LORNE MICHAELS

The Kennedy Center Honoree has helped jump-start dozens of famous comedy careers while reshaping late-night television.

NBCThe situation at 30 Rock’s Studio 8H was a fluid one fraught with uncertainty.Around 3 p.m. Saturday, the New York Post reported that there had been a COVID outbreak of sorts among the Saturday Night Live cast, with “a set insider” telling the paper “that ‘four actors’ have tested positive for coronavirus—and ‘three others’ have called out because they are now ‘fearful’ about coming to NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Center, where the weekly sketch show is filmed in Midtown.” SNL subsequently a

People’s Sexiest Man Alive of 2021 Paul Rudd has been inducted into the vaunted Five-Timers Club on “Saturday Night Live,” but the surging omicron variant of the coronavirus meant there was no live audience to see it happen.

This week’s new entertainment releases include fresh music from U2 as part of the soundtrack for the animated “Sing 2,” a marathon of holiday films on TCM and the end-of-the-world comedy “Don’t Look Up.”.

Singer and actress Bette Midler, Motown founder Berry Gordy, folk singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, "Saturday Night Live" creator Lorne Michaels, and opera singer Justino Diaz are honored.

Motown founder Berry Gordy, opera star Justino Díaz, singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, entertainer Bette Midler and television impresario Lorne Michaels were among those celebrated this weekend.

Kennedy Center Honors 2021 Kennedy Center honorees, from left, Justino Díaz, Lorne Michaels, Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler, and Berry Gordy pose following the Medallion Ceremony for the 44th annual Kennedy Center Honors on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, at the Library of Congress in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf) (Kevin Wolf)WASHINGTON — (AP) — The Kennedy Center Honors is returning to tradition this year. The Democrat will be the first president to be at the Kennedy Center Honors since 2016. The Trumps also scrapped a traditional White House ceremony for the honorees, which Biden is resuming. Presidents usually host a lighthearted gathering with the honorees at the White House before the awards ceremony.

The Kennedy Center Honors has returned to tradition this year with a real-life gala and the presence of the president for the first time since 2016.

The Kennedy Center Honors is returning to tradition this year. The lifetime achievement awards for artistic excellence will be presented Sunday night in a gala at the Kennedy Center's main opera house after the coronavirus pandemic forced delays and major changes to last year's plans. Honorees include Motown Records creator Berry Gordy, “Saturday Night Live” mastermind Lorne Michaels, actress-singer Bette Midler, opera singer Justino Diaz and folk music legend Joni Mitchell.

Biden President Joe Biden gestures to reporters as he returns to the White House in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON — (AP) — President Joe Biden will be in the house for the Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday. The Democrat will be the first president to attend the Kennedy Center Honors since 2016. The Trumps also scrapped a traditional White House ceremony for the honorees, which Biden is resuming as well on Sunday. The 44th Kennedy Center Honors program is returning in-person to the Opera House this year, with all attendees required to be tested in advance for COVID-19.

President Joe Biden will be in the house for the Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday.

Lorne Michaels built "Saturday Night Live" into pop-culture juggernaut that has endured for nearly half a century.

The "Ted Lasso" star joked that his former boss had "gone to take a dump" during his acceptance speech at Sunday's Emmy Awards.

Kennedy Center Honors FILE - In this April 5, 2019, file photo Bette Midler attends Variety's Power of Women: New York in New York. The Kennedy Center Honors is returning in December with a class that includes Motown Records creator Berry Gordy, “Saturday Night Live” mastermind Lorne Michaels and actress-singer Bette Midler. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) (Evan Agostini)WASHINGTON — (AP) — The Kennedy Center Honors will return in December with a class that includes Motown Records creator Berry Gordy, “Saturday Night Live” mastermind Lorne Michaels and actress-singer Bette Midler. “But don’t you think we all deserve to have a party?”The 43rd Kennedy Center Honors class was delayed from December 2020 as the center largely shut down its indoor programming. But the Kennedy Center Honors bring no such pressures, and Michaels said he intends to sit back in the special honorees box at the opera house and see what surprises the organizers have in store.

The Kennedy Center Honors is returning in December.

He served as Pryor’s longtime writing partner and became known as an incisive comedian in his own right.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk hosted Saturday Night Live this weekend, alongside musical guest Miley Cyrus — how did he do?

Anne Beatts, who died Wednesday at age 74, was a pioneering comedy writer who was on the original staff of “Saturday Night Live.”.

This image released by NBC shows, from left, Don Johnson as Rick, Chris Redd as Gary, and Kenan Thompson as Kenan in a scene from the comedy series "Kenan," premiering on Feb. 16. (Casey Durkin/NBC via AP)LOS ANGELES – Don Johnson is getting his funny on with help from a couple of “Saturday Night Live” stars. Johnson's most recent forays into series work came in ABC's “Blood and Oil” in 2015 and HBO's “Watchmen” in 2019. “Kenan and I got on the phone and I felt instant chemistry with Kenan,” Johnson said. Thompson will juggle shooting the series in Los Angeles and doing “SNL” in New York.

FILE - The cast of "Mean Girls" performs at the 72nd annual Tony Awards on June 10, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Michael Zorn/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK – Producers of the Broadway musical “Mean Girls” have decided not to restart when authorities allow theaters to reopen in New York City, the second and likely not last established show to be a casualty of COVID-19 on the Great White Way. “We remain excited to bring this musical to the big screen, relaunch the tour and prepare for a London production,” said “Saturday Night Live” and “Mean Girls” producer Lorne Michaels in a statement. Broadway theaters abruptly closed on March 12, knocking out all shows, including 16 that were still scheduled to open. Late May is the earliest Broadway will reopen, according to the Broadway League.

NEW YORK – Jack White will be the last-minute replacement musical guest on “Saturday Night Live” after country singer Morgan Wallen was dropped for breaking COVID-19 protocols. Wallen was removed as musical guest on Thursday after TikTok videos showed him partying last weekend without a mask on among a large group of people. Lorne Michaels announced White as a fill-in Friday on the “Today” show. “Saturday Night Live,” which will be hosted this Saturday by comedian Bill Burr, resumed live in-studio shows last weekend with a smaller live audience. Guests were required to take a COVID-19 test and temperature check at arrival, and wear masks inside the building.

(CNN) - Dave Chappelle is set to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday. In honor of Chappelle accepting the award, here are a few (almost impossible to chose) of his most classic bits and skits. (Strong language warning). (Strong language warning). (Strong language warning).

NEW YORK - While some comedians are defending Shane Gillis after his firing from "Saturday Night Live" this week, others are supporting NBC's decision. "After talking with Shane Gillis, we have decided that he will not be joining 'SNL'," a spokesperson for the show said in a statement Monday on behalf of producer Lorne Michaels. "I don't know him, never heard of him," but "NBC of course bailed on him," Stern said. Two requested their names not be used in this story, citing "SNL's" influence in the comedy community and fear of professional retribution from comedy club bookers for defended Gillis. Another comic, who is based in Los Angeles and makes regular television appearances, said that while he doesn't know Gillis personally, he thinks industry executives are sometimes too quick to fire someone.