Could The ESPN ESPY Awards Have Survived Without Justin Bieber?

In the Hollywood world of award shows it’s all about ratings. If your show doesn’t have the viewers you don’t have an award show for long.

So tonight during the two hour ESPY red carpet special leading up to the big awards show, we were shocked at how important of a role Justin Bieber seemed to play.

That’s right – Justin Bieber.

Some people know Justin plays basketball, ice hockey, and soccer – but most know him for his music.

To be fair, Bieber did win the MVP at last year’s NBA All-Star game, but the Wednesday night ESPN ESPY’s were supposed to be all about the athletes and the sport – not Justin Bieber.

Related: Justin Bieber wins NBA All-Star Award – Video

The sad facts:

During the two hour pre-show, Bieber’s name was dropped 46 times by the hosts and interviewers.

Forty six times. Do you believe that?

His name was mentioned more than any other athlete.

Every time they went to a commercial they said, “When we come back we’ll have Justin Bieber on the red carpet….”

Forty six times.

In fact, when the pop star did appear the host told him the crowd had cheered more for him than ANY of the athletes walking the red carpet.

Really?

Forty six times.

How awkward was it to watch grown men drop his name in what seemed like an effort to hype the show.

Forty six times.

At one point the host read a viewer’s email asking who was the most anticipated red carpet walker and he joked “Maybe Justin Bieber”.

Forty six times.

Is that what it takes to get the viewers to tune in? Do adult male sports fanatics really care?

No.

The bottom line is if Bieber would not have walked the red carpet during the preshow their probably wouldn’t have been any show.

But you can sell a lot of advertising during a two hour warm up.

Forty six times.

Sad.

I hope Seth Meyers doesn’t have 50 Bieber jokes ready to go – but I bet he has a few.

And they better not point the camera on him during the actual show every 5 seconds.

And I hope the award winners don’t drop his name just to get the audience to scream – they may be disappointed.

We were.

Forty six times.

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Obama and Seth Meyers Go After Trump at White House Correspondence Dinner – Video

Last night was the annual White House Correspondence Dinner, or as insiders call it – “The Nerd Prom”.

Guests and celebrities came from all over to eat dinner, drink, and hear Saturday Night Live head writer Seth Meyers roast the president.

Obama and Meyers did not waste any time jumping in to the “Long Form Birth Certificate” issue. The funny thing? Donald Trump was in the audience and looked none too happy at some of the jokes.

Just watch as the camera pans to Trump during some of the jokes and you will see a very uncomfortable man.

Seth Meyers said when he first heard Trump was running for president he thought he would run as a republican – but instead he “ran as a joke.”

Meyers then joked, “Donald Trump recently said he has a great relationship with the blacks. But unless the blacks are a white family, he was mistaken.”

There were lots of jabs at Fox News, NPR, Trump, and others.

The guest list was impressive with Angus T. Jones (who just learned his show Two and a Half Men is returning with him as the star), Kate Hudson, Sean Penn, Bristol Palin, Paul Rudd, and Glee’s Jane Lynch.

All in all it was good clean fun and showed us once again that Donald Trump really is a big douchebag.

Watch Barack Obama at the White House Correspondence Dinner


Watch Set Meyers at the White House Correspondence Dinner


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SNL Thursday Night Live - Nails It - Recap and Videos

They did it. And they may be on to something.

Saturday Night Life introduced their first Thursday Night Live half hour prime time show with a political spoof of the presidential debate.

And they nailed it. The skit welcomed back Chris Parnell as Tom Brokaw playing the moderator.

SNL is really getting good at this, and there was even a cameo by SNL alum Bill Murray during the Obama and McCain debate skit.

We missed not seeing Tina Fey as Sarah Palin but suspect she will return again - head writer Seth Myers admitted in an interview about the new Thursday format that Fey would likely return.

Related: Seth Meyers Talks About New Thursday SNL Shows

Watch SNL Thursday Night Live Presidential Debate Video



The remaining segment included an expanded version of the popular SNL Weekend Update with Seth Myers and Amy Poehler. The highlight was the "Really?" skit.

It highlighted much of the absurd events of the last week, and took a particularly hard jab at the insurance company AIG, who just spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at a spa immediately following their government bailout.

Watch SNL Thursday Night Live Weekend Update Video



We think by taking out the musical guest, and reducing the number of "not so funny" skits, and focusing on the issues in the news, Lorne Michaels and his group at Saturday Night Live have a smash hit on their hands.

Watch Other SNL Videos

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Seth Meyers Talks New Thursday Version Of Saturday Night Live

Lorne Michaels, and the staff of Saturday Night Live are trying something new - a Thursday night version of the popular Saturday Night Live sketch comedy show.

Beginning this Thursday, "Saturday Night Live" will be seen in prime time for the next three weeks in the form of 30-minute mini-episodes of "SNL Thursday Night Live". The shows are scheduled to run through the presidential election, in addition to the regular Saturday night "SNL" shows.

The Thursday show will showcase an opening political sketch and the popular "Weekend Update" segment - no musical guest. So does that mean we will see more of Tina Fey as Sarah Palin?

Related Videos: Tina Fey Does Sarah Palin On SNL - Videos

Seth Meyers, SNL's head writer and "Weekend Update" anchor, told reporters that Fey would probably be back to play vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin at least one more time.

"If Sarah Palin does something to get in the news, which she's been very consistent on doing so far, I think we'll see Tina as well".

Meyers also said Palin had been invited on the show for a sketch to make fun of Fey. The rumor mill is in overdrive, and we suspect Palin will indeed drop by for a much-needed shot in the arm, and to take a jab at her alter ego.

Since "SNL" brought back Tina Fey for guest appearances, the shows ratings have skyrocketed. The executives must believe they can capture a prime time audience during the last 30 days of the election cycle, otherwise they would not have picked Thursdays powerhouse "Survivor" as a target to compete against.

We think they can pull it off and that people will love it. It's just what we need about now.

In addition to her "30 Rock" and new found "SNL" work, Tina Fey has just wrapped production on the comedy "This Side Of Truth" - a comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain.

The film is bound to be a smash hit due to its all-star cast of celebrities including Jonah Hill, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Ricky Gervais, Rob Lowe, Patrick Stewart and Jeffrey Tambor. Both written and direct by Ricky Gervais, no release date has been confirmed and a trailer is not yet available.

For now, Seth Meyers continues his duties on SNL, but has just announced he is writing and starring in the comedy "Key Party" - where as a way to improve their love life, a couple decides to attend a key party which provides disastrous results for their marriage. Watch for it next year.

The SNL cast will also take a big hit next month when Amy Poehler leaves the show. Poehler is due to have a baby in November and has said she will not be returning to the show after her leave.

Related: Amy Poehler Announces She Is Leaving SNL

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