First-Ever ‘Saturday Night Live’ International Spin-Off Lands In Korea

EXCLUSIVE: The first-ever spin-off from an international version of Saturday Night Live is landing in Korea.

With SNL on something of a roll internationally, SNL Korea digital short The Smile Clinic is to become a 10 x 30-minute sitcom.

Emerging from SNL Korea Season 8, the skit takes aim at Korea’s cosmetic dermatology business and the office politics of the people who work in it. Lee Su-ji, Kim Won-hun, Gong Min-jeung, Kim Kyu-won and Ji Ye-eun all return for the sitcom.

Echoing recent digital successes for SNL, The Smile Clinic’s clips have amassed more than 17 million views on YouTube, according to NBCUniversal Formats, which sells SNL and struck the deal with Korean streamer Coupang Play. CP Entertainment is producing the sitcom.

The move marks the first time an SNL international sketch has broken out in such a way. There is precedent in the U.S. Wayne’s World and Coneheads hit the big screen, while MacGruber went further, becoming a feature film in 2010 before returning as a Peacock series in 2021.

SNL is having a good time internationally following the launch of the critically-rated UK version, which was most recently hosted by Wicked superstar Cynthia Erivo. While its overnight ratings are not overly high, sketches from the show are amassing millions of YouTube views. Canal+ recently annnounced a French version.

Linfield Ng, VP, Format Sales and Production, NBCUniversal Formats, said: “The Smile Clinic has been one of the most viral digital shorts in Korea, and it’s easy to see why. Office politics and K-beauty are things audiences recognise everywhere, and these characters already have a big following, so a sitcom made complete sense. It’s brilliant to see SNL Korea create something of its own, and we’re proud to be doing it with Coupang Play and the SNL Korea team.”

The deal adds to a busy run in Asia for NBCUniversal Formats. This month it acquired worldwide distribution rights to Japanese game shows Save Money from Chukyo TV and Action Arena from TBS, following its pickup of Unboxing the Flavours from DI Turn Co. Ltd and Phileas Productions S.L.