REST IN PEACE: DON PARDO, THE VOICE OF "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" (FEBRUARY 22, 1918 - AUGUST 18, 2014)

Radio and television announcer Dominick "Don" Pardo passed away Monday evening in his Tuscon, Arizona home. He was 96. Pardo was the longtime announcer for NBC's "Saturday Night Live," providing the introductions for 38 seasons. He only missed one season of "SNL," making him the longest running member of the late night show.

Pardo joined NBC as an announcer in 1944. He participated in various entertainment and news radio programs. He voiced for NBC Radio, several game shows (including The Price Is Right and Jeopardy!) and soap opera openings before joining "Saturday Night Live" in 1975. Pardo retired from NBC in 2004 but continued providing the "SNL" introductions. Towards the later seasons, Pardo stopped making the weekly flights to New York and instead pre-recorded the introductions from his home in Arizona.

Don Pardo was inducted to the Television Hall of Fame in 2010, and was one of only two people who had lifetime contracts with NBC (Bob Hope was the other).

#RIP #SNL #DonPardo

WINTER 2014: 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' FINDS SETH MEYERS' REPLACEMENT

Saturday Night Live has found Seth Meyers' replacement on "Weekend Update," and it isn't any member of the current cast.

SNL head writer Colin Jost has been chosen to take over Seth Meyers' spot on "Weekend Update." Jost joined the staff in 2005 and was named its head writer in 2012. Apart from writing for SNL (and winning numerous awards for it), Jost is also a stand-up comedian who has appeared in comedy festivals as well as Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Jost seems to be following the latest tradition of replacing departing news anchors with head writers. Both Seth Meyers and his predecessor, Tina Fey, were head writers before taking over desk duty.

Seth Meyers' final appearance on SNL and "Weekend Update" will be February 1. His late night show is scheduled to premiere on February 24. Meanwhile, Jost is expected to pick up desk duties and join co-anchor Cecily Strong on March 1.

WINTER 2014: SETH MEYERS DROPS HINT ON HIS FINAL 'SNL' APPEARANCE

Departing cast member Seth Meyers gave a clue on his last Saturday Night Live show.

During NBC's turn at Sunday's Television Critics Association winter press tour, Meyers stated that he was two shows away from cutting ties with SNL. So his final airdate would be the February 1 show with host Melissa McCarthy and musical act Imagine Dragons. The Weekend Update anchor and NBC have been preparing for the late night transitions, where Meyers will be taking over Jimmy Fallon's current show and retitled to Late Night with Seth Meyers. Meyers admits that it would be difficult trying to manage both Late Night and SNL in a double duty capacity. Finally, Meyers also hinted that co-anchor Cecily Strong may end up paired with another partner to host Weekend Update.

We'll just have to Stay Tuned on that last one...

WINTER 2014: 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' FINDS ITS AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE CAST MEMBER

Saturday Night Live has finally found its female African-American cast member in the form of Sasheer Zamata.

Sasheer Zamata is a graduate of the University of Virginia and has performed in numerous comedy festivals as well as the famed Upright Citizen's Brigade. Zamata becomes the first African-American female to appear on SNL since Maya Rudolph departed the late-night sketch comedy show back in 2007.

The pressure for an African-American female player started back in November when actress Kerry Washington hosted SNL. The cold opening poked fun at the fact that Washington would have to play all of its planned African-American women in the skit, which involved several exits and costume changes in those first minutes. Cast members Kenan Thompson and Jay Pharoah have also been very vocal about the casting need and were sort of the catalyst for the search when they both refused to dress in drag.

Zamata's credits include a web series, Pursuit of Sexiness, as well as appearances in videos for College Humor and Fodder. Her first SNL air date is January 18 when Drake hosts and musical guests.

FALL 2013: NBC SHAFTS 'PARKS AND RECREATION' TO HELP STRUGGLING 'SEAN SAVES THE WORLD'

Fans of NBC's Parks and Recreation aren't going to be happy about this, and frankly we can't blame them.

The network has placed the Amy Poehler comedy on a brief hiatus until November 14 in order to salvage one of its struggling, underwhelming new comedies, Sean Saves the World. The next three episodes of Parks and Rec, including a Halloween-themed episode that was to air on October 31, will be pushed back to next month as NBC rotates specials in the 8 pm hour. 

The demise of new comedy Welcome to the Family, which was canceled last week, has left a hole in NBC's Thursday night comedy lineup. The poor numbers Welcome attracted is to blame for the weak outing of the 9 pm comedy hour featuring Sean Saves the World and The Michael J. Fox Show. Or at least that's what they want us to believe. Truth be told, the Sean Hayes and Michael J. Fox comedies have been hit-or-miss this season despite heavy promotion during the summer.

This week, The Voice's Battle Rounds episode will replace Parks and Rec, and a holiday-themed Saturday Night Live special will air on Halloween night. Finally, The Voice's live playoffs show, which was slated to replace Hayes' and Fox's comedies for the night, will be bumped to the 8 pm hour. NBC is hoping that this move will increase viewership for its 9 pm comedies, especially with the numbers The Voice brings in each week.

Will it work for NBC? We'll see this Friday!

FALL 2013: COMING TO TV TONIGHT!

Tuesday night belongs to FOX as the network premieres its comedy lineup consisting of two new shows and two returning series.

You may have already heard some controversial stories about the new series Dads. The comedy features Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi as best buds/business partners who suddenly find themselves coping with new roommates in the form of their fathers. The show faced controversy during the summer as protests emerged over the less than politically correct portrayal of Asian-Americans, particularly Brenda Song's character. We're not sure how Dads will fare this fall but the controversy has generated buzz and interest, and of course loyal Seth Green fans will check out his new venture. 8 pm on FOX.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been heralded as the best new comedy this fall. The pairing of carefree cop Andy Samberg with strict captain Andre Braugher fuels the balance between comedic and serious tone. Braugher's character is determined to whip into shape the uninhibited 99th precinct. Terry Crews forms part of the show's supporting cast. Saturday Night Live fans will definitely tune in to see Andy Samberg, and the last few minutes of the premiere episode will leave viewers wanting more. 8:30 pm on FOX.

New Girl returns for a third season smack dab in the midst of the Nick and Jess relationship. The newly united couple head to Mexico for a romantic getaway and quickly find themselves in problems. Meanwhile one of Schmidt's former girls returns. 9 pm on FOX.

The Mindy Project returns for a sophmore season and immediately resolves what occurred in the office while the good doctor Lahiri was in Haiti. Mindy returns and immediately butts heads with her replacement, Dr. Paul Leotard (played by the over-hyped James Franco). Ratings-wise, viewership might be low since Mindy fans may have already watched the season premiere last week when it was exclusively released on Hulu. If anything, you must watch this show for Morgan Tookers. 9:30 pm on FOX.

Are you looking forward to any premiere in particular? Share with us.

FALL 2013: CECILY STRONG CO-ANCHORING SNL'S 'WEEKEND UPDATE'

Saturday Night Live is revamping its Weekend Update segment in preparation for Seth Meyers' impending departure.

Beginning this season, sophmore performer Cecily Strong will co-anchor the mock news segment Weekend Update. It isn't definite yet if Strong will permanently take over the hosting duties (solo or co-anchoring) once Seth Meyers departs the show for NBC's Late Night in February. Interestingly, since Late Night doesn't shoot on Fridays, SNL is holding hope that Seth Meyers will perform double duty and continue with the late night comedy sketch show.

Cecily Strong has become a favorite of Lorne Michaels due to her successful first year on the show. Strong's Weekend Update persona, The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party, became one of the season's breakthrough acts. 

SNL has contracted six new performers for the upcoming season, which you can revisit in a prior post. Meanwhile Tim Robinson, a new addition to the show last year, will be moving off stage and into the writers room for the 39th season.

Saturday Night Live returns September 28 with Tina Fey and Arcade Fire.

FALL 2013: 'SNL' LOOKING AT NEW TALENT FOR NEW SEASON

Saturday Night Live is attempting to fill some very big shoes thanks to the departures of several long-time cast members. With the show's 39th season just around the corner and on the heels of Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, and Jason Sudeikis' exits, as well as Seth Meyers' impending mid-season departure, SNL is on the hunt for some new not-ready-for-primetime players. This time around, the show's producers are looking at some members of the improv and sketch comedy group Upright Citizens Brigade. Last year's influx of new cast members were all former Second City performers. The show is specifically eyeing four members of the comedy troupe: Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney, Noel Wells, and John Milhiser. Readers can search YouTube for videos of these talented comedians and impressionists. Our money would probably be on Beck Bennett...a.k.a. the AT&T guy.

Saturday Night Live starts its new season on September 28.

Keep it locked to Stay Tuned for future updates on anything and everything television.

CONFIRMED: SUDEIKIS OFFICIALLY EXITS 'SNL'

After more than a year of speculation and dodging questions over the summer, Jason Sudeikis will finally confirm that he has exited NBC's Saturday Night Live. Sudeikis announced his departure earlier today during his interview on Late Show with David Letterman. The episode is scheduled to air tonight on CBS.

Sudeikis has been a cast member of SNL for 10 years, and his departure is on the heels of Bill Hader and Fred Armisen's departures this past spring. Sudeikis has enjoyed a flourishing movie career as of late and was pretty much the basis for leaving the late night sketch comedy show.

So no more Devil. No more Running Man in the Adidas track suit. No more Joe 'Jamal' Biden. He'll be missed that's for sure.

Keep it tuned to Stay Tuned for further news on anything and everything TV!