West Coast viewers expecting to watch tonight’s Natalie Portman-hosted episode of “Saturday Night Live” at 8:30 p.m. local time were treated instead to a rerun of a 2005 episode hosted by Peyton Manning, followed by the NFL Honors hosted by Rob Riggle.
NBC didn’t announce prior to airtime that the live coast-to-coast broadcast of “SNL” would be canceled, or that the “NFL Honors” would air in its place, leaving myriad confused viewers fuming on social media about missing out on… well, whatever aired (TheWrap is a Los Angeles-based publication).
An individual with knowledge tells TheWrap the schedule change was planned to make room for the NFL Honors.
“SNL” started airing episodes live coast-to-coast in April 2017 to capitalize on the political and cultural relevance boosted by its aggressive anti-Trump stance. Initially planned for the final episodes of the 2016-2017 season, “SNL” later announced live coast-to-coast airings would continue into the 2017-2018 season.
But if NBC and “SNL” were unaware of the reaction to the change, West Coast viewers let them know. Angrily.
West coast says hi and is crying that it’s not live over here yet
— Olivia (@LivyMagill) February 4, 2018
But not live on the west coast tonight pic.twitter.com/olzebyW0Np
— Rip City Beaver? (@ripcitybeav) February 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/schizophresia/status/960008208713531393
ARE YOU THOUGH? I LIVE ON THE WEST COAST WHERE YOURE NOT BROADCASTING LIVE COAST TO COAST LIKE YALL ADVERTISE YOU DO EVERY WEEK #SNL
— Meg ⚽️ (@coldlite129) February 4, 2018
And here on the west coast we're watching a Sanjaya joke from 2007. pic.twitter.com/JabXGIFpL1
— Lazy Leslie Knope (@LazyKnope) February 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/jadeholtzmann/status/960010287221899264
Where? My NBC affiliate is playing a rerun with Seth and Amy on Weekend Update. WTH?
— Phisherman (@aronkozin) February 4, 2018
Not live coast to coast tonight? How come? Why am I looking at NFL awards instead of SNL?
— Jacob Newton (@JaycubNewtunz) February 4, 2018
SNL AIN’T LIVE COAST 2 COAST ANYMORE?!?
— Sade sade (@Sade696969) February 4, 2018
Of course the NFL Honors has yet to even start on the West Coast AND it's depriving us of live SNL. #nomoretwitterspoilers #liveonbothcoasts
— Morgan Wick (@morganwick) February 4, 2018