Hammond Replaces Rocca in Spelling Bee, June 12

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 6:33pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=18780

Darrell Hammond will replace Mo Rocca in Spelling Bee.

I previously speculated about this this when I sat across from him at the show a few weeks ago. Looks like I was right.

June 12 - July 19.
Updated On: 5/29/07 at 06:33 PM

[alliez92092]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 6:40pm

Is it just me, or do they seem to be going with celebrities to play Panch? Before Panch was just this funny little role, now it's the celebrity role.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 6:42pm

I actually think the past 2 choices have been spot-on, though I'm still hoping for Stephen Colbert.

[NJgirl]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 6:42pm

As an SNL fan...I will go back and see Bee again to see Darrell.
I guess they are celebrity casting Panch to bring in the audience from here out...
Updated On: 5/29/07 at 06:42 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 6:44pm

Nothing against Darrell Hammond, but I never expected Bee to end up doing celeb casting (and I really did like Mo Rocca).

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 6:45pm

I dunno....I really don't consider him (or Rocca) to be celebrities. TV stars, yes. Celebs, no.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 6:56pm

Darrell Hammond is someone I would consider a celebrity. Not of the highest caliber but he is widely regarded as one of the greatest performers in the history of Saturday Night Live and can certainly bring in audiences. I personally applaud this move by Spelling Bee as a truely creative and appropriate casting move. Hammond, I believe, would not feel wedged into a role like many celebrity performers are.

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 7:05pm

If Bee is gonna stunt cast to keep the show alive then this will be the role they do it too. Not unlike how Rocky tried to use revolving Narrators to boost ticket sales towards the end. I'd say expect this trend to continue to keep the show running for as long as it can work.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 7:09pm

This is the only way I'll consider seeing Bee again. I love SNL.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 7:09pm

This is the only way I'll consider seeing Bee again. I love SNL.

[alwy15]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 7:11pm

i usually groan at celebrity casting, but this is just perfect. hammond will be wonderful, im sure.
and i agree with whoever said about that dreamcasting for that role is stephen colbert. that would be comic genius. even stephen carell could be really fantastic, too!

[rose_pearl]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 7:37pm

Was Mo Rocca only going to have a limited run anyway?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 7:37pm

Yes, he was.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 9:05pm

He will be entertaining in it...but he really is not a big enough name if you do not know SNL.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 9:33pm

And I suppose if he's not, then it shouldn't matter, and it'll go back to the show being a draw instead of who's in it.

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 10:45pm

I love him on SNL, and I would love to see him in the show.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 10:48pm

Stephen Colbert would be amazing in the role!

I have no idea who Hammond is though. I haven't been watching SNL since it started to suck.

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 10:56pm

"I have no idea who Hammond is though. I haven't been watching SNL since it started to suck."

He's been on it for 12 years. How long have you even been alive?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 11:12pm

Fron the headline I thought it was goona be Blake.
Oh well.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 11:38pm

I have no idea who Hammond is though. I haven't been watching SNL since it started to suck.

SNL's suckery starts depending on how old you are...I stopped watching in 1996.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 12:27am

This show would have to run a long time to cash in on Colbert or Carrell. Both are insanely successful at the moment and far too busy to jump into a Broadway show on top of their "day jobs."

Honestly, any of the Daily Show correspondents would be great as Panch (which Rocca, Colbert, and Carrell all were before finding success in other projects).
Updated On: 5/30/07 at 12:27 AM

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 12:40am

I guess I just don't remember him. I stopped watching in 2000 or 2001.

I watch it very rarely now.

[Freckles1329]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 12:52am

He's been on since 1995 so even if you stopped watching in 1996, you would have seen him. Anyway, he is probably one of the best impressionists of all time and I am definitely going to see him!

[EdmundOG]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 8:14am

I can't take anyone seriously when they say SNL sucks now. SNL has always sucked, and it's always been great. It's wildly uneven from week to week and mostly dependent on the host. Every currently-running cast is said to be the worst ever, and as soon as they leave, people get nostalgic for them. It's a neverending cycle.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 10:28am

"Fron the headline I thought it was goona be Blake."

I did too, and it scared me.