It was called a mutual split back when it happened, and it seems that even though Costas was cool with it, it really had more to do with NBC protected the NFL.
Boy, that SNL train keeps right on chugging today. Following word that Lin-Manuel Miranda (and maybe Emily Blunt) would follow Margot Robbie as this weekend’s Season 42 premiere host, there’s even more breaking news. Jack Donaghy himself, Alec Baldwin will take over the role of Donald Trump, with the first debate promo already online.
SNL came in pretty close to the wire for Season 42, and just over a week from the fall 2016 premiere, our first host and musical guests have arrived. Suicide Squad star Margot Robbie will lead the October 1 premiere with musical accompaniment by The Weeknd.
You may have heard an old anecdote around The Walking Dead, that initial network notes for the undead drama questioned whether the series needed zombies at all, but it seems AMC’s flagship hit was practically almost iZombie. Producer Gale Ann Hurd reveals that NBC wanted to tweak the premise into a police procedural solving zombie-related cases.
SNL sailed from the 40th anniversary into Season 41 rather smoothly, though the waters roughened in recent weeks with the departures of Taran Killam, Jay Pharoah and Jon Rudnitsky. Thankfully, it’s clear skies ahead for Season 42, as the rest of the beloved cast will be staying aboard. Sailing metaphors!
SNL is built for a bit of turnover here and there, but that doesn’t remove the sting from losing some of its best not-ready-for-primetime-players. To wit, Season 42 has some surprising departures, including series veterans Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah.