Martin Short Tests Positive for COVID After SNL50; Steve Martin Jokes About ‘COVID Curse’

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Martin Short has been diagnosed with COVID-19 following the recording of the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special, leading to the postponement of his upcoming tours. Steve Martin, a longtime comedy partner of Short’s, announced on February 20 that both Short and SNL cast member Maya Rudolph have contracted the virus.

Martin unveiled the upcoming tour dates, complete with a heartwarming photo of Short and Rudolph sharing a moment and a kiss behind the scenes at SNL50. Both actors were among the many A-list stars and veterans who returned for the historic event. The February 16th special attracted 14.8 million viewers on NBC and Peacock.

He posted on Instagram, “Maya and Marty both tested positive for Covid-19. It makes me ponder, could there be a connection? The supposed SNL 50th ‘Covid curse’ seems to hold true. Regrettably, we need to postpone our already sold out shows in Durham and Knoxville to October 17th in Knoxville and October 18th in Durham.

“So sorry for the inconvenience. I think we’ll be funnier then, anyway,” he added.

During the Weekend Update segment on their show, co-host Colin Jost made a humorous remark concerning the ‘COVID outbreak’ in their midst. He playfully suggested that having a large number of experienced comedians in one place could potentially pose a health risk due to the recent increase in cases of COVID-19, RSV, and stomach flu (norovirus). He added humorously that perhaps it wasn’t wise to bring together entertainment icons older than 60, as they might not have been the best location choice for avoiding contagious diseases.

Jost quipped, “Health professionals are experiencing heightened stress this winter due to simultaneous outbreaks of COVID, flu, RSV, and norovirus, dubbed a quadruple epidemic. Consequently, we wisely crammed every popular entertainer aged 60 and above into a small area.

Martin, age 79, delivered the opening speech for this particular special, marking another appearance on his lengthy list of 16 times he’s hosted Saturday Night Live over the years. Short, aged 74, was once part of the cast from 1984 to 1985 but has since remained a frequent guest.

In an update, the planned performances by Steve Martin and Martin Short for The Dukes of Funnytown! have been postponed in Knoxville and Durham. The new dates for these shows are set for October 17 in Knoxville and October 18 in Durham.

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2025-02-21 11:22