Fans of the show Saturday Night Live know they’ve been lucky to see some great years of the show recently, thanks to some solid performers, some great new character development, and Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg. Unfortunately, both will be leaving the show after this season. Wiig’s departure was more than predictable this year given her recent success with the movie Bridesmaids, enjoying a rare occasion for an SNL alum – an Oscar nod. Samberg’s departure was a little more of a surprise, but not quite as sudden as when Jimmy Fallon left. When Fallon left, he did a movie with Queen Latifah, then dropped off the map. If it wasn’t for his late night show, I’m sure he would have been tramping along the road playing big to mediocre stages around the world. Samberg seems to have some inventive comedy talent, but his acting ability remains to be seen. Luckily, he seems to have picked up a rather interesting gig with BBC Three.
In a six-part comedy series called Cuckoo, he will team up with Welsh comedian Greg Davies playing a slacker with crazy new age ideas. According to sources, Samberg’s character will be the new husband of Tamla Kari’s character, much to the chagrin of her parents, played by Greg Davies and Helen Baxendale. Created by Robin French and Keiron Quirke, the show will film over the summer and hit TV screens later in the year. BBC Three is a public broadcaster in the UK, obviously part of the BBC networks, with a target demographic of 16 to 34 year-olds, perfect for Andy Samberg’s audience.
The real question I have with this move is how it will play in the United States. Will his popularity flourish in the UK, but dwindle in the United States? And if so, will that affect his ability to find the right comedic role in Hollywood. I hope for his sake he’s aiming to pick up a project to do as soon as he’s done taping the BBC Three TV Shows, because I have a funny feeling that this new Adam Sandler picture is just not going to solidify Samberg as a post-SNL star. I don’t think Samberg will end up hosting a late night show either to save his career. Although, I thought the same thing of Fallon. I like Andy Samberg, so hopefully he will find the right roles right off the bat to keep him at the level that he deserves for helping SNL get back to a glimpse of its former glory.
