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 a season on "Wild 'n' Out," Taran Killam has been announced as one of the castmembers on Nick Cannon's new MTV sketch comedy show "Short Circuitz".

From Reuters:

"Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz" has been given an eight-episode order, with the half-hour show set to premiere in first-quarter 2007 as part of the network's "10 Spot" lineup. The series will consist of topical sketches, impersonations, parodies and other comedic elements. It will feature Cannon, who also is the creator/executive producer, along with comedy/improv players Affion Crockett, Eliza Coupe, Leonard Robinson, Taran Killam and Katt Williams.

In other Taran news, the pilot-turned-youtube-phenomenon "Nobody's Watching" has recently launched a new website at www.nobodyswatching.tv. Word has it that if they can generate enough buzz from this site and build a respectable fanbase, NBC will greenlight the series to be made into a television show.

Bryan Callen and Taran Killam will be appearing together in an upcoming episode of the CBS comedy series "How I Met Your Mother", which stars recent MADtv guest stars Alyson Hannigan and Neil Patrick Harris.

They will be appearing in an episode called "Life Among The Gorilla's" which will air on March 20th.

According to reuters.com, Taran Killam has been chosen as the second lead in the new WB comedy pilot called "Nobody's Watching".

"Nobody's Watching" revolves around two twentysomething guys (Killam, Paul Campbell) who win a reality show and get to create their own sitcom without realizing that, as they live on a soundstage where every move is filmed, they are the show.

The pilot episode will tape on Thursday, February 10. Good job Taran!

It seems that the past and current MADtv cast members are hitting it big in Hollywood and abroad at the moment, with many of them earning bit parts in big budget movies and a few with large parts in Indie films. Is this worthy of my first official “Front Page News” post? I think so!

Ike Barinholtz and Nicole Sullivan will appear in the upcoming film Beds and Breakfast, in what we hope are substantial roles, as they were name dropped as some of the first actors cast in the film. Beds and Breakfast is currently in pre-production and is slated for filming and release in 2005.

Plot Summary: Gary and Susan need a break from their over-populated New York City lives. When Susan's sister Janet offers a weekend on the sly at her boss' unused Vermont cabin, they jump at the chance for privacy. Unknown to Janet, junior partner Mark has planned a secret honeymoon with his new husband at the cabin. When Janet's boss sends a fugitive client, a thieving executive, to the cabin, he brings along the stolen funds as well as his flaky mistress. Trapped in the house until Sunday, the couples clash, bond and start running when an angry investor shows up for the money.

Dannah Feinglass will appear in the film Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story in the role of Erika Dukes, opposite her real-life boyfriend Paul Scheer.

Plot Summary: Caught cheating and banned for ten years, Bobby Dukes, paintball's first superstar, returns to reclaim his title and erase the memory of his tainted past.

Simon Helberg has a small role in the upcoming Hilary Duff movie A Cinderella story, in the role of Terry.

Plot Summary: Set at a high school in the San Fernando Valley, this is the story of a "dorky" girl, Sam Martin (Duff), who lives with her stepmother (Coolidge) and stepsisters, after her father dies, and his diner is taken over by his new wife, who used to be a waitress there and who makes Sam do all the hard work there. Sam has few friends at her high school, where the top of the social ladder is Shelby Cummings (Gonzalo), a girl who is wealthy, spoiled and shallow. Sam's attitude and look changes quickly overnight, however, when her cel phone is found by a mysterious guy (Murray), with whom she soon starts corresponding via notes and e-mails, with the promise looming soon that she will finally get to meet him at the big Halloween school dance...

David Herman has been cast in an Untitled Mike Judge Comedy slated for filming in 2005. This project also has current Saturday Night Live cast member Maya Rudolph listed.

Plot Summary: Private Joe Bowers, the definition of "average American", is selected by the Pentagon to be the guinea pig for a top-secret hibernation program, set 1,000 years in the future. He discovers a society so incredibly dumbed-down that he's easily the most intelligent person alive.

Taran Killam will be appearing in an upcoming film entitled Anderson's Crossing in the role of Austin Wilson.

Plot Summary: Nick Anderson, Kevin Daniels, and Tracey Green do everything together, everything. They are the best of friends. And yet they couldn't be more different. Neighbors from adolescence they finish each others thoughts and sentences. Joys and pains. Happiness and tears. Using Nicks house as they're own members only clubhouse they escape into their own world of contentment. Yet the inevitable intrusion of others tests their stability in ways never imagined.

Bobby Lee will be in the upcoming comedy Harold and Kumar go to White Castle in the role of ‘Kenneth Park’

Plot Summary: Two twenty-something stoner roommates -- one a Korean American investment banker; the other an Indian American medical school candidate -- go through a life changing journey, as they spend a night roaming the state of New Jersey in search of White Castle hamburgers.

Michael McDonald will appear in the films Chump Change with original MADtv cast member Mary Scheer, and in Doubting Riley in the role of Andy.

Since leaving MADtv, Christina Moore has been busy with her role in That 70;s show and has recently been working on the films Complete Guide to Guys which is slated for filming in 2005, and the comedy Without a paddle (A parody of 'Deliverance' which ironically, was filmed here in New Zealand)

Plot Summary: This is the story of three friends (Green, Lillard, Shepard) from the big city of Philadelphia who go canoeing together out in the woods and mountains of Washington State after the death of a friend, Billy. Billy was obsessed with going there to search for the unaccounted-for $194,200 out of the $200,000 that famed airliner highjacker D.B. Cooper parachuted with quite possibly to his death in 1971 $5,800 of his marked ransom loot was found in 1980. Canoeing down the Columbia River, the trio soon finds that their canoeing experience goes wrong..., both horribly and hilariously wrong, as the river turns dangerous, and they have encounters with the crazy mountain men (Burt Reynolds) plays who live near the river...

And finally, Paul Vogt will appear in the sequel to 2002's hit comedy the Princess Diaries, entitled The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement in the role of Lord Crawley.

Plot Summary: In 'The Princess Diaries 2', Mia Thermopolis is now a high school graduate and on her way to Genovia to take up her duties as princess (contrary to what was presented at the end of the first film, Mia does not leave her home for a few more years). Her best friend Lilly also joins her for the summer. Mia continues her 'princess lessons'- riding horses side-saddle, archery, and other royal. But her complicated life is turned upside down once again when she not only learns that she is to take the crown as queen earlier than expected, but that she is also to be married before this event. Robert Schwartzman will not be reprising his role as Mia's love interest.

Phew. It's good to see that now, more than ever, the MADtv cast members are getting recognition for their talents, and more importantly, that they are getting good gigs. Hopefully this is an indication of good things in the future.

Family Guy, the little known FOX show that was canceled after just 3 seasons has been reborn on Cartoon Network and is breaking all sorts of records. According to a recent article in Newsweek, the reruns of the cartoon (which featured Alex Borstein as the voice of Lois Griffin as well as a writer) have topped Letterman and Leno in the ratings among men ages 18 to 34. It currently averages 1 million viewers per episode and has become the highest rated program in the network's history. Cartoon Network senior vice president Mike Lazzo has tried to work out a deal for new episodes, but creator Seth MacFarlane as well as many of the cast members are tied up with other projects right now. There is one episode that was never aired entitled When You Wish Upon a Weinstein. It will be shown for the first time on US TV on Cartoon Network during this next cycle of reruns and will also be included in the 3rd Season DVD boxed set of the series which hits stores September 9th. FOX must be kicking themselves at this point.

Taran Killam is on a mission to find the funniest kid in America. He is the host of Nickelodeon's new reality show R U All That?, in which young contestants try to be funny in an attempt to impress the celebrity panel (Amanda Bynes, among others) and the kids of America. Similar to many other reality shows, America chooses who will advance by logging online and voting at Nick.com. We should have mentioned this earlier, because the one hour finale airs Saturday, July 26th at 8:30/7:30 central. The winner becomes a regular on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy show, All That. Maybe Taran is leaning more toward the hosting side of things as opposed to acting. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

It looks like Orlando's gig as a late night talk show host could be over. At TVTome.com, it lists the final airing date of the show as July 2003. I scanned through other shows and the only ones that have final dates listed are shows that have been canceled. Unless this is some kind of major error, it looks like Orlando's show may have gotten the boot. Stay tuned for more info.

You've heard the rumors and they have been proven to be true. Debra Wilson has filmed an episode of the hit E! show Star Dates, which sets up ordinary people on blind dates with celebrities. The air date for her appearance has not yet been scheduled, but the new episodes have begun airing every Tuesday night. Watch the news page here at Planet MADtv for further updates.

Thanks to Mad Dog for this one. Former MADtv featured player Taran Killam is hitting the big time. He has landed himself a supporting role, Dickie McNerney, in the new Brittany Murphy/Ashton Kutcher film, Just Married. Here's a summary of the film from Quality-16.com:

A happy young couple, Sarah and Tom (Brittany Murphy and Ashton Kutcher) marry against the wishes of Sarah's friends and family and go to Europe for their Honeymoon. Unfortunately for them, Sarah's parents send Sarah's ex-boyfriend Peter Prentis (played by Christian Kane) to break up the happy marriage.

Just Married is now in theaters. For movie showtimes in your area, go to MovieFone.com.

That's right -- Planet MADtv is the first site to bring you the finalized season eight cast! But rather than waste your precious time with more rambling, let's get right into it:

Departing Cast: Alex Borstein, Andrew Daly, Will Sasso, Kathryn Fiore, Taran Killam.
Returning Cast: Frank Caliendo, Mo Collins, Bobby Lee, Michael McDonald, Jill-Michele Melean, Aries Spears, Stephnie Weir, Debra Wilson.
New Featured Players: Ike Barinholtz, Simon Helberg, Josh Meyers (Seth's brother), Ron Pederson.

Final Cast: Frank Caliendo, Mo Collins, Bobby Lee, Michael McDonald, Jill-Michele Melean, Aries Spears, Stephnie Weir, Debra Wilson, Ike Barinholtz, Simon Helberg, Josh Meyers, Ron Pederson.

And there you have it, straight from the source. Be sure to tune in to MADtv's season premiere this Saturday!

Thanks to Keepsakers, Zac_In_Au, and madislove for making this possible.