Archive for December, 2011

'Saturday Night Live' gig 'really is [a] dream come true,' singer says.By Jocelyn Vena

Katy Perry on the set of "Saturday Night Live" Photo: MTV News

On Saturday night, Katy Perry took the reins of "Saturday Night Live," hosting the long-running sketch-comedy program. Displaying her flair for comedy and her budding acting chops, the singer shared with MTV News that she intended to celebrate her latest achievement the way hosts before her have: by attending the legendary "SNL" afterparty.

"Sunday morning? ... I'm still spinning 'cause I drank too much. I'm just kidding," she joked days prior, at Thursday's rehearsals for the show. "Sunday morning is gonna hopefully be, 'Ahh, that was so much fun, and we had a great time, and we all danced together on a dance floor.' ... I know we'll go till like 8 [a.m.]. I'll be hopping on that plane [after the party] with a hat, sunglasses, like, 'Hello! Yes! Wee!' "

It's been a great year for Perry: She had a hugely successful tour, tied a chart-topping singles record held by Michael Jackson, took home a number of big prizes, starred in the big-screen version of "The Smurfs" and found out she's up for two Grammys come February. And, that's just a few of her accomplishments. The "SNL" gig, she said, was the icing on her 2011 cake.

"It's a cherry on top," she gushed to MTV News. "Most definitely, you hear with different monologues of different hosts every week, it sounds a bit repetitive and stereotypical about how this is their dream come true to host 'SNL,' but it really is each and every one of our dream come true to host 'SNL,' to just have fun, goof off, try and make some people laugh. And, we'll see. Hopefully, I don't embarrass myself 'cause if I do, I'll stick to music."

Regardless of her future on the show (or in comedy, for that matter), Perry said the "SNL" women are truly inspiring. "I like females that are OK with making fun of themselves, and they don't always have to have the best lighting or they can play all kinds of different characters," she explained, owning up to a slight obsession with "SNL" star Kristen Wiig. "They don't have to play gorgeous and serious all the time: They can play stupid and funny and self-deprecating. I love that."

On the episode, for which Perry explained she got some advice from hubby and previous "SNL" host Russell Brand, she was joined by former tourmate Robyn as the night's musical guest.

Share your review of Katy Perry's "SNL" appearance in the comments below!

Pop star lampoons Christina Aguilera (and herself) during latest episode, which also include appearances from Matt Damon and Alec Baldwin.By James Dinh

Katy Perry on "Saturday Night Live" Photo: NBC

Katy Perry put her acting chops to the test during her "Saturday Night Live" hosting debut this weekend, but the pop superstar also put her vocal talents to use in most of her sketches, lampooning fellow stars and even herself.

Kicking off the evening in her new blond bob, Mrs. Russell Brand walked onto the festive set in a tight red dress covered in Christmas ornaments for the show's opening monologue. She explained that her crazy video characters are based on real people she grew up with in California, and Kristen Wiig appeared beside the starlet in a blue wig with a whipped-cream-projecting bra, just like Perry's "California Gurls" character.

More "SNL" castmates joined the starlet in her video outfits and brought the audience to laughs when Wiig paired with Perry to sing a girl-on-girl duet of "Teenage Dream."

Aside from skits about Hello Kitty fandom and long-lost soul mates, the 27-year-old singer spent much of the night taking a stab at celebrity impressions, mocking the likes of Christina Aguilera, Florence Welch and Pippa Middleton.

In a parody trailer for "The Apocalypse," a play on the recently released romantic comedy "New Year's Eve," Perry dressed up as Xtina, singing her signature elongated notes. Then, Perry portrayed the Florence and the Machine frontwoman in a skit about a canine-themed soundtrack called Doggie Duty, and it was all about the royal family when the ever-changing pop star channeled Pippa Middleton in a segment that depicted a rather raunchy version of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

Katy Cats also saw their beloved pop star in a sketch about, well, herself. During an interview with a Finnish TV show called "Kalle," Perry becomes alarmed when the host, played by Wiig, cues to clips of anything and everything the singer mentions. "We have an excellent research team," Kalle tells the chart-topper of the constant clip-cueing. Things become strange for Perry when the talk show plays a clip from the future.

The latest episode also featured surprise appearances from Matt Damon and Val Kilmer, who appeared together with Perry in a Digital Short sing-a-long about best friends, and Alec Baldwin popped up during "Weekend Update." The Emmy-winning "30 Rock" star took the opportunity to lampoon his recent American Airlines controversy, when the actor was removed from a flight last week for refusing to turn off his phone during his Words with Friends game.

Perry shared the "SNL" stage with former California Dreams tourmate Robyn, who served as the evening's musical guest. Delivering a pair of high-energy performances of "Call Your Girlfriend" and "Dancing on My Own," the Swedish pop star showed off her awkwardly slick dance moves and retro '80s styling.

What was your favorite Perry skit? Share your thoughts in the comments below!