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Variety, TVWeek

Will NBC’s New Show Be a Prime-Time Version of ‘Saturday Night Live’?

Mar 11, 2016  •  Post A Comment

NBC is ready to unleash a show with strong ties to the network’s “Saturday Night Live” franchise. The network announced that it is adding “SNL” regular Kenan Thompson to the cast of “Maya and Marty in Manhattan,” starring Maya Rudolph and Martin Short.

Variety reports that the live variety show will premiere May 31 at 10 p.m., leading out from the season premiere of “America’s Got Talent.”

Thompson has been on “SNL” for 13 seasons, but the late-night sketch show is dark for the summer, freeing up Thompson for the new program.

“The series will feature sketches that spoof current events, celebrities and topical trends, as well as musical performances,” Variety reports. “Among comedy circles, Rudolph and Short are considered two of the best sketch performers in the business.”

Both performers put in time on “Saturday Night Live,” Short during a pivotal season for the show in 1984-85 and Rudolph for a long run from 2000-2007.

The new show is executive produced by “SNL” guru Lorne Michaels.

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3 Comments

  1. Love Maya, love Kenan, but the variety format os so-o-o tired.

    This is not going to end well.

  2. Lorna is right about the format, but hopefully these two creative talents can bring something new to the table. They have the perfect lead-in. So let’s hope they can get those millennials to stay tuned.

  3. I have high hopes for it but I wish it was Martin Short’s SCTV team that were producing the show rather than Lorne. He worked with the same writers and directors on a lot of great specials after SCTV. I agree with Sid Caeser’s comments about SNL after he hosted decades ago. Lorne has the writers prepare a large number of sketches each week and then drops the weakest after dress rehearsal. Your Show of Shows would come up with five great premises and spend the week perfecting those sketches.

    Hell, just bring back SCTV.

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