SNL

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson's late-night date nights in NYC would've made for some legendary reality TV -- but fans expecting to see the new duo on Hulu are SOL -- because cameras just weren't rolling ... which makes a relationship seem all the more real.

Kim and Pete had the Internet buzzing this week after meeting up twice for dinner, one time with friends and once without. Reports popped up saying everything was being filmed for the Kardashian's upcoming project with Hulu, and only being done for publicity for the show.

We spoke with production sources who tell us Kim wasn't filmed or followed one time by Hulu cameras during her entire trip to NYC, much less during any encounters with Pete.

What's more amazing, we're told during Kim's first dinner date night with Pete, she snuck out of her hotel and made it to Staten Island sans a big security team -- and absolutely no cameras, not even paparazzi, got her during the escapade.

As for Kim and Pete ... our sources say the relationship isn't serious, but they're enjoying getting to know each other and having a fun mutual group of friends. And, who knows what else!

TMZ broke the story, the two had a private dinner at Campania -- one of Pete's favorite spots -- Tuesday night ... they got the secret treatment thanks to the spot's owner. Kim, Pete and friends then hit up Zero Bond Wednesday night before she returned to L.A. Thursday.

It was as inevitable as snow in winter ... "Saturday Night Live" did a sketch Saturday night on Netflix's hit show, "Squid Games."

Pete Davidson and guest host Rami Malek did the honors, with a country-type song about the phenomenon.

The song was a takeoff on Branchez & Big Wet's hit, "Turn Up On the Weekend," and it was pretty hilarious. It went like this ... the 2 guys were in a deep financial hole, so they signed up for the game.

They played the usual kids games, like Red Light Green Light, and the results were fatal for some.

One of the lyrics ... “There’s a robot girl who caught me running, better duck behind the nearest guy.” At one point Pete's face is splattered with blood as he keeps singing.

There's a really funny reference to the confusion over Korean cash and the prize money.

Davidson boasts in song how he killed all of his friends to make a killing in the game. Pete returns to the U.S. triumphant and flush with cash ... which he loses on a really bad bet.  Sorry NY Jets, but it was super funny!

Pete goes back to Korea for more, but this time things don't work out as well.

Rosario Dawson says "Saturday Night Live" needs to give BF Cory Booker his due the next time 'SNL' impersonates the Senator ... and she's got a few ideas for the stars to workshop.

We got the actress leaving ABC Studios in New York and asked what she thought of the show's impersonation of her boyfriend.

Rosario doesn't seem too impressed ... she says she's yet to see anyone nail Cory's true personality, and she explains why he's like the Fred Rogers or Ted Lasso of the Senate.

The 'SNL' skit mocking the recent Facebook hearing in Congress featured tons of politicians, but the Cory jokes were mostly centered on him dating Rosario.

Next time, Rosario says, the show should instead give her man props for everything he's doing for his State, from cannabis to police reform.

Kim Kardashian's in the middle of some O.J. Simpson and Nicole Brown family drama ... and it's all because of what Nicole's sister views as a "distasteful" joke in Kim's 'SNL' monologue.

Tanya Brown, sister of Simpson's late ex-wife, tells TMZ ... Kim's O.J. cracks were in "poor taste" and Nicole's death should not be portrayed as a joke.

As you know, Kim hosted 'SNL' and her monologue featured a few O.J. jokes ... leading with a line about her father, Robert, one of O.J.'s defense attorneys, introducing her to her first Black person. She invited the audience to take a "stab in the dark" who that is -- referencing the gruesome manner in which Nicole and Ron Goldman were slain.

Tanya says the jokes were "beyond inappropriate and insensitive" and she's questioning just how much the Kardashian's actually cared about Nicole.

The fact is Kris Jenner was one of Nicole's close friends, but the way Tanya sees it ... Kim should have pushed back or refused to do the jokes, assuming 'SNL' writers came up with the bit.

Tanya herself has done that -- she says she once stormed out of a scheduled appearance on "The Meredith Vieira Show" when she was told, at the last moment, jurors from the murder trial would also be on the show.

She wishes Kim had a similar reaction to the 'SNL' lines.

Kim Kardashian has a message for Debra Messing ... you don't have to be an actor to kill it on "Saturday Night Live."

Kim came out of the gate with some shocking humor ... "I'm a Kim, not a Karen. Somehow [my mom] just knew. I don't know how she saw that coming, and not Caitlyn."

And then, there's this ... Kim said one thing she isn't is a gold-digger, "Honestly, I'm not even sure how you become one. So, I asked my mom's boyfriend, Corey."

And, she went on and on with jabs at her fam ... “[I'm] so much more than just a pretty face and good hair, and great makeup, and amazing boobs, and a perfect butt.  I’m so much more than that reference photo my sisters showed their plastic surgeon.”

Kanye wasn't spared, at first saying how grateful she was to be married to him and then slamming the brakes by saying she's divorcing him because of his personality!

There were sex tape jokes, O.J. Simpson jokes ... almost no one escaped her line of fire.

Of course, the writers killed it, but Kim was shockingly relaxed and ... well, really funny.

The skits were also mostly hilarious -- A "People's Kourt" where she settled lame family disputes.

Kris and Khloe made cameos and Halsey played a hilarious Kendall.

Lots of celebs also joined in -- Blake Griffin, John Cena, Chris Rock, Tyler C, Chase Crawford, Amy Schumer and Jesse Williams.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West put on a united front ahead of her "Saturday Night Live" appearance -- well, sorta ... dude still seems hesitant to acknowledge they're rekindling.

The recently estranged couple -- who are still technically in the middle of a divorce -- were seen leaving a hotel Saturday ... surrounded by a crush of paps, presumably on their way to NBC Studios to settle in ahead of KK's debut as host later this evening.

Kim was leading the charge with her head high ... and Kanye trailed behind, obscuring his face and keeping his head low -- even though everyone in town knows he's there. Seems the whole low-key vibe might be an act ... 'cause moments later, he took a selfie with a fan.

They hadn't been snapped together in NY prior to this -- but considering Ye was spotted out and about in the Big Apple over the past 24 hours ... it was no secret he'd likely be in attendance for Kim's big show. Now, it's all but certain he's in the audience, if not backstage.

We've seen them hanging out with one another quite a bit lately on the West Coast -- so it's obvious they're working out their issues and, seem to be on the road to reconciliation ... which may well lead to the divorce being called off.

While we haven't witnessed any full-blown PDA between them just yet -- the fact that they continue to step out publicly is a good sign for their relationship ... at least on its face.

Kim Kardashian's burning the midnight oil to get ready for her highly-anticipated hosting gig on "Saturday Night Live," showing that no matter what she says ... it ain't easy!!!

Production sources tell TMZ ... Kim's been putting in 20-hour days since she got into NYC Monday night. We're told call times for the 'SNL' talent have been 5 or 6 AM all week ... and some of the rehearsals have lasted until 3 AM. Sounds crazy, but we've independently confirmed it.

Our sources say Kim's been a trooper through it all too -- no complaints and no drama -- and has been laser-focused on the task at hand. We're told it's very clear ... she seriously wants to deliver as host.

As we told you ... one of Kim's promos for the Oct. 9 show has her joking the job is "so easy" because she's got the good looks for it, but the truth is she's also been getting guidance from some of the best in the biz.

We're told comedy legends like Dave Chappelle, Michelle Wolf, Ellen DeGeneres, Amy Schumer and James Corden have all been giving Kim tips on what to include in her monologue, how to approach the skits and nail her delivery.

Kanye West will almost certainly be in the building when Kim Kardashian hosts 'SNL' and we're guessing we'll see his mug and maybe hear his voice during the show, but before the show, Ye had a chitchat over coffee with one Michael Cohen.

Kanye and Cohen were spotted at an Upper East Side coffee shop Friday, according to Page Six.

It's interesting for a couple reasons. First, Cohen -- who was famously Donald Trump's fixer -- has turned on Trump in a big way. Ye's feelings, on the other hand, are not as clear. As you know, Kanye loved sporting his MAGA hat and visited Trump in the Oval back in the day.

The other interesting thing ... Cohen is under house arrest after serving time for tax fraud and lying to Congress. He got in hot water a while back after dining at a fancy French restaurant without getting permission from the Bureau of Prisons, and it's unclear whether this meeting was approved or whether provisions have been made so Cohen can venture out.

As for Kim ... she's been pulling 20 hour days rehearsing for the big show. That sounds nuts, but it's true. She's been getting to the studio at around 5 AM and staying until 3 AM the next day.

As we reported, she's getting tips from huge names in comedy, including Chappelle, DeGeneres, Corden and Schumer (not Chuck).

Kim Kardashian is getting some good advice from some of the funniest people on Earth as she gets ready to host "Saturday Night Live."

Production sources tell TMZ … Dave Chappelle, Michelle Wolf, Ellen DeGeneres, Amy Schumer and James Corden have all been helping Kim with her preparation.

We're told the comedy legends have been giving Kim tips on what to include in her monologue, how to perform certain skits and nail comedic delivery.

As we reported, Saturday will mark the first time a Kardashian hosts 'SNL' ... and she's already landed some promo jokes.

Our sources say Kim has been having a blast getting ready for 'SNL' ... and some of the material will be self-deprecating. We're also told she's been very open to all ideas Lorne Michaels and the 'SNL' team have thrown her way. BTW ... good move on her part.

We're told producers and cast in rehearsals say Kim's actually been exceeding the expectations they had for someone without any experience in the comedy world.

Kim Kardashian West's most certainly got the chops to host 'SNL' -- 'cause all it takes is looking better than everyone else on stage.

That's the joke, anyway, in Kim's promo for this weekend's 'SNL' ... which has Kim flanked by musical guest Halsey and cast member Cecily Strong. Yes, it's just a couple of quick bits, but Kim's showing some range ... with help from her pals, of course.

In the first one, Cecily says, "Oh my gosh, this crazy thought just occurred to me in this exact moment right now. Should we start our own girl group?" Halsey and Kim shoot her down with a couple of one-liners.

In the second one, Cecily addresses the elephant in the room ... asking the question we're all wondering: Is Kim nervous about doing sketch comedy? The short answer is no, she's not. Well, watch the promo ... as Kim puts it, "Everyone else won't look as good as me, will they?"

As we reported, this is the first time a Kardashian will take on 'SNL' hosting duties. That being said ... Kim and the fam have often been easy targets for the show's cast and writers.

Adam Thielen paid homage to the late Norm MacDonald in a big way Sunday ... by rockin' a pair of amazing "Turd Ferguson" tribute cleats during the Vikings vs. Browns game.

The NFL star got the custom spikes made by celeb shoe artist Mache -- and they're awesome, with one featuring an image of MacDonald from his famous "Celebrity Jeopardy!" skits on "Saturday Night Live."

The yellow and white shoes also had the quote, "Yeah that's right. It's a funny name" written next to a script "Turd Ferguson."

On the other shoe, Mache painted on, "Norm MacDonald 1959-2021."

Thielen is clearly a big fan of MacDonald's work ... but Mache tells TMZ Sports the NFL star is also hoping the cleats help encourage people to get tested for cancer.

Mache says Thielen is trying to help people catch the disease early, so they have a better chance of getting treatment and recovering.

Of course, Thielen and Mache made a similar gesture last season ... when they honored Alex Trebek with some tribute cleats following the former "Jeopardy!" host's death from pancreatic cancer.

"Saturday Night Live" just rolled out the premiere of season 47, and the open did not disappoint ... it was HILARIOUS!

The show, which skewered Donald Trump, took aim at President Biden and Co., with the theme ... and you think you had a bad summer.

James Austin Johnson absolutely NAILED Biden with his voice, his words and his gestures. And, check out Cecily Strong playing Senator Kyrsten Sinema and Melissa Villasenor playing AOC ... fantastic.

"Weekend Update" paid tribute to Norm Macdonald, who died last month after a 9-year battle with cancer. Colin Jost and Michael Che threw to a clip of Norm at the anchor desk, and some of the jokes were ... well, amazing. E.g., “At the White House this week, President Clinton officially came out against same-sex marriages ... What’s more, the President said he is not too crazy about opposite-sex marriages, either.”

Jim Belushi has some interesting, almost ominous, advice for Kim Kardashian as she prepares to host "Saturday Night Live" ... but ultimately he believes she'll do great.

Jim -- who was an 'SNL' cast member in the '80s after his famous older brother died -- was out in Bev Hills when we picked his brain about Kim hosting ... a decision some folks aren't down with.

According to Jim ... Kim should adhere to an old saying about traveling through hell, implying that hosting is like swimming with sharks, so she just needs to focus on the finish line.

He puts a more positive spin on it though, telling Kim ... so long as she follows the lead of the 'SNL' crew and trusts them ... she'll come out looking golden.

As we reported ... another sitcom star's not nearly as chipper about a Kardashian landing the hosting role -- Debra Messing. She threw shade Kim's way last month and questioned why she would even be given the opportunity.

Debra Messing became a huge TV star in the late '90s, and apparently, she thinks "Saturday Night Live" operates the same as it did back then ... because she doesn't have a clue why Kim Kardashian's hosting it.

The "Will & Grace" star took the bait after it was revealed the reality star would become the first Kardashian to host 'SNL' next month by airing her grievances on Twitter.

Debra questioned the choice, then added a back-handed compliment by saying ... "I know she is a cultural icon, but SNL has hosts, generally, who are performers who are there to promote a film, TV show, or album launch."

She added, "Am I missing something?"

Yep, she's missing something. The world changed, and reality stars are at the center of pop culture and Lorne Michaels is not only a great producer but a businessman who's in the business of getting ratings ... and that's exactly what's gonna happen when Kim hosts.  Remember a decade ago, when actors groused that reality stars like the Kardashians were famous for doing nothing? Debra clearly hasn't let it go.

What's more, the Kardashians have a massive project coming to Hulu, a leading TV and film streaming service ... so Messing is clearly just out of the loop.

You may recall ... when Elon Musk was tapped to host last season, many people were up in arms about it because he's not an entertainer.

Oh yeah, and one of those people ... was Debra Messing.

As for shading Kim, fans let Messing have it, one saying, "Yes Debra, you are missing something. Like the last 40 years." Another jabbed, "She’s arguably one of the most famous people in the world. It’s a smart decision by SNL ... Ppl who say she’s famous for being famous would kill to be famous for being famous. She uses her platform for positive things. Everyone RELAX"

Kim Kardashian is heading into Studio 8H at 30 Rock to do it 'Live' -- she'll be appearing on 'SNL' this season.

Kim's taking up hosting duties for an episode to air October 9 for the upcoming 47th season.

There's also this ... Kim's accompanying musical guest will be Halsey -- who's hosted before. She's been featured a handful of times as the music act, but handled hosting in early 2019. So, Kim can lean on her for some tips.

This seems impossible, but none of the Kardashians have ever hosted with the "Live from New York" crew ... Kim will be the first. Aside from acting in several skits, the thing everyone will be watching for is her opening monologue.

As for how this came together ... we know Kim and Kris Jenner had a face-to-face with 'SNL' honcho Lorne Michaels just last month in Bev Hills -- something their team played down by saying it was just a simple catch-up. Obviously, there was more wheeling and dealing going on during their convo.

Some of the other hosts for this season include Owen Wilson, Rami Malek and Jason Sudeikis. Musical guests include Young Thug, Brandi Carlile and Kacey Musgraves.

It also goes without saying, this is a little risky for Kim ... as she and her family -- including Kanye -- are frequently lampooned by 'SNL.' There's an entire running sketch they've brought back a handful of times over the years, where cast members play Kardashian sisters.

Some of the closest people to Norm Macdonald didn't know the comedian was battling cancer for a decade ... so the surprising and sudden loss floored them as much as it did fans.

We got 'Tonight Show' announcer and producer Steve Higgins in New York City and asked how he's dealing with Norm's death. They'd worked very closely ... Steve was an 'SNL' writer when Norm was a star cast member.

Steve says they were really close outside of work too, and he's taking Norm's death hard ... because he had no clue his friend was diagnosed years ago.

He also explained -- with a vivid and perfect metaphor -- exactly why everyone in the comedy community loved Norm.

Steve recalls spending tons of time with Norm back in their 'SNL' days ... saying Norm was "truly brilliant" for his comedic timing.