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Comedian John Oliver is already hating the idea of a British version of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” after broadcaster Sky announced last month it would be bringing the late night sketch comedy across the pond.
“It sounds like a terrible idea,” Oliver said on Monday night’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”
Oliver, who is English, told host Meyers that “it just feels like this ‘Saturday Night Live’ is such a unique group,” jokingly comparing it to a “cult.”
“It’s a cult, and so I don’t know how you can impose that cult onto the U.K.,” Oliver said.
NBC via Getty Images
Last month Sky announced that “Saturday Night Live UK” will premiere in 2026 with the original show creator Lorne Michaels to lead as an executive producer in addition to the American version.
“The show [‘SNL’] has discovered and nurtured countless comedy and musical talents over the years and we are thrilled to be partnering with Lorne and the SNL team to bring an all-British version of the show to UK audiences next year – all live from London on Saturday night!” Sky Studios’ Cecile Frot-Coutaz said in the announcement.
When asked by Meyers what the most “cultish” part about “SNL” is, Oliver responded, “Lots of it.” He cited how traditionally the show’s writers would work throughout the day on Tuesday and stay up all night until the following morning.
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“I’m saying that’s the kind of thing a cult leader would make you do,” Oliver told the “SNL” alumnus, as the crowd laughed.
“I think it’s been proven that ‘SNL’ is the outlier. It doesn’t have to be dictated to the day that you must not sleep on that day or the great leader will be irritated,” he continued.
English (US) ·