COVID-19 Rips Through Stars After SNL 50th Anniversary Special

LOS ANGELES, California — Following the live broadcast of the “Saturday Night Live” 50th anniversary special, both Steve Martin and Martin Short announced they tested positive for COVID-19. Martin, 79, shared the news via Instagram on Thursday after attending the star-studded event on February 18.

In a humorous post, Martin included a photo showing Short, 74, kissing former “SNL” cast member Maya Rudolph, who had also been diagnosed with the virus. “Maya had Covid. Marty has Covid. I wonder why? The SNL 50th Covid curse is real,” he captioned the image.

As a precaution, Martin announced the postponement of their “Dukes of Funnytown Tour” shows in Durham, North Carolina, and Knoxville, Tennessee. Previously scheduled for February 22 and 23, the sold-out performances will now take place on October 17 in Knoxville and October 18 in Durham. “So sorry for the inconvenience. I think we’ll be funnier then, anyway,” he added.

The anniversary special aired to high viewership, attracting 14.8 million viewers combined on NBC and Peacock. This figure marks a notable 202% increase over the average viewership for standard “SNL” episodes.

The special featured a star-studded lineup of comedy legends, including Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, and Eddie Murphy, who revisited fan-favorite skits. Despite the strong turnout, several notable figures like Dana Carvey and Bill Hader were unable to attend.

During the pre-show festivities, “Weekend Update” host Colin Jost referenced the ongoing health risks posed by COVID-19, saying, “Health experts are facing increased pressure this winter… so we did the smart thing and packed every beloved entertainer over 60 into one tiny space.”

As Martin and Short recover, fans look forward to their rescheduled shows later this year. The duo has been performing together since 2015 and co-star in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” since 2021.