NBCUNIVERSAL on Wednesday unveiled a partnership with Chinese streaming video platform Youku, a unit of Alibaba Digital Media & Entertainment Group, which will produce a local version in China of NBC’s iconic sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live.” Youku, one of China’s leading streaming video services, along with Tencent Video and Baidu’s iQiyi service, is planning to make “SNL” its flagship entertainment show for the 2017 fall/winter schedule. Over the past few years, NBCUniversal has licensed nine other international versions of “SNL,” in territories ranging from France to the Middle East. “We’re excited to partner with Youku in China, where we are confident ‘SNL’ will be a big hit with audiences,” said Michael Edelstein, president of NBCUniversal International Studios. Now in its 43rd season, Lorne Michaels’ original New York version of “Saturday Night Live” is enjoying a banner year, with each episode attracting an average of 11 million viewers and U.S. viewership up 29 percent over last year — so far, it’s been the show’s best season since 1993-1994. Much of the ratings comeback probably can be attributed to the presidency of Donald Trump and Alec Baldwin’s lampooning of the commander-in-chief, as well as Melissa McCarthy’s recurring impersonations of White House press secretary Sean Spicer. Youku and NBCUniversal say the Beijing-based remake will “showcase the best of Chinese culture and comedy.” (SD-Agencies) |