TVSquad

Do you remember the short films that SNL broadcast through the years? It started, I think, with Mr. Bill during the Not Ready For Prime-Time Players era and currently involves the Lonely Island songs. This could explain why SNL has chosen Lonely Island and SNL member Andy Samberg to host a special broadcast of the SNL short films on May 17 at 9PM.

I'm not sure which short is my favorite. There was an old one involving children's addiction to arcade video games and a doctor would use shock therapy via a Ms. Pac Man joystick to keep kids away from them. Eddie Murphy's "White Like Me" sketch is a classic. But I was laughing just as hard at the concept of Natalie Portman as a gangster rapper. Sadly, I wasn't as impressed by "Lazy Sunday" as apparently the rest of the Internet community.

So which SNL short film was your favorite?

While Joel was covering the New Amsterdam premiere at the New York Television Festival on Thursday night, I decided to check out NBC's Comedy Short Cuts showcase. According to a press release, seven cast members (including Tracy Morgan) from 30 Rock were scheduled to appear at the event. It was also noted on the press release that "All Talent Subject to Change."

And change it did. Tracy was a no show unable to attend due to scheduling changes (as were Judah Friedlander, Scott Adsit, and Jack McBrayer). But Lonny Ross, Katrina Bowden, and Keith Powell were present and seemed happy to pose for a TV Squad photo. So now they're my favorites. (But don't worry guys, I still love all of you).

The "30 Rockers" were on hand not only to create a photo-op for NBC and the NYTVF, but to introduce eight independent short comedy films made by culturally diverse production teams and casts. NBC Universal produces this showcase in order to uncover diverse talent suitable for future development deals.

On December 26 at 10pm in select markets, the PBS series Independent Lens will showcase three short films and the half hour comedy drama, My Life Disoriented.

The first short, Someday Flowers Bloom, looks at the life of a white country singer and his wife, a woman from Japan. When the two met, neither spoke the other's language. The other live-action short, which shared the grand prize for Independent Len's first online film festival, is Paris, 1951, the true story of a girl who finds out the man who raised her was not her real father, and that no photographs or physical reminders remain of him.

Last month Anna mentioned the new reality series from executive producers Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett called On the Lot. The series, which will air in spring of 2007 on FOX, will pit two teams against one another as they create a short film from a different genre each week. Some readers were curious as to how they might get on the show, and it looks like right now you can go over to the official site and download an application and submit your film. According to the application, you're not allowed to enter if you're running for public office or planning to do so. I was devastated upon hearing this until someone informed me there's not really a place called "Funky Town" and even if there was, they probably wouldn't elect me as their mayor. I guess that means I'm good to go.