LONDON (AP) 鈥� Live from London, it鈥檚 Saturday night!
Wait, London? You heard that correctly. 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� announced Thursday that it plans to launch a British version of the U.S. sketch comedy show that is across the pond.
The U.K. version, produced with Sky Studios, will have a British cast of comedians 鈥� to be announced later 鈥� and follow with famous guest hosts and star musical acts.
鈥淪NL鈥� creator Lorne Michaels will be the executive producer of 鈥淪aturday Night Live UK,鈥� while staying in the same role with the show on NBC in New York.
鈥淔or over 50 years 鈥楽aturday Night Live鈥� has held a unique position in TV and in our collective culture, reflecting and creating the global conversation, all under the masterful comedic guidance of Lorne Michaels,鈥� said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, chief executive of Sky Studios. 鈥淲e are thrilled to be partnering with Lorne and the 鈥楽NL鈥� team to bring an all-British version of the show to UK audiences next year 鈥� all live from London on Saturday night.鈥�
The long-established show regularly roasts the powerful. U.S. President Donald Trump and tech titan Elon Musk have been skewered lately, and both have previously hosted the 90-minute show.
鈥淪NL鈥� airs live at 11:30 p.m. Eastern time from a studio at Rockefeller Plaza and typically opens with a sketch that wraps as the actors turn to the camera, break character and announce, 鈥淟ive from New York, it's Saturday night!鈥�
Its mix of political satire, off-beat skits, fake commercials, comic music videos and its regular 鈥淲eekend Update鈥� spoof on the news has launched the careers of many comedians and actors.
Its roster of famous include the late John Belushi, Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Kenan Thompson and Kate McKinnon.
Efforts to launch 鈥淪NL鈥� in other countries, such as France, Japan and Italy, have typically been short-lived, though a version of the show remains on the air in South Korea.
Brian Melley, The Associated Press
