And now, the word is in that he’ll return at least until January. Says Lorne Michaels:

“Jason is in,” Mr. Michaels, the show’s executive producer, said in an interview Tuesday night.

He was referring, of course, to Jason Sudeikis, the longtime cast member who, since the show’s finale last May, has been the subject of many rumors that he would be departing after seven seasons. Mr. Michaels said he was relieved to have the comedian back in the cast this season. [NY Times]

Is this due to the election? It seems so. As the show’s only white guy he is obligated to continue portraying Mitt Romney and Joe Biden. After that, all bets are off. He’ll have to be released eventually as demand for him to play the horny best friend in goofy comedies is at an all-time high.

The Wrap caught up with Lorne Michaels to discuss the fates of Andy Samberg and Jason Sudeikis. Michaels was especially vague when asked of any cast additions or departures.

“You never know,” Michaels said. “I think everyone gets through the season and just the level of fatigue by the end is just overwhelming, and it’s a very emotional time. I’ve had a rule since the second season, which is to not make any decisions in June. We’ll see in July.”

One cast member who has made mention of his intention to stay is Fred Armisen. He noted that he hopes to continue his work on both Portlandia and SNL as he has done for the past two seasons. Otherwise, he’ll have to find another outlet for his creepy genius.

Most important to note, however, is that it looks like Kenny might be in trouble with a Ruff Ryders-esque motorcycle gang. I wish DMX had a role this season.

The new season premieres February 19th on HBO. (Pop Candy)

Check out the ¡Rob! Bingo card.

The King of Queens

The best and most recent example of this phenomenon occurred on the hit CBS series The King of Queens. The notion that gigantic delivery man Doug Heffernan could score cute, busty Carrie was pushing fiction to the extreme. However, Doug was funny and charming, and as the writers at Screen Junkies all know, cute women prize a sense of humor over good looks any day of the week. Of course, Doug also put up with Carrie’s insane father Arthur, so that scored him some points.

Friends

It’s become fashionable over the years to bash Friends as overrated. The truth, however, is that the middle years of the show hold up quite well, both in writing and acting. But not even ten Oscar winners could convince me that Rachel Green was so hung up on giant dork Ross Gellar. Even if you do buy into the notion of one of the hottest women in America getting knocked up by a palaeontologist, I submit exhibit B: Monica and Chandler. This show was bordering on Sci-Fi.

This season, Danny McBride is joined by Jason Sudeikis, Steve Little, Katy Mixon and Ike Barinholtz.

Metropolis

Next time you want to complain about work, just remember how bad the “employees” in Fritz Lang’s science fiction classic Metropolis have it. They work like slaves in an underground civilization at the will of their wealthy overlords. The only entertainment they get is the occasional herky-jerky robot girl dance.

The Apartment

This movie will probably seem a bit truer to the real workplace experience than Metropolis. No robot girls here, just an environment in which getting ahead is more important than being a decent human being. In the case of CC Baxter, this means giving over the keys to his apartment to his bosses so they can use it to have sex with women who aren’t their wives. As if that wasn’t enough, Baxter’s in love with the elevator girl who’s in a toxic relationship with his horrible, sleazy (and married) boss. Bad work environment!

2001: A Space Odyssey

Traveling from Earth to the moon to various other points in space may be easy in 2001, but it’s still a pain in the ass. The toilet has a set of instructions with like 12 steps, and the “food” can all be drunk through a straw. Oh, and your boss is a homicidal computer with a creepy glowing red eye. Murdering your boss would be justified, in this case.

Cast: Jason Sudeikis, Leslie Bibb, Tyler Labine

Synopsis: A group of 30-year-olds who have been friends sinc high school attempt to throw an end-of-summer orgy.

Release Date: September 2, 2011

7 photosMichelle Borth

A Good Old Fashioned Orgy starring Sudeikis, Tyler Labine, Leslie Bibb, Lucy Punch, Will Forte, Martin Starr, Lake Bell, Nick Kroll, and Lindsay Sloane, opens on September 2nd wherever fine films about orgies are shown.

6 photosJennifer Aniston

The comedy series has turned out some great comedy performances from Will Ferrell, Craig Robinson, Don Johnson, Adam Scott, Deep Roy, and Matthew McConaughey. I’m hoping to see Sudeiki break away from his current stints as Horndog Bestfriend Character #1, and this could be the perfect chance to do that. Also it’s going to be hilarious to see his square off with Stevie Janowski for Kenny’s affections. (Variety)

Nick (Jason Bateman), Dale (Charlie Day) and Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) all have lousy bosses. Harken (Kevin Spacey) demeans and overworks Nick. Julia (Jennifer Aniston) sexually harasses Dale (it’s funny because it’s not a man intimidating a woman). Bobby Pellit (Colin Farrell) is just coked-up and crazy.

There's Funny Stuff In 'Horrible Bosses' Red Band

You know Hollywood’s not going to make a movie about really killing your boss. Horrible Bosses at least has fun with three dorks exploring the underworld. Kurt especially makes continuous asides like he’s really reacting to the process of finding a hired killer. They’ve seen Strangers on a Train and Throw Mamma from a Train but apparently not 9 to 5, and you get some slapstick as they bumble through reconnaissance missions.

You know exactly where the story is going and it’s all to keep the heroes innocent and likeable. It’s pretty funny when Kurt plays petty pranks with Pellit’s toiletries. Dale has some good Charlie Day freak-outs. Bateman gets some good lines too so he’s not relegated to straight man. These three work together, and it’s kind of nice to see this generation’s reliable studio comedians emerge.

6 photosJennifer Aniston

The bosses get to be extreme too. Spacey is basically doing Swimming with Sharks light, but Aniston really relishes saying the P word and talking about touching herself. If you have trouble imagining a man disliking Aniston’s advances, consider that Dale actually has a loving fiancée he wants to be faithful to. Or, remember that in real life, oversexed aggressive women don’t look like Jennifer Aniston.

I was going to compliment one twist on a standard cliché, but then they followed it up with the usual cliché so it would be a spoiler. I thought Horrible Bosses was a little funnier than Bad Teacher. If you’re hating on The Hangover Part II, at least they’re going somewhere with their formula. You’d rather have an “original” plotline that plays it safe? Well, at least I’ve gotten to see Rubber and Detention, so I can let these summer comedies coast.

Director: Seth Gordon

Cast: Colin Farrell, Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Donald Sutherland

Synopsis: Three friends conspire to murder their awful bosses when they realize they are standing in the way of their happiness.

Release Date: July 29, 2011

4 photos‘Horrible Bosses’ Posters Showcase Just How Horrible These Bosses Are

Bossocide will commence in theaters July 8th, 2011. (Collider)

My favorite part of the trailer is the appearance at the end from Wendell “William ‘Bunk’ Moreland” Pierce. I’m pretty excited to see this when it comes out on July 8th. I might even…kill to see it. Probably not, though.

SNL cast member Jason Sudeikis has been tapped to host the 20th annual “MTV Movie Awards.” The show, which I remember as being pretty funny many years ago, has award categories like “Best WTF Moment,” “Best Scared-As-S**t Performance,” and “Best Kiss,” which is easy to win if you’re a hot girl who kissed another hot girl in a motion picture.

Nowadays, it’s an excuse to give awards to Twilight, and even a smart, funny comedian like Sudeikis will run out of good Twilight material early in the broadcast. Just ask Aziz Ansari. Still, nice to see more spotlights on Sudeikis. I’m sure when he got the news, he immediately started dancing in his red and white Adidas track suit.

“MTV Movie Awards” airs on some network July 5th, and he stars in Horrible Bosses on July 8. Coincidence? Absolutely. (LA Times)

Horrible Bosses sounds pretty fun. Directed by Seth Gordon (King of Kong), the film stars Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Day as three pals downtrodden by their terrible employers – Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell and Aniston – who they decide to kill. If you haven’t at least considered the possibility of beating your boss within an inch of his or her life, you are not an American.

The employers will attempt to downsize their supervisors in theaters July 8th. These images first appeared in Entertainment Weekly. (The Playlist)

I went into Hall Pass thinking I’d have to accept the stereotype and appreciate what comedy could be mined from it, if any. Personally, I don’t have a desire to not be in a committed relationship. But, I know there’s this public fantasy about getting a free pass, so that could be funny. The film actually has a clever perspective and good values.

Rick (Owen Wilson) and Fred (Jason Sudeikis) are married men in a rut, or two separate ruts to be accurate. Rick’s wife Maggie (Jenna Fischer) hears about hall pass from her friend Dr. Lucy (Joy Behar). It’s actually designed to make the men appreciate their wives when they inevitably try and fail to seduce young hotties.

Already this is a pro-relationship movie. It’s manipulative but the idea is to reinforce the value on monogamy. The misguided intention of that is funnier than any bickering opposites attract rom-com. Rick doesn’t want the pass. I’m with that. Fred’s more eager when his wife Grace (Christina Applegate) follows suit but you know he’s going to learn his lesson. Sudeikis is the ultimate comedy buddy. He’s the perfect instigator but never obnoxious.

The big joke is not to have a raucous wife-free party, but rather that these guys are total posers. Just the introduction of “Day 1” is hilarious. Then the delays and the setbacks take up half the week. The film doesn’t overstay the premise. They do the joke and then cut to the next development. Old guys get tired, boom. They suck at the bar scene, boom. The guys who want that party fantasy may be disappointed, but it speaks to me.

The group of friends is really funny. Flats (J.B. Smove), Gary (Stephen Merchant), and Hog-Head (Larry Joe Campbell) make a classic group of funny companions, even though they unfortunately disappear halfway through. The plot kicks in a little with Rick’s real prospect, Leigh (Nicky Whelan), but it’s always on point. These guys get into hilarious trouble trying to cash in their hall pass.

This is the Farrelly Brothers’ best movie since There’s Something About Mary. I know, I know, even better than Stuck on You. They’re more subdued here. It’s not about crushing pussy or penises stuck in zippers. The penises here are tame compared to Forgetting Sarah Marshall or Walk Hard. Fake chow funny because it makes sense (I’m opposed to it, ladies, but I get why it exists.) Jerking off illustrates the mature feelings of a married man. The joke is the reactions to it, not a cum shot. Okay, there are two poop scenes but the first is somewhere I’ve never seen it before, and the second is earned with character.

It’s not golden era Farrellys like Kingpin but it’s good. Fischer and Applegate have thankless parts. They’re really the cutaways to have the serious relationship talk. They give some counterpoint to what’s going on with the guys, but it’s not funny or perceptive.

There are two scenes where characters’ embarrassing conversations are caught by surveillance. That’s redundant and not that funny either time.

Hall Pass is the first real comedy of the year. It’s worth staying for the credits for another scene with Gary and Hog-Head. There’s a blooper near the end of the credits that’s not great but it pays off the jerking off joke. And there’s a final blooper and dedication which you should also stay for, because come on, you’ve already gotten to music credits. Honestly, after The Dilemma The Eagle Unknown Just Go With It, Never Say Never and all the January movies I didn’t see, it’s relief.

But just because they’re raunchy, doesn’t mean they’re funny. Also strange that Owen Wilson only has about four lines in this trailer with most of the attention going to Jason Sudeikis‘s take on a role that typically goes to Dan Fogler. I’ll have to wait until we see the film before officially calling the time of death on the Farrelly’s comedy skills but I’m prepping our 40 oz’s for sip-pouring all the same. (IGN)

The story centers around “a close group of 30-somethings who spend every summer weekend throwing elaborate theme parties at their friend Eric’s (Sudeikis) family home in the Hamptons. When Eric’s dad decides to sell off their summer playground, the friends agree there is only one way to have the biggest and brashest send off party a good old fashioned orgy.”

Sounds like fun but there had better be ice-cream cake. (THR)

Director: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly

Cast: Owen Willson, Alyssa Milano, Christina Applegate, Jenna Fischer, Jason Sudeikis

Synopsis: A married man is granted the opportunity to have an affair by his wife. Joined in the fun by his best pal, things get a little out of control when both wives start engaging in extramarital activities as well.

Release Date: February 25, 2011

Hall Pass checks into theaters February 25, 2011.

Going the Distance
R, 97m., 2010
Cast: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Charlie Day, Christina Applegate, Jason Sudeikis, Jim Gaffigan, Kelli Garner, and Ron Livingston
Directed by Nanette Burstein
Screenplay by Geoff LaTuippe

Going the Distance is a romantic comedy with two very likable leads in the shape of Justin Long and Drew Barrymore, who find themselves going out for one lazy been there seen that before script.

The script by newcomer Geoff LaTuippe and direction by documentarian Nanette Burstein tries to give the film some edge by basing the movie’s love fling in reality but gets caught up in the standard whining of most romantic comedies.

More after the jump…

Long and Barrymore as New York/San Francisco long distance lovers Erin and Garrett create a chemistry that is easily found on screen with their inevitable meet cue moments. With most rom-coms, it takes an entire movie to convince an audience that these two particular actors would like each other. Look no further than this year’s She Out of My League or The Bounty Hunter on how to make a rom-comedy disaster.

Trying to help this script along are several comedic veterans Christina Applegate, Charile Day, Jason Sudeikis, Rob Riggle, and Jim Gaffigan playing the various friends and family members, who just hang around so they can throw out the right advice speech when needed and still add a dick or fart joke in to keep the R rating.

Keeping the movie at an R rating, it feels like a hybrid of Judd Apatow meets Nora Ephron at times. This works occasionally with the juxtaposition of Garrett’s friends giving him advice on top of Erin’s sisters and vice versa, but then stops and sets itself back to a 1 in creating any further comedic ideas other than that they are 3000 miles apart.

Going the Distance gives us characters that are nice and help the trip be more pleasant along the way, but once they reac the final destination, it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.

Grade: C+

Kudos to Colin Farrell for going au naturale on the set of the new Seth Gordon-directed comedy horrible bosses. I always knew his hair was too thick and lustrous to be real. The combover does an awesome job of transforming him into a superior I’d like to stab in the ear with a Bic.

Horrible Bosses follows three friends who all have horrible bosses they want to end, so they decide to swap their murders like in that old Hitchcock flick Strangers on a Train. Netflix it, ya uncultured swine. The three guys are played by Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, and Charlie Day, and the bosses are Colin Farrell as coke head exec, Kevin Spacey as a master manipulator, and Jennifer Aniston as nymphomaniac dentist. Also, Jamie Foxx plays a scam artist named Motherfucker Jones, but I’m guessing you’re too busy imagining getting banged by Aniston in a dentist’s chair. (NYPost)