‘Saturday Night Live’ Goes Dark in Writers Strike
Posted May 2, 2023 by: Admin
Due to the ongoing writers’ strike called for by the WGA, “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) will not produce any new episodes for the foreseeable future. The show’s next episode, scheduled for May 6 and hosted by former cast member Pete Davidson with musical guest Lil Uzi Vert, has been canceled. NBC has announced that the show will air repeats until further notice.
The writers’ strike has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the future of SNL’s 48th season, with the possibility of no more new episodes. Typically, the show goes on a summer hiatus after May, but this year’s hiatus may be longer than usual. However, the strike has not affected the current season’s cast, which includes Ego Nwodim, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, and Bowen Yang, among others.
The current season of SNL marked a transition for the long-running program, with the departure of several cast members, including Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, and Pete Davidson, at the end of the previous season. In the fall, the show introduced new featured players, including Marcello Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker.
Despite the challenges posed by the strike, SNL has continued to rely on its seasoned cast members, such as Kenan Thompson, who is in his 20th year on the show. The up-and-coming comedy trio “Please Don’t Destroy,” consisting of Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy, has also seen its presence on the show grow, with some of their sketches appearing in the show’s first 40 minutes.
