Yesterday came news of Seth Meyers plans to move down the hall, it’s suspected that Jason Sudeikis will leave to focus on film work, and Fred Armisen’s future with the show is uncertain. Unfortunately, there have been no reports that Kenan Thompson plans to depart.

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.

It’s unclear how many new performers will join the cast or which performers will be departing, but it would make sense that Kristen Wiig would move on to more carefully chosen projects while Jason Sudeikis will take the horny guy role in literally every upcoming comedy.

She was selected for the show due exclusively to buzz, as her output at the time of her selection consisted of a two-song web EP. As such, it would appear that Del Rey wasn’t prepeared for the gig. She appeared visibly nerous and seemed to make several mistakes during the performances, prompting no less than Brian Williams to write an email to Gawker panning her performance.

Here are a handful of other notorious SNL performances that would have undoubtedly upset Brian Williams as well.

Ke$ha

The performances here fall into two groups, largely. Performances by shitty artists that are as shitty as the artists themselves and performances by decent artists that are shitty. This performance is the former.

It’s unclear what makes Ke$ha a star, so I’m comfortable assuming it’s her eagerness to get on her back for everyone in the music industry, from record execs to the guys that sell bootleg t-shirts outside concert venues.

This performance would seem to support my theory, as this video defies all logic blending astronauts, patriotism, and lots of spectacle with a song that’s pretty much about being a drunk white trash whore.

This performance is exactly as good as it should be.

Sinead O’Connor

This will sound horribly jaded, but I find it quaint that, as recently as 1992, people were mortified by the fact that Sinead O’Connor tore up a picture of the pope at the end of her a capella rendition of “War,” urging the audience and viewers to “fight the real enemy.” What do you think would happen if someone like Adele tore up a picture of Pope Benedict next weekend? I would guess you would hear a hiccup, a squeaky fart, then some polite applause.

Adding to the haunting nature of O’Connor’s performance is Lorne Michaels’ now-infamous decision to not light up the applause sign, creating an even more uncomfortable silence all the way to commercial.

“Listen, you can’t imagine doing the show without Alec but I couldn’t imagine doing the show without Chevy either and we’re still on the air,” Michaels said, invoking Chase’s departure from SNL. “I would hope that we would never have to go on without him but we’re going to keep doing the show.”

Tina Fey is at home this summer expecting a baby. Then she’s ready to go back to work too. “Right now she’s having a baby but I know that she’s completely committed to the show, as are a lot of people who work there. Alec is a huge part of it. It’s a great group. I think it still has a lot of vitality and life in it. We’re all pretty much determined to keep it going, and I’m hopeful.”

Michaels also spoke out about 30 Rock star Tracy Morgan’s controversial anti-gay rant and how it might affect his return to the show. “We haven’t started yet but obviously everyone has been talking. I think he totally regretted it, he apologized for it. I think it was a thoughtless thing to say but it was the middle of a concert and he was trying to be provocative I think. It just blew up and I think he confronted it and dealt with it. I know what kind of man he is and he’s not a hateful person in any way, shape or form. What he said was stupid and there’s no justification for it, I’m just saying I don’t think it came from any real thought really.”

The subsequent Tracy Morgan controversy, about a routine on the mentally challenged, made less waves. “I think that’s from his act from 15 years ago. It was in his HBO special. When you scrutinize anybody’s comedy, it’s not the criteria you should really judge it by. He’s not being taught in schools.”

- “Up All Night” is a single camera comedy, starring Christina Applegate as a working mother who never thought she’d be a mom, but guess what: she totally is. Maya Rudolph and Will Arnett co-star, with Emily Spivey and Lorne Michaels executive producing. Network executives are convinced that one day, Arnett will star in a ratings-generating sitcom. It has been foretold by the sitcom elders.

- Steven Spielberg came up with the idea for “Smash,” a drama about a group of musical folk producing a Marilyn Monroe show on Broadway. It’s been described as”Glee” for adults, so please keep it the hell away from me. Starring Debra Messing and Katharine McPhee, Spielberg co-wrote the pilot with Theresa Rebeck. I’ll tune into Spielberg’s other show instead.

- Based on her stand-up routine, Whitney Cummings‘ cleverly titled multi-camera comedy “Whitney” is about the trials and tribulations of a young couple in a committed relationship. I’m guessing someone’s mother on that show will ask why they’re not married. Laughter will then ensue.

- Maria Bello stars in “Prime Suspect,” a female NYC detective trying to “make it” in a male-dominated precinct. We’re all rooting for you, girlfriend. It’s based on a British mini-series starring Helen Mirren.

Fallon and Lorne’s wives must be watching at home.  (TheDailyWhat)

SNL

That’s why I’m glad IFC‘s Portlandia is getting renewed for a second season. I’ll have to respectfully disagree with my Screen Junkies collegue Fred Topel and note that Portlandia is one of my favorite new shows in awhile. It’s a hilarious, silly, thoughtfully written sketch show very much in the tradition of Kids In The Hall, and probably not coincidentally, both shows have some guy named Lorne Michaels in the credits.

Portlandia‘s kind of an exclusive thing, you know? Whatever, you probably haven’t even heard it. All you have to know is that it’s indie and I liked it before anyone else did. Now they’re giving Portlandia a second season and it’ll probably sell out. You know, f*ck that show. I’m gonna go drink PBR’s at my friend Steve’s mustache party.

If you’re interested in Portlandia, cause you’re not a drone, check out clips here. (Cinema Blend)

We may have a problem on our hands as the combined might of college students and their Internet-savvy grandparents are realizing their strength. In the past week, not only have Facebook users managed to make a pickle more popular than Canadian ass-rockers Nickleback, but they may have also convinced Lorne Michaels to hire the dumb Golden Girl to host an upcoming episode of Saturday Night Live. A group of Betty White-heads nearly half a million strong took to the social networking site and petitioned for their favorite octogenarian to headline the show. And now Michaels is reportedly trying to put together a show that will work with White’s advanced age. From Michael Aussiello:

White would not be hosting alone. Rather, I hear SNL is putting together a “Women of Comedy” episode that would team the former Rose Nylund with several of her younger contemporaries. Ex-SNL MVP Molly Shannon is on board, I hear, and feelers have also been put out to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

When told of the wellspring of support from her fans, White was reportedly thrilled/ready for dinner at 4pm. (EW)