On this Monday's July 6th, 2009 new episode of Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, not only will frequent guest Mr. Michael McDonald be guest starring again, but the current star of Rita Rocks and Michael's former partner in crime for 3 years on MADtv will also be appearing in the episode. If you haven't figured it out by now (which if you haven't seriously, how thick is your head?) it's non other than Mrs. Nicole Sullivan. Could we be seeing the reunion of the 2 cast members who brought us such great characters like Clyde and Judith ("Literally"), and Frank and Susan Caydel? I know I hope so!

Here is a press release.

"Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” (10 p.m. on Bravo): After failing to win a Grammy, Kathy decides to try to reclaim the spotlight by writing a tell-all book about her friends and family. Michael McDonald (“MADtv”) and Nicole Sullivan (“Rita Rocks”) guest star".

Now as we all know it is the holidays and it has been a tough holiday. With the cancellation of the show and the episodes counting down there is very little cheery things to talk about, well if you’re looking for cheery, stuff these cast appearances under your tree!

Let's start off with a small piece cast member. This cast member is Anjelah Johnson? Who is coming back to television, well at least the cable part of that television. According to this Anjelah has been hired to a new untitled show starring fat to fabulous Jenny Craig star Valerie Bertinelli coming to TBS. I do not know when, but it should be soon. The plot of the show is Valerie plays Claire, a recent divorcee who works at a lumber business. Anjelah may be playing the daughter Claire. I don't know how old this daughter is suppose to be but for the Anjelah fans, what does it matter, she is back on TV. Let's hope this role lasts longer than 4 episodes.

Looking for some more sweets under the tree, may I suggest a candy key hanging off the Christmas tree. A Keegan-Michael Key. There is some information about him, and a movie role. Looking for a movie to see this weekend, well why not get your MAD on with the new movie Role Models, not only does this movie have former ghetto nails castmember Nicole Randall Johnson is also has a small appearance from Mr. Key as well. The appearance by what I have heard is only about 20 seconds long with barely any lines, but as Horton of Horton Hears a Who would say if he was a big, well mediocre movie producer, a role is a role no matter how small. It may be a 20 second scene now, but who knows, that could balloon, to 40, 80, and then maybe a movie for Mr. Key. Let's hope that this role is the beginning of many, as this appearance may bring Keegan's career to a Ho Nava Laval.

What's that, you all want MOre. Well I do have some Mo for you. Mo Collins that is. After taking a bit of a break from television Mo is hitting the television screen hard. Along with a web series called Road to the MLS Cup in which she takes Major League Soccar players and the trophy across country to the finals in Los Angeles, she has also appeared on an episode of the show. Pushing Daisies playing a nun who tragically dies after falling out a window, and now has a recurring role on the long too long running of the show According to Jim playing Emily, a 2-time wife with 2 kids who is going to be marrying main character Jim's best friend Andy. With all these roles it's only a matter of time before we find Mo Collins on her own show under the television Christmas tree.

Now, here's a possible gift from a Christmas past in the form of Barack Obama. It looks as if former cast member and Funkenstine walker Jordan Peele is trying to stay on the sketch comedy train. He is one of 4 people who are competing to be the new Obama on MADtv rival Saturday Night Live Does he have the stuff that Keegan has to make it, or will this be just a fun experiment of his. Only time will tell, but you can see for yourself here.

Now here's a present you already know but you love to hear about. This present is filled with a light and sweet inner core. That inner core is MADtv alum Nicole Sullivan. The outside, a wonderful show called Rita Rocks. After years of supporting roles and failed shows, Nicole may have finally latched onto a winner. The show premiered back in August on the Lifetime Network and is doing great in the ratings. After its 8 episode trial, Lifetime has picked it up for a full season order to bring the shows first season up to 20 episodes. 7 years after leaving MADtv, it finally seems like Nicole may have found her most desired Christmas gift of all. A starring role in a successful show.

Ever have a Christmas present that you loved but did not last as long as you wanted it to? Well that is a good segway into another active former MADtv star Nicole Randall Johnson. After being let go for reasons this day we still don't understand, Nicole seems to have found her groove outside of the show. She had a small role in the previously mentioned Role Models, a guest appearance on the new NBC show Kath and Kim, and an appearance on the hit cult kids show Hannah Montana. It may be soon time that she herself gets her own show.

Now, here's a present that has its problems, but you still love it. This gift is Artie Lange who, after another stint in rehab in September is back on the scene and with a new book Too Fat to Fish. You wouldn't think Artie would be that much of a writer but his book has gone to #1 on the New York Times best sellers list in only its first few weeks. Artie gives hope to the many of us, and proves that even a fat, drug-addicted, drunk can make a bestselling book. If he can do this, maybe there is hope for the world after all.

Now the best of all on Christmas is the gift that keeps on giving, that gift that keeps on giving are 2 shows in which hiring former castmembers for guest appearances seems to be as custom for the show as turkey in the Christmas meal. One show is Chocolate News, a satirical news show from a black perspective that has already had Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, and Mo Collins. Another show hiring MAD members is a show by a former MAD member. That former member is Frank Caliendo and his show FrankTV. The roles Frank's show is giving the former castmembers are all roles that they perfected on MADtv. These include Aries Spears as Shaquille O'Neal, Mo Collins as Mary Tyler Moore, and even Pat Kilbane (who wasn't even on the show when Frank was there) as Howard Stern. The cancellation of MADtv is sad, but with shows like CN and Frank, MADtv may live silently in Hollywood for the next few years with its wonderful actors helping to keep the shows memory alive.

Now, for appearances in Hollywood, the presents have been a plenty. So many that it would take till next Christmas to tell them all, so let’s just summarize the other appearances in short points which I will call stocking stuffers.

Ike Barinholtz: Guest starring role on Rita Rocks last month.

Lisa Donovan: Worked backstage at Youtube Live last month.

Kathryn Fiore: Did Pizza Hut commercials in the summer.

Michael McDonald: Guest starred on Hannah Montana this month.

Eric Price: Will be in a new internet web show called Action Auto. Starting this January.

Will Sasso: On an episode of How I Met your Mother this month.

Mary Scheer: Is appearing on the show iCarly as one of the child’s mothers.

Taran Killam is going to be a new member of Scrubs starting in January.

Well, that is all I know as of now. If these were all presents and stocking stuffers, it would be a very generous Christmas, let's hope the actual holidays for everyone else is this good. MADrry Chri- holidays to all and to all good... Late year holidays.

After months of blackmail both administered and received, we can at last reveal everything you could possibly want to know about Season 14 of "MADtv," at least before it debuts. All right, admittedly, we will not be reporting what Nicole Parker ate for breakfast this morning; nevertheless, with this update, rest assured that you will have all the Season 14 information with which any rational fan will be more than happy. Here, then, is your full scoop on the upcoming season, complete with brown chips which have not been conclusively identified as chocolate.

Let us begin by introducing you to our final addition to the Season 14 "MADtv" cast. According to this article, the fourth newbie for the upcoming season will be the lovely, versatile Erica Ash. Smile prettily for the camera, dear:



As is the case with Eric Price and Lauren Pritchard, Erica will be joining the "MADtv" cast as a featured player. According to her impressive resume, which can be found here, Erica's experience with televised sketch comedy does not actually begin with "MADtv." For two seasons, she has been a cast member on "The Big Gay Sketch Show," which, coincidentally, is directed by "MADtv" mainstay Amanda Bearse. Add to that stint her various appearances in theatrical productions and commercials, her numerous voiceovers for video games, and a list of special skills that makes most of us look downright boring by comparison; and Erica Ash may have just what it takes to survive on a show that has always prided itself on multifaceted cast members. Erica, here is hoping that you get to stick around for a while on FOX's late-night sketch comedy series.

In other news, what would a final Season 14 update be without one last surprise farewell? Fans of Jordan Peele's "MADtv" work will no doubt feel a sense of emptiness as the show's resident Morgan Freeman impersonator ends his five-year run as a cast member. Apparently, Jordan somehow managed to escape the rumored coercion by "MADtv" to squeeze a few more episodes out of its five-year players. Unfortunately, it is not known at this time whether he, Nicole Parker, and Keegan-Michael Key drew straws to determine who would get to leave after Season 13 or whether Quincy Jones simply went "eenie-meenie-miney-mo" to determine their fates. At any rate, Jordan, we at Planet MADtv hate to see you go; and we wish you the best of success in whatever showbiz endeavors you decide to pursue from this point on. Thanks for the many laughs!

Next, we can confirm that Season 14 of "MADtv" will be shot at the Sunset Bronson Studios, which are both the original location of the Warner Bros. Studios and the current home of CW affiliate KTLA, Channel 5, in Los Angeles, CA. Although we will obviously have to wait until the Season 14 debut, on September 13th, to see how these new facilities will work out for the cast, something tells me that most, if not all, of the series' diehard fans will no doubt wet themselves with glee over the sheer mention of the word studio. While Sunset Bronson Studios may not be the original "MADtv" home we all knew and loved for twelve years, I think it has to be considered a major step up from the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater. Unlike that almost roundly hated facility, Sunset Bronson will probably not inspire fans to wish all season long for a well-placed wrecking ball to find its way into the exterior walls. Enjoy your new and (we assume) vastly improved, home, you crazy Season 14 cast members, you!

Fittingly, we will conclude this "full scoop" update by reminding you of all the cast members who will be enjoying these new quarters during Season 14 of "MADtv," as well as providing you with a recap of those who will not. Established series regulars who will help provide the Season 14 fun are Crista Flanagan, Keegan-Michael Key, Bobby Lee, Arden Myrin, Nicole Parker, and Johnny Sanchez. Joining them will be new series regular Matt Braunger and three new featured players, Erica Ash, Eric Price, and Lauren Pritchard. Sadly, we have been forced at gunpoint to accept the departures of Season 13 featured players Daheli Hall, Anjelah Johnson, and Dan Oster; five-year veteran Jordan Peele; and the show's longest-running cast member ever, ten-year stalwart Michael McDonald. All in all, it will be very interesting to see how everything unfolds come September 13th. Can you handle the anticipation? I know I can. Season 14 of "MADtv," the world awaits.

Planet MADtv passengers, we thank you for your patience as you waited for the third "MADtv" Season 14 update. We apologize for the delay; and in the meantime, we hope you enjoyed the complimentary Cheez Whiz and soggy pretzels. For this update, you will be introduced to our first two new cast members for Season 14. Be gentle with them -- they seem quite funny; and the last thing we want to do is to chase them away unnecessarily. Unfortunately, as we welcome in new blood, we must also wave a tearful hanky in the direction of a departing cast member, the first such exit we are at liberty to report. Please fasten your seat belts, and return all stewardesses to the upright position. We have achieved our tumultuous liftoff, and your latest update starts now.

Let us begin by introducing you to the first of our two new guys, Chicago comedy veteran Matt Braunger. He looks a little something like this; in fact, he looks a lot something like this:



From Matt's official website, we learn that he is a suitably wacky individual with extensive training in theater, improvisation, and sketch comedy. All of these assets, particularly the wackiness, should obviously serve him well when he makes his Season 14 debut on "MADtv." In this article, Matt has even been kind enough to detail his auditions for the series:

"Yes, I did get hired as a cast member. I just found out two days ago right before I was about to go onstage at the Great American Comedy Festival in Nebraska. Would have jumped for joy, but am on crutches from hurting my knee (nothing serious). I auditioned several times, first for the casting people, then for the producers, then finally for the people at the network. They had me bring in several characters, then read scenes with other actors in the later auditions. I start in August, but will go in a week or two early to hang out with the writers and give them any input they want."

Now, who ever said that "MADtv" is not one big, happy family? Anyway, if you want to preview this promising newbie, then check out the numerous video clips of Matt that can be found on both this page from his website and this page from the Rooftop Comedy website. (Matt recently won "Best of Fest" honors at the Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival.) Laugh hysterically as you watch Matt's video clips, and he will thank you. If you still cannot get enough of Matt after all of that fun, then perhaps his official MySpace will satisfy your insatiable Braunger thirst. After that, however, I don't know what to do for you, you stark-raving mad animal, you. For now, let us offer up a hearty Planet MADtv shout-out to Matt and hope that his "MADtv" stay is a long and successful one.

If you paid close enough attention to the previous article announcing Matt Braunger's "MADtv" hiring, then you already know the identity of the other new hire: Wisconsin's own Eric Price. Strike a pose, Eric:



Eric hails from Bay View, a Milwaukee neighborhood. He brings to "MADtv" a healthy improv background courtesy of ComedySportz. Although we do not have the same lovely "MADtv" audition story for Eric that we have for Matt, we can assume that the tryout for the sketch comedy series took place during one of his numerous routine trips to Los Angeles, CA. Perhaps Eric's greatest claim to fame at this early stage in his career is appearing not only on two epidoses of "Reno 911!" but also in the 2007 movie based on the series. In the meantime, if you would like to know more about Eric, then taking a gander at this 2005 article just might do you a world of good. Eric, we at Planet MADtv wish you the best of success at your new television home.

By the way, as is standard op at this early stage, we do not yet know whether Matt and Eric have been signed on as full-fledged repertory players or as featured players. Once we know, of course, we will pass on that information faster than Courtney Love in a Wendy's parking lot. Rest assured, however, that unlike the Courtney scenario, the distribution of information here is a hundred percent disease-free. Planet MADtv -- making a difference in our ever-devolving world!

Regrettably, Matt and Eric will have to experience their initiation on FOX's late-night sketch comedy series minus its veteran of ten years, Michael McDonald. Yes, after a decade of oddball characters and dry, sarcastic wit, the "MADtv" cast member with the longest run ever is finally bidding adios to the place he has called home since Season 4. Despite Michael's recent directorial efforts on the series and his numerous pronouncements that he loved working with the current cast, there was a feeling among many fans that something was not quite right. Either he was just not "clicking" with the cast in sketches, perhaps because of his age; or he had felt extreme disappointment over the show's drastic format change during Season 13. Still, even after taking these factors into consideration, many of the show's devotees may nonetheless be surprised by the news of Michael's departure. Then again, if you are a fan like me, then none of those things really matter right now; instead, you are waving that tearful hanky as you recall the numerous hilarious moments and undergarment exposures he has given us over the years. Although many would argue that Michael became stale during the later stages of his "MADtv" tenure, I would argue otherwise, at least for the most part. Even when he was at his worst, he still pooped out more golden eggs than chocolate ones; and to boot, he also left behind some memorable ice cream vapors. Why, I do not even want to know the person who does not love ice cream-flavored farts! Michael, from the bottom of my heart (not the heart of my bottom, despite the previous rhetoric), thank you for the years of laughs; for the great partnerships with Nicole Sullivan, Mo, and Stephnie; for the memorable characters; and by golly, for just being you. Here's hoping you will not be a stranger to the show that got you where you are today in showbiz. Four hundredth episode -- mark your calendar! For now, farewell and best of luck in your future endeavors; and we will see you down the road, sir.

All right, for the time being, that is all the print that is fit to news. (You know what I mean.) News on the remaining established cast members' fates, as well as information on any other new additions to the Season 14 cast, is certainly not too far away. You know what you must do: stay tuned to Planet MADtv for further updates!

UPDATE (06/25): We can now confirm that Matt Braunger will be a series regular for Season 14 and that Eric Price will begin his own "MADtv" journey as a featured player. And no, Michael McDonald is still not coming back.

If you are in the Malibu, CA area on Saturday, September 29th, then you may want to catch "The Best Medicine," a benefit concert for the City of Hope that will feature current "MADtv" cast members and alumni among its performers. Proceeds from the benefit will be used to fund breast cancer research, treatment, and education programs at the City of Hope. According to the information found here, the "MADtv" notables scheduled to appear include current cast members Michael McDonald, Nicole Parker, and Bobby Lee; "MADtv" alumni Mo Collins and Stephnie Weir; and writer Michael Hitchcock, best known to most "MADtv" fans as Simeon, the crazed announcer from the "Lillian Verner Game Show" sketches. "The Best Medicine" will be hosted by comedian Denis Leary, along with his band, the Crown Royals. Other comedians who will be present include Martin Short, "Bobcat" Goldthwait, Lenny Clarke, and Groundlings alum Tim Bagley. For your musical enjoyment (or not), the "My Sharona" boys themselves, the Knack, will also perform.

Another interesting connection with "MADtv" served as the initial inspiration for this benefit:

"Leary got involved in the project through his connection with Lauren Dombrowski, a breast cancer survivor and City of Hope patient. Leary and Dombrowski, co-executive producer for 'Mad TV,' both attended Emerson College in Boston and have remained friends.

While Dombrowski has long made people laugh, in 2003, her life took a serious turn. She arrived at City of Hope with stage 4 breast cancer after two years of failed treatments elsewhere. George Somlo, M.D., co-director of City of Hope's Breast Cancer Program, became her trusted physician.

'I knew right away that Dr. Somlo would give me the best care available,' Dombrowski said. 'But it was his quick wit and ability to make me laugh that really helped me the most.'

Today, Dombrowski does not fight cancer simply through the chemotherapy she continues to undergo regularly. She came up with the idea for 'The Best Medicine' as a way to battle the disease and support breast cancer research through humor, her area of expertise."

Lauren, we at Planet MADtv wish you and Denis continued success with your fund-raising efforts. Here's hoping that laughter can indeed be "the best medicine" as the search for a breast cancer cure continues.

"The Best Medicine" benefit will be held at the Malibu Performing Arts Center (in Malibu, CA) on Saturday, September 29th. The time listed for the event is 7:00pm, which one would logically assume is local time, or PST. (It translates to 10:00pm EST.) A silent auction for various celebrity items will also be held at the benefit. At any rate, if you have a chance to attend (and thus to catch the aforementioned "MADtv" notables in action), then please post a report for us!

Well, boys and girls, the confirmation train just pulled into the station.

Here is your final Season 13 cast:

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

Because we had the vast majority of this nailed down as early as June, there's only one real surprise here: Boom Chicago's Dan Oster is our final new cast member. Here's what we know about him at this stage:

• He's a Los Angeles native.
• He wears glasses.
• He has performed with Ultimate Improv and Boom Chicago.
• He doesn't have an IMDb profile.
• He *does* have a YouTube profile.
• He was signed as either a featured player or a series regular.
• His first name is Dan.
• His last name is Oster.
• He, apparently, is a human male between the ages of 18 and 40.

Stretching a little, I know. Dan: If you're reading this, please drop us a line! We need more information!

With casting now wrapped up like a mummy in Jeffrey Dahmer's freezer, let's move on to the show itself. Over the course of the past five updates, we've painted a near-complete picture of what to expect from MADtv's upcoming season. To summarize (and to add a few new tidbits):

• Season 13 premieres on September 15th. The first episode will be #1301.
• If history is any indication, expect three new episodes to air (September 15th, 22nd, and 29th) before baseball season commences. Because shooting doesn't begin until October, these episodes will be comprised of S12 holdover sketches.
• Barring a shooting schedule change, don't expect to see Anjelah, Johnny, or Dan before November.
• While 18 episodes will be shot this season, it's believed that 22 will air when all is said and done. Unfortunately, this cannot be definitively confirmed one way or the other until the season finale date is announced.
• Shooting has been moved to the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater in Hollywood, which, supposedly, "will enhance [MADtv's] live-event feeling". Sadly, pre-taping your episodes will then nullify said enhancement. Better luck next time, boys!
• Because the show's budget has once again been slashed, remotes will be utilized in greater numbers this season. For those who aren't aware, a "remote" is a segment shot on location (out-on-the-town sketches, red carpets, etc.). As I'm sure you can imagine, no costumes and few to no props = muchos savings!
• The landmark 300th episode will air on November 17th. No further details are known at this point.
• Former executive producer Dick Blasucci has been sent packing, and replacing him are head writer John Crane and director Bruce Leddy. These two will join forces with long-time executive producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones to form the ultimate cast-hushing, information-withholding, uber-authoritarian dream team!
• On the topic of the new season, David Salzman has stated: "Our plan is to preserve the fast-paced, cutting-edge pop culture parodies and audience-favorite characters while adding more topicality, fresh new elements and a real theater setting." Fresh new elements, eh? Oh, David -- you're so mysterious!

So, there you have it -- the full scoop on S13 almost two whole months before the premiere! To our many sources both inside and out, we thank you for making all of this possible. Beyond that, a big wet one goes out to those who provided exclusive information. We couldn't have done this without you, and for that, you have my eternal gratitude! For those who are keeping score, I'd like to note that we were once again right on every single account. First and second rules of Planet MADtv: do NOT question Planet MADtv!

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!

The season 12 cast of MADtv returns this year to the Chicago Improv Festival for another hilarious live ensemble improv show, along with the MADtv Writers on Hiatus, who will serve once again as the opening act. This year's performers are Ike Barinholtz, Frank Caeti, Crista Flanagan, Michael McDonald, Arden Myrin, Nicole Parker and Jordan Peele. The show is at 8pm next Saturday, April 28th, at Park West on 322 W. Armitage. Tickets are $37.50 and are available at the Park West box office, at Ticketmaster by calling 312-902-1500 and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

In addition, many of the star cast members will perform in their own shows. Nicole Parker will star in her own one woman show, Suitcase Full of Lies. She will also appear onstage with Baby Wants Candy. Frank Caeti will appear with ComedySportz, Ike Barinholtz will appear in Messing With A Friend and alumni Andrew Daly will appear with The Upright Citizens Brigade. Nicole Parker, Jordan Peele and Ike Barinholtz will also be featured in the Boom Chicago Alumni Jam.

Sounds like another great year at CIF. For more information, visit www.chicagoimprovfestival.org.