SNL Gears Up for Season 48 Return Amid Tentative Strike Resolution

Saturday Night Live (SNL) fans may breathe a sigh of relief as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the studios find common ground in a tentative agreement, potentially opening the door for writers to return to work and resuming the regular show schedule. Due to a writers strike that started in May, Season 48 of NBC's long-running late-night comedy staple was deprived of three episodes.

Industry insider source Deadline states that the show traditionally reboots itself at the cusp of September end or October beginning, and its projected return this year gravitates toward either October 7 or 14. Ultimately, these dates depend on a forthcoming ratification vote by the WGA.

The WGA negotiating committee is anticipated to endorse the agreement, passing it onto the respective West Board and East Council of WGA for a Tuesday-scheduled vote. Owing to the voting outcome, there is a probability of lifting the restraining order, thereby allowing writers to resume their craft as the deal awaits ratification.

In the past, after the 2008 writers strike concluded on February 12, the show restarted production for Season 33 on February 18 for its air date of February 23. Tina Fey, an SNL alumna and 30 Rock star, and musical gust Carrie Underwood were the high-profile names that fostered the revival. But this walk-out differs with actors joining the striking writers, a twist that introduces additional elements for consideration.

The legal aspect remains navigable for SNL, as is the case with daily late-night programming and reality shows such as Dancing with the Stars. Covered under the umbrella of SAG-AFTRA’s Network Code, everyone involved theoretically could hit the ground running immediately. However, despite the WGA strike resolution, certain cast members may decide to remain off-duty until SAG-AFTRA concludes their continuing strike discussions with the AMPTP.

On the heels of such developments, a few pertinent questions come to the fore: will regular cast members, some of whom have actively participated in picket lines, return for Season 49? Could some follow Mayim Bialik's lead, who declined to return to host Jeopardy! despite it being under the same Network Code?

Attention also deviates towards the casting department, as new talents James Austin Johnson and Sarah Sherman are slated to upgrade from being featured players to regulars, thanks to their immensely popular impersonations and sketches, respectively. Will recently hired performers like Marcelo Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker return?

Show creator Lorne Michaels also needs to resolve the new casting conundrum, an even bigger challenge now given the uncertain SAG-AFTRA atmosphere. Traditionally the program involves A-list actor hosts, but the existing climate may compel a larger reliance on musicians. Along similar lines, fans have been beckoning for guest invites to be extended to personalities like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, rising rapper Ice Spice and football player Patrick Mahomes. The next 48 hours should shed further light on these details.

This strikes me as the point in a poker game where everyone's shoved their chips in the middle, and we're waiting to see who's got the high card. In Hollywood, no one plays poker like the writers - especially when they've got unions as their poker buddies. The writers know "The Show Must Go On," but they also understand there's power in knowing when to walk away...and when to run.

As we wait for the final decision, casting speculations are thriving. The betting pool on who might host the revived SNL is as heated as the hot dogs at a Dodger's game. It's almost like guessing who Santa's going to pull out of the hat next.

If our dreams come true, AOC shotgunned with rapper Ice Spice and footballer Patrick Mahomes could give our weekend nights a whole new edge. Now that's a trifecta we won't want to miss. And with Taylor Swift possibly on the musical lineup? That's just putting a cherry on top of this comedy sundae.

It's a waiting game at the moment, each tick of the clock bringing us closer to the curveball Hollywood will throw next. As we dip behind the velvet curtain of the entertainment industry waiting to expose the new SNL season, let's snack on the fact that the show, much like the city it's named after, never sleeps. No strike or pandemic can change that. In the words of the great Lorne Michaels, “We don’t go on because we’re ready. We go on because it’s 11:30.”