COVID Dings Subdued ‘Saturday Night Live’ For Final Show Of The Year
Tina Fey and Tom Hanks popped as much as attempt to breathe some life into a tragic “Saturday Night Live” after the dwell viewers was minimize, and forged and crew trimmed, due to surging COVID circumstances earlier than the ultimate present of the yr.
The duo ribbed “The Shrink Next Door” star and People journal’s new “Sexiest Man Alive,” actor Paul Rudd, that the restricted program hardly counted as his fifth time as host. (“SNL” alum Fey and Hanks are each five-timers.)
“SNL” — produced at Rockefeller Center, the place the Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular was shut down the day prior to this due to breakthrough COVID circumstances — introduced the adjustments simply hours earlier than the present. They have been made “due to the recent spike in the Omicron variant and out of an abundance of caution, “SNL” stated in a tweet.
Saturday’s program largely recycled a collection of classic vacation sketches, whereas “Weekend Update” featured a relaxed Michael Che in a sweatshirt and Fey trading jokes on stage.
Update co-anchor Colin Jost was a no-show.
“It’s not what you think. He’s having work done,” quipped Fey.
Even the vacation sketches have been a bit unhappy, together with the most recent, filmed Saturday morning and that includes an getting older Pete Davidson attempting to maintain his comedy chops alive in a sort of “Raging Bull” schtick.
The greatest have been the raunchiest, together with Justin Timberlake starring in an outdated vacation model of the favored “Dick in a Box.”
“Cut a hole in a box, put your junk in that box … somethin’ special, girl,” Timberlake crooned.
Another featured a trio of very naughty elves (together with Ryan Gosling) desperately searching for punishment from a reluctant Santa.
Singer Charli XCX had been scheduled to carry out, however introduced Saturday afternoon that she was bowing out, including: “I am devastated and heartbroken.”
She urged her followers to get vaccinated.