Let's Put On a Show

New York Times has the tale of SNL's can-do spirit. Cardboard sets, live-digital shorts, Upright Citizens Brigade, dirty jokes. It's way more heartwarming than it deserves to be:

“Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” Mr. Armisen announced from the stage. Then came the usual mix of topical and ludicrous sketches, videos and music. Yo La Tengo sang.

But this NBC show was not live from Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center. Nor were there any television cameras. The continuing writers’ strike meant there could be no new broadcasts. Instead the cast, writers and a few key production staff members had gathered in a subterranean comedy theater in Chelsea to perform the show live on stage for an audience of less than 200, including a Who’s Who of downtown comedy. The TV audience got a rerun of a Nov. 3 show, but at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater there was a rare event born of hammy necessity, unexpected availability and good vibes.

It sort of makes you jealous not to live in their world. It's Saturday night, you're on strike, and there's nothing else to do. Why not have a show? It's drama kids gone wild.