig

And I thought Arden comfirmed herself!?!?!

Supposedly, but at this point, that's based solely upon the word of one person. Until further confirmation comes in, take it for what it's worth.

[Rurry]

Oh, and they're doing more shooting and format changes? Didn't they just have shooting and format changes LAST season?

I guess in the long run this could be for the better, but right now, I'm not too happy.

[wonder8484]

Originally Posted by Rurry

5 cast members?!? And to think we thought the S13 cast would be the same as the S12 cast...

This is how I see it as of now:


-Crista is leaving. (its probable at this point)
-Frank is leaving. (see: Crista)
-Ike is leaving. (6 years and his work was trimmed down in S12).
-Lisa isn't returning.

The other one, I can't figure out. Nicole P, Keegan, and Jordan aren't leaving - I think there's something with contracts that says they have to stay for 5 years...I could be wrong, though. Arden and Michael are confirmed, so it HAS to be Bobby or Nicole RJ. Maybe Bobby changed his mind afterall...or maybe they fired him. Good possibly.

Seeing Crista go is going to suck. No more Wendy Walker, no more Luanne, no more Heidi Klum, no more Krumpin, NO MORE SESAME STREET!!! (well, I guess they can just get someone else to play the girl, but it'd be different.)

Oh, and if Nicole Parker was fired, I will be livid. Like, more then livid.

All I can say is, these three new cast members BETTER be pretty freakin' awesome.

That's how I see it right now. But what about next year? That's the real question. By Season 14, Jordan Peele will undoubtedly be gone. Ditto for Bobby (if he doesn't leave this year). The worrying thing about that is that with two years on the show, it wouldn't be unheard of for NRJ to be fired.

But by Season 14, Peele will be gone. Parker's contract will probably be up, so will Keegan's. Both may or may not re-up. At the very least, it would be a change over of at least 6 cast members in two years. That's a lot....

The one thing that I would also draw out of this is that Season 13 won't be McDonald's last year. Right now, he's the only male Caucasian performer left on the cast- assuming things go as planned. I think that if he left after Season 13 too, it would be too much for the show. The same thing goes for Keegan and for Nicole Parker, two performers who I think will probably be counted on to remain on the show for long periods of time.

[wonder8484]

We can always hope, as I said before, that Crista's departure is for motherhood (and for just one year).

[Rurry]

I really doubt Crista is pregnant, lol.

Next year's cast is going to be majorly small. Even if the 3 new cast members are all repository next year, that still only leaves 8 cast members.

I really hope we get confirmation soon.

[wonder8484]

More speculation on my part is that Arden is being trained to be the new woman on the town to replace Ike. She'll partner with Bobby next season.

[Rurry]

I'm still hoping Bobby was fired.

[Rurry]

Originally Posted by wonder8484

Thank heavens it won't be Michael McDonald, who in all seriousness is my favorite cast member, Blackwind, and it wouldn't be Nicole Parker either. She's pretty much confirmed she'll be back.

Where did she say this?! *hopes it's true*

[Rurry]

Anyone else feel like we're re-living the show's beginning?

Season 11 = Season 1. Both were kind of rocky seasons, with some hilarious moments, but also with some crap. Both seasons, they were throwing out new ideas to see what worked.
Season 12 = Season 2. Kind of like the more polished versions of the above seasons. Basically the same cast, and both seasons seem to be favorites.
Season 13 = Season 3. The major cast change. The major format change (seemingly). In Season 3 it worked out for the better, hopefully Season 13 is the same...

[i like madtv]

FIVE?!?!?!

damn you fox! i REALLY felt there was a good chance everyone would come back, i mean like a few of you have said this past season was such a great turnaround from previous years and now theyre takin away half the cast?! we need to have a telethon or something.....

and yet another speculation:

Returning:
michael (confirmed)
bobby (pretty much confirmed)
arden (im pretty sure im believin shes confirmed)
nicole (she better f*ckin return!!!!, plus the 4 season thing)
keegan ( 4 season thing)
jordan (4 season thing)

Departing:
frank (i think he's amazing but if i had to choose based on screen time...)
ike (could be as simple as not renewing his contract, i mean it HAS been 5 years and im pretty sure the usual thing is to give the castmembers 5 year contracts)
christa (only a rumor, but she has grown with hope is emo and movie stuff so i wouldnt be surprised if she moves on)
NRJ: (kinda iffy about her, only puttin her here for the sake of puttin 5 people)
Lisa: (again with the screen time thing...)

damn WHY 5 PEOPLE?! thats it im crackin skulls