'Saturday Night Live' Parodies SAG-AFTRA President, Fran Drescher, Amid Ongoing Strike and Halloween Costume Rules
SNL pokes fun at SAG-AFTRA's recent guidelines advising striking actors to avoid promoting struck content with Halloween costumes, with Sarah Sherman impersonating union president Fran Drescher and offering hilarious strike-friendly costume alternatives.
- In a recent 'Saturday Night Live' (SNL) episode, the show parodied SAG-AFTRA's guidelines which advise striking actors not to dress up as characters from movies or TV shows that are being struck against for Halloween. Actress Sarah Sherman impersonated union president Fran Drescher, making fun of the rules and suggesting humorous alternatives.
- In the mock guidance for children's Halloween costumes, Sherman's Drescher introduced alternatives such as 'Harry Potter as described in the books' and a Yoda substitute as Hoda Kotb (Today show co-anchor). The sketch humorously advised a child aiming to dress as Wolverine to 'just drop the claws and you’re any gay guy over 50.'
- The SNL sketch also commented on the ongoing negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the Hollywood studios. Sherman's Drescher compared the strikes to Halloween trick-or-treating, saying that actors are simply asking for a 'piece of the KitKat bar' that the studios are hoarding.
- The skit responded to controversy that arose when SAG-AFTRA issued guidelines for Halloween costumes amidst the strike, asking members not to wear costumes that might promote content from studios they were striking against. This guidance met some backlash from actors and public figures.
- The SAG-AFTRA strike, which began on July 14, 2023, is still ongoing over 100 days later. They are negotiating for a new three-year pact with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The strike has implications on the future of the acting industry and its regulations.
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