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brooklynite

(96,882 posts)
Sun Dec 19, 2021, 09:07 AM Dec 2021

SNL scraps show and sends cast home amid coronavirus fears; Tom Hanks and Tina Fey pitch in

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Washington Post

In a first for “Saturday Night Live,” hours before an episode was set to air, producers scrapped the planned show and sent most of the cast home.

“Due to the recent spike in the Omicron variant and out of an abundance of caution, there will be no live audience for tonight’s taping of 'Saturday Night Live’ and the show will have limited casts and crew,” read a statement posted to the show’s Twitter account on Saturday afternoon. Charli XCX, the musical guest, tweeted that she was told she would no longer be able to perform due to coronavirus pandemic precautions.

Instead, as the show kicked off at 11:30 p.m., none other than Tom Hanks strolled out in front of a mostly empty, eerily quiet studio. “Thank you, surviving crew members,” Hanks said, as a few people applauded.

He noted that SNL planned to do its big Christmas show and induct host Paul Rudd into the “five timer’s club” — celebrities who have hosted the show five times — but thanks to the surge of coronavirus cases and in the interest of safety, that was not meant to be. (Before the show, the New York Post and Variety reported that multiple cast members tested positive for the coronavirus, though this did not come up on the air.)


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/12/19/snl-covid-show-tom-hanks-tina-fey/
12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
SNL scraps show and sends cast home amid coronavirus fears; Tom Hanks and Tina Fey pitch in (Original Post) brooklynite Dec 2021 OP
Wow. The show didn't go on. underpants Dec 2021 #1
+1 Auggie Dec 2021 #3
What do you mean? Roy Rolling Dec 2021 #7
This message was self-deleted by its author Auggie Dec 2021 #8
It did go on - they just changed the format and there was no live audience FakeNoose Dec 2021 #9
Yes it did Rebl2 Dec 2021 #10
Props to Lorne Michaels for doing the right thing. peacefreak2.0 Dec 2021 #2
I'm with you but some people lack the ability to think. twodogsbarking Dec 2021 #4
Earlier in the evening the listing website I used showed that it had been reduced to 30 minutes: George II Dec 2021 #5
They used the whole 90 minute slot, filing it with pre taped and rerun segments. Nt Fiendish Thingy Dec 2021 #6
Peacock only showed 6 clips (30 minutes) from the broadcast. targetpractice Dec 2021 #11
After a review by forum hosts....LOCKING Omaha Steve Dec 2021 #12

underpants

(188,634 posts)
1. Wow. The show didn't go on.
Sun Dec 19, 2021, 09:11 AM
Dec 2021

Charli XCX

Auggie

(32,060 posts)
3. +1
Sun Dec 19, 2021, 09:39 AM
Dec 2021

Clever

Roy Rolling

(7,256 posts)
7. What do you mean?
Sun Dec 19, 2021, 12:08 PM
Dec 2021

Did you not tune in to the broadcast? It was there for millions of viewers to enjoy, at great sacrifice to thousands of union employees to make it happen.

The show went on, it’s something entertainment employees are very proud of.

Clever play on words, but disrespectful to all of us who work to make things happen. Producers have spent millions and employees have made sacrifices to keep the industry rolling.

Since a general work stoppage on March 13, 2020, film and TV productions have self-funded massive testing and screening protocols to safely deliver entertainment. And as a long-time veteran, I fear January may not be the end of the holiday hiatus. Bummer, we like to work. 😂

Response to Roy Rolling (Reply #7)

FakeNoose

(36,561 posts)
9. It did go on - they just changed the format and there was no live audience
Sun Dec 19, 2021, 01:07 PM
Dec 2021

I watched SNL last night and they started out by explaining that the format was changed at the last minute due to Covid. It was still funny (most of it) and Paul Rudd the guest host got his "Fifth Host" jacket. They're making it a thing now for anyone who hosts the show 5 times, gets to join the "Fifth Host" club and they get a special jacket. Tina Fey and Tom Hanks came on and gave Paul Rudd his jacket.

Rebl2

(15,565 posts)
10. Yes it did
Sun Dec 19, 2021, 01:18 PM
Dec 2021

They showed some things they had taped in rehearsals earlier in the week and showed a few clips from past Christmas shows.

peacefreak2.0

(1,033 posts)
2. Props to Lorne Michaels for doing the right thing.
Sun Dec 19, 2021, 09:21 AM
Dec 2021

Tough decision, but maybe it’ll make people think.

twodogsbarking

(12,694 posts)
4. I'm with you but some people lack the ability to think.
Sun Dec 19, 2021, 09:51 AM
Dec 2021

"I'm trying to think but nothing's happening." Curly.

George II

(67,782 posts)
5. Earlier in the evening the listing website I used showed that it had been reduced to 30 minutes:
Sun Dec 19, 2021, 09:55 AM
Dec 2021

The last hour was listed as "paid programming"

Fiendish Thingy

(19,023 posts)
6. They used the whole 90 minute slot, filing it with pre taped and rerun segments. Nt
Sun Dec 19, 2021, 11:17 AM
Dec 2021

targetpractice

(4,919 posts)
11. Peacock only showed 6 clips (30 minutes) from the broadcast.
Sun Dec 19, 2021, 02:55 PM
Dec 2021

5 new clips, and one rerun.

Sad about cast members testing positive. I read a lot of Twitter posts from people in NYC, and in those the posters are saying things "I know a lot of people with COVID now. Not too sick, and fully vaccinated and boosted people."

Omaha Steve

(104,397 posts)
12. After a review by forum hosts....LOCKING
Sun Dec 19, 2021, 04:16 PM
Dec 2021

NOT important news of national interest only. Can be posted in GD.

Post the latest news from reputable mainstream news websites and blogs. Important news of national interest only. No analysis or opinion pieces. No duplicates. News stories must have been published within the last 12 hours. Use the published title of the story as the title of the discussion thread.

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