“Weekend Update” is getting ready to return in time thanks to a COVID-19 outbreak.
An insider informed The Post that “Saturday Night Live” alum Tina Fey, 51, was in talks “to fill in” for Colin Jost, 39, on the “Weekend Update” desk tonight when he reportedly nixed doing the present after a rash of optimistic checks among the many forged.
In addition, musical visitor Charli XCX formally bailed on performing, saying she was “devastated and heartbroken” by the flip of occasions.
Fey’s alleged look would imply a return to the 30 Rockefeller Center anchor chair for her: She co-anchored “Weekend Update” alongside Amy Poehler, 50, from 2004 to 2006 and beforehand with present “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon, 47, from 2000 to 2004.
Emmy winner Fey’s “SNL” return might additionally imply a reunion of kinds with Fallon, who an insider stated was among the many “possibilities” to pop up throughout host Paul Rudd’s monologue to have fun his fifth time internet hosting the sketch collection. Jost usually hosts “Weekend Update” with Michael Che, 38.
An insider informed The Post that there can be “minimal” crew for tonight’s sketch present — no matter kind it’d take — and that the one forged member who stayed behind was longtime staffer Kenan Thompson, 43, who can be obtainable to introduce pre-taped video segments. The supply stated they have been “not sure what they were going to do” so far as structuring the episode, including {that a} “clip show” was even a risk.
Before a stay viewers was nixed and forged and crew have been despatched residence, government producer Lorne Michaels had reportedly been “trying to hold on” to make the present occur in some kind.
“Everyone is fearful here,” the insider informed The Post earlier within the day.
The present, now in its forty seventh season, introduced Saturday that it will not have a stay viewers for this week’s taping as coronavirus circumstances have spiked — and set information — in New York City and past.
“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 of ‘Saturday Night Live’ and the show will have limited cast and crew,” the present stated in an announcement. “The show continues to follow all government safety guidelines in addition to a rigorous testing protocol.”
Rudd was set to host with singer Charli XCX, who introduced on Twitter that she wouldn’t carry out on Saturday night.
“hi everyone. due to the limited crew at tonight’s taping of snl my musical performances will no longer be able to go ahead,” she wrote. “i’m devastated and heartbroken. myself, caroline, christine and all of our crews and groups have labored so arduous all week alongside the snl workforce to convey essentially the most wonderful musical performances to life. it will probably’t occur this time however I’ll be again!
“i am currently safe and healthy but of course very sad,” she continued. “please look after yourselves out there and make sure you get vaccinated if you haven’t already. lots of love, Charli.”
Representatives for “SNL,” Fey and Rudd didn’t reply to requests for remark from The Post
“The positive cases were so many that it was making everyone scared,” an “SNL” insider informed The Post concerning the outbreak and its impact on the forged and crew.
“Whatever happens it will be interesting to see what is aired tonight,” they added.
The outbreak comes as a string of Broadway exhibits — together with “Company,” “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” “Hamilton,” “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” “Ain’t Too Proud,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical” and “Freestyle Love Supreme” — have all quickly shut down this previous week due to COVID considerations.
The Radio City Rockettes — simply across the nook at Radio City Music Hall on Sixth Avenue — additionally lower their season brief on Friday after an outbreak.
