Conversations from Penn State: Don Roy King

Don Roy King

The Serious Art of TV Comedy

Behind the scenes of live TV.

Going to Tehran

Get an inside perspective on US Foreign Policy.

Coal Journey

Discover how music can change the world.

Capturing the American Artistic Experience

Discover American Modernism

After Life

Find out with it’s like to live life “after life.”

Beyond Borders: The UN in a Changing World

What is the role of the UN?

The Sex-Wise Parent

The way you talk with your children about sex could save them from serious harm.

Juvenile In Justice

Learn about the juvenile justice system.

Positive Parenting

Learn how to raise happy, healthy, and resilient children.

The New Face of Terrorism

Who do you picture when you think of a terrorist?

The Makings of a Superhero

Discover the truth about what it means to be deaf.

The “T” Community

Gain a better understanding of what it means to be a transgender person.

Confronting the Climate Change Challenge

Get the latest research.

Meet the President

Learn more about Penn State’s new President.

Jake Corman

Learn about pressing issues for Pennsylvania.

Still Alice

Understand early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

Veteran’s Day: A Shared Sacrifice

A look at U.S. servicemen and women.

Dancemaker

Delve into the creative process of a dance icon.

A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq

Get a glimpse inside a military trauma hospital.

Life on the Spectrum

Discover what it’s like to be an autistic adult.

Sam Richards and Laurie Mulvey

Head Games

Understand the true danger of sports-related head injuries.

Backstage

Find out what happens behind the scenes.

Time Traveler

What would you do to see a deceased loved one again?

Behind the Headlines

Explore the world of investigative reporting.

Race and Immigration

Delve into one of the nation’s most divisive issues.

Education Innovation

Discover what it really means to be creative.

A Few Good Women

Learn about early efforts to recruit women to government.

No. 4 Street of Our Lady

Hear how one woman saved her neighbors during WWII.

The CSI Effect

Uncover the importance of forensic science.

Climate Change Future

Understand the causes and implications of climate change.

Responding to Genocide

Find out what role you can play in ending world conflicts.

The 13 Indigenous Grandmothers

Discover a life dedicated to peace.

The Black Middle Class

Uncover the experiences of middle class African Americans.

America’s Role in the World

Learn about the relationship between foreign policy and nuclear weapons.

Emerging Diseases

Discover what’s being done to stop the spread of infectious diseases.

Closing Guantanamo

Consider the pros and cons to closing Guantanamo Bay.

Mind Wars

Find out how neuroscience is changing modern warfare.

VIDEO

Beginnings 6:20
The Greatest Thrill 4:16
SNL 7:48
Broadway Worldwide 2:53
The Big Screen 1:53
Bucket List 3:02
Corpsing Web Exclusive 1:38
Favorite Host Web Exclusive 1:26
Recommended Reading Web Exclusive 1:23
Talk Shows Web Exclusive 3:42
Tina Fey Web Exclusive 1:07
Words of Wisdom Web Exclusive Words of Wisdom Web Exclusive

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DISCUSSION

Favorite Skit

What is your favorite Saturday Night Live skit?

What do you think?

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Saturday Night Live has been entertaining viewers for more than three decades. What is it about the show that keeps people laughing? Don Roy King, director of SNL, answers that question and shares his thoughts on the serious art of TV comedy.

Download the transcript.

For a captioned version of this interview, go to YouTube.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Don Roy King is currently directing his sixth season of Saturday Night Live—work that has earned him two Emmys and five nominations as well as five DGA Award nominations.

King has worked for nine networks on programs ranging from The Mike Douglas Show, The Early Show, CBS This Morning, The View, and Survivor, to name a few. In addition to his award wins for SNL, King has won three other Emmys and has been nominated for twenty-one for his work as a writer, producer and director.

King is also the creative director of Broadway Worldwide, which brings theatrical events to theaters. His personal theatrical training has come in handy, too. Last year he played Daybreak director Merv in the Harrison Ford comedy, Morning Glory. He also served as the second unit director and television consultant on that movie.

PENN STATE CONNECTION

WHERE TO WATCH

WPSU

Thursday, April 12th at 9pm

ABOUT THE HOST

Veteran interviewer Patty Satalia hosts in-depth conversations with a broad range of remarkable people.

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Conversations from Penn State

Don Roy King

The Serious Art of TV Comedy

Flynt Leverett

Going to Tehran

Kathy Mattea

Coal Journey

Michael Maglaras

Capturing the American Artistic Experience

Tyrone Werts

After Life

Gillian Sorensen

Beyond Borders: The UN in a Changing World

Janet Rosenzweig

The Sex-Wise Parent

Richard Ross

Juvenile In Justice

Amy McCready

Positive Parenting

Richard Schuhmann

Water Wars: A Global Crisis

Mia Bloom

The New Face of Terrorism

Joseph Valente

The Makings of a Superhero

Mara Keisling

The “T” Community

Don Roy King

The Serious Art of TV Comedy

Michael Mann

Confronting the Climate Change Challenge

Shyam Sundar

Exploring Media Effects

Rodney Erickson

Meet the President

Jake Corman

Jake Corman

Lisa Genova

Still Alice

Veterans Day

Veteran’s Day: A Shared Sacrifice

Paul Taylor

Dancemaker

Chris Coppola

A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq

Scott Michael Robertson

Life on the Spectrum

Sam Richards and Laurie Mulvey

World in Conversation

Sean Patrick Griffin

Gaming the Game

Ruben Echemendia

Head Games

Alexander McCall Smith

About the Author

Ben Feller

Covering the White House

Di Trevis

Backstage

Ron Mallett

Time Traveler

Brian Ross

Behind the Headlines

Mary Burke

Slavery: Not a History Lesson

Victor Romero

Race and Immigration

Stephen Lewis

AIDS-Free World

Allen Sack

Counterfeit Amateurs

Ken Burns

A Filmmaking Icon

Lisa See

Discovering the Past

Sir Ken Robinson

Education Innovation

Annie Leonard

The Story of Stuff

Jeannie Magill