SNL Strikes Resolution: Late-Night Laughter Set to Return
"Saturday Night Live" fans, rejoice! It seems that the beloved late-night sketch comedy show may be getting back on track soon after a writers' strike disrupted its 48th season. The Writers Guild (WGA) and studios have recently reached a temporary agreement to resolve the strike, which began in May, causing the season to be cut short by three episodes. Per Deadline, the show, which usually resumes toward the end of September or start of October, might return either October 7 or October 14, pending the WGA's ratification vote.
The resolution has been reached by the efforts of the WGA negotiating committee. They are likely to endorse the agreement and present it to the WGA West Board and WGA East Council for a vote, potentially on Tuesday. If successful, this could effectively remove the restraining order, allowing writers to resume work while the ratification awaits approval.
To contrast with the previous writers strike that ended on February 12, 2008, "Saturday Night Live" kick-started its 33rd season six days later on February 18. At the time, former cast member and "30 Rock" star Tina Fey hosted, featuring musical guest Carrie Underwood. However, the last strike didn't involve the actors, adding another layer of complication to the current situation.
Under the SAG-AFTRA’s Network Code, which covers not only "Saturday Night Live" but also daily late-night shows and reality shows like "Dancing with the Stars," everyone theoretically should be able to return to work. Yet, ongoing SAG-AFTRA discussions with the AMPTP add some uncertainty, with certain cast members potentially unwilling to return until further discussions are resolved.
This leads us to speculate about the stance of cast members like Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Colin Jost, Ego Nwodim, Kenan Thompson, and Bowen Yang. Will they choose to return amid challenging circumstances? Could they possibly take an alternative tack, similar to Mayim Bialik, who declined to return to host "Jeopardy!" even though that game show was covered under the same Network Code?
Then, there's the question of casting. Returning members include James Austin Johnson, known for his comical impersonations of Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and Sarah Sherman, whose peculiar Meatballs sketch became viral. But will Marcelo Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker, who were all hired in 2022, make a comeback?
Lorne Michaels, the creator and showrunner, has a further task at hand. He needs to decide on new cast members, a task further complicated by the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. The majority of last season's hosts were actors and SAG-AFTRA members, making future hosting choices an interesting quandary.
So, for the SNL fans out there, fingers crossed for a smooth transition back to late-night hilarity.
It's interesting watching the television industry navigate these choppy labor dispute waters. It's a bit like someone attempting to juggle while riding on the back of a motorcycle...downhill...during an earthquake. Not that I'm speaking from personal experience, of course.
But, in seriousness, the delicate balance needed to keep an institution like "Saturday Night Live" running during these disputes is fascinating. The contingent nature of the cast's return serves as a poignant reminder of how much work goes on behind the scenes to keep our favorite shows running. Not exactly the glitzy Hollywood stardom we often imagine, eh?
As for the potential new hosting choices, having AOC, Ice Spice or Patrick Mahomes would certainly add a different kind of spice to the SNL recipe. While we love our regular stars, the comedy stage can always use some fresh blood and new perspectives.
But as is often the case in this nail-biting, popcorn-munching, cliffhanging industry of ours, we just have to wait and see. The next 48 hours should shine some much-needed light on the future of SNL. In the meantime, I’ll be over here, juggling my remote and popcorn, eagerly anticipating the return of late-night laughs. Brake a leg, SNL.
