LITTLE ROCK — Andy Samberg has wrapped his seven-season run on Saturday Night Live, a spokesman for the actorcomedian said Friday. Samberg won’t return as a cast member next season, according to his publicist,Carrie Byalick. Samberg’s exit follows that of fellow cast member Kristen Wiig. Like other Saturday Night Live alumni, Samberg will be seen on the big screen. His new movie with Adam Sandler, That’s My Boy, is out this month. Samberg’s Saturday Night Live highlights reel would feature his satiric rap videos including “Lazy Sunday” and one with Justin Timberlake about an X-rated gift in a box. The fake music video won an Emmy Award in 2007 for best original music and lyrics.
Filmmaker George Lucas on Friday namedveteran producer Kathleen Kennedy as his cochairman and successor at the film studio he foundedfour decades ago. Kennedy and Lucas will serve as board co-chairmen at Lucasfilm Ltd. as the Star Wars creator moves forward with his retirement plans. Lucas, 68, will continue as CEO and work with Kennedy as she transitions into her new role at Lucasfilm, the San Francisco-based company said. The filmmaker said he chose Kennedy as his successor because he was looking for “someone with great creative passion and proven leadership abilities, but also someone who loves movies.” In recent months, Lucas has told reporters that he plans to move away from producing big-budget movies so he can focus on smaller, arthouse films. Kennedy will step down from her role at The Kennedy/Marshall Co. and shift responsibilities to her partner Frank Marshall. Together they have produced Academy Awardnominated films such as War Horse, The Adventures of Tintin, The Sixth Sense and Seabiscuit. Over the past three decades, Kennedy has worked with Steven Spielberg to produce blockbuster films such as E.T., Schindler’s List and the Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park franchises.
Front Section, Pages 2 on 06/03/2012