Photo: Rosalind OConnor/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via GettySaturday Night Liveis canceling its live audience and musical guest as New York City sees a spike in COVID-19 cases, specifically the new Omicron variant, PEOPLE confirms.Just hours ahead ofPaul Rudd’s 5th episode as host, the NBC sketch comedy show announced that it would no longer have a live audience and that cast and crew members would be limited.“Due to the recent spike in the Omicron variant and out of an abundance of caution, there will be no live audience for tonight’s taping ofSaturday Night Liveand the show will have limited cast and crew,“SNLannounced onTwitter.“The show continues to follow all government safety guidelines in addition to a rigorous testing protocol,” the statement noted. Individuals who won tickets for Saturday’s episode will receive additional information. “Thank you for your patience and understanding,“SNLadded.Musical guestCharli XCXwill no longer be performing “New Shapes” alongside Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek. She confirmed the news on Saturday on Twitter.“Hi everyone. Due to the limited crew at tonight’s taping ofSNLmy musical performances will no longer be able to go ahead. I am devastated and heartbroken. Myself, Caroline, Christine and all of our crews and teams have worked so hard all week alongside theSNLteam to bring the most amazing musical performance to life,” she wrote.“It can’t happen this time but I’ll be back!” Charli assured fans. “I am currently safe and healthy but of course very sad. Please look after yourselves out there and make sure you get vaccinated if you haven’t already. Lots of love, Charli.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Rudd, 52 — who was namedPEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive 2021— has already hostedSNLfour times before in 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2019 (The gig will land Rudd in the Five-Timers club, joining hisShrink Next DoorcostarWill Ferrell, among others).SNLhas previously taken action in regard to its safety protocols for COVID-19. Last year, the showdisinvitedMorgan Wallenas a musical guest following a video of the country starpartying masklesswith a large group of people days before his scheduled appearance.Ed Sheeranalso had a close call with hisSNLperformancelast month aftertesting positive. However, after spending time in quarantine, the singer was able to hit the stage weeks later.The new Omicron variant of COVID-19 isthe most contagious yet, has more mutations than any before it, and seems to evade the previously-effective two-dose vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. In people who had received a booster shot, theyhad enough antibodies to fight off Omicronfrom creating an infection, according to researchers.Saturday Night Liveairs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. EST on NBC.As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
Photo: Rosalind OConnor/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Saturday Night Liveis canceling its live audience and musical guest as New York City sees a spike in COVID-19 cases, specifically the new Omicron variant, PEOPLE confirms.Just hours ahead ofPaul Rudd’s 5th episode as host, the NBC sketch comedy show announced that it would no longer have a live audience and that cast and crew members would be limited.“Due to the recent spike in the Omicron variant and out of an abundance of caution, there will be no live audience for tonight’s taping ofSaturday Night Liveand the show will have limited cast and crew,“SNLannounced onTwitter.“The show continues to follow all government safety guidelines in addition to a rigorous testing protocol,” the statement noted. Individuals who won tickets for Saturday’s episode will receive additional information. “Thank you for your patience and understanding,“SNLadded.Musical guestCharli XCXwill no longer be performing “New Shapes” alongside Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek. She confirmed the news on Saturday on Twitter.“Hi everyone. Due to the limited crew at tonight’s taping ofSNLmy musical performances will no longer be able to go ahead. I am devastated and heartbroken. Myself, Caroline, Christine and all of our crews and teams have worked so hard all week alongside theSNLteam to bring the most amazing musical performance to life,” she wrote.“It can’t happen this time but I’ll be back!” Charli assured fans. “I am currently safe and healthy but of course very sad. Please look after yourselves out there and make sure you get vaccinated if you haven’t already. Lots of love, Charli.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Rudd, 52 — who was namedPEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive 2021— has already hostedSNLfour times before in 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2019 (The gig will land Rudd in the Five-Timers club, joining hisShrink Next DoorcostarWill Ferrell, among others).SNLhas previously taken action in regard to its safety protocols for COVID-19. Last year, the showdisinvitedMorgan Wallenas a musical guest following a video of the country starpartying masklesswith a large group of people days before his scheduled appearance.Ed Sheeranalso had a close call with hisSNLperformancelast month aftertesting positive. However, after spending time in quarantine, the singer was able to hit the stage weeks later.The new Omicron variant of COVID-19 isthe most contagious yet, has more mutations than any before it, and seems to evade the previously-effective two-dose vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. In people who had received a booster shot, theyhad enough antibodies to fight off Omicronfrom creating an infection, according to researchers.Saturday Night Liveairs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. EST on NBC.As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
Saturday Night Liveis canceling its live audience and musical guest as New York City sees a spike in COVID-19 cases, specifically the new Omicron variant, PEOPLE confirms.
Just hours ahead ofPaul Rudd’s 5th episode as host, the NBC sketch comedy show announced that it would no longer have a live audience and that cast and crew members would be limited.
“Due to the recent spike in the Omicron variant and out of an abundance of caution, there will be no live audience for tonight’s taping ofSaturday Night Liveand the show will have limited cast and crew,“SNLannounced onTwitter.
“The show continues to follow all government safety guidelines in addition to a rigorous testing protocol,” the statement noted. Individuals who won tickets for Saturday’s episode will receive additional information. “Thank you for your patience and understanding,“SNLadded.
Musical guestCharli XCXwill no longer be performing “New Shapes” alongside Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek. She confirmed the news on Saturday on Twitter.
“Hi everyone. Due to the limited crew at tonight’s taping ofSNLmy musical performances will no longer be able to go ahead. I am devastated and heartbroken. Myself, Caroline, Christine and all of our crews and teams have worked so hard all week alongside theSNLteam to bring the most amazing musical performance to life,” she wrote.
“It can’t happen this time but I’ll be back!” Charli assured fans. “I am currently safe and healthy but of course very sad. Please look after yourselves out there and make sure you get vaccinated if you haven’t already. Lots of love, Charli.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Rudd, 52 — who was namedPEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive 2021— has already hostedSNLfour times before in 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2019 (The gig will land Rudd in the Five-Timers club, joining hisShrink Next DoorcostarWill Ferrell, among others).
SNLhas previously taken action in regard to its safety protocols for COVID-19. Last year, the showdisinvitedMorgan Wallenas a musical guest following a video of the country starpartying masklesswith a large group of people days before his scheduled appearance.
Ed Sheeranalso had a close call with hisSNLperformancelast month aftertesting positive. However, after spending time in quarantine, the singer was able to hit the stage weeks later.
The new Omicron variant of COVID-19 isthe most contagious yet, has more mutations than any before it, and seems to evade the previously-effective two-dose vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. In people who had received a booster shot, theyhad enough antibodies to fight off Omicronfrom creating an infection, according to researchers.
Saturday Night Liveairs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. EST on NBC.
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
