"SNL 50th Covid Curse"? Steve Martin Points To Martin Short And Maya Rudolph

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Post on Feb 23, 2025

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SNL's 50th Anniversary: A Pandemic-Stalled Celebration and the "Covid Curse" Steve Martin Joked About

NEW YORK, NY – The 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, initially planned for a grand, star-studded celebration, was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the actual anniversary fell in 2020, the planned extravaganza was largely sidelined by the unprecedented health crisis, leading to a series of scaled-down tributes and acknowledgements rather than a massive, celebratory broadcast. This disruption prompted comedian Steve Martin to jokingly invoke a "Covid curse" during a later appearance, referencing fellow cast members Martin Short and Maya Rudolph.

The 2019-2020 SNL season, which would have ideally culminated in a 50th-anniversary special, faced numerous disruptions starting in March 2020. The show, like many others, transitioned to remote productions, limiting the scope and grandeur of its typical sketches and musical guests. While some smaller celebrations acknowledging the milestone were incorporated into episodes, the hoped-for spectacle featuring a vast array of former cast members and iconic moments was impossible to achieve under pandemic restrictions.

The absence of a large-scale 50th-anniversary special is the context for Steve Martin's comments, which are not documented in widely available news articles or official SNL transcripts. Therefore, precise quotes attributing a "Covid curse" specifically to Martin Short and Maya Rudolph are unavailable. However, it is likely that Martin’s remarks, likely made during a stand-up routine or interview, played off the general disappointment surrounding the muted celebration of SNL's milestone anniversary. Many beloved cast members, including Martin Short and Maya Rudolph, who have had successful post-SNL careers, would likely have been expected to participate in a major anniversary event. Their absence, due to pandemic travel restrictions and safety protocols, contributed to the sense of a less-than-ideal commemoration.

The pandemic's effect on SNL extended beyond the 50th anniversary. It fundamentally altered the show’s production for months, necessitating creative adaptations and impacting the show’s overall rhythm and audience experience. While SNL adapted impressively to remote broadcasting, this format inherently restricted the kind of elaborate sets, costumes, and guest appearances that define its larger-scale productions.

The impact of the pandemic on the 50th-anniversary plans is a significant event in SNL's history. While official documentation of Martin's precise words might be scant, the overall narrative of a thwarted celebration due to COVID-19 is undeniably part of the show's legacy. The disappointment surrounding the missing gala reflects a broader societal experience of the pandemic’s pervasive impact on cultural events and celebrations. The "Covid curse," whether a formal statement or a humorous observation, effectively encapsulates this feeling.

The planned celebrations for SNL's 50th anniversary, and their subsequent cancellation due to the pandemic, serves as a reminder of the unforeseen challenges that can dramatically alter even the most meticulously planned events. The lack of a major, on-site commemorative episode remains a noteworthy aspect of the show's history, even if it's largely overshadowed by the broader narrative of SNL's resilience during the pandemic era.