"SNL" to Air New, Remote Episode This Weekend

Like most shows, Saturday Night Live was forced to suspend production last month when coronavirus sent all “non-essential” workers in New York into quarantine, but the sketch show will be back with a new episode this Saturday, April 11 — all shot and produced remotely, while the cast and crew continue to practice social distancing.

The episode, which is being dubbed “SNL At Home,” will air in Saturday Night Live‘s regular 11:30 p.m. EST timeslot and feature a remote version of “Weekend Update” as well as “original content” from the show’s cast members.

‼️ This Saturday ‼️#SNLAtHome pic.twitter.com/JT62ELvmsW

— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) April 9, 2020

There’s no official word on what exactly that original content will consist of, though NBC News senior media reporter Dylan Byers said that “Tom Hanks may be involved.” Byers also noted, however, that NBC would not confirm Hanks’ involvement. The network also declined to offer any details about a potential host or musical guest.

#Break: “Saturday Night Live” will be *live* this weekend. Skits will be produced remotely and will include “Weekend Update,” NBC says. On a call, NBC chief Jeff Shell said Tom Hanks may be involved, source familiar tells me. NBC would not confirm that. https://t.co/ehHDp5Np2e

— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) April 9, 2020

As Variety points out, the show has a history of pressing on in the face of tragedy.

“The series has helped Americans process other moments of tragedy,” the publication noted. “In 2001, Paul Simon played ‘The Boxer’ in front of various New York first responders and then-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, part of a bid to get the program back on the air after 9/11. In 2017, musical guest Jason Aldean played the Tom Petty single ‘I Won’t Back Down’ as a means of paying tribute to victims of a mass shooting in Las Vegas. Petty had just passed away, and Aldean opened the program with a few words about the tragedy.”

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