What Up With That? is a recurring sketch on Saturday Night Live which stars Diondre Cole (played by Kenan Thompson), host of a talk show on BET.
Supporting characters include Taran Killam as the show's announcer since October 2, 2010 (originally Will Forte from October 17, 2009 to March 6, 2010), Vanessa Bayer (originally Jenny Slate from October 17, 2009 to March 6, 2010) and Cecily Strong (originally Nasim Pedrad as Poppy from October 17, 2009 to February 18, 2012) as the backup singers with Bayer's character named Pippa, Fred Armisen as a Kenny G-like saxophone player named Giuseppe, and Jason Sudeikis as an overzealous backup dancer dressed in a tracksuit named Vance.
The sketch has incorporated unannounced cameo appearances by a number of celebrities. In addition to this, cast members frequently play roles adding to the chaos during Cole's performances, such as Paul Brittain and Abby Elliott's dancing performances as Vili Fualaau and Mary Kay Letourneau, a teacher who had a relationship with a student.
Format[]
The show opens with Cole singing the show's lengthy theme song, "What Up With That?." He then introduces the show's three guests, the third always being Bill Hader impersonating former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. As soon as the first guest begins talking, Cole echoes their comments in a sing-song manner (often disrupting them), eventually leaping back up to begin singing the theme song again. In this manner, the encore performances completely take up the show's time, and the other two guests do not get to speak (although Robin Williams did have a couple lines on December 4, 2010, as well as Kate Upton on February 18, 2012), including Lindsey Buckingham, who, according to Cole, has attended dozens of times without getting interviewed but still remains a good sport.
Appearances[]
Episode | Host | Cameo appearances |
---|---|---|
October 17, 2009 | Gerard Butler | James Franco |
November 21, 2009 | Joseph Gordon-Levitt | Al Gore and Mindy Kaling |
December 19, 2009 | James Franco | Mike Tyson and Jack McBrayer |
March 6, 2010 | Zach Galifianakis | Paul Rudd and Frank Rich |
October 2, 2010 | Bryan Cranston | Morgan Freeman and Ernest Borgnine |
December 4, 2010 | Robert De Niro | Robin Williams |
May 14, 2011 | Ed Helms | Paul Simon, Chris Colfer and the real Lindsey Buckingham |
February 18, 2012 | Maya Rudolph | Bill O'Reilly and Kate Upton |
December 15, 2012 | Martin Short | Samuel L. Jackson and Carrie Brownstein |
April 25, 2020 | N/A | Charles Barkley and DJ Khaled |
October 23, 2021 | Jason Sudeikis | Oscar Isaac, Emily Ratajkowski, and Nicholas Braun |
Trivia[]
- On May 14, 2011, both Bill Hader's impersonation and the real Lindsey Buckingham appeared. The opening guest was that week's musical guest, Paul Simon, who opened his interview by complaining about how Diondre invites Buckingham each week, but never gives him a chance to talk. While Hader's impersonation had no lines once again, the real Buckingham played guitar and spoke up for him.
- In a backstage clip from the show on February 18, 2012, Cole lets Buckingham (Hader) list the U.S. Presidents and their birthdays. This marked the first time that Hader's Buckingham ever received an opportunity to speak.
- On December 15, 2012, Samuel L. Jackson said "man fuck it, that's some bullshit" to Cole. Cole responded by saying "that cost money."
- Bill Hader as Buckingham did not appear on the October 23, 2021 episode that was hosted by Sudeikis (who reprised his role as Vance); marking the first time he did not appear in a live episode (he also didn't appear in the April 25, 2020 at Home edition of WUWT).