R
umors have been swirling about the impending shakedown at "Saturday Night Live."
TMZ has learned that due to low ratings, NBC execs wanted to cut the show's episode order to 19 - as opposed to the usual 20.
Lorne Michaels, the show's executive producer, stepped in and promised to bring the show in on budget. Network brass reconsidered and gave the go ahead for the 20 episodes for "SNL's" 32nd season.
Unfortunately, in order to stay on budget there need to be cutbacks. Translation: many cast and crew won't be getting raises and others will be let go. Somebody cue Debbie Downer.
As has been reported, Tiny Fey and Rachel Dratch are leaving the seminal late-night sketch show to work on Fey's new NBC sitcom based on "SNL" called "30 Rock."
And a source tells TMZ that it also looks like Horatio Sanz and Will Forte won't be back either. More cast and writing staff changes are said to be looming.
TMZ contacted a rep for "SNL" who said this is "unconfirmed and uncorroborated. We are not commenting. "
NBC is expected to make a formal announcement regarding the new season of "SNL" around Labor Day.
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Reader Comments
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Low ratings? I thought people loved hearing spoiled celebrities bitching and moaning about Republican for 90 minutes before they drive home to their Connecticuit mansions in their absurdly overpriced luxury German cars.
I call BS.
What has happened to SNL? Ive watched it since the 70s and its never been this bad. Somebody send some funny people to SNL! Thank goodness Tina Fey is leaving! No offense Tina but youre just so not funny
here in Australia SNL is only shown on pay t.v and at 6:30pm.We love it here god,Carol is funny as!I'm really disapointed to hear of these sackings,all for the sake of 1 episode a season?That sucks.If all the people they have said are going go then it really wont be worth watching,very sad and the end of an ear.
I agree that the show is not funny and not nearly as original and entertaining as MAD TV. I think the only reason SNL has stayed on the air so many years is because it is aired on dead-time. Other stations run info-mmercials during dead-time. Since dead-time is not valuable or important the way prime-time is, Lorne Michaels must have made a special arrangement with NBC to allow him to sell spots to beer companies etc. to allow his bad time-killer show to stay on every Saturday night. By the way, did anybody see the TV Funhouse segment they aired last night (Oct. 28. 2006) where they rip off the Campbell Bros style of animation?
