'Saturday Night Live' returns to studio for 46th season

Premiere marks the first in-studio edition of 'SNL' since lockdown

The late-night comedy show Saturday Night Live is getting back to the studio to start its 46th season on NBC.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the sketch comedy series has set October 3 for its season premiere, once again airing live across the US. NBC said the show will return to its home base in Rockefeller Center's Studio 8H to kick off the season.

After nearly seven months, the premiere will mark the first in-studio edition of SNL. Before the coronavirus pandemic shut down production, the show's last episode aired on March 7, with Daniel Craig hosting.

The last season in spring was closed out with three remote editions of the show that featured cast members and musical guests all performing from their homes.

As per the show's usual theme, little else about the season premiere is known. SNL typically doesn't announce its first list of hosts, or which cast members are returning and who's joining the ensemble, until closer to its airdate.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, with the show's return to in-studio production, a number of other late-night programs are also gearing up for a comeback.

NBC's Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night With Seth Meyers have both resumed taping at 30 Rock, and CBS' Late Show and Late Late Show have done the same at their respective studios. Although Late Show host Stephen Colbert is filming from a replica of his office at New York's Ed Sullivan Theater rather than in the theatre itself.

After a summer break, Jimmy Kimmel is set to return to his ABC late-night show on September 21.

SNL has a much larger cast than any of those shows and more moving parts with multiple sketches and musical performances. NBC isn't yet sharing details on how the show will accommodate Covid-19 safety precautions.