The music will go on at “Saturday Night Live” this weekend.
The late-night sketch show has signed up former White Stripes frontman Jack White to sub for country music star Morgan Wallen, who was set to perform Saturday. Wallen was booted from “SNL” Wednesday after being spotted partying maskless after a University of Alabama football game last weekend.
“SNL” producer Lorne Michaels made the announcement on NBC’s “Today” show Friday morning.
“I know Jack White is coming in, and there could be some other stuff still in discussion,” Michaels said of the 45-year-old singer in an interview with anchor Willie Geist. Michaels added that a last-minute band- or artist-booking like that isn’t necessarily smooth sailing.
“Calling somebody on a Thursday to be here for Friday and say, you know, is complicated,” he admitted. “It has to be people who are ready to go.”
Wallen, 27, was already in New York City when he posted a contrite video on Instagram Wednesday following his dismissal. He said he was dropped from Saturday’s show due to violating “COVID protocols, which I understand.” The country crooner was slammed on social media when videos arose of him doing shots and kissing women, with one commenter suggesting, “He single handily gonna spread COVID to every gal at Bama.”
Comedian Bill Burr, 52, will host “Saturday Night Live” this week. Fans also are hoping for a surprise appearance from “The Fly” star Jeff Goldblum. After a huge fly alighted on Vice President Mike Pence’s head for two minutes during Tuesday’s debate with Kamala Harris, social media lit up with support for bringing in the quirky actor.
“If SNL doesn’t get Jeff Goldblum to play the fly in this week’s episode, they’re missing a massive opportunity,” said actress Lauren Ash.
While Goldblum, 67, is not guaranteed, “SNL” alum Maya Rudolph, 48, will return to play Harris again, as the show hinted in a Twitter post on Wednesday evening. No word yet on who would play Pence.
