SNL 50th cast members test positive for COVID after on-set outbreak
'Maya had Covid. Marty has Covid. I wonder why'
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The 50th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live became not-so-special after several celebrities involved tested positive for COVID-19.
The star-studded SNL 50 celebration featured cast members from past and present to former hosts and musical guests including Meryl Streep, Emma Stone, Jon Hamm, Sabrina Carpenter, Paul Simon, Lady Gaga, Eddie Murphy and Tom Hanks.
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Steve Martin, who was tasked with delivering the monologue on Sunday night, took to social media to reveal that his Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short, 74, has tested positive for the coronavirus, along with Maya Rudolph.
“Maya had Covid. Marty has Covid. I wonder why?” Martin wrote on Instagram along with a photo of the two actor-comedians sharing a kiss on the lips backstage at Studio 8H.
“The SNL 50th Covid curse is real,” the 16-time host noted, adding that he and Short have been forced to postpone sold-out weekend shows of their tour in Knoxville, Tennessee and Durham, North Carolina.
“So sorry for the inconvenience,” the actor added. “ I think we’ll be funnier then, anyway.”
Perhaps Colin Jost’s comment about COVID spreading at the anniversary special was some sort of foreshadowing.
During the special “Weekend Update” segment, Jost joked that packing so many comedy legends into one studio might not have been ideal.
“Health experts are facing increased pressure this winter in the face of outbreaks of COVID, the flu, RSV and nanovirus, which they’re calling a quademic,” Jost said.
“So we did the smart thing and packed every beloved entertainer over 60 into one tiny space.”
Oof.
Fans overwhelmed the comment section with words of well wishes and support, with many surprised that there weren’t more people wearing masks behind the scenes.
“There were too many people packed into that little studio,” one person wrote. “Masks are still important in those types of situations.”
Another commented, “Get well soon Mr. Martin Short, while a third person added, “Protect Meryl,” the actor’s rumoured girlfriend and Only Murders co-star.
“Superspreader Night Live!,” one person joked.
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During the monologue, Martin was joined by former SNL cast member Short, who said he thought he was co-hosting the event – before Martin called a pair of fake ICE agents to haul the Canadian actor out of the studio.
Rudolph, who appeared on SNL from 1999 to 2007, reunited with Amy Poehler for their “Bronx Beat” sketch.
Nearly 15 million viewers tuned in, making it NBC’s most-watched prime-time entertainment telecast in five years.
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