News > Not So Live from New York: 90 percent of SNL Staff laid off
November 19, 2007
Written by John Lichman
The first high profile lay-off has occurred due to the WGA strikes: NBC has reportedly laid off 90 percent of SNL's current staff according to Page Six. While this didn't stop the gang from having a one-time "live" performance over the weekend at the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York, it does show the Peacock is getting tired of dealing with the ratings loss despite talks scheduled to resume next week after the Thanksgiving holiday.
This does mean that the brunt of SNL's staff is now on the streets. NBC has opted to continue paying Leno and O'Brien's staff for the next two weeks, then they may be next on the chopping block.
Huffington Post also reports on a clause in current SAG contracts that has effectively suspended production and canceled out cast contracts for The Office, 30 Rock, Bionic Woman and Battlestar Galactica: the Force majeure clause, which allows both parties to leave the current contract in case of a major event like a strike, Act of God, war--all things conveniently happening right now in Tinseltown.
