This post was originally published on this site
Saturday night may not be so live from New York this week.
The New York Post has learned that NBC television’s “Saturday Night Live” show was on the verge of canceling tonight’s final episode of the iconic sketch show’s 2021 season due to an in-house outbreak of positive COVID-19 cases.
A set insider has revealed that “four actors” have tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 — and “three others” will be absent because they are now “fearful” about coming to NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Center, where the weekly sketch show is filmed in Midtown.
Another insider claimed that executive producer Lorne Michaels had tested positive, adding that the “show must go on but don’t expect to see Colin Jost, Sarah Sherman or [Aristotle] Athari.” Jost usually hosts “Weekend Update” with Michael Che, while Sherman and Athari are newcomers to the ensemble this season.
A source reportedly told the New York Post that Cecily Strong is one of the cast members who has voiced concern over the outbreak.
In a statement to the Post, a show representative said: “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 show continues to follow all government safety guidelines in addition to a rigorous testing protocol.”
A tipster told the Post the cast and crew were in rehearsals at Studio 8H for the episode — set to be hosted by Paul Rudd with musical guest Charli XCX — on Saturday afternoon, adding that “you know who” — meaning Michaels — was “trying to hold on” and continue with the show.
However, the mood is said to be grim. “Everyone is fearful here,” the insider said.
Representatives of Rudd, who has hosted four times previously, did not immediately respond to a Post request for comment.
The show normally films a rehearsal run-through at 8 p.m., and there was no word on whether that would happen this week.
The not-ready-for-primetime outbreak comes as a string of Broadway shows — including “Company,” “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” “Hamilton,” “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” “Ain’t Too Proud,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical” and “Freestyle Love Supreme” — have all temporarily shut down this past week due to COVID concerns.
The Radio City Rockettes — just around the corner at Radio City Music Hall on Sixth Avenue — cut their season short on Friday after an outbreak.
On Friday, New York state shattered a record and recorded more than 21,000 new coronavirus infections over a 24-hour period as the delta and new omicron variants spread.
