It'll be back Feb. 23; no host yet

" Saturday Night Live" was last on the air just after Halloween, but with the writers' strike apparently nearing its end, its off time is just about over.

NBC confirms that the show, which has been off the air since the start of the strike, will return Saturday, Feb. 23 (provided the Writers Guild membership approves a new deal with studios; voting was taking place Tuesday afternoon and evening). The show, currently in its 33rd season, aired just four episodes before the onset of the strike in early November.

A host and musical guest for the return episode haven't been announced yet.

Most of network television's late-night shows returned to the air in early January -- although only CBS' "Late Show" and "Late Late Show," which struck interim deals with the Writers Guild, had their writing staffs. "Saturday Night Live," though, writes fresh sketches for each week's episode and thus shut down completely.

Its cast members and writers were active during the strike, with head writer/"Weekend Update" anchor Seth Meyers a frequent interviewee on newscasts and Amy Poehler organizing a benefit for the show's out-of-work crew.