SNL to Remotely Return on Air Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The novel coronavirus has affected the TV industry, with many shows suspended as a result of the lockdown. However, several of the favorite programs have found ways to work around the problem.

One of those programs is Saturday Night Live. The popular show has returned now, with stars appearing remotely via a telecast from their homes. The show announced its return on Twitter last week, and fans caught the latest episode on Saturday night.

Instead of being "live from New York," as the show's tagline goes, SNL stars shot the episode from home. The host for this show's edition was actor Tom Hanks, who recently recovered from the virus himself.

The show embraced the different vibe from the beginning. Long-time fans of SNL will already be familiar with the classic opening credits, where cast members are shown against the New York nightlife scenes.

Instead, it showed cast members at their houses for the opening credits. Mikey Day was reading to his son, Colin Jost did some juggling, and Kate McKinnon cuddled her pet cat. Alex Moffat, however, stole the show, as he stepped into his shower.

Even Kenan Thompson, the show's longest-serving cast member, got in on the weirdness. He opened by saying, "It's wonderful to see my beautiful castmates on this technological approach to trying to do a live show."

Several shows have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and SNL is no different.

The last regular SNL episode aired on March 7. "James Bond" actor Daniel Craig was the special guest host, while The Weekend was the musical guest.

NBC had scheduled the show to come back on March 28, with John Krasinski and Dua Lipa Helming. However, the network canceled that airing.

The network eventually announced that SNL would return, but with remote material, since they were trying to practice social distancing.

Several shows have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and SNL is no different. Hal Wilmer, its long-time music producer, died recently due to complications from the virus.

She was on the show for 41 years, and several cast members came together after Saturday's airing to honor her. Popular cast member Michael Che also recently lost his grandmother to the virus.

Michael, who hosts SNL's Weekend Update session with Colin Jost, said that while he was happy she's no longer in pain, he was also frustrated by the virus's persistent mystery.

In lighter news, however, the show recently got a green light from Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

In a recent news briefing, Fauci confirmed that he wouldn't oppose someone playing him on SNL. He even gave a recommendation – Oscar winner Brad Pitt.