There was so much exciting information spinning out of the TCA press tour last week that it was kind of like being on a 12-day sugar buzz — especially because so much of the news revolved around some of my favorite former Saturday Night Live ladies. Let me condense a week's worth of information for you: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Molly Shannon will be lining up side-by-side with their own NBC comedies this year.

Tina Fey will, of course, be back as Liz Lemon for the third season of 30 Rock. She'll return to the set with her TCA award for for individual achievement in comedy, and probably at least one more Emmy. In April Entertainment Weekly asked, "Is it hot in here or is just Tina Fey's career?"

It is hot in here, Entertainment Weekly, but it's not just her career.

Molly Shannon will be staring alongside Selma Blair in NBC's remake of the popular Australian comedy Kath and Kim about a dysfunctional mother-daughter team. NBC's hopes, it seems, are even higher than mine. They've slated Kath and Kim to anchor their legendary Thursday night of Must See TV. … continue reading

I was never one of the kids who went away to a traditional summer camp, so I had to live vicariously through the kids on my TV screen. Summer camp movies are a fun genre that have several staples: water sports, boy/girl awkwardness, and camp fires. I'm not sure why this resonates within so many of us (especially with that whole "boy awkwardness" bit) but it seems to be a popular theme for several summertime films.

While so many of the camp films are of the horror variety (Sleepaway Camp, Summer Camp Nightmare, Friday the 13th), there are also the funny ones that tug at the heart strings. Summer camp means friendship and crushes, at least that's what I've learned from my favorites:

Camp

If you're looking for an all-out gay summer experience, musical theater camp is surely the place for you. Unfortunately, the guys have most of the fun in Camp. But Ellen Lucas (Joanna Chilcoat) at least gets to make out with camp hottie Vlad before he hooks up with everyone else, and she also does a great performance of "And I'm Telling You" in a production of Dreamgirls. Though the cast of this 2003 film was largely unknown, it was endearingly sweet and fun to watch, like a queer singalong.

Camp Nowhere

When you're young, movies where kids take matters into their own hands are always a hit. Creating your own summer camp with your parents' money? Far-fetched, yes; ideal, totally. A young Jessica Alba has a cameo in this ensemble film that starred Jonathan Jackson and Andrew Keegan. But the real prize of the film: bikini-clad Marnette Patterson, brilliantly named Trish. … continue reading

For those of you not familiar with the accent, that's moi with an exaggerated Australian o in the back of the throat, sort of a “mioye.” And here's a bit of wackiness that doesn't need translation. A couple of months ago, the linster informed us that the Australian comedy Kath and Kim will be remade by NBC for U.S. audiences, with Molly Shannon starring as Kath. Well, now she has her Kim. Meet the mother-daughter pair:

You're not imagining things. That is Selma Blair. She's just landed the role of Kim. To put this in perspective, let's take a look at the Australian originals.

Even though I've been happily catching up on the originals here, I'm sorry I'm going to miss the U.S. debut. The weirdness of the pairing with Selma Blair is reason enough to tune in, at least for a start. Originally, Joan Cusack was set to play Kim. Picking Blair instead is taking, well, a slightly different direction. I only hope she has the comedy chops to keep up with Molly Shannon. … continue reading

Earlier this year, I was mindlessly channel surfing when I happened on what I thought was a British comedy on the Sundance Channel. After my Southern ears adjusted to the accents, I realized two things. First, the show was Australian, not British. And second, it was very, very funny. But word of a U.S. remake of that show, Kath and Kim, by NBC brings mixed feelings. First, the good news: One of my favorite funny ladies will costar.

Molly Shannon will play Kath Day-Knight, whose relationship with her adult daughter Kim is the heart of the show. As Kath would say, “Noice.”

I’m less enthusiastic to learn that Michelle Nader wrote the latest script for Kath and Kim instead of Nancy Pimental, who penned the original adaptation. Why? Pimental used to write for South Park; Nader for King of Queens. Not a good sign. Especially given the challenge of translating such a distinctively Australian show for U.S. viewers. … continue reading

Like many of us, the Oxygen network is looking for a "fabulous, funny lady." And fabulous, funny lady Molly Shannon is guiding the search.

Oxygen's Create-a-Series comedy competition invites women to submit a three- to five-minute concept video and two-page treatment for a series that's "bold, sassy, surprising, unapologetic, confident and exude[s] your unique personality." Oxygen staffers will make the initial cuts, and then the top five entrants will be flown to New York to pitch their projects to Molly Shannon and a panel of judges.

Senior VP of marketing Cynthia Ashworth puts it thusly:

"We are all about funny and outrageous women, and we're really looking for women with an original comic voice."

If I were single, I'd be using some version of that in my online profile. Ashworth also notes that Molly Shannon is "a fantastic embodiment of the type of comedy we would love to have in this competition." Again, how ready-made is that for online dating? "The following women are fantastic embodiments of the type of girlfriend I would love to have compete for me." Just insert a link to the AfterEllen.com Hot 100, and you're done. … continue reading

Saturday Night Live has been kind of boring lately (Scarlett Johansson notwithstanding), but it just might shine tomorrow night, when Molly Shannon returns to host. … continue reading

Since her six-year run on Saturday Night Live as the silliest superstar in the room ended, Molly Shannon has made a career of small, scenery-chewing roles. She has brought her fearless brand of wacky winsomeness to everything from TV shows like Will & Grace and Sex and the City to films like Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and the recent lesbian romantic comedy Gray Matters.

Now, Shannon is back in the spotlight with her first starring film role since the 1999’s SNL spin-off Superstar. It’s the indie romantic comedy Year of the Dog, the directorial debut of screenwriter Mike White (Nacho Libre, School of Rock, The Good Girl), which premiered at Sundance this January. The trailer looks cute enough, with Molly playing a sad, single secretary who is looking for new loves of the two- and four-legged variety.

The film also stars Laura Dern (where you been, girl?), John C. Reilly and Peter Sarsgaard (as a romantic lead? Uh, did anyone see Boys Don't Cry?).

But what’s the deal with straight girls and dogs? Apparently, every decade has its go-to romantic comedy star. The '80s has Molly Ringwald, the '90s had Meg Ryan and the '00s have Rover.

Will lesbian filmmakers follow suit and begin making Sapphic romantic comedies filled with cats? Can Must Love Whiskas be far behind?