Abby Elliott (Getty Images)

In a surprising off-season announcement, comedy heiress Abby Elliott announced she won't be returning to Saturday Night Live on September 15th. In 2008, Elliott—whose grandfather is comedy legend Bob Elliott and whose father, Chris Elliott, is an SNL alum—became one of the youngest cast members in the show's history at age 21. She is the fourth performer to leave after last season's finale, following Kristen Wiig, Andy Samberg and possibly Jason Sudeikis.

The news of Ms. Elliott's departure was given as an exclusive to Splitsider.com, the comedy website spun off of the Awl.com ... which makes sense, as Splitsider's editor in chief Adam Frucci (who also wrote the post about Ms. Elliott) is dating SNL writer Sarah Schnieder. Ms. Elliott and Ms. Schneider shared an office and collaborated on sketches including the famously funny 'Bein Quirky with Zooey Deschanel.'

No word yet on how this will affect the cast for the show's 39th season, or if Lorne Michaels will be auditioning any more women to join the ensemble.

At least Ms. Wiig acknowledges her new fame with a pretty terrific aside (emphasis ours): "I know a lot of people probably assume, ‘Oh, she’s leaving because she is going to be doing movies now and things like that,’ which I will be." Brisk and to-the-point!

Kristen Wiig (Getty Images)

After swirling rumors that Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg--along with costar Jason Sudeikis--would be leaving the cast of Saturday Night Live at the end of the 2011-12 season, Ms. Wiig and Mr. Samberg were indulged with tributes during this weekend's season finale. At episode's end, Ms. Wiig was serenaded by the Arcade Fire in a graduation-themed set piece during which she danced with the cast, individually, then producer Lorne Michaels. Former cast members like Amy Poehler and Rachel Dratch joined in as well.

Andy Samberg made his own farewell tribute, performing in "Lazy Sunday 2," a sequel to his breakthrough "digital short" in 2005 and a manner of closing up loose ends.

The Saturday Night Live farewell, while not de rigeur (if Mr. Sudeikis is in fact leaving, he may feel a bit left out this morning), occurs from time to time; Amy Poehler's less elaborate farewell in 2008--interrupted by Fred Armisen's David Paterson stumbling through the shot--was heretofore the most memorable.

Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig (NBC)

This is an inexplicable trend of the live comedy show in recent years: One of the funniest sketches this season was "The Californians," a soap opera about navigating the drive up to Malibu. Bill Hader's struggle to keep it together during the bit made it an instant classic and spawned a thousand GIFs. (Unlike his predecessor Jimmy Fallon, Mr. Hader's struggle not to crack up on stage makes any sketch 1,000 times funnier.) But even better than the version that actually made it to air was the dress version of 'The Californians,' which Hulu offers with several other scenes from past seasons that either never aired or just weren't as funny when they did.

We understand the idea of having "web extras" as supplemental material, but not at the expensive of the actual show. Why bother tuning in when the funny stuff is only going to be online? Below, we compare and contrast these un-aired clips with the version that made it on TV...as well as some bits that never got off the Internet.

"The Californians" (dress version):

"The Californians" (aired version):


'Mozart' with Justin Timberlake (never aired):

'What's Up With That?' with Mike Tyson (dress):

'What's Up With That?' (aired):


'Grady Wilson' with Will Ferrell (never aired):

'Band Reunion at the Wedding' with Dave Grohl and Ashton Kutcher (dress):

'Band Reunion at the Wedding' (aired):

"Every Saturday you do something that you’re scared to do," she went on, describing her experience on the show. "I think I will miss that feeling." As for how soon she would leave--given rumors she's planning on departing in May--Ms. Wiig kept mum.

Are these three leaving SNL? (Getty Images)

Okay, before anyone has a heart-attack, consider the source of the information that three major players on Saturday Night Live--Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis, and Andy Samberg--might be leaving the show. Especially since the source is an anonymous one, and they are giving away Lorne Michaels' secrets to Us Weekly.

"Exclusive: Kristen Wiig, Andy Samberg Jason Sudeikis to Leave Saturday Night Live?" Reads the explosive headline this afternoon. (We love how unconfirmed rumors that warrant a question mark at the end of the title count as exclusives.)

"Kristen Wiig, Andy Samberg and Jason Sudeikis are all leaving after the end of the season," says one insider. "It will be a huge blow to the show. Without Andy's video shorts and Kristen saving every skit, they'll need help!"

Now, the next sentence involves Ms. Wiig and Mr. Sudeikis' reps denying that any decision has been made, but it's the Bridesmaids star's exit is the most logical to actually happen. (Why else would SNL be looking for another female comedian?) Her career could stand by its own, and people have left the show for worse reasons. (People have also stayed on the show for worse reasons...Bill Hader, you need to get yourself a starring lead in something!)

Mr. Sudeikis? Meh: He's been doing fine in some secondary parts in films like Terrible Bosses and Hall Pass, but if he's leaving SNL, he better have something really great lined up. Like another show. Which reminds us...if Fred Armisen can stay on while doing Portlandia, it's probably not a conflict of schedules holding the Mitt Romney impersonator back.

As for Andy Samberg? It's true the show would be crippled by the loss of both him and Lonely Island, but he's also the least likely to leave. He's been given his own hall pass on the show: only performing in a couple sketches (sometimes as little as two a night) and doing the digital shorts. Unless it's his way of playing chicken with contract negotiations coming up, in which case, anything can happen.

So that's a possibly, one maybe, and one wild card. Keep your inhalers nearby as we near the season finale!

An hour after the weekly 3:30 a.m. text message spread like spitfire across New York, interns and set crew and assistants arrived at Professor Thom's, a sports bar in the East Village, with outfits assembled and the password for the door on the tips of their tongues. They had heard stories, of the cast members and guest hosts and the rockers who played the stage at 30 Rockefeller Center, and their assorted flashy pals, basking in drug cornucopia and cigarette smoke, a haze that lingered long after last call anywhere else in the city. It was the after-party for last week's Saturday Night Live, but the wild past seems no longer the norm.

These things end earlier now. By the time the creative underclass showed up to that corner of Second Avenue and barked out the password--"Mr. Cluck's Chuckle Shack"--The Observer had already endured the backstage antics of the show's fleet of bedheaded writers, the encore Paul Simon performances, the madhouse that is 30 Rock as guests scramble around the labyrinthine studios, and a massive all-show dinner that took over McCormick & Schmick's midtown digs.

A writer had invited us along, knowing that trying to get in as press would be impossible.

The narrow halls of 30 Rock's ninth floor are such that The Observer had to physically dodge every person they had ever laughed at in their lives. Seth Meyers, pacing and going over lines. Kristen Wiig, her elastic gumby face stone-cold as make-up artists caked on the powder. Lorne Michaels, shifting his paunch from soundboards to dressing rooms, which stretch down the hall from the viewing parties and reek conspicuously of cigarettes and weed.

And also: Josh Brolin, why are you thumbs-over-lips making out with Zach Galifianakis? Maya Rudolph, bride in this weekend's titular Bridesmaids, who knew you were very, very much expecting? And Morgan Spurlock, why are you here?

"I'm going to tap your leg," said the SNL writer who ushered us in to the city's most press-embargoed area, "whenever one of my jokes is coming up."

The show began and those who write the jokes sat on beat-up couches with clutter wedged between the cushions, the screen airing the show they had written--or rather were still writing; they cut and revise skits as they air. The temperament is that of calibrated frenzy, a free-for-all of creative modes smashing against each other.

Fred Armisen ducked out of a room and into a corner, emerging in the green vest, ready to pop up on Weekend Update.

Snatching a beer from the well-stocked coolers required navigating through the cast of The Office. And naturally, when The Observer ran into Jack McBrayer, we came close to asking him which way to the writers room--was he not Kenneth, an NBC page?

Then the host, Ed Helms, called the cast back on stage for the final bow, saxophones wailing behind them, as The Observer took a spot downstairs between indie darling Greta Gerwig and the guy who played Hurley on Lost, to snag a spot to see Mr. Simon close his set with "Kodachrome." iPhones went aloft, snapping pictures, and everyone decamped for the first of the parties.

"It's kind of a corporate thing," the writer announced as we walked into McCormick & Schmick's with Aziz Ansari and Jason Sudeikis.

"Great story everybody--John Mayer's here," the writer's agent said.

"We were at dinner, but we're gonna watch it later. I'm a late cat," Mr. Mayer told The Observer at the bar in the basement.

The singer has been maligned for his over-sharing habits with reporters, and for a while he zipped it up, but tonight his head was almost swallowing the recorder, lest he not be heard.

"I'm a big fan of everyone! I love everybody!" he said.

"They wanted to give me a line and I was like 'No! Don't!' It's funnier if I don't have a line!" said Chris Colfer, the Glee star.

"It's a little distracting in the writers room," said Mr. Galifinakis, whom had been watching the show with The Observer. He had foam-padding, outdated headphones strung around his neck. "I'm sure it translated well."

"I was actually leaving," said Andy Samberg, with his harp-plucking girlfriend Joanna Newsom.

To Professor Thom's, for the after party?

Mr. Samberg paused.

"Thinking about it."

He didn't show up, leaving the eye-batting interns to chain smoke in a corner, but by that time it was well into Sunday anyway.

nfreeman@observer.com

Shrek: The Final Chapter

What's the story: Because three Shrek films weren't enough, Dreamworks Animation brings the fourth installment to theaters. And considering the last one grossed nearly $800 million worldwide, who can blame them? This time around, Shrek the Ogre winds up in an alternate-reality where Rumpelstiltskin is king. So, it's like Lost but not really. Anyway! Originally titled Shrek Forever After (we don't get it either), Shrek: The Final Chapter is supposed to be just that: The final chapter. Though when this thing grosses a ka-billion dollars, don't be surprised when Shrek: We Were Just Kidding reaches theaters in 2015.

Who should see it: Pied Piper.

MacGruber

What's the story: If Hollywood can base movies on video games and theme park rides, why not a 30-second Saturday Night Live skit? You might want to scoff at the existence of MacGruber, but keep in mind that not only does it star the very funny duo of Will Forte and Kristen Wiig, but also Val Kilmer playing a villain with a name that can't be printed here. (Hint: It starts with the letter-C.) Directed by Jorma Taccone — better known as one of the three guys in The Lonely Island comedy troupe — and blessed with a hard-R rating, MacGruber feels destined to echo through the halls of dorm rooms for years to come.

Who should see it: The Target Lady.

Also opening this weekend: Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Bartha (a.k.a. the fourth guy in The Hangover) star as Hasidic ecstasy dealers in the nostalgia-tinged drama, Holy Rollers, while Michael Douglas sinks his teeth into the meaty Solitary Man.

Its listing is poetic but odd: "Let the SUN Shine in. From SUN rise to SUN set," it says. "Let the SUN start your day from this high floor corner Loft with South and East exposures. SUN pours thru 7 oversized windows." Marketing photographs show a bevy of vegetables and plants.

Listing broker Mary Rolland did not return a message—nor did Ms. Wiig's publicist, and Mr. Taylor did not answer a phone call. It's not clear if the two know each other from his upcoming HBO show Bored To Death, where she may appear.

mabelson@observer.com