Dana Carvey was one of the biggest former “Saturday Night Live” stars not to attend “SNL50” last week. Now, we know why.
Carvey, known during his time on “SNL” for such characters as the Church Lady, Garth in “Wayne’s World” and Hans in “Pumping Up with Hans & Franz,” as well as his spot-on impressions of George H.W. Bush, Johnny Carson and Ross Perot, says he missed the 50th anniversary celebration because he was sick.
“I wasn’t there. I had the flu,” he told fellow “SNL” alum David Spade on the Feb. 20 episode of their “Fly on the Wall” podcast.
“I was on the downside of it, but I still didn’t have the oomph to travel. Wasn’t recommended. So you went to represent our podcast.”
Spade said people asked him where Carvey was.
“You did want to be there, and you would've f------ killed it, of course,” Spade said.
Carvey remains one of the most popular “SNL” stars in the show’s history. He appeared on the program beginning in Season 12 in 1986 and remained for seven seasons until 1993, the same year he won an Emmy Award for outstanding individual performance in a variety or music program for his work on the series.
A pair of “SNL” greats who did attend “SNL50” have since fallen ill, too. Frequent host Steve Martin, who performed the monologue during the special, says performing partner Martin Short and Maya Rudolph have contracted COVID-19, prompting him and Short to bump back a few dates on their comedy tour.
“Maya had Covid. Marty has Covid. I wonder why? The SNL 50th Covid curse is real,” he captioned a photo of Short and Rudolph kissing on Instagram on Feb 20.
“Unfortunately, we have to reschedule our sold out Durham and Knoxville dates to 10/17 Knoxville and 10/18 Durham. So sorry for the inconvenience. I think we’ll be funnier then, anyway.”
Like Carvey, original cast member Dan Aykroyd was also absent at “SNL50,” but said he loved watching it.
“All Heads up toasting triumphant SNL 50th,” he wrote Feb. 19 on X, without explaining why he wasn’t on hand for the event.
“Advantage of not attending — got to see every second of concert and show on TV. Quote from my children: ‘Look at daddy’s smile!’ Had it from start to finish. Congratulations Lorne. Well done as usual.”
Bill Hader was another beloved star who missed “SNL50.” A representative for the actor told TODAY.com he couldn’t go to the special because he had “a longstanding schedule conflict.”
