Pete Davidson delivers pizza to striking Writer’s Guild members
Saturday Night Live was canceled because of the writers’ strike, but that didn’t stop Pete Davidson from supporting the protesters by bringing them pizza.
Anastasiia Riddle, USA TODAY
It looks like 30 Rock won’t be live on the weekends for a while.
Amid the Hollywood writers’ strike, Saturday Night Live halted production and canceled the rest of the season. The hiatus means this week’s episode, which features former cast member Pete Davidson as host and rapper Lil Uzi Vert as musical guest, will not take place, according to an NBC press release. The sketch comedy series had three more episodes in May. Instead, repeat episodes will be aired until further notice.
The Writers Guild of America, the union representing most film and television writers in the US, went on strike this week, shutting down production in Hollywood. The strike came after weeks of negotiations failed to secure a deal between the guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which negotiates on behalf of the nine largest studios.
Writers Strike 2023 declared: Why the WGA left, what it means for TV and film
Hollywood Writers Strike: What that means for your favorite shows.
The strike comes 15 years after the guild pulled out for 100 days in 2007 and 2008. Since then, the entertainment industry has been turned on its head by the rise of streaming services like Netflix.
Aside from “SNL,” Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and others rely on writers and produce shows on the day they air. The strike is forcing an immediate shutdown, a fact that “Late Night” host Seth Meyers addressed on the air last week. Some daytime talk shows, including The Kelly Clarkson Show, have also been discontinued.
Davidson, 29, started out on SNL in 2014 as one of the youngest cast members. His departure from the series was announced in May 2022. Ahead of the season 47 finale of SNL, Davidson wrote a touching and lengthy farewell via Instagram to SNL writer Dave Sirus.
“It’s crazy to think that I’m going to do my last (sketch) today. When I got the show I was 20 years old and had no idea what I was doing. I still don’t know, but especially then,” Davidson wrote. “I have so much to share with this audience and literally grow up before your eyes. … I owe my life to (executive producer) Lorne Michaels and everyone at SNL. I’m so grateful and I wouldn’t be here without her.”
Background: Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Kyle Mooney and Aidy Bryant want to leave the NBC sketch show
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Contributors: Charles Trepany and Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY