Woody Harrelson’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ Monologue Makes COVID Conspiracy Jokes

There’s scarcely a word or move in Champions that you haven’t seen somewhere else before, but in a very modest way this goofball minor-league basketball yarn throws off enough amiable and vaguely raucous charm to keep a smile on sports fans’ faces much of time. Woody Harrelson makes the exasperated most of his role as a been-around-the-block minor-league coach whose likely final hope at employment is to whip a bunch of physically challenged misfits into presentable shape. It’s very easy to imagine gobs of middle-aged guys sitting around the tube at home or in a bar chugging a few while having a good time with this one.

Peter Debruge Chief Film Critic While Peter Farrelly was off winning Oscars for “Green Book,” younger brother Bobby has been largely absent from feature directing. It’s been nearly a decade since the siblings shared credit — the last time being 2014’s “Dumb and Dumber To.” Now, rather than competing with Peter at the respectability game, Bobby sticks to what he knows with “Champions,” in which Woody Harrelson plays a minor-league basketball coach court-ordered to assist a Special Olympics team for 90 days — just long enough to take the team from bumbling incompetents to national finalists. There are zero surprises in “Champions,” unless you count the not-inconsiderable shock that such a movie exists at all. A remake of 2018 Spanish box office sensation “Campeones,” this awkward (if presumably well-intentioned) comedy might have felt enlightened 25 years ago — back when “Forrest Gump” was an Oscar favorite — but today makes for a patronizing portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities. That’s still better than no portrayal at all, I suppose, and there’s some satisfaction to be had in watching Harrelson’s character overcome his prejudices — reflected by using the “boo-boo word” that starts with “R” — and grow to see these amateur athletes for more than their limitations. But did the film (little more than a “Role Models” redux) have to paint its players as such extreme incompetents from the outset?

Woody Harrelson admitted that fame can have an interesting effect on someone's mind.  "It’s not a good thing. I don’t think fame is ever an evolving consciousness. It’s fine and dandy for people to tell you ‘you’re great.’ Nothing wrong with that.

Katie Reul editor The first look at “I’m a Virgo,” an upcoming series from Amazon’s Prime Video, were unveiled Monday along with a teaser trailer in anticipation of the show’s world premiere at the SXSW Film & TV Festival. The coming-of-age comedy stars Jharrel Jerome, who won an Emmy in 2019 for his lead performance in the mini series “When They See Us,” alongside series regulars Brett Gray (“On My Block”), Kara Young (“The Punisher”), Allius Barnes (“Cruel Summer”), Olivia Washington (“Breaking”), Mike Epps (“The Upshaws”), Carmen Ejogo (“True Detective”) and Walter Goggins (“The Hateful 8”). “I’m a Virgo” follows a 13-foot-tall man named Cootie (Jerome), a native of Oakland, Calif., who spends his time binging TV shows and comic series. When he encounters his real life superhero, dubbed The Hero (Goggins), Cootie finds himself on course for a mythical quest.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Tim Robbins is backing Woody Harrelson’s demand for Hollywood to end COVID protocols on film and television sets. Sharing Variety’s article about Harrelson’s opinion, Robbins told his Twitter followers: “Woody is right. Time to end this charade.” The “Shawshank Redemption” actor tagged SAG-AFTRA and the Actors’ Equity Association so that both organizations could see his plea. In an interview with The New York Times last month, Harrelson said it’s “absurd” that COVID protocols are still in effect on Hollywood sets. He added, “I don’t think that anybody should have the right to demand that you’re forced to do the testing, forced to wear the mask and forced to get vaccinated three years on. I’m just like, let’s be done with this nonsense.”

Katie Reul editor On the heels of a close victory at Super Bowl LVII, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is once again taking over global television screens as this week’s host of “Saturday Night Live.” The episode opened with a mock “Fox & Friends” segment, featuring Mikey Day as Steve Doocy, Heidi Gardner as Ainsley Earhardt and Bowen Yang as Brian Kilmeade. The sketch comes amid a cascade of embarrassing revelations around Fox News and its major stars in recent days as the litigation grinds on in the $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit filed against Fox News by Dominion Voting Systems after the 2020 election. As Earhardt, Gardner says of the network’s founder Rupert Murdoch: “Rupert Murdoch would never murder anyone. They sent him away for life. Look how sad he looks.” An image of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh then appears on the screen as Earhardt realizes her mistake.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Comedian Hasan Minhaj delivered a brutal indictment of the state of award shows, trade journalism, Armie Hammer and the indie film ecosystem at the 2023 Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday. Streaming live on YouTube — a focal point of mockery in Minhaj’s monologue — the annual Santa Monica gathering started off on a bitter note. First in line for execution was IFC, the cable channel that previously aired the awards franchise but did not renew its licensing deal. “We’re doing this super indie tonight,” Minhaj said. “We literally don’t have a distributor. The independent film channel did not want the independent film awards.”

“We’re doing this totally independent, we don’t even have a distributor!” exclaimed Independent Spirit Awards host Hasan Minhaj from the broadcast-less Santa Monica Beach tent this afternoon.

Katie Reul editor Jay Weston, producer of films like “Lady Sings the Blues” and “Buddy Buddy,” died of natural causes Feb. 28 at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, Calif. He was 93. Weston first met Billie Holiday at the Newport Jazz Festival — a chance encounter that would ultimately lead to Weston producing a biopic about her starring Diana Ross in 1972. “Lady Sings the Blues” marked Ross’ feature debut and went on to score five Academy Award nominations, including best actress for Ross and original screenplay. “I read the book and I said to [Holiday’s] agent, ‘I want to make a movie out of it,’” Weston said in a 2011 interview with the Los Angeles Business Journal, referring to the jazz singer’s autobiography. “He said, ‘Give me $5,000, and I’ll think about it.’ So I gave him $5,000, and it took 13 years and many $5,000 payments to keep the rights because everybody wanted it.”

Katie Reul editor Sara Waisglass, Jonathan Kite and Thomas Lennon will star in an upcoming holiday feature from DeVan Clan Productions, entitled “Needle Little Christmas.” The Christmas tale centers around kindred spirits Maddie, Elizabeth and Trevor. When Maddie passes away before the holiday season in a sudden accident, she is given a second chance at life to convince Elizabeth and Trevor that magic exists. The one problem? To do so, Maddie’s spirit is transferred into her family’s Christmas tree. Lennon will portray Perry, an invasive neighbor with Grinch-like reservations about getting into the Christmas cheer. Maddie must thwart off Perry while reminding her family and friends of the power of love before the last needle of the tree drops, thereby erasing her from existence.

Woody Harrelson made a rare red carpet appearance with his family at the premiere of his new movie, "Champions," in New York City. The 61-year-old actor was joined by his wife, Laura Louie, 55, and their daughters, Deni, 30, and Makani, 16, as he attended the event at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater on Monday night.The pair, who have been married since 2008, also share daughter Zoe, 26.

Woody Harrelson came under fire for spreading a conspiracy theory about COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers during his “Saturday Night Live” monologue, the “Zombieland” actor took aim at “absurd” protocols on Hollywood sets.“I don’t think that anybody should have the right to demand that you’re forced to do the testing, forced to wear the mask and forced to get vaccinated three years on. I’m just like, Let’s be done with this nonsense. It’s not fair to the crews,” Harrelson, 61, told New York Times Magazine in an interview published late last week.“I don’t have to wear the mask.

Michaela Zee editor Woody Harrelson steps onto the court once again (“White Men Can’t Jump,” “Semi-Pro”) in the heartfelt sports comedy “Champions.” Directed by Bobby Farrelly, the remake of the 2018 Spanish film “Campeones” sees Harrelson as Marcus, a former minor-league basketball coach who leads a team of intellectually disabled players called the Friends. “It’s really hard to make an authentically funny and emotionally vulnerable film, and I thought they did such a wonderful job,” Kaitlin Olson, who plays Alex in the movie, told Variety Monday night at the New York premiere of “Champions.” “I met all the Friends and they’re such an incredible cast. They all showed up ready to play, and we just had the most amazing time.”

Woody Harrelson shows off his basketball skills on the red carpet of the premiere of his newest movie, Champions, held at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on Monday (February 27) in New York City.

Harrelson said. “The biggest drug cartels in the world get together and buy up all the media and all the politicians and force all the people in the world to stay locked in their homes, and people can only come out if they take the cartel’s drugs and keep taking them over and over.”He added, “I threw the script away. I mean, who was going to believe that crazy idea? Being forced to do drugs? I do that voluntarily all day long.”Predictably, the blowback was swift, with nearly every ensuing news story proclaiming Harrelson was spreading anti-vax conspiracy theories.

Woody Harrelson made his latest movie premiere a family affair.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Woody Harrelson railed against COVID protocols on film sets during a new interview with The New York Times. The actor is making the press rounds in support of his new movie “Champions,” an indie sports dramedy from director Bobby Farrelly that’s backed by Focus Features. Harrelson expressed uncertainty about the future of indie movies given “all the COVID protocols” in place, calling such protocols “absurd.” “What’s absurd about the Covid protocols?” The New York Times asked Harrelson. “The fact that they’re still going on!” the actor responded. “I don’t think that anybody should have the right to demand that you’re forced to do the testing, forced to wear the mask and forced to get vaccinated three years on. I’m just like, let’s be done with this nonsense. It’s not fair to the crews. I don’t have to wear the mask. Why should they? Why should they have to be vaccinated? How’s that not up to the individual? I shouldn’t be talking about this [expletive].”

Katie Reul editor Ms. Pat is back for a third season of shenanigans as the Emmy-nominated comedy series “The Ms. Pat Show” continues. In celebration of Feb. 23 season premiere, series star Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams and showrunner Jordan E. Cooper sat down for a Variety TV Screening Series conversation, presented by BET+, to discuss classic sitcoms, getting “The Jeffersons” star Marla Gibbs to curse and tackling society’s ongoing obsession with Botox. “The Ms. Pat Show” is based on Williams’ personal life, drawing from the comedienne’s past as a teenage mom and ex-felon. Williams concurrently serves as a writer and producer on the series, which she developed alongside Cooper. The Season 3 premiere also marks Cooper’s directing debut and he helmed three of the nine new episodes.

Woody Harrelson divided Saturday Night Live viewers over his monologue as the actor hosted the NBC sketch show for the fifth time.

Woody Harrelson's fifth time as host on isn't being met with a lot of warmth. Many viewers are slamming the actor for his monologue that they felt spread COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy theories.Fans took to Twitter following Saturday's new episode to call out Harrelson, and e, for his remarks — in which he seemingly compared pharmaceutical companies to drug cartels.In his monologue, Harrelson told a long, intentionally rambling story about how, after he last hosted in September 2019, he was given a script to read over.The bulk of Harrelson's story seemed to revolve around how high he likes to get, but also how he quit smoking pot for a while, and how his manager smuggled pot illegally from Los Angeles to New York.

“Saturday Night Live.”Harrelson, 61, who hosted the show, made the statement during his opening monologue. It was his fifth time on stage as an SNL host.

Woody Harrelson came very close to getting snubbed for his coveted Five-Timers jacket during his outing as “Saturday Night Live” host over the weekend. This is, until Scarlett Johansson saved the day.

Woody Harrelson was the host of this weekend’s Saturday Night Live episode and he sure didn’t shy away from drawing attention to the act!!

rambling monologue found Harrelson speaking about a script he read pre-2020 that foretold the COVID-19 pandemic.“So the movie goes like this: The biggest drug cartels in the world get together and buy up all the media and all the politicians and force all the people in the world to stay locked in their homes. And people can only come out if they take the cartel’s drugs and keep taking them over and over.”He continued: “I threw the script away — I mean, who was going to believe that crazy idea? Being forced to do drugs? I do that voluntarily all day long.”It’s unclear how much of this portion of the monologue was written by “SNL” writers and how much was written by Harrelson.

Woody Harrelson hosted “Saturday Night Live” this weekend, marking his fifth time as host.

Woody Harrelson is celebrating his fifth Saturday Night Live hosting stint.

Saturday Night Live monologue last night (February 25), Woody Harrelson shared conspiracies about COVID vaccines, leading to debate online.The episode’s host has previously called mask wearing during the pandemic “absurd” and sharing articles linking supposed “negative effects of 5G” with the outbreak of COVID.At the end of his monologue, he used a film pitch with the “craziest script” as a metaphor for the COVID pandemic, lockdowns and rollout of vaccines, though never used the word COVID or vaccine.Harrelson said: “So the movie goes like this. The biggest drug cartels in the world get together and buy up all the media and all the politicians and force all the people in the world to stay locked in their homes.

Jack White was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live last night (February 25) – watch his three-song performance below.The guitarist performed ‘Taking Me Back’, ‘Fear Of The Dawn’ and ‘A Tip From You To Me’ from his two 2022 albums ‘Fear Of The Dawn’ and ‘Entering Heaven Alive’ – on the episode, hosted by Woody Harrelson.Announced at the start of the month, the appearance was White’s fifth turn on Saturday Night Live. He appeared as part of The White Stripes in 2002, performing ‘Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground’ and ‘We’re Going to Be Friends’.He’s also taken to the stage three times as a solo artist, performing ‘Love Interruption’ and ‘Sixteen Saltines’ in 2012 before returning in 2018 to play ‘Over And Over and Over’ alongside ‘Connected By Love’.Watch him toast the return of SNL after a two-week break below.So far this year, Saturday Night Live has featured performances from Coldplay, Sam Smith and Lil Baby.Smith performed their ‘Gloria’ title track and was joined by Kim Petras for a run-through of their viral smash ‘Unholy’ while Lil Baby performed two tracks from ‘It’s Only Me’, ‘Californian Breeze’ and ‘Forever’.Next month, The 1975 will appear as the musical guests on Saturday Night Live, with Wednesday star Jenna Ortega serving as the host for the March 11 episode.Elsewhere, Jack White is reportedly set to appear in Martin Scorsese‘s new film, Killers Of The Flower Moon.Killers Of The Flower Moon, which stars Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, is based on a book of the same name.

Woody Harrelson came very close to getting snubbed for his coveted Five-Timers jacket during his outing as host over the weekend. This is, until Scarlett Johansson saved the day.Harrelson took to the for his fifth stint as host — but wasn't presented with the honorary Five-Timers Club smoking jacket that's become a tradition on the sketch show.Harrelson stepped out onto the Studio 8H stage in a silk ensemble and excitedly explained the significance of his hosting milestone.«So this is my fifth time doing , and you know what that means!» he said, as held out his arms, beaming brightly, as he waited for someone to come out and slide the jacket on — only, no such raiment was presented.

Katie Reul editor “Saturday Night Live” cast member Colin Jost, co-anchor of Weekend Update, levied a jab at the Academy for this week’s decision to hire a “crisis team” for the upcoming 2023 Oscars. Devised to ensure first-line responders are available at the awards show in the case of an emergency, the newly-implemented team comes on the heels of last year’s tumultuous ceremony. The 2022 Oscars saw actor Will Smith slap presenter Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife. The violent outburst resulted in Smith being banned from events hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for the next decade. “Guys, it’s not going to happen again,” Jost joked, seeming to address the telecast’s producers. “I’m sure you wish it would, for ratings. If anything the promo should be, ‘Who’s going to get slapped this year?’ Can Ana de Armas beat the ‘Tar’ out of Cate Blanchett? Which banshee will knock the shoes off Marcel the Shell? And who has what it takes to ‘Whale’ on Brendan Fraser?”

Woody Harrelson hosted Saturday Night Live for the fifth time and the actor was seemingly expecting to get his five-timers club jacket but things didn’t go as expected.

Katie Reul editor Donald Trump was skewered for his recent press conference in East Palestine, Ohio during the “Saturday Night Live” cold open. Framed as fake C-Span coverage, “SNL” featured player James Austin Johnson embodied the former president as he gave an address to local residents impacted by the recent trail derailment and toxic chemical spill in the area. “I’ve been looking at your river, and it’s so shiny,” Johnson said, impersonating the politician. “I’ve never seen water more beautiful — beautiful rainbows and discoloration. It’s great. It’s wearing makeup, like Fenty beauty water.” Johnson proceeds to shoutout Rihanna for her Feb. 12 halftime show at Super Bowl LVII, commenting on her pregnancy. Regaining focus, Johnson directs blame at the man he identifies as the one true culprit.

Woody Harrelson launched his fifth hosting gig on Saturday Night Live with his latest opening monologue.

Jack White is the musical guest on this weekend’s Saturday Night Live. Which led to an important question for the show’s promo: who would have been the best match as host?

The first promo spot for Woody Harrelson’s fifth stint as an SNL host this weekend takes a turn away from the show’s usual staged bits between host, musical guest and a cast member.

“Triangle of Sadness” is moving from the screen to the stage with a live table read set to take place next week.Fred Armisen, Nicholas Braun, Alison Brie, Tia Carrere, Ayo Edebiri, Jordan Firstman, Brett Goldstein and Kumail Nanjiani will lead the cast, with additional members to be announced for the Monday performance. Ruben Östlund will helm the reimagined reading of his film in collaboration with Neon and Film Independent.“What a joy to do a table read with this group of fine actors!” said Östlund. “Together we are planning for some surprises.