Ronda Rousey to host 'Saturday Night Live' on Jan. 23

Despite Ronda Rousey's totally shocking loss to Holly Holm for the UFC women's bantamweight title in November, the perks of being a winner are still coming fast and furious to the darling of MMA.

And on Tuesday, it was announced that Rousey will be hosting "Saturday Night Live" with musical guest Selena Gomez on Jan. 23.

Excited to kick off 2016 with Adam Driver, @ChrisStapleton, @RondaRousey and @selenagomez! #SNL pic.twitter.com/J346nqL81z

— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) January 5, 2016

Rousey has largely remained out of the public eye since losing her title, but it hasn't stopped her from still being in demand. Besides continuing the tradition of pro athletes hosting the high-profile SNL gig, Rousey will be doing a body-painted feature spread in the upcoming Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and has a few big-budget movies coming out including the reboot of "Roadhouse."

It looks like sprinkles are for losers sometimes.

Here's to hoping she can land punchlines better than punches.

'Saturday Night Live' spoofs Rutgers sadistic basketball practice video

 "Saturday Night Live" spoofed Rutgers University men’s basketball coach Mike Rice's sadistic practices on this weekend’s episode, which was hosted by comedian Melissa McCarthy.

McCarthy appeared as coach Sheila Kelly, an abusive women’s basketball coach at fictitious Middle Delaware State. The skit – presented as an ESPN “Outside the Lines” report – shows the coach throwing bricks at her players, threatening them with a bat, screaming obscenities and even using a stun-gun.  One scene has the players serving her dinner on the court.

The SNL skit was a send-up to the Rutgers uproar that followed the release of explosive practice footage showing Rice berating and demeaning his players that went worldwide.

Ryan Lochte calls 'SNL' parody of him 'pretty harsh'

Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte's response to the impersonation of him on a "Saturday Night Live" skit as a bubble-headed athlete was that it was "pretty harsh."  The laid back swimmer added that being impersonated by "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane during Seth Meyers "Weekend Update" was also "pretty cool."

MacFarlane, wearing a red olympic-style sports jersey and gold and silver medals, portrayed Lochte being interviewed by Meyers and mispronouncing the names of new NBC shows on the fall schedule.

He calls one show "Monkey Hospital" instead of "Animal Practice" and says, "It's a show about a monkey in a hospital.  It's so funny!"  he gives the show three swims but holds up two fingers.

Later, he mispronounces Matthew Perry's new comedy series "Go On" as "Goon."  After Meyers corrects MacFarlane's character, he pronounces "good' as "go-od."

Lochte told the Website Celebuzz, "Well, I gotta admit that was a pretty harsh one, but it's cool to have Seth parody me.  I think he pegged me wrong."

The swimmer — who has an upcoming cameo on NBC's "30 Rock" — added," It's all in fun, and of course, if I'm talked about on 'SNL,' I know they are gonna get me 'go-od.'"

Eli Manning shows up for 'work' at NJ Dunkin' Donuts

People picking up their usual morning coffee from a N.J.  Dunkin' Donuts were probably asking for something a little stronger after they were surprised to see the guy at the drive-through window had a strange resemblance to Eli Manning.  No, the shocked drivers didn't forget to wipe the sleep from their eyes because the grinning guy in the No. 10 New York Giants jersey was the two-time Super Bowl MVP.

Is there anything this guy can't do?  Besides winning his second Super Bowl, the Giants quarterback has hosted "Saturday Night Live," thrown out the first pitch at Sunday's New York Mets game and two days later is doling out cups of Turbos and boxes of Boston Kremes.

Manning spent Tuesday morning at the East Rutherford Dunkin' Donuts as part of his new partnership with the donut chain.  But a few hours earlier, he was at his "real job" working out at the Giants facility.

"Obviously, I've tried to manage my time well," Manning said.  "I was able to get up, get a workout at the facility today, kind of get my preparations done."

Manning said he'll appear in a series of ads for the chain over the next few months.  The normally low-key Manning is getting more face time than Tim Tebow — alright, almost as much—but he claims his number one priority is getting ready for the Giants 2012 season.

"The off-season is a time to try and get some things done and do some things you want to do, like Saturday Night Live and those types of opportunities, as long as as it doesn't affect my preparation for football and my commitment to the Giants," Manning said.

It sounds like the one thing Manning didn't get to do was attempt to catch Mets phenom R.A. Dickey's knuckleball on Sunday.

"It's been fun to watch him this season," Manning said.  "I kinda asked him if I could get up there and he could throw me a few knuckleballs.  I just wanted to see what it looked like.  But we didn't have the time."

For some reason I don't think Easy Eli is an Old-Fashioned donut kinda guy any more.

SNL's Seth Meyers: We'll go 'easy' on Eli

Seth Meyers says "Saturday Night Live" will go "easy" on Eli Manning when the New York Giants quarterback hosts the show on May 5.

The veteran cast member admitted the show's strategy to The New York Post at the Time Magazine 100 event at Lincoln Center, "We tend to be very easy on our hosts.  No, he's not known for his comedic timing, but he did something with us for the Super Bowl.  The great thing about Eli is we haven't had a New York athlete host since Derek Jeter [in 2001], and the room becomes a little more excited when someone like that hosts."

Jeter was a popular guest and might be best known for how good he looked in a wig and dress.

Eli's brother Peyton also appeared on the show and the former-Colts quarterback's comedy timing is considered the high water mark for athletes who have hosted.

It's a tough act to follow but Eli has been doing it his whole career.

Meyers, who is a big sports fan, put to rest rumors he was leaving the show ("I never leave before an election") and said he was happy to meet Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin at the Time event.

As long as Meyers and his fellow cast members don't morph into the Philadelphia Eagles defense, "Easy Eli" should have no problems calling an audible on the live show.

I wonder how he'll look in a dress.

Eli Manning: I'm No. 3 quarterback in my own city

It takes a lot more than winning a Super Bowl to be No. 1 in New York and— if you believe Eli Manning— it doesn't even make you No. 2.

The two-time Super Bowl winner and MVP was never comfortable in the spotlight but seemed to get used to it over the past few years.  Now, it seems the once camera-shy quarterback of the New York Giants is feeling left out while all of the talk in the city is about his New York Jets counterparts Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow.

Manning has noticed all of the focus this offseason surrounding the other two quarterbacks and had something to say about his inferiority complex.

"[The] New York Giants just won a championship," Manning said to Fox News Channel over the weekend, "yet I'm still the third most talked about quarterback in my own city."

Manning got a good laugh  from the audience at Ole Miss when he delivered that line during a panel discussion hosted by Shepard Smith.  His grin let the audience know he was only joking.  Manning is— after all— getting ready to host "Saturday Night Live" on May 5.

Let's start calling him Shecky.

Manning claims he is more than happy to let the Jets players get all the attention if the Giants keep piling up championships.

"I'll continue to enjoy this," he said.  "And when we get our rings, I'll continue to celebrate our championship season."

The normally low-key Eli will get a chance to follow in the footsteps of his brother Peyton with his own comedy stylings on SNL.  He will become the 10th NFL player to host the show and the fifth quarterback to do it. 

For now, just enjoy Eli's comedy tour.  Next stop after SNL, Tiffany's— to pick up their Super Bowl rings— then on to the White House to be honored by President Obama.

Could Tim Tebow End Up Hosting "Saturday Night Live?"

Rumors are swirling that the producers of "Saturday Night Live" want Tim Tebow to host the popular television sketch show less than a week after a four-minute skit on the show mocked his strong religious stance and had members of the Christian Right railing against the program.

Imagine, Tim Tebow becoming a possible, would-be savior of the stumbling network.  Talk about turning the other cheek.

If anyone can be a big draw it's the Denver Broncos quarterback.  Last week, the Tebow-led Broncos-New England Patriots game drew 30 million viewers according to USA Today— and it wasn't to see Bill Belichick's scowl.

Now, SNL wants to cash in on Tebow Fever.

The producers want Tebow to host the show as soon as the NFL season is over, according to  HollywoodLife.com.

"SNL realizes it would be a huge ratings and they are hoping he will say yes," said the website.  "Tim just can't and won't be able to do it while the season is still in play."

It also depends on how Tebow feels about being skewered on national television about his devout stance on Christianity.

Other NFL quarterbacks—like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have satirized themselves on the show in the past, but the material might be a little too racy for Tebow and his Christian image.

If Tebow accepts, it probably means last week's skit where actors portraying him and Jesus Christ in a locker room didn't offend him.

In the skit—which was all over the Internet— Jesus tells Tebow to tone down the praise and hit his playbook more than the bible.

The show was a big hit with viewers.

Conservative televangelist, Pat Robertson went ballistic about the sketch and called it, "anti-Christian bigotry that's just disgusting."

If Tebow does the show,  does it mean he is snubbing his finger at Robertson or just showing he has a sense of humor?

The most talked about player in the NFL has shown that he can take a joke after "Tebowing" was satirized everywhere.  He told reporters if people used the pose to pray and reflect, he had no problem with anyone doing it.

I don't think a little irreverent humor would bother Tebow and imagine how much Robertson's rants leading up to the show will boost the ratings.  Think of how many souls Tebow might convert then.

Tim Tebow "SNL" Skit Is "Anti-Christian Bigotry," Says Pat Robertson

You knew it was only a matter of time before the "Saturday Night Live" skit— where actors portraying Jesus Christ and Tim Tebow in a locker room would ruffle a few of the right's feathers. 

"700 Club" host and televangelist Pat Robertson isn't laughing at the four-minute skit mocking Tebow's devotion to Christianity and called it "anti-Christian bigotry that's just disgusting."

Is it Tebow or Tea Party?

In the skit, Jason Sudeikis appears as Jesus visiting the devout Christian, Tebow, played by Taram Killan, in a Denver Broncos locker room where he tells the quarterback that he should take his praise "down a notch" and get his play cranked up a little earlier in the game.

Sudeikis' Jesus also tells the Tebow character that he mostly answers prayers now wherever he gets them the most—mostly beauty pageants and football games.

"If this had been a Muslim country and they had done that, and had Muhammad doing that  stuff, you would have found  bombs being thrown off!" railed Robertson on the Christian Broadcasting Network.

Robertson is the same man who once called the Haitian earthquake "a blessing in disguise."

The segment was a big hit with viewers but it infuriated Robertson who praised Tebow for his devoutness to Christianity.

"Tebow is an example, and I think he  is a wonderful human being," the conservative, one time presidential-hopeful Robertson said.  "We need more religious faith in our society.  We're losing our moral compass in our nation and this man has been placed in a unique position and I applaud him."

In one exchange during Saturday's skit, Jesus tells Tebow, "I could throw better than you and I'm 2,010 years old."

He also tells him to read his playbook.

"The Holy Bible is my playbook," says the Tebow character.

"That's great," replies Jesus.  "But you need to read the regular playbook.  Seriously, okay? I'm doing all the work here."

Carmelo Anthony Set To Appear On "Saturday Night Live"

Carmelo Anthony will hone his comedic chops on "Saturday Night Live" tomorrow.  According to the New York Post,  'Melo will make a guest appearance on the live show to be hosted by Elton John. 

"SNL" executive-producer Lorne Michaels was spotted courtside at Monday night's Knick game against the Orlando Magic, but according to reports, the two didn't mention 'Melo's upcoming appearance.

A spokesperson for "SNL" said, " We never confirm guest stars."

Elton John will be the host and musical guest for this Saturday's show, but it's any body's guess if 'Melo will show up with his own supporting cast for the segment.

Melo's teammate Amar'e Stoudemire could make an appearance at the studio.  It seems like he hasn't really been seen at Madison Square Garden in a while.

LaLa Vasquez, 'Melo's wife and reality show fixture, is a pretty good bet to be there.  The "entertainer" is always looking for the spotlight.

Anthony is no stranger to the camera.  He was in Common's video "Be" and shot the movie "Amazing" this past year with Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard.

"Amazing" was shot in Bejing, Shanghai and New York and is directed by an award-winning Chinese director.  The NBA players star alongside many of China's leading actors in a basketball-themed film about young people  achieving their dreams through hard work.

NBA players who tread from the court to the stage are a rare breed.  Some score--Ray Allen in "He Got Game"-- while others foul out--Shaquille O'Neal in "Kazaam."  Rick Fox is unforgettable in anything.

Melo's star power at the Garden had dimmed in recent weeks during the Knicks losing streak.  Maybe a Derek Jeter style appearance in drag is just the wake-up call he needs.  Although Jeter did have a championship ring to accessorize his skirt and high heels.

Here's hoping 'Melo finds his inner funny-bone and skips the all-night wrap-party.  He's got  a game against the Cavs on Sunday.  Now they're funny.