Kenan Thompson has come onboard the series, now titled Maya and Marty in Manhattan, which is set to premiere in May, it was announced Friday.
The gig will not impact Thompson’s tenure on SNL, which stands at 13 seasons and counting. Like SNL, Maya and Marty in Manhattan hails from executive producer Lorne Michaels. Also like SNL, the new variety show will air live each week from NBC’s headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York.
“With their cumulative expertise and experience in live comedy, we couldn’t ask for a better trio to deliver what we know will be a fantastic show,” said NBC Entertainment alternative and late night programming president Paul Telegdy. “Their respective accomplishments on Saturday Night Live and beyond are extraordinary.”
The network picked up the project in February, a year and a half after Rudolph’s one-night-only variety show special aired. The series will center on sketches spoofing current events, celebrities and other hot trends, and also feature musical performances.
Rudolph, most recently seen on Fox’s The Grinder, was a castmember on SNL from 2000-2007, while Short was a cast member for one season in the 1980s following his work as a writer and performer on Canada’sSCTV.
Rudolph and Short will produce the series with Matt Roberts, Erin David, Dave Becky, Marc Gurvitz, Sandy Wernick and John Lieberman.
Maya and Marty in Manhattan premieres May 31 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
