SNL Mulling Return to Studio, Ahead of Presidential Election (Report)
Saturday Night Live is plotting some sort of a return to Studio 8H ahead of November’s Trump vs. Biden showdown.
NBC is reportedly in talks with SNL boss Lorne Michaels about ways to resume in-studio production this fall, according to our sister site Variety. While discussions are still ongoing — and any return would depend upon how the country is coping with the coronavirus pandemic at the time production resumes — one potential approach would be to make the show in a “controlled environment,” which would eliminate unnecessary personnel and, most likely, the studio audience. Such a strategy has already been employed by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (also produced by Michaels), which on July 13 resumed production from 30 Rockefeller Plaza, albeit in a different studio. (Similar to Fallon, TBS’ Conan shifted production to the historic Largo at the Coronet in West Hollywood on July 6.)
Other late-night series have continued to be produced at home, including ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, CBS’ Late Show With Stephen Colbert and Late Late Show With James Corden, HBO’s Last Week Tonight With John Oliver and Real Time With Bill Maher, NBC’s Late Night With Seth Meyers, Showtime’s Desus & Mero and TBS’ Full Frontal With Samantha Bee.
SNL‘s last regular episode aired on March 7, featuring host Daniel Craig, musical guest The Weeknd and a special guest appearance by Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Following a four-week hiatus, the show returned with three SNL at Home installments hosted by Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt and Kristen Wiig. The makeshift Season 45 finale landed on May 9.
A premiere date for SNL‘s upcoming Season 46 has not yet been announced.
I get it. Election years are when they’re at their best. Personally I would like that. As long as it’s done in a way that keeps everyone safe of course.
It’s looking very likely the virus will not only still be around in the fall but raging so if they do this it will have to be under very carefully controlled conditions,no audience and even the possibility of some sort of control over the actor’s movements during production because,for example,it is certainly possible if one of them traveled to high infection states or locations they might be required to quarantine etc.
No. It is not looking like it will be raging in the Fall. No one knows that. And it is about NYC not the country. NYC cases are very low and getting lower. The actors don’t need to travel to other states
you’re right.no one knows,but cases are rising not falling and combined with flu it may be a really bad time
Please just no more at home editions. The second one was mildly entertaining, but as someone who watches every week those three were painful. If there is a way to safely do it in the studio, please find it. The only good thing that came out of the home edition is that hopefully all the behind the scenes people (as well as the cast) got paid for 3 more episodes than they would have otherwise.
SNL is sorely missed. I hope they can come up with a plan that keeps everyone safe.
I would think that it should be safe to return to the studio, provided they limit the number of production crew in the building, have all the crew masked at all times, maintain physical distancing, and no audience.
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That last one might be hard to get past. An SNL with absolutely no audience sound would be just weird. As much as I hate to suggest it, a laugh track might not be the worst idea.
Why? Really why? Ratings alone isn’t sufficient reason. Common sense would say “No!”
No the situation would not depend on how the COUNTRY is coping – it would depend on how NYC is coping – those are not the same
Wow, an unfunny show returns… “…and Saturday Night Live just won’t end.” Please, someone put this out our misery. PLEASE!