Live From NY, But Not On-Air

It was SNL with all the trappings: opening monologue, musical guest, Weekend Update. But the extra-long, raunchier-than-usual show that never aired last night was witnessed by only 150 audience members at a Manhattan theater. "Saturday Night Live—On Strike!" benefited the long-running comedy show's striking production team, the AP reports.

While television audiences tuned into a two-week-old repeat with Brian Williams, the live audience was treated to host Michael Cera, guest band Yo La Tengo, and 15 original sketches. NBC didn't officially approve the sold-out private performance, but SNL exec Lorne Michaels attended—and even laughed. "It was a little dirtier than usual," said one audience member. (More Hollywood writers' strike stories.)