‘SNL’ Returns With Pete Davidson, Ice Spice, and Bad Bunny
Saturday Night Live is making its return with a star-studded lineup. The show announced that on October 14, former SNL member Pete Davidson will be hosting. Rapper Ice Spice will be the musical guest. The following weekend, October 21, Bad Bunny will be performing double duty as both host and musical guest. Though the writer’s strike has ended, actors are still on strike. But how can SNL return, especially with comedian and actor Davidson while SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) remains on strike? The union said in a statement Wednesday, via USA Today, that “members appearing on Saturday Night Live either as hosts, guests or cast members are working under the Network Code agreement, which is not a contract we are striking.”
The statement clarifies they are not in violation of SAG-AFTRA strike rules and are supported in fulfilling their “contractual obligations.” The writer’s strike officially ended on September 27 to end the WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike, which lasted nearly five months. Following later, the Hollywood actors’ strike is nearing the three-month mark. The statement continues to read: “The program is a SAG-AFTRA non-dramatic production under a separate agreement that is not subject to the union’s strike order.” It is stated that the majority of their members who are regulars on Saturday Night Live had contractual obligations to the show prior to the strike. The union states many are under agreements that require them to return to the show “if the producers exercise their option which the producers have done.”
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Fans were excited by the news. One person commented on the post, “If Pete doesn’t do the SpongeBob guy and Ariana, I’ll actually riot.” As we previously reported, Ariana Grande is reportedly dating her Wicked co-star, Ethan Slater. Slater’s biggest break before landing his role in Wicked was playing the role of SpongeBob Squarepants in the Broadway musical, for which he earned a Tony Award nomination.
