Taking her place among the reigning queens of comedy, Melissa McCarthy took a long time getting there, coming up on TV shows like The Gilmore Girls, Samantha Who and Mike & Molly.

You could call it the school of hard knocks, which would make her new movie Identity Thief a PHD program. A slam in the head with a guitar, a near miss with a 32-pound panini maker, and a hostile meet-and-greet with the front bumper of a car are just a few of the hazards McCarthy endured on the set of the new comedy.

“I got hurt a lot and I’m apparently an idiot,” she told reporters last weekend in Beverly Hills. “At the end of it I was like, ‘There was that stunt woman there for so much of this.’ I dunno, I think I get kind of excited to do it, and then I don’t really think about doing it 42 times.”

In her new movie, she plays an identity thief pursued by her victim, played by Jason Bateman. McCarthy’s role was originally written for a man, but after seeing her at the premiere of Bridesmaids, Bateman called Universal to suggest her for the part.

“They said, ‘Why don’t you see if you could go get her?” recalled Bateman. “So I took her out to a quick meal and had her sign something while she was passed out from the booze,” he joked.

She could have used some of that booze to dull the pain during production. In one scene, Bateman confronts her in her apartment and a physical altercation ensues.

“I saw the guitar there while we were rehearsing. And we were trying to figure out a way to stop her from leaving and we didn’t want to do the tackling of her yet,” said Bateman. “And I said, ‘What if I take her off her feet with this guitar?’ kind of joking, but not really.”

McCarthy got a sense for what was coming and quickly spoke up, “You’re kidding, right?” But director Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses) just kept laughing and Bateman started taking a few practice swings with the guitar. “And I was like, ‘Oh God, I think I’m gonna get hit in the face with a guitar,” groaned McCarthy.

And that’s not all she got hit with. Later in the scene, as she makes a break for the door, Bateman’s character picks up a panini maker and hurls it at her head.

“There were about 14 fake panini machines that weigh about a quarter of an ounce cause they’re foam, and then there was one real one that weighs like 32 pounds,” growled McCarthy. “And the first time we did that run to the door, he picked up the real one and let that thing fly toward my head.”

“Missed her,” interjected Bateman. “I didn’t know that there were any light ones. I thought they were all real.”

For all the hits she took making Identity Thief, McCarthy got some revenge when Bateman had to tangle with a live snake on the set. In one scene, the pair are stuck in the wilderness without a car or money, sleeping under the stars when a king snake attacks Bateman.

“They said, ‘There’s no way that the snake will ever come anywhere near you,” grinned McCarthy. “Then they put the snake down and it made a bee-line for his leg, which I really enjoyed.”

“Right up my pant leg and got basically all the way up to my kneecap before they yelled cut,” added Bateman. “So I had to endure a full night with a seven foot king snake, one that wrapped itself around my neck.”

In the end, producers found a CG snake to be more effective than the real thing, so they scrapped the footage they shot with Bateman and the snake.

“None of it’s in the movie,” he lamented. “I think we have the snake traveling towards my body, but that’s about it.”

Seated next to him, recalling all their bumps and bruises, McCarthy summed it up succinctly, “It was a dicey shoot.”

Check out two hilarious clips from Identity Thief below.

How do you think the movie came out? Was it worth it for the cast to take a few lumps in the name of making audiences laugh? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing Kate Winslet‘s role in Titanic or Rooney Mara‘s intense character in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but there were other familiar faces up for these parts. 

We’re just days away from the 2012 Academy Awards, and we thought it interesting to look back at some of the stars that almost landed these Oscar worthy roles. Who admitted to auditioning for Bridesmaids? The TV actress told Celebuzz: 

“I auditioned for Melissa McCarthy’s part – and that’s what’s weird … The part wasn’t defined necessarily as one thing [when I auditioned]. I was doing a very specific take on it, and they really liked it. But I think, ultimately, Miss McCarthy is perfect in that movie.”

Click the pics to find out who we’re quoting, and let us know: Do you think these roles would have been nominated if played by anyone else? 

Not all roles earn award nominations, but they certainly stick with you. Lindsay Lohan‘s role in The Parent Trap in one such role, and Shameless star Emmy Rossum admitted to Celebuzz that she was up to play the part. She disclosed: 

“I was 12, but I really wanted the role. … Lindsay beat me out of the role, [but] I’m having the time of my life and currently working on Shameless.” 

Looks like it all worked out!

Comcast’s Xfinity On Demand Awards honors the most watched entertainment services during the course of the year.

This year’s winners included: the hit comedy Bridesmaids (Most-Viewed New Release Movie); Beyonce (Most-Watched Overall Musical Artist); Tosh.0 (Most-Watched Overall TV Show); and SpongeBob SquarePants (Most-Watched Overall Kids TV Series). 

Wendi McLendon-Covey accepted her award on behalf of the Bridesmaids cast and of course gave a hilarious speech.

Congrats!

The rumors have been swirling as to a possible Bridesmaids sequel, some gossip sites claiming that the movie’s lead Kristen Wiig will not be apart of it. Her costar Melissa McCartney came out in rebuttal of such news, and director Paul Feig told Celebuzz that he’s game to do an additional film.

Celebuzz gave a poll to all our readers asking if they’d see a Wiig-less Bridesmaids, and 82% said “No Way!” 

Meanwhile, Kristen is finally speaking out, and she’s not too thrilled with the idea of a sequel herself. 

The funny lady told E! News, “We’re not planning on doing one. We had a special time making the first one, but we’re really excited to try something else.” The website also reminded us that Kristen’s costar Jon Hamm said of the possible second movie, “I don’t think Kristen is going to do it.”

Paul doesn’t quite share the same view of a possible sequel, telling Celebuzz, “If we could come up with something great that is good or better than the first one, that’s the biggest thing to me. I hate when something is great and then the next one is not good and almost taints the memory of the first one. I’m very respectful of what we did and our work. That said, if it all aligned I would do it.”

However, our readers are definitely into another Bridesmaids movie! Some readers responded: 

Cindy – “And I think a lot of people will feel the same way so it would be a waste of their time to make a sequel without Kristen. I loved the movie and I think they were all great in it but she was my favortie actress of all. And I love her on SNL also.”

Sona- “I LOVE THEEEEEEEEM!”

xotaytayxo96- “Noooo!! I love Kristen! She’s my fav actress on SNL!!”

Ruby- “Kristen Wigg is hilarious too.”

What do you think? Would you want to see another Bridesmaids despite Kristen not wanting to do one? Sound off in the comments! 

Is Bridesmaids back?! Well, not exactly but four of the cast members are returning to the big screen together! The foursome Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Chris O’Dowd join Parks & Recreation star Adam Scott, Transformers actress Megan Fox, Ed Burns and Hamm’s longtime girlfriend Jennifer Westfeldt in the romantic comedy Friends With Kids.

Written, directed and starring Westfeldt, the film is about “two best friends (Scott and Westfeldt) who decide to have a child together while keeping their relationship platonic, so they can avoid the toll kids can take on romantic relationships.”

While Friends With Kids looks like a must-see romcom, there’s been a bit of drama surrounding the Bridesmaids sequel and the first film’s lead Kristen Wiig. While there were rumors that the second film would not involve Wiig at all, her Brides costar Melissa McCarthy called that possibility “a terrible idea.” 

Melissa commented on the rumor at a Mike & Molly panel at TCA, saying, “I don’t know anything about it. But I mean, I would do anything with those ladies (from the film). If it’s a weird play in a backyard, I would do it. Bad blood? Oh no. Not at all.” She added that she didn’t find the gossip “factual in any way.”

Would you watch a Bridesmaids sequel without Wiig? Sound off in the comments! 

Bridesmaids is easily one of the best comedies of the year, and this week it finally made its way to DVD. Aside from the hilarious movie itself, there were tons of special features and behind the scenes footage.

One such bonus feature was the “longest argument ever” between Kristen Wiig‘s character Annie and a young girl at a jewelry store. The beyond hysterical clip went viral in no time, and with quippy digs like “I bet you vacation in America,” to “You have to be pretty to be a stripper,” it’s not hard to see why.

Celebuzz was able to track down Mia Rose Frampton, the actress who plays the young girl who throws down (quite nicely!) with the Saturday Night Live comedy veteran, and chatted with her about the hilarious scene and much more.

What was it like filming that scene with Kristen Wiig? Did she give you any advice?
It was surreal. It was like a dream come true, since she is my comedic idol. And no she didn’t, we just went straight to work.

How much of that did you come up with on your own?
We started off using the script and then we just went straight to improvising. It went from there and turned into a very long, fun improv session.

What part of the unedited/longer version of the fight makes you laugh most?
Probably the part where Kristen says, “Ok, Alex Tribek.” Just because I remember it was at the end of shooting and we both started to say stuff that was just insane.

How many times did you guys crack up filming this scene? We managed to keep our composure through most of it, but there were a few times where I just couldn’t help myself.

Aside from the fight, what is your favorite part of the film?
I love when Maya Rudolph has an “accident” in the middle of the road.

Why did they decide to film a fight scene that long?
We actually did quite a few takes. It was pieced together like one long scene though.

What was the audition process of getting the part?
I auditioned first for the casting director, and then I met with the director, Paul Feig. About a week later I found out I got the part.

Have you been approached for a Bridesmaids sequel? Would you want to be in it if they made one?
They haven’t, but if they did, I would be more than willing to reprise my role.

What’s your fave Kristen Wiig Saturday Night Live character?
All of them are great, but I have to say Gilly.

Any other SNL actors you’d want to work with?
SNL is one of my favorite shows, so I’d die to work with anyone on the show.

Do you have any upcoming projects? If so, what can you tell us about them?
At the moment no, just going on auditions, training and waiting for my next lucky break.

Bridesmaids finally hits theaters tomorrow, May 13! 

In honor of the hilarious comedy (that has amazing reviews on Rotten Tomatoes) you can now put yourself and your friends into a custom Bridesmaids video.

It’s easy, just get on Facebook and start creating!

Also, if you haven’t watched the restricted trailer, and don’t care about some inappropriate language here and there, you must watch it right here.

Don’t forget, Kristin Wiig and the girl gang comes to theaters this Friday!

We’ve all been there — as a bridesmaid. Now Whitney Port is sharing her adventures in wedding planning — which may not go over too well with her sister!

In a new video on her blog (which you can see below), the TV personality, fashion designer and author makes a candid confession.

She says:

I’m not sure how many of you have had experience as a bridesmaid, but it’s definitely quite the adventure, especially if you’re me and jump right to the maid of honor role! I have some pretty silly memories which I reveal in my Bridesmaids Confessions video (see above). My sister might not be too happy about this one — haha! 

We’ve all been there at some point in our lives: a bridesmaid. Although it can be an honor to support your BFF on her most special day (and help call the shots), it’s not all baby pink rose petals and free booze. With your new role comes some serious responsibility, a hefty financial investment and a few other curveballs you’ll want to dodge before the big event.

Inspired by the upcoming comedy Bridesmaids in theaters on May 13, we’ve created the Ultimate Bridesmaids Checklist, to help you turn what could be an unexpected circus into the happily ever after affair it should be.

Here’s where YOU come in!  Enlighten us with your own tip for being a terrific bridesmaids and you’ll be entered for a chance to win $1,000. Share your tip here. Good luck!

The contest ends May 13th.