New York questions whether 'Saturday Night Live' audience follows COVID-19 rules
ALBANY – "Saturday Night Live's" decision to welcome a live audience for its upcoming season premiere has drawn concern from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration, which questioned whether the venerable show's plan complies with state COVID-19 restrictions.
The NBC sketch comedy show has been taking requests through a third party for tickets to its show this Saturday, when it is scheduled to open its 46th season and make a return to the famed Studio 8H in Manhattan's Rockefeller Center.
New York's COVID-19 rules, however, make clear television shows and other media productions are prohibited from having a live audience unless it is made up entirely of paid employees, cast or crew.
Asked whether "SNL's" live audience plan complies with state rules, Department of Health spokesman Gary Holmes noted the state banned ticketed events on March 16 and "that restriction has not changed."
"Offering tickets to the general public without the appropriate casting and screening process is not allowed," Holmes wrote in an email Wednesday. "We have communicated that to SNL and expect them to follow the rules like every other business that has reopened during this global pandemic."
When asked Wednesday about the Health Department's statement, an "SNL" representative said the show is working with the department and following all guidelines.
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Fans could request 'SNL' tickets through website
"SNL" has been accepting ticket requests for Saturday's show through 1iota, a company that bills itself as an audience casting agency.
Any member of the general public was allowed to request free passes to the live show or dress rehearsal, with a certain amount set aside for health care workers.
The company's website alerts potential ticketholders they would be subject to a variety of COVID-19 precautions, including a rapid virus test when they enter the building and a mask mandate while they're inside.
It's unclear whether "SNL" is planning to somehow make the audience members temporary employees or cast members for the duration of the show.
1iota's website for "SNL" tickets launched Sunday night. By Tuesday afternoon, it included a disclaimer noting potential ticketholders would have to "participate in a pre-screening process."
"If you are selected you will be screened to determine eligibility to participate in the SNL audience," the website reads.
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State rules were issued in June
The Cuomo administration's COVID-19 restrictions for "SNL" and other television shows are laid out in a document titled Interim Guidance for Media Production, which was first issued in June as the state entered the fourth stage of its economic reopening process.
The document limits live audiences for television shows, movies and other media productions to no more than 100 people or 25% of the venue's capacity, whichever is lower. Shows "must prohibit live audiences unless they consist only of paid employees, cast, and crew," according to the document.
Under normal circumstances, "SNL's" studio audience is around 300 people.
The Cuomo administration's ban on nearly all indoor, ticketed arts events was put into place when the coronavirus was hitting New York harder than any other state. The decision has kept Broadway theaters, concert venues and similar spaces closed ever since.
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Theaters, music venues closed
On Wednesday, state Supreme Court Justice Frank Sedita III ruled against the state's COVID-era ban on distributing tickets to concerts or advertising them, finding it violated constitutional free speech rights, according to The Buffalo News.
Sedita ruled on a lawsuit brought by a Buffalo tavern and music venue, which challenged State Liquor Authority guidance issued earlier this year. It was not immediately clear whether the state planned to appeal.
The SLA guidance applied to bars and restaurants and was separate from the guidance for television shows, including SNL, and other media productions.
"SNL's" season premiere is highly anticipated this year, both because of its return to its home studio and the contentious presidential race between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.
The show announced last month that Alec Baldwin will return to reprise his role as Trump, while fellow actor Jim Carrey will take over the role of Biden.
Holmes, the DOH spokesman, said the state has been in contact with "SNL" and numerous other productions to explain the COVID-19 restrictions and rules.
"We have engaged with media productions from across the state to ensure they understand their responsibility to keep New Yorkers safe and can appropriately follow state re-opening guidelines," he wrote.
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This article originally appeared on New York State Team: Is 'Saturday Night Live' following New York's COVID-19 audience rules?
