SNL live Weekend Update sketch on ICE in Minneapolis that was cut from the show due to timing.

[applegrove]

Last edited Wed Jan 21, 2026, 08:00 PM - Edit history (2)

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/snl-releases-brutal-anti-ice-sketch-cut-from-episode/

Applegrove: see post #10 for an explanation of how the skit, filmed in dress rehearsal, was cut from the live show. And why (due to timing)

[Just_Vote_Dem]

1. Thank you. I hate censorship n/t

[applegrove]

2. They said it was cut for time reasons.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

3. Ok, thanks n/t

[Drum]

4. That was wonderful...thank you for sharing!

[C_U_L8R]

5. So it wasn't Live?

Clearly, there is an audience there. Was this taped in advanced and not aired? Or did this actually air and they didn’t post it on YouTube? Something doesn’t add up in the explanation.

[applegrove]

6. I know. I couldn't quite figure it out for the same reasons

you state.

[maxsolomon]

9. Maybe they air it on a delay?

This is news to me too but NBC Censors probably insist because of previous hosts like Pryor or Dice Clay. Nothing online says there's a delay, which you'd need to cut a skit out of the middle of weekend update.

I'd guess a 15 minute delay?

They should cut half the lip-syncing bullshit rappers they air - A$AP Rocky.

[Sympthsical]

10. They tape dress rehearsal

So all the sketches that make it that week are filmed during dress rehearsal. After dress, Lorne decides what to cut to keep the program at the right length for the live show. Sometimes things that read like they'll be three or four minutes end up being five or six when performed.

There is a live audience at dress rehearsal (different from the audience that is at the live show).

Sometimes they use dress rehearsal takes for YouTube videos for a variety of reasons. Fewer mistakes with things like camera work or props. Maybe the audience's reaction to the material was a lot better. They have their reasons.

And sometimes the sketches that are cut for time make it to YouTube. This week they had two, the ICE bit and another about the writer's room of Euphoria.

Word around the Internet is that the main reason the ICE sketch was cut was due to the audience reaction. The applause, etc. was extremely enthusiastic and caused the bit to run incredibly over time. Lorne doesn't like to risk that sort of thing in the live shows.

But they weren't trying to hide the piece. Their YouTube videos get millions of views and oftentimes go viral.

[C_U_L8R]

11. Thanks for the insights, Sympthsical !!

It's nice when we learn new things here on DU.

[Sympthsical]

13. You're welcome. Cut for time sketches are super interesting!

One of the reasons they have a different live audience for the dress rehearsal is because they want to see how a sketch plays. They might think it's a great sketch, and it goes over like a wet fart with the dress audience. They may cut the sketch right then and there.

Other times, they might think a sketch needs a little tweaking or a different host, so they'll shelve the sketch and bring it back weeks or months later.

Sometimes they cut sketches right in the middle of the live broadcast, because they're going hopelessly over time.

There's a whole history of sketches that eventually made it to the Internet via the dress rehearsal taping.

And it isn't even a new practice with the Internet. Back in the day, they'd often use dress rehearsal versions when making those "Best Of So and So" DVDs. So if you ever think you're remembering a sketch differently than what's playing on the Internet, you actually might have seen an entirely different version live.

[applegrove]

12. Thank you for the explanation.

[2naSalit]

7. That was good!

[UTUSN]

8. K&R