Okay, so that title is a little misleading... although, one of the two men these impressions are of will be hailed as the new President of the United States in a few months.

With the season 14 premiere a mere few weeks away, what better time to give you the first piece of information we have been made aware of regarding what you can expect to see? While most of us have grown used to Keegan Michael Key's Barack Obama and Nicole Parker's Hilary Clinton impressions over the last two years, with Hilary now out of the running, its time for the show to introduce an impression of Republican candidate John McCain to feature in the shows political satire.

In true MADtv tradition, the show is taking a big risk by casting someone none of us expected would ever be cast for the role. Perhaps it is a response to the controversial casting of Fred Armisen as Obama on SNL, perhaps he was just the best suited person for the job, perhaps it was neither of these things... but I can now reveal to you that none other than Bobby Lee will be debuting his John McCain impression in episode #1401. Also making their first mark in the presidential stakes will be Arden Myrin's Nancy McCain and Erica Ash's Michelle Obama impression.

Here's what FOX's official release has to say about the premiere:

MADtv returns for a 14th season of off-the-wall humor and side-splitting laughs. Keegan-Michael Key and Erica Ash are "Barack and Michelle Obama" and they join Bobby Lee and Arden Myrin as "John and Cindy McCain" on a spoof of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: PRESIDENTIAL EDITION. The McCains try to impress the judges with their waltz as the Obamas try to win votes with their hip-hop number on the season premiere episode of MADtv airing Saturday, Sept. 13.

Just to remind you all, the new cast of regulars includes returning favorites Crista Flanagan, Keegan Michael Key, Bobby Lee, Arden Myrin, Nicole Parker and Johnny Sanchez. They will be joined by Matt Braunger and new featured players Erica Ash, Eric Price and Lauren Pritchard. The season premiere is on September 13th this year, and the show will, hopefully, be taking a step back towards the favored format by being shot, in part, in a brand new theatre. So those of you who were left disappointed by season 13, give this new season a chance before you pull the plug completely. You may be pleasantly surprised!

After months of blackmail both administered and received, we can at last reveal everything you could possibly want to know about Season 14 of "MADtv," at least before it debuts. All right, admittedly, we will not be reporting what Nicole Parker ate for breakfast this morning; nevertheless, with this update, rest assured that you will have all the Season 14 information with which any rational fan will be more than happy. Here, then, is your full scoop on the upcoming season, complete with brown chips which have not been conclusively identified as chocolate.

Let us begin by introducing you to our final addition to the Season 14 "MADtv" cast. According to this article, the fourth newbie for the upcoming season will be the lovely, versatile Erica Ash. Smile prettily for the camera, dear:



As is the case with Eric Price and Lauren Pritchard, Erica will be joining the "MADtv" cast as a featured player. According to her impressive resume, which can be found here, Erica's experience with televised sketch comedy does not actually begin with "MADtv." For two seasons, she has been a cast member on "The Big Gay Sketch Show," which, coincidentally, is directed by "MADtv" mainstay Amanda Bearse. Add to that stint her various appearances in theatrical productions and commercials, her numerous voiceovers for video games, and a list of special skills that makes most of us look downright boring by comparison; and Erica Ash may have just what it takes to survive on a show that has always prided itself on multifaceted cast members. Erica, here is hoping that you get to stick around for a while on FOX's late-night sketch comedy series.

In other news, what would a final Season 14 update be without one last surprise farewell? Fans of Jordan Peele's "MADtv" work will no doubt feel a sense of emptiness as the show's resident Morgan Freeman impersonator ends his five-year run as a cast member. Apparently, Jordan somehow managed to escape the rumored coercion by "MADtv" to squeeze a few more episodes out of its five-year players. Unfortunately, it is not known at this time whether he, Nicole Parker, and Keegan-Michael Key drew straws to determine who would get to leave after Season 13 or whether Quincy Jones simply went "eenie-meenie-miney-mo" to determine their fates. At any rate, Jordan, we at Planet MADtv hate to see you go; and we wish you the best of success in whatever showbiz endeavors you decide to pursue from this point on. Thanks for the many laughs!

Next, we can confirm that Season 14 of "MADtv" will be shot at the Sunset Bronson Studios, which are both the original location of the Warner Bros. Studios and the current home of CW affiliate KTLA, Channel 5, in Los Angeles, CA. Although we will obviously have to wait until the Season 14 debut, on September 13th, to see how these new facilities will work out for the cast, something tells me that most, if not all, of the series' diehard fans will no doubt wet themselves with glee over the sheer mention of the word studio. While Sunset Bronson Studios may not be the original "MADtv" home we all knew and loved for twelve years, I think it has to be considered a major step up from the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater. Unlike that almost roundly hated facility, Sunset Bronson will probably not inspire fans to wish all season long for a well-placed wrecking ball to find its way into the exterior walls. Enjoy your new and (we assume) vastly improved, home, you crazy Season 14 cast members, you!

Fittingly, we will conclude this "full scoop" update by reminding you of all the cast members who will be enjoying these new quarters during Season 14 of "MADtv," as well as providing you with a recap of those who will not. Established series regulars who will help provide the Season 14 fun are Crista Flanagan, Keegan-Michael Key, Bobby Lee, Arden Myrin, Nicole Parker, and Johnny Sanchez. Joining them will be new series regular Matt Braunger and three new featured players, Erica Ash, Eric Price, and Lauren Pritchard. Sadly, we have been forced at gunpoint to accept the departures of Season 13 featured players Daheli Hall, Anjelah Johnson, and Dan Oster; five-year veteran Jordan Peele; and the show's longest-running cast member ever, ten-year stalwart Michael McDonald. All in all, it will be very interesting to see how everything unfolds come September 13th. Can you handle the anticipation? I know I can. Season 14 of "MADtv," the world awaits.

With MADtv's thirteenth season now behind us (along with, we can only hope, most of the unfavorable changes that came with it), the show's cast has turned its attention to a variety of summer side-projects. As we await this year's customary batch of information leaks about the upcoming season, let's take a moment to examine what's in the cards for the lovely Crista Flanagan, shall we?

From Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, the creative visionaries who brought you such non-invasive lobotomy substitutes as Scary Movie, Scary Movie 2, Scary Movie 3, Scary Movie 4, Date Movie, Epic Movie, and Meet the Spartans, comes what's sure to be their latest low-cost, high-grossing box-office smash, Disaster Movie -- a title film critics will surely have a field day with, and one that reads like a Simon Cowell zinger just waiting to happen. Details on the upcoming train-wreck are sparse at this time, but we're able to confirm that poor, poor Crista (who, we can only assume, lost a bet with these two somewhere along the line) has been cast as, appropriately enough, a very pregnant Juno -- the titular character from last year's indie film of the same name. What kind of jimmity-jams will Juno find herself in this time around? Well, word on the street, homeslice, is that this disaster-in-the-making centers on a group of young friends -- Juno, hopefully, among them -- who, when every known natural disaster hits town on the same night, are tasked with making their way to safety and solving a series of mysteries to end the destruction. Joining Crista in her adventures -- adventures, of course, that will surely amount to little more than the glue between hackneyed parody after hackneyed parody -- are Nicole Parker and Ike Barinholtz, both of whom were brought in to play indeterminate roles. It seems safe to assume that their trademark Britney Spears and Dane Cook impressions will make an appearance at some point -- after all, what film about disasters would be complete without those two? -- but again, we have nothing concrete to go on at this time. Beyond that, if past Friedberg/Seltzer joints are any indication, it's entirely possible that one or more of the three could end up playing additional parts as well, which begs the question: Who else just voided their bowels in excitement?

Originally slated to primarily be a parody of Superbad, this Carmen Electra, Kim Kardashian, and Vanessa Minnillo-fronted effort -- because, after all, who better to play the leads in a comedy than a Playboy model, a vapid socialite, and one of the many post-Carson Daly hosts of "TRL"? -- has, apparently, drifted far, far away from its roots. Of course, then again, maybe it hasn't -- perhaps Superbad is, in fact, still a key theme. Who knows? With an official plot synopsis of "a group of young friends embark on a wacky, life-changing adventure", one gets the feeling that not even Friedberg and Seltzer know what they're doing this time around and are simply making things up as they go along. In any case, Disaster Movie hits theaters on August 29th, and will surely hit your local Blockbuster's bargain bin shortly thereafter. If you're a fan of Crista, Nicole, or Ike, be sure to check this one out at some point -- preferably when a "fast forward" button is in reach. Oh, and if you're a fan of the film's directors, be sure to grab the nearest gun and put a bullet in your head. We at Planet MADtv thank you for your cooperation.

On the complete opposite end of the artistic integrity spectrum comes word that AMC's "Mad Men" has been renewed for a second season spanning thirteen episodes, and guess who's returning to reprise her role as Lois Sadler? If you said "Nicole Parker", I'd recommend taking another glance at the title of the article you're currently reading and, perhaps, developing some small semblance of short-term memory. Since its debut last summer, "Mad Men" has been a darling of both critics and the general public alike, and has already won numerous awards, including an Art Directors Guild award for the episode "Shoot" -- one of two episodes Crista appeared in last season. Despite being quite the work of art herself, it's hard to imagine she in any way factored into the award committee's decision; still, there's always this year to make an impression. Season 2 of "Mad Men" premieres on July 27th, so if you're a fan of Crista or just plain ol' good television in general, be sure to mark this one on your calendar! Will Lois make any further progress in her quest to get into the pants of closeted homosexual, Salvatore Romano? Will the show's hair & makeup department bestow upon her a hairdo that accentuates rather than downplays her immense beauty? Will she receive more than five minutes of screen-time throughout the entire season this time around? The answers to all these questions and more will be revealed this summer/fall on AMC! It's once again unknown at this point in which episodes our bright-eyed belle will appear, but this post will, of course, be updated as further details come in.

To those who were hoping to learn of Crista's status for Season 14 of MADtv here, I'm afraid we have nothing to report at this time. Word can't be too far off now, though, so be sure to stay tuned to Planet MADtv for further updates! Unless the powers that be choose to announce this year's cast lineup the moment it's finalized (hint: they won't), we will, as always, be the first site to carry the news!

Alas, there is great news for all of those "MADtv" fans who think that Nicole Parker is the best thing since the Wacky WallWalker and are therefore ready to take to the streets with torches in hand once she leaves the show. Well, feel free to put aside the gasoline-soaked stakes and matchbooks temporarily, for we at Planet MADtv have it on good authority that Nicole's contract with the series has been extended for eight episodes. In other words, if we abide by the assumption (however dire) that there will indeed be a Season 14 of "MADtv," then we can expect to see Nicole among next season's cast members, at least for the aforementioned episodes. Again, in no way does this Nicole news imply that the prospect of a Season 14 is a given, only that Nicole will be on board for eight episodes if it actually comes to fruition. Proceed with caution at this stage, sports fans; after all, studies show that carts before horses tend not to move too fast.

From this latest news, we can conclude that the claims Nicole made in this August 2007 article were slightly premature. Still, we may likewise read a great deal of validity into her assertion that she wishes to do things apart from "MADtv," as evidenced by her ever-growing interest in Broadway and other outside entertainment pursuits. As far as Nicole's tentative sixth "MADtv" season is concerned, we are likely looking at a scenario in which her eight episodes would be somewhat dispersed throughout the season a la Stephnie Weir's Season 11 contributions. Then again, who knows what the good folks in Alfredville have up their sleeves at this point? (Lint seems like a really good possibility.) At any rate, if we get a Season 14, then we get Nicole Parker too. You may now return to your regularly scheduled Wacky WallWalkers while you await further "MADtv" updates.

If you are in the Malibu, CA area on Saturday, September 29th, then you may want to catch "The Best Medicine," a benefit concert for the City of Hope that will feature current "MADtv" cast members and alumni among its performers. Proceeds from the benefit will be used to fund breast cancer research, treatment, and education programs at the City of Hope. According to the information found here, the "MADtv" notables scheduled to appear include current cast members Michael McDonald, Nicole Parker, and Bobby Lee; "MADtv" alumni Mo Collins and Stephnie Weir; and writer Michael Hitchcock, best known to most "MADtv" fans as Simeon, the crazed announcer from the "Lillian Verner Game Show" sketches. "The Best Medicine" will be hosted by comedian Denis Leary, along with his band, the Crown Royals. Other comedians who will be present include Martin Short, "Bobcat" Goldthwait, Lenny Clarke, and Groundlings alum Tim Bagley. For your musical enjoyment (or not), the "My Sharona" boys themselves, the Knack, will also perform.

Another interesting connection with "MADtv" served as the initial inspiration for this benefit:

"Leary got involved in the project through his connection with Lauren Dombrowski, a breast cancer survivor and City of Hope patient. Leary and Dombrowski, co-executive producer for 'Mad TV,' both attended Emerson College in Boston and have remained friends.

While Dombrowski has long made people laugh, in 2003, her life took a serious turn. She arrived at City of Hope with stage 4 breast cancer after two years of failed treatments elsewhere. George Somlo, M.D., co-director of City of Hope's Breast Cancer Program, became her trusted physician.

'I knew right away that Dr. Somlo would give me the best care available,' Dombrowski said. 'But it was his quick wit and ability to make me laugh that really helped me the most.'

Today, Dombrowski does not fight cancer simply through the chemotherapy she continues to undergo regularly. She came up with the idea for 'The Best Medicine' as a way to battle the disease and support breast cancer research through humor, her area of expertise."

Lauren, we at Planet MADtv wish you and Denis continued success with your fund-raising efforts. Here's hoping that laughter can indeed be "the best medicine" as the search for a breast cancer cure continues.

"The Best Medicine" benefit will be held at the Malibu Performing Arts Center (in Malibu, CA) on Saturday, September 29th. The time listed for the event is 7:00pm, which one would logically assume is local time, or PST. (It translates to 10:00pm EST.) A silent auction for various celebrity items will also be held at the benefit. At any rate, if you have a chance to attend (and thus to catch the aforementioned "MADtv" notables in action), then please post a report for us!

Well, boys and girls, the confirmation train just pulled into the station.

Here is your final Season 13 cast:

Returning: Crista Flanagan, Keegan-Michael Key, Bobby Lee, Michael McDonald, Arden Myrin, Nicole Parker, Jordan Peele
Joining: Anjelah Johnson, Dan Oster, Johnny Sanchez
Departing: Ike Barinholtz, Frank Caeti, Lisa Donovan, Nicole Randall Johnson

Because we had the vast majority of this nailed down as early as June, there's only one real surprise here: Boom Chicago's Dan Oster is our final new cast member. Here's what we know about him at this stage:

• He's a Los Angeles native.
• He wears glasses.
• He has performed with Ultimate Improv and Boom Chicago.
• He doesn't have an IMDb profile.
• He *does* have a YouTube profile.
• He was signed as either a featured player or a series regular.
• His first name is Dan.
• His last name is Oster.
• He, apparently, is a human male between the ages of 18 and 40.

Stretching a little, I know. Dan: If you're reading this, please drop us a line! We need more information!

With casting now wrapped up like a mummy in Jeffrey Dahmer's freezer, let's move on to the show itself. Over the course of the past five updates, we've painted a near-complete picture of what to expect from MADtv's upcoming season. To summarize (and to add a few new tidbits):

• Season 13 premieres on September 15th. The first episode will be #1301.
• If history is any indication, expect three new episodes to air (September 15th, 22nd, and 29th) before baseball season commences. Because shooting doesn't begin until October, these episodes will be comprised of S12 holdover sketches.
• Barring a shooting schedule change, don't expect to see Anjelah, Johnny, or Dan before November.
• While 18 episodes will be shot this season, it's believed that 22 will air when all is said and done. Unfortunately, this cannot be definitively confirmed one way or the other until the season finale date is announced.
• Shooting has been moved to the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater in Hollywood, which, supposedly, "will enhance [MADtv's] live-event feeling". Sadly, pre-taping your episodes will then nullify said enhancement. Better luck next time, boys!
• Because the show's budget has once again been slashed, remotes will be utilized in greater numbers this season. For those who aren't aware, a "remote" is a segment shot on location (out-on-the-town sketches, red carpets, etc.). As I'm sure you can imagine, no costumes and few to no props = muchos savings!
• The landmark 300th episode will air on November 17th. No further details are known at this point.
• Former executive producer Dick Blasucci has been sent packing, and replacing him are head writer John Crane and director Bruce Leddy. These two will join forces with long-time executive producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones to form the ultimate cast-hushing, information-withholding, uber-authoritarian dream team!
• On the topic of the new season, David Salzman has stated: "Our plan is to preserve the fast-paced, cutting-edge pop culture parodies and audience-favorite characters while adding more topicality, fresh new elements and a real theater setting." Fresh new elements, eh? Oh, David -- you're so mysterious!

So, there you have it -- the full scoop on S13 almost two whole months before the premiere! To our many sources both inside and out, we thank you for making all of this possible. Beyond that, a big wet one goes out to those who provided exclusive information. We couldn't have done this without you, and for that, you have my eternal gratitude! For those who are keeping score, I'd like to note that we were once again right on every single account. First and second rules of Planet MADtv: do NOT question Planet MADtv!

The season 12 cast of MADtv returns this year to the Chicago Improv Festival for another hilarious live ensemble improv show, along with the MADtv Writers on Hiatus, who will serve once again as the opening act. This year's performers are Ike Barinholtz, Frank Caeti, Crista Flanagan, Michael McDonald, Arden Myrin, Nicole Parker and Jordan Peele. The show is at 8pm next Saturday, April 28th, at Park West on 322 W. Armitage. Tickets are $37.50 and are available at the Park West box office, at Ticketmaster by calling 312-902-1500 and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

In addition, many of the star cast members will perform in their own shows. Nicole Parker will star in her own one woman show, Suitcase Full of Lies. She will also appear onstage with Baby Wants Candy. Frank Caeti will appear with ComedySportz, Ike Barinholtz will appear in Messing With A Friend and alumni Andrew Daly will appear with The Upright Citizens Brigade. Nicole Parker, Jordan Peele and Ike Barinholtz will also be featured in the Boom Chicago Alumni Jam.

Sounds like another great year at CIF. For more information, visit www.chicagoimprovfestival.org.

After hearing Frank Caliendo's comments about the show recieving a revamp this season, I decided to try and find out what this meant for myself. Here's what I got from an undoubtedly reliable source:

1. There will be no new castmembers. This season, MADtv is sticking with a smaller group of 10 so that everyone gets fair air time, and nobody gets "forgotten" like Frank and Daniele did last year. This doesn't mean there won't be any new featured players joining the show later in the season, but for now, there are none.
2. Speaking of Frank and Daniele, they are the only castmembers leaving (apart from Stephnie). Frank Caeti and Nicole Randall Johnson have been promoted, and Arden is retaining her position as a regular. That gives us a cast consisting of Ike Barinholtz, Frank Caeti, Crista Flanagan, Keegan-Michael Key, Bobby Lee, Michael McDonald, Arden Myrin, Nicole Parker, Jordan Peele and Nicole Randall Johnson.
3. As with last year, there is going to be more of a push for shorter sketches, and therefore more sketches per show. In addition, there will be more location shooting, which was noticeable last season and provided some variety. I just hope it doesn't mean an "adventure" sketch every episode.
4. Shooting starts tomorrow, August 21st.

I should be able to get the #1201 episode description from FOX in a week or two. Until then, this is all I got.

Thanks to my super-secret source for the information.