‘Saturday Night Live’ China TV Series: Lorne Michaels NBC Late Night Program Heading Overseas in Partnership with Sohu [VIDEO]

It only took 40 years but China is finally making their own version of Lorne Michaels famed Saturday Night Live. In partnership with Sohu.com Inc., Michaels' Broadway Video Entertainment will grab a lineup of Chinese comedians and put together a live music and sketch comedy series, replicating the one that has been housed at 11:30 p.m. on NBC since 1975.

Bloomberg reports that China's Communist Party "has been looking for new ways to engage with an audience because past forms of preaching are no longer suitable for today," according to Professor Wang Sixin from the Communication University of China.

He further commented, "What Sohu needs to be careful about, though, is finding the right balance when doing satire about social and political issues."

Apparently we here in the United States can get away with quite a bit more than they can in China. After all, how would China have reacted to this past Saturday's ISIS sketch? You know, the one that offended almost everyone...

Take a look at that here:

What do you think, readers?

We don't have to tell you how many careers Saturday Night Live has spawned over the years and what it's done for everyone else who dreams of working in comedy. What we can ask is: will the new Chinese version amount to the success of the original?

Eh, probably not, but who knows, could be good!

In the meantime, while China is gearing up for their version of SNL, the original is prepping for this coming Saturday's episode, which will house host Chris Hemsworth and musical guest Zac Brown Band.

Take a look at the new promos for the episode here:

Tune into the American version of Saturday Night Live every Saturday night at 11:30 p.m.