SNL

Suck it up Northeast, and learn a lesson from Andy Samberg ... who made the most of the massive storm which dropped at least a foot of snow in NYC.

The "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" star strapped on a pair of skis and cruised right down city streets.

That's how you handle a snowstorm ... like a boss.

Sasheer Zamata -- the first black female "Saturday Night Live" cast member in 5 years -- "works clean" as one of her colleagues put it to us ... but she can also "play dirty" -- as in dirty, dirty skits.

"SNL" made it official today, but we've been told they've been scouting Sasheer for several years. She was part of at least one other "SNL" showcase 2 years ago, when scouts from the show took notice. She posted pics last March of her backstage and in the offices at "SNL" ... so there's been some interest for a while.

Sasheer graduated from the University of Virginia just 5 years ago, and we're told she's been working NYC clubs relentlessly, getting her name out there.

She got some attention from her web series, "In Pursuit of Sexiness."

"SNL" has taken a lot of heat for not replacing Maya Rudolph with a black female comedian when she left 5 years ago.

We're told Sasheer has learned a lot about perseverance from a near tragedy -- she was in a horrible car accident where she was thrown through the window of her car and had to re-learn some basic functions -- which she did.

It was nine o'clock on a Saturday ... an unsuspecting Kansas City bar crowd gathered round to watch a popular cover band ... but they got a big bonus ... Jason Sudeikis.

The SNL star and his fiancee Olivia Wilde hit up Kanza Hall ... and Jason joined the band Summer Breeze for some classic hits -- including Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are."

Saturday Night Live's secret audition to find an African-American female was total BS -- at least according to one actress who tried out, but thinks it was only thrown together to quiet SNL's critics ... not to find a new cast member.

Comedian Tiffany Haddish tells TMZ the Dec. 2 talent search at The Groundlings Theatre in L.A. felt like it was a dog and pony show, partially because executive producer Lorne Michaels wasn't there -- and he's known to attend most auditions.

Other sources at the try-out tell us it seemed too conveniently timed -- coming on the heels of current cast members Jay Pharoah and Kenan Thompson publicly blasting 'SNL' producers for not hiring a Black female.

If 'SNL' found the right chick ... they're not saying yet -- but Tiffany thinks "they already know who they want ... they're just wasting all these black women's time and gas money."

Tim Meadows WENT OFF on "Saturday Night Live" this weekend -- saying he'll NEVER WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN after they excluded him from a throwback sketch.

Meadows -- who appeared on the show from 1991 to 2001 -- swore off the show after watching the "Brasky Bar Guys" bit ... a reoccurring sketch he often appeared in during his time with the show.

Meadows tweeted: "They did Brasky without me" ... adding, "Not even a 'hey would you want to come to do one line and bring your kids to see the 5 directions...?' Nothing... Wow..."

"I will never watch SNL again."

Meadows also explained why he thinks he's persona non grata -- and it traces back to his movie, "The Ladies Man."

"Sorry the ladies man bombed," Meadows wrote ... "If it would have done better they wouldn't treat me like a red-headed step child."

After the rant, Tim cooled down and seemed to back off his comments ... saying, "I'm not mad at the show. I know what it takes to produce those sketches in a short amount of time. I talked to a friend on the show who said it WAS a last minute sketch."

"I acted like a baby. I'm happy for all of my friends success and will always be grateful and proud to have been a part of SNL. That being said don't forget to see 'Anchorman 2' coming soon to a theater near you."

Fun Fact: "The Ladies Man" bombed so bad it took SNL 10 years to make another movie.

Cracky Mayor Rob Ford -- the Tyrone Biggums of politics -- says he's well aware he was mocked on "Saturday Night Live" this weekend ... but he didn't seem too upset about it.

Ford was in Toronto on his way to watch a Canadian Football league playoff game -- when he stopped to sign autographs like a rockstar.

During the quick signing session, Ford was asked about the "SNL" skit -- in which Bobby Moynihan spoofs the mayor as a fat, cracked out idiot.

"It was crazy," Ford said of the sketch.

Ford then proceeded to the football game ... despite a suggestion from the CFL commissioner that Rob stay the hell away.

Ford plays by his own rules ... especially when those rules involve crack.

A rep for the rapper tells us Em was not lip-syncing during his performance of "Berzerk" ... but does admit he was using a vocal track underneath his live vocals.

Translation: live mic+vocal track = vocal help. Yes, technically ...it's not lip-syncing, but it's pretty damn close.

The rep adds, "He just likes this sound and if you listen to his albums they are done the same way."

Guilty conscience?

Barring some crazy rift in the space-time continuum, Eminem unquestionably lip-synced his performance on "SNL" this weekend ... at least judging by Saturday night's broadcast.

In case you missed the show, the video should clear things up. Em took the stage to perform his song "Berzerk" and went borderline Milli Vanilli for four minutes. We cut it down to the highlights for your convenience.

FYI -- Ashlee Simpson infamously lip-synced on "SNL" a few years ago and people ripped her to shreds. So, why should Em get a pass?

Granted, we can't say for SURE he was lip-syncing ... we're just making an educated guess ... so we gotta ask ...

The guy who helped create “Hannah Montana” says he’s got no problems with Miley Cyrus telling people her alter ego is dead – but he admits he had a different method of death in mind for the former child star.

Of course, Miley cracked the joke during her monologue on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend – saying, “I can give you an update on what [Hannah’s] been up to … she was murdered.”

TMZ spoke with “Hannah” co-creator Richard Correll … who tells us Hannah will never die, as long as there’s re-runs … but says that if she did have to croak, he hopes “Hannah would die of old age with her grandkids and family.”

Yeah, that’s probably better than being murdered.

Hannah Montana will no longer party in the U.S.A. ... cause she's dead -- this according to Miley Cyrus.

Miley dropped the bombshell during last night's "Saturday Night Live" opening monologue ... but didn't go into detail about how H.M. bit the dust.

The singer also talked about her infamous VMA performance -- and said she's done twerking ... 'cause "white people" made it lame.

Not one peep about Sinead O'Connor.

R.I.P. Hannah Montana 1992-2013

Jesse Pinkman made a heartfelt pitch last night about Obamacare, and how his former friend in New Mexico could have benefited -- as could the people he slaughtered.

It's pretty hilarious ... Aaron Paul made a surprise appearance in the opening skit for the Fall premiere of "SNL." People went nuts.

Aaron's got to beat a hasty retreat. He needs to be in L.A. tonight for the big screening at Hollywood Forever cemetery in Hollywood.

Sayonara Stefon ... Bill Hader has announced he's leaving "Saturday Night Live" ... and this weekend's episode will be his last.

"It was a hard decision, but it has to happen at some point,” Hader told the New York Times ... adding, "It got to a point where I said, ‘Maybe it’s just time to go.'"

Hader has been with the show for the past 8 seasons.

The move is a big loss for the show -- which already lost Andy Samberg and Kristen Wiig last season. Seth Meyers is also set to leave next year, when he takes over "Late Night."

As for Stefon ... we'll miss ya pal.

Justin Timberlake served up his big comeback to Kanye West's diss of his new song -- and it did not disappoint ... anyone who thinks JT's too soft to battle a rapper.

It took a couple of weeks, but Justin Timberlake has finally responded to Kanye West's anti "Suit and Tie" rant, with a shot of his own on "SNL" last night.

It happened when JT was performing 'Suit and Tie' with Jay-Z last night -- the singer changed the lyrics from "Aww, s**t so sick, got a hit and picked up a habit" to "my hit's so sick got RAPPERS acting dramatic."

Not the strongest insult in the world ... but pretty obviously directed at Kanye West, who last month during a concert, dissed the song "I got love for Hov, but I ain't f--king with that 'Suit & Tie.'"

It ain't exactly Tupac vs. Biggie ... but gotta love the drama.