SNL's return next week with host Ariana DeBose is expected to be with a full audience, cast and crew

Deadline

Deadline reports "the plan for the January 15 show is to be back with a full cast and crew as well as studio audience, but obviously given the spread of the Omicron Covid variant, a decision will be made closer to the time." The Jan. 15 show will be the first since SNL had to scale down Paul Rudd's episode last month with hours to spare after a COVID breakout. As Deadline notes, West Side Story star DeBose is familiar to Lorne Michaels since she stars on his Apple TV+ show Schmigadoon!