Martin Short contracts COVID after SNL 50th anniversary special

Martin Short tests positive for COVID after SNL 50th anniversary special

Martin Short has tested positive for COVID-19 following his appearance at the "Saturday Night Live" 50th Anniversary Special, leading to the postponement of upcoming performances with Steve Martin. On February 20, 2025, Martin shared on Instagram that their scheduled shows in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Durham, North Carolina, would be delayed. Martin humorously wrote that the "SNL 50th COVID curse is real," sharing a backstage photo of Short kissing Maya Rudolph, who also had COVID.

The performances, originally planned for February 22 and 23, 2025, will now take place in October. The Knoxville show is rescheduled for October 17, and the Durham show will follow on October 18. Martin, 79, apologized for the inconvenience but added, "I think we’ll be funnier then, anyway."

During the SNL 50th special, Martin delivered the opening monologue. Colin Jost, during a "Weekend Update" segment, joked that the gathering of so many comedy legends might not have been the best idea in light of ongoing COVID-19 and flu outbreaks.

Although never a regular cast member, Martin has hosted SNL 16 times and made many cameos over the years. In December 2022, Martin and Short co-hosted an episode, where they humorously acted out a skit involving ICE agents removing Short from the stage.

Fans can now stream the SNL50 anniversary special on Peacock for a memorable celebration of the show’s iconic history.