Live From NY, But Not On-Air

Cast stages longer, uninterrupted, dirtier show to benefit strikers
By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 18, 2007 12:29 PM CST
Live From NY, But Not On-Air
"Saturday Night Live" cast member Amy Poehler, right, is joined by Saturday Night Live writer Steve Higgins, center, outside Rockefeller Center in New York for the first day of a strike by the Writers Guild of America, Monday, Nov. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Brian McDermott)   (Associated Press)

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.)

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