“Saturday Night Live” became the latest casualty of the coronavirus and its highly contagious omicron variant this weekend, following the Radio City Rockettes and several Broadway shows in scaling back or shutting down completely in New York City,
While the last new “SNL” episode of 2021 wasn’t completely canceled, it had no audience or live musical guest and most of the cast was sent home. The show featured mostly pre-recorded segments as well as video shorts from past Christmas episodes.
Tom Hanks (who joked he wasn’t going to fly across the country and not be on TV) and former “SNL” cast member Tina Fey – both of whom have hosted the show five times – joined scheduled host Paul Rudd to induct him into the “Five Timers Club.”
Tina Fey and Tom Hanks are seen in New York City, Jan. 9, 2018 The actors joined guest host Paul Rudd for the scaled-down show on Saturday. (Getty Images)
Rudd admitted he was “disappointed” to not be performing live sketches in front of an audience.
Charli XCX, left, and Paul Rudd stand with cast member Ego Nwodim during promos for “Saturday Night Live” in New York City, Dec. 16, 2021. (Getty Images)
Singer Charli XCX had canceled her scheduled appearance citing the “limited crew.”
“i am devastated and heartbroken,” she wrote in a statement. “myself, caroline, christine and all of our crews and teams have worked so hard all week alongside the snl team to bring the most amazing musical performance to life. it can’t happen this time but I’ll be back! i am currently safe and healthy but of course very sad.”
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Fey later filled in for absent “Weekend Update” co-anchor Colin Jost. She and co-anchor Michael Che read news-related jokes while seated in chairs on a barren stage, instead of on the usual “Weekend Update” set. (Fey had anchored “Weekend Update” during her run as a cast member, 1997-2006.)
The show had announced its scaled-back plans on Twitter earlier Saturday.
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“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 cast and crew,” the statement said.
