Martin Short Got COVID AfterSNL50th Special, Steve Martin Says: 'TheSNL50th COVID Curse Is Real'

Mar. 15, 2025

Martin Short and Steve Martin during ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’.Photo:Theo Wargo/NBC via Getty

Theo Wargo/NBC via Getty

Colin Jost’s joke about COVID spreading at theSaturday Night Live50th anniversary special on Feb. 16 might have had a kernel of truth to it, afterSteve Martin’s latest Instagram post.On Thursday, Feb. 20, the comedy legend, 79, said he andMartin Shortwill have to postpone upcoming shows in Knoxville, Tenn., and Durham, N.C., after Short got COVID. He included a picture of hisOnly Murders in the Buildingcostar, 74, kissingMaya Rudolphbackstage at Studio 8H duringSNL50: The Anniversary Special.“Maya had Covid. Marty has Covid. I wonder why? TheSNL50th Covid curse is real,” Martin wrote onInstagram.Martin Short and Maya Rudolph at ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’.Taylor Hill/FilmMagicMartin and Shortwere scheduled to performat Durham Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Feb. 22, and Knoxville Civic Auditorium on Sunday, Feb. 23. The Knoxville show was rescheduled to Oct. 17, with the Durham show rescheduled for the following day.“So sorry for the inconvenience,” Martin added. “I think we’ll be funnier then, anyway.”PEOPLE has reached out to reps for Short and Rudolph, 52.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.During the special “Weekend Update” segment on Sunday, Jost, 42, joked that packing so many comedy legends into a single studio might not have been the best idea.“Health experts are facing increased pressure this winter in the face of outbreaks of COVID, the flu, RSV and nanovirus, which they’re calling a quad-demic,” Jost joked. “So we did the smart thing and packed every beloved entertainer over 60 into one tiny space.”Martin deliveredthe opening monologueto kick off the 50th anniversary special. Although he was never a cast member, he has hostedSNL16 times and made dozens of cameos during the show’s 50 years on air.Martin Short and Maya Rudolph on the red carpet.Taylor Hill/FilmMagicIn December 2022, he co-hosted with Short, whom Martin introduced as the “only Canadian who wasn’t inSchitt’s Creek” on Sunday. Martin asked the Canadian comedian if he had his passport, which he didn’t, before fake ICE agents dragged Short off the stage.“Marty and I have been working together so long that we can actually finish each other’s careers,” Martin joked.SNL50: The Anniversary Specialis now streaming on Peacock.

Colin Jost’s joke about COVID spreading at theSaturday Night Live50th anniversary special on Feb. 16 might have had a kernel of truth to it, afterSteve Martin’s latest Instagram post.

On Thursday, Feb. 20, the comedy legend, 79, said he andMartin Shortwill have to postpone upcoming shows in Knoxville, Tenn., and Durham, N.C., after Short got COVID. He included a picture of hisOnly Murders in the Buildingcostar, 74, kissingMaya Rudolphbackstage at Studio 8H duringSNL50: The Anniversary Special.

“Maya had Covid. Marty has Covid. I wonder why? TheSNL50th Covid curse is real,” Martin wrote onInstagram.

Martin Short and Maya Rudolph at ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’.Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Martin and Shortwere scheduled to performat Durham Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Feb. 22, and Knoxville Civic Auditorium on Sunday, Feb. 23. The Knoxville show was rescheduled to Oct. 17, with the Durham show rescheduled for the following day.

“So sorry for the inconvenience,” Martin added. “I think we’ll be funnier then, anyway.”

PEOPLE has reached out to reps for Short and Rudolph, 52.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

During the special “Weekend Update” segment on Sunday, Jost, 42, joked that packing so many comedy legends into a single studio might not have been the best idea.

“Health experts are facing increased pressure this winter in the face of outbreaks of COVID, the flu, RSV and nanovirus, which they’re calling a quad-demic,” Jost joked. “So we did the smart thing and packed every beloved entertainer over 60 into one tiny space.”

Martin deliveredthe opening monologueto kick off the 50th anniversary special. Although he was never a cast member, he has hostedSNL16 times and made dozens of cameos during the show’s 50 years on air.

Martin Short and Maya Rudolph on the red carpet.Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

In December 2022, he co-hosted with Short, whom Martin introduced as the “only Canadian who wasn’t inSchitt’s Creek” on Sunday. Martin asked the Canadian comedian if he had his passport, which he didn’t, before fake ICE agents dragged Short off the stage.

“Marty and I have been working together so long that we can actually finish each other’s careers,” Martin joked.

SNL50: The Anniversary Specialis now streaming on Peacock.

source: people.com