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{{short description|Saturday Night Live parody newscast}}{{for|the 2008 Thursday night specials|Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday}}{{italic title}}{{More citations needed|date=June 2023}}{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2013}}{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}{{History of SNL}}(File:Weekend Update.jpg|thumb|Current intertitle for the program)Weekend Update is a Saturday Night Live sketch and satirical news program that comments on and parodies current events. It is the show's longest-running recurring sketch, having been on since the show's first broadcast, and is typically presented in the middle of the show immediately after the first musical performance. Historically, one or two of the players are cast in the role of news anchor, presenting gag news items based on current events and acting as hosts for occasional editorials, commentaries, or other performances by other cast members or guests. In modern times, dedicated anchors are chosen among writing staff, often lead writers, in lieu of cast or featured players.Chevy Chase has said that Weekend Update{{snd}} which he started as anchor in 1975{{snd}} paved the way for comedic news shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.WEB,weblink A delusional Chevy Chase says he created The Daily Show, AOL TV, Joel, Keller, April 16, 2007,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150518094259weblink">weblink May 18, 2015, [...] asked what he thought of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, [Chase] took credit for their success. "[I] think that, you know, I started it with my Weekend Update," he responds, implying that the ideas for both The Daily Show and The Colbert Report came directly from WU.,

History

Weekend Update (1975–1981)

Chevy Chase (1975–1976)

Weekend Update was created by original anchor Chevy Chase and SNL writers Herb Sargent and Al Franken,NEWS, Martin, Douglas,weblink Herb Sargent, TV Writer, Is Dead at 81, May 7, 2005, The New York Times, September 30, 2012, and it appeared on the first SNL broadcast on October 11, 1975. Chase popularized several catchphrases during the segment, such as his "I'm Chevy Chase... and you're not" greeting; and his repeated announcement that "Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead". Weekend Update segments frequently opened with Chase having an intimate conversation with someone on the phone, unaware he was "on the air." Chase ended Weekend Update with what became its signature catchphrase: "That's the news...good night, and have a pleasant tomorrow."In addition, Garrett Morris parodied the practice of a picture insert of a person delivering the news in sign language for the hearing impaired. Chase would announce, "...and now, I shall repeat the top news story, assisted by the President of the Society for The Hard of Hearing." Chase would then repeat the story while Morris simply cupped his mouth and yelled the headline.

Jane Curtin (1976–1980)

Jane Curtin substituted for Chase during for a few shows due to Chase's injury. Subsequently, she replaced him when he left in the fall of 1976. Curtin stayed as anchor until the end of Season 5 in 1980. She finished Season 2 solo but was then paired with co-anchors Dan Aykroyd (1977–1978) and Bill Murray (1978–1980), with Aykroyd being "promoted" to "Station Manager" in September 1978.A frequent feature of Weekend Update during this time was "Point/Counterpoint", a send-up of the then-current 60 Minutes segment of the same name with James J. Kilpatrick and Shana Alexander. SNL's version featured Curtin and Aykroyd as debaters, with each making personal attacks on the other and their positions; a common pattern had Aykroyd announcing the topic, followed by Curtin making an opening statement, with Aykroyd retorting "Jane, you ignorant slut" and Curtin replying "Dan, you pompous ass".WEB,weblink Watch Saturday Night Live Highlight: Point Counterpoint: Lee Marvin and Michelle Triola - NBC.com, March 17, 1979, www.nbc.com, WEB,weblink SNL Transcripts: Christopher Lee: 03/25/78: Weekend Update with Jane Curtin & Dan Aykroyd, February 18, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180219090708weblink">weblink February 19, 2018, dead, mdy-all, WEB,weblink SNL Transcripts: Steve Martin: 04/22/78: Weekend Update with Jane Curtin & Dan Aykroyd, February 18, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170801154123weblink">weblink August 1, 2017, dead, mdy-all, WEB,weblink SNL Transcripts: The Rolling Stones: 10/07/78: Weekend Update with Jane Curtin & Bill Murray, February 18, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170731112439weblink">weblink July 31, 2017, dead, mdy-all, WEB,weblink SNL Transcripts: Buck Henry: 11/11/78: Weekend Update with Jane Curtin & Bill Murray, February 18, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170804211247weblink">weblink August 4, 2017, dead, mdy-all, WEB,weblink SNL Transcripts: Elliot Gould: 12/16/78: Weekend Update with Jane Curtin & Bill Murray, February 18, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20171110231618weblink">weblink November 10, 2017, dead, mdy-all, WEB,weblink SNL Transcripts: Margot Kidder: 03/17/79: Weekend Update with Jane Curtin & Bill Murray, February 18, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20171012121546weblink">weblink October 12, 2017, dead, mdy-all, MAGAZINE,weblink 50 Greatest 'SNL' Sketches of All Time, Rolling Stone, February 3, 2014, Other popular running features were John Belushi giving editorials that usually ended with him working himself into a frenzy and stating "But noooooo...." When Curtin would try to calm him down, Belushi would promptly raise a fist at her and scream, "Don't push me, Curtin!" Also included was Gilda Radner's character Emily Litella, who was prone to misinterpreting topics (leading her to present editorials on such things as the Eagle Rights Amendment) and not being aware of her error until Curtin would correct her, after which Litella would cheerfully say "Never mind". Litella was later replaced by another Radner character: consumer affairs reporter Roseanne Roseannadanna, who would attempt to answer a viewer question, but would ultimately digress into a graphic story involving some gross bodily function–often featuring an interaction with a celebrity figure which Curtin would finally interrupt, tersely pointing out to her, "Roseanne, you're making me sick." During Curtin's tenure as host, she opened each Weekend Update segment with Roger Grimsby's "Here now, the news" sign-on, and closed with Chase's "That's the news. Goodnight and have a pleasant tomorrow".

Charles Rocket (1980–1981)

Charles Rocket (later teamed with Gail Matthius) anchored during the one-season (1980–1981) tenure of new executive producer Jean Doumanian. Rocket is notable as being the only Weekend Update anchor to have experience as a real news anchor, having served as anchorman at KOAA-TV in Pueblo, Colorado, under his birth name Charles Claverie and WTVF Nashville under the name Charles Kennedy.Rocket's final appearance was on the penultimate episode of the season, airing on March 7, 1981, and hosted by Bill Murray. For that episode, Weekend Update received a one-time name and set change to "Saturday Night NewsLine"WEB,weblink Watch Saturday Night Live Highlight: Saturday Night Newsline - Science Edition - NBC.com, March 8, 1981, www.nbc.com, and featured three segments:WEB,weblink SNL Transcripts, October 8, 2018, snltranscripts.jt.org, science edition, hosted by Dr. Jonathan Lear (Mark King), arts and leisure correspondent Bill Murray, and news by Rocket. Rocket signed off each week by saying "Good night and watch out."Prior to the final episode of the season, Jean Doumanian and most of the cast, including Rocket, were fired. Chase hosted the last episode and anchored Weekend Update, as he had on his previous appearances as host.

"SNL NewsBreak" (1981–1982)

The anchor position changed hands frequently under Dick Ebersol, executive producer of SNL from 1981 to 1985. Brian Doyle-Murray was teamed first with Mary Gross, then going solo for three months, then back with Gross for one more month before finally being teamed with Christine Ebersole for the remainder of the season. Doyle-Murray signed off each week with "Good night, and good news."

"Saturday Night News" (1982–1985)

Brad Hall took over the desk of the retitled "Saturday Night News" in 1982 through most of the 1983 season. By the 1983 season, he began signing out with phrase "Thanks for coming out in the rain!" Hall was removed from the anchor position halfway through the 1983–84 season. For the rest of the season, and into the next, there were no regular anchors—both cast members and SNL guest-hosts took turns at the chair (Hall himself left the show at the end of the 1983–1984 season). In December 1984, Christopher Guest became the new anchor. However, within this period, the SNL broadcast of December 8, 1984 is the only episode to not feature the satirical news segment on the show, at all.

Weekend Update (1985–present)

Dennis Miller (1985–1991)

In 1985, Lorne Michaels returned to produce the show, bringing the Weekend Update name back with him. The new anchor was Dennis Miller, who remained in the chair for six years, the longest run for a solo Weekend Update anchor. Miller opened the segments by saying "Good evening, and what can I tell ya?" and signed off by saying "Guess what, folks? That's the news, and I am outta here!" He would then scribble nonsense on his script, sometimes throwing it into the air. Miller left SNL in 1991.

Kevin Nealon (1991–1994)

Kevin Nealon took over with his "Mr. Subliminal" character and as the straight man in many highlights such as "Operaman" and "Cajun Man" (with both characters being played by Adam Sandler) and also for Chris Farley's "Bennett Brauer" character. Nealon had a three-year stint at the Update desk before requesting his departure, as he felt his time behind the desk was drawing away from other acting opportunities on the show. Nealon signed off with the tagline "I'm Kevin Nealon, and that's news to me".

Norm Macdonald (1994–1997)

Norm Macdonald, whom Chase called "the only other guy who did [the segment] funny,"EPISODE, Saturday Night Live Backstage, NBC, 2011-02-20, took over the role for Season 20. Al Franken, whose history with SNL dated back to 1975, had been lobbying to replace Nealon as Weekend Update host. Accordingly, Franken left the show after losing the anchor spot.Shales, T: Live From New York, pages 433–444. Back Bay Books, 2003. Although Nealon no longer anchored Weekend Update, he still remained on the show until the end of Season 20. Macdonald would open each segment with "I'm Norm Macdonald, and now the fake news."Running gags by Macdonald included punchlines involving Frank Stallone and Germans loving David Hasselhoff. In his last two seasons, he introduced another recurring gag where he would read a news story and then record a "note to self" on a tape recorder regarding the story he had just read. One of the most frequent guest correspondents during Macdonald's run was Joe Blow (played by Colin Quinn), a blue-collar guy who would rant about things that bother him. He would often make Macdonald uncomfortable and always ask when they were "gonna go for a beer together," to which Macdonald would always end up turning him down. His sign off was frequently "And that's the way it is", emulating Walter Cronkite's famous sign-off phrase.Another common topic of Macdonald's jokes was O. J. Simpson after his arrest and trial for murder. For example, he joked that "A down-and-out O. J. Simpson{{nbsp}}... has decided to go back to doing what he does best: killing people," and upon Simpson's acquittal he declared "well, it is finally official: murder is legal in the state of California." SNL writer Jim Downey recalled that "we did, like three solid years of, like, 60 shows of O.J. jokes in a row." Macdonald made his final appearance as Weekend Update anchor in December 1997, after NBC executive Don Ohlmeyer—a longtime friend of Simpson, who had previously told Michaels to not let his friendship affect the show—demanded Macdonald's dismissal from the segment, despite Michaels's protest that making the change in the middle of the season would be difficult for the show. Ohlmeyer told Macdonald that he was fired because he was not funny.{{r|snlbackstage20110220}}

Colin Quinn (1998–2000)

Macdonald was replaced by Colin Quinn, who started on the first episode after Macdonald had been removed and served through the 1999–2000 season. His first edition of Weekend Update began with "Have you ever gone to a bar and found that your favorite bartender was replaced with a guy named Steve?" He would pause for a beat before continuing, "Well, I'm Steve; what can I get you?" His sign-off, borrowing from a Collin Raye song, was "I'm Colin Quinn, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!"For the first half of the 1998–1999 season, Quinn would do a pre-desk monologue, where he would provide commentary and rant about the week's biggest news stories. This feature was discontinued after the January 16, 1999, episode.Quinn stepped down from Weekend Update after 1999–2000, when he left SNL at the end of the season. He anchored the segment for two-and-a-half seasons.

Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey (2000–2004)

Over the summer of 2000, cast members auditioned to be replacements. Among the candidates were stand-up comics Kevin Brennan and Jeffrey Ross plus two duos:{{nbsp}}Ana Gasteyer with Chris Parnell, and Jimmy Fallon with writer Tina Fey.Baldwin, Kristen (May 10, 2002), "Update with Destiny". Entertainment Weekly. (653):26 The latter duo was chosen, and they made their first on-air appearance that October. Fallon ended each Weekend Update sketch by throwing his pencil at the camera and cheering if he managed to hit it. Fey often signed off with Chase and Curtin's "Good night, and have a pleasant tomorrow".Recurring features of the Fallon/Fey era included the "Update Door," a door on the left of the set where celebrities, as impersonated by SNL cast members (and at one time the Land Shark) would walk through to do a commentary—a segment called "Terrible ReEnactments", in which Chris Kattan would do an intentionally bad re-enactment of a news story that had occurred during the week (usually the story involved a celebrity being injured); and regular appearances from Jeff Richards's Drunk Girl character.Chris Parnell announced the intro for the first few seasons. He was then followed by future Update co-anchor Amy Poehler.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (2004–2006)

Fallon left to pursue a film career in 2004, and was replaced by fellow cast member Amy Poehler as co-anchor, giving the sketch its first two-woman anchor team. Fallon became the announcer for the Weekend Update intro for the next few seasons.The 2005–2006 season began with Poehler returning to her seat behind the desk.The segment is featured in the 2006 film Man of the Year in which Robin Williams appears on Weekend Update alongside Poehler and Fey.

Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz (2005)

Fey temporarily left the show after giving birth to her first child and was replaced briefly by Horatio Sanz as co-anchor (Sanz wore horn-rimmed glasses during Fey's absence). Fey returned to the show in October for the season's third live episode.

Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers (2006–2008)

After the departure of Fey, Poehler continued as co-anchor along with new co-anchor Seth Meyers for the 2006–2007 season.NEWS, Associated Press,weblink Seth Meyers to co-anchor 'SNL's 'Update', September 21, 2006, USA Today, September 30, 2012, The duo began a string of running gags, including "Really!?! with Seth and Amy", in which the pair lambast celebrities for lack of common sense. Poehler left SNL in fall 2008 to give birth to her first child.During the 2007–2008 season, two previous hosts returned to the Weekend Update desk for one-off appearances–Chevy Chase, as "Senior Political Correspondent" and Tina Fey, as "Special Women's News Correspondent". Women's News was a running segment during the Fey/Poehler era.NEWS, Sitt, Pamela,weblink Amy Poehler Confirms She Is Leaving Saturday Night Live, July 17, 2008, film.com, September 30, 2012, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin also appeared on Weekend Update once during the 2008–09 season and ended the segment with the traditional "Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow", as Poehler had left her seat to perform a "Sarah Palin rap".

Seth Meyers (2008–2013)

Beginning October 25, 2008, Meyers anchored the segment alone with Poehler still being credited, but not appearing. On December 6, 2008, Poehler returned, four weeks after the birth of her child, to do Weekend Update with Meyers, but on the December 13, 2008, Weekend Update she announced to the audience that the show was her last one.After that, Meyers continued anchoring Weekend Update solo. The "Really!?!" celebrity-mocking gag (retitled "Really!?! with Seth") remained, featuring various hosts and guests including Tracy Morgan and Jerry Seinfeld in March 2009 and Kermit the Frog in November 2011. In May 2010, Poehler returned to do it once more, alongside Tina Fey as well.A running gag of this era was Bobby Moynihan's portrayal of Snooki from Jersey Shore. Moynihan displays a certain attraction to Meyers, who makes fun of the general attitude of the cast members of Jersey Shore as well as Snooki's own personal attributes. Another popular segment was city correspondent Stefon, played by Bill Hader.During his time in office, New York Governor David Paterson (played by Fred Armisen) often appeared as a guest on the segment. In the premiere episode of SNL's 36th season, Paterson, himself, made a guest appearance on Weekend Update next to Armisen. Amy Poehler, who had returned to host the episode, co-anchored Weekend Update as she traditionally did before her departure.On the December 17, 2011, episode, which was hosted by Jimmy Fallon, multiple former anchors returned for a "Weekend Update Joke-Off". Along with Meyers, the anchors included Fallon, Poehler, and Fey.Entertainment Weekly confirmed that Amy Poehler would appear on Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday for at least two broadcasts as co-anchor in fall 2009.MAGAZINE, Ausiello, Michael,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090801123507weblink">weblink dead, August 1, 2009, Exclusive: Amy Poehler returns to 'SNL' (REALLY?!), July 30, 2009, Entertainment Weekly, September 30, 2012, For the third episode of Weekend Update Thursday, Seth Meyers anchored solo. After each episode, the anchor(s) would throw to Parks and Recreation. Lorne Michaels had stated that there would be six more episodes of Weekend Update Thursday; however, the spring 2010 episodes were scrapped.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}Poehler returned on both the February 18, 2012, and May 18, 2013, episodes to perform "Really!?! with Seth and Amy" twice more. In both instances, Meyers asked her if she would like to co-anchor with him again for the rest of that segment; he was barely able to finish asking before she accepted.

Seth Meyers and Cecily Strong (2013–2014)

On May 12, 2013, NBC announced that Seth Meyers would become the new host of Late Night in 2014, succeeding Jimmy Fallon, who would take over as the new host of The Tonight Show. In September 2013, Lorne Michaels confirmed that Meyers, who would stay on at SNL for at least the first half of the show's 39th season, would be joined at the Weekend Update anchor desk by a new co-anchor, Cecily Strong, beginning with the show's season premiere on September 28, 2013. Strong, who joined SNL the previous season and had been upgraded to repertory status in the cast for her sophomore season, was no stranger to the segment, making visits to the Weekend Update desk as her recurring character "The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation with at a Party". Michaels, who also produces Late Night, hinted at Meyers potentially dropping in as Weekend Update co-anchor, noting that Meyers's Late Night will not tape on Friday nights."New Course for ‘Weekend Update,’ and All of ‘SNL,’" from The New York Times, 9/15/2013 Meyers and Strong sign off with "For 'Weekend Update', I'm Seth Meyers!" "And I'm Cecily Strong, good night!" before performing a fist bump or blowing kisses to the audience.On February 1, 2014, Meyers performed his final episode of SNL and was joined at the Weekend Update desk by Strong, Poehler, Hader in character as Stefon, Andy Samberg, and Armisen as Governor Paterson.

Cecily Strong and Colin Jost (2014)

On January 23, 2014, it was announced that, starting March 1, 2014, SNL writer Colin Jost would replace Meyers as co-anchor of Weekend Update. Jost made his debut as co-anchor as scheduled on the March 1 episode, which was hosted by Jim Parsons.WEB,weblink 'SNL' Names New 'Weekend Update' Co-Anchor

last=Goldberg	date=January 23, 2014		last=Cooper	date=January 23, 2014		last=Busis	date=January 23, 2014, February 2, 2014, For the duration of this tenure, Strong stayed to the right side while Jost went to the left. Strong led off each broadcast except for the May 3, 2014 episode hosted by Andrew Garfield, when Jost led off. Colin Jost and Michael Che (2014–present) On September 11, 2014, it was announced that comedian and SNL writer Michael Che would replace Cecily Strong as the new Weekend Update anchor. His first episode was the season 40 premiere, hosted by Chris Pratt.WEB,weblink Saturday Night Live' Replaces Cecily Strong With Michael Che as 'Weekend Update' Anchor, Linda, Ge, Yahoo! TV, September 11, 2014, September 11, 2014, Che's pairing with Colin Jost is the first in which both anchors are male. Che is also the first African-American Weekend Update anchor. As of the 2021–22 season, Jost and Che are the longest tenured Update anchors in the show's history, with Jost becoming the longest running Weekend Update anchor on October 23, 2021,WEB,weblink 'SNL': Colin Jost Breaks Seth Meyers' Weekend Update Record, Peter, White, Deadline, October 24, 2021, October 14, 2022, and Che rising to second place on January 29, 2022.WEB,weblink 'SNL': Michael Che Passes Seth Meyers In Weekend Update Appearances, Peter, White, Deadline, January 29, 2022, October 14, 2022, Che led off the broadcast on his premiere episode. Starting with the October 4, 2014, episode hosted by Sarah Silverman, each anchor tells at least one extended joke per segment.So far, this era features many appearances from cast members playing some version of themselves, most notably Pete Davidson and Leslie Jones. Longtime cast member Kenan Thompson has also developed several new characters and impressions, including Willie, Michael Che's fictional neighbor. Thompson also has brought on impressions of former MLB star David Ortiz and LaVar Ball. With Cecily Strong no longer anchoring Weekend Update, she reprised characters like The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation with at a Party and Cathy Anne, a woman with a southern accent who hits on Michael Che.On October 13, 2018, former cast member/Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers hosted the show for the first time since taking over hosting Late Night, and he returned to Weekend Update for the first time since he left the show, in a segment called "Really?!? With Seth, Colin, and Michael", a callback to the "Really?!? With Seth and Amy" segments. This time, Meyers, Jost, and Che talk and joke about rapper Kanye West (a Trump supporter) visiting the White House.As of season 43, at the end of each Christmas show and season finale, Jost and Che do joke swaps, where they read jokes that the other had written for each other. The lone exception was during season 47, when Jost was absent during the Christmas episode; and they didn't do a joke swap during the season finale. There was also no joke swap for season 48's Christmas episode. After 2½ years, joke swap returned for the Christmas episode of season 49, with a special guest of Che's, a Civil Rights activist sitting on Jost's side of the desk. The guest was later revealed to be an actressparticipating in Che's prank on Jost.In the October 21st, 2020, during one of the Weekend Update skits there was controversy surrounding transphobia, Micheal Che was referencing the reverse of the law "don't ask, don't tell" and made a joke calling it "don't ask, don't tuck".WEB, 2021-02-02, 'Saturday Night Live' under fire for skit criticized as 'transphobic',weblink 2024-03-07, NBC News, en, WEB, Engelmeier, Shirley, 2021-02-11, Saturday Night Live (SNL) Joke Sparks Transphobia Debate,weblink 2024-03-11, inclusioninc, en, This joke was not taken well amongst SNL viewers leaving them stunned with the comment. Transgender advocates took quick action to different social media platforms speaking out about the skit, critiquing its "insensitivity". SNL never put out an official statement speaking on the matter.NEWS, Andrews, Travis M., 2021-10-25, Colin Jost faces backlash after transgender joke on 'Saturday Night Live',weblink 2024-03-11, Washington Post, en-US, 0190-8286, Due to COVID-19 issues, the December 18, 2021 episode was filmed with no audience and a limited cast and crew. Weekend Update was still performed, but Jost was not part of the episode's cast, as he had tested positive for COVID.WEB, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Tina Fey Spills on Saving Saturday Night Live During the NYC Omicron Wave,weblink YouTube, April 20, 2022, April 20, 2022, Tina Fey made a surprise guest appearance to fill in for Jost; due to the reduced staff, the segment was performed on chairs placed on the main stage rather than its usual newsroom set.WEB, Paul Rudd joins 'SNL' Five-Timers Club in unprecedented holiday episode,weblink 2021-12-19, EW.com, WEB, White, Peter, 2021-12-19, Tom Hanks' Dean Martin, Paul McCartney's Holiday Pageant & Eddie Murphy's Disgruntled Elf Among Classic Sketches Aired On Covid-Hit 'SNL',weblink 2021-12-19, Deadline, WEB, Jensen, Erin, 'I'm extremely disappointed': Paul Rudd's fifth time hosting 'SNL' relies on taped, old sketches,weblink 2021-12-19, USA TODAY, en-US, Timeline A total of 32 people have anchored the Weekend Update desk. Below is a complete list of any and all who have served as an anchor at one time or another, and the season(s) in which they served. Note that throughout most of 1984, different cast members, special guests, or the weekly host handled the task. Those individuals (denoted in italics) are also listed below. Weekend Update (1975–1981) Season 1 (1975–1976) Chevy Chase Season 2 (1976–1977) Chevy Chase (Last: October 30, 1976) Jane Curtin (First: September 25, 1976) Jane Curtin and Buck Henry (February 20, 1977)WEB,weblink SNL Transcripts Mardi Gras Special: Weekend Update with Jane Curtin and Buck Henry, 20 Feb 1977, jt.org, 18 May 2017, Note that Chase began the season as anchor on September 18, but missed the next two episodes because of an injury sustained while performing a sketch in the season's first episode. He was replaced by Curtin during his absence. Chase returned to the show (and the Weekend Update desk) from October 16 to 30. Curtin permanently took over Weekend Update beginning November 13. Henry co-anchored with Curtin on the Mardi Gras special. Season 3 (1977–1978) Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd Seasons 4–5 (1978–1980) Jane Curtin and Bill Murray (Aykroyd is now "Station Manager") Season 6 (1980–1981) Charles Rocket Charles Rocket and Gail Matthius (January 10 to February 21, 1981) Saturday Night NewsLine with Jonathan Lear, Bill Murray, and Charles Rocket (March 7, 1981) Show host Chevy Chase (April 11, 1981) "SNL NewsBreak" Season 7 (1981–1982) Brian Doyle-Murray and Mary Gross (October 3–17, December 5, 1981) Brian Doyle-Murray (October 31, 1981 to February 6, 1982) Brian Doyle-Murray and Mary Gross (February 20 to March 20, 1982) Brian Doyle-Murray and Christine Ebersole (March 27 to May 22, 1982) "Saturday Night News" Season 8 (1982–1983) Brad Hall Season 9 (1983–1984) Brad Hall (Last: December 10, 1983) Show host Don Rickles (January 28, 1984) Show host Robin Williams (February 11, 1984) Joe Piscopo (February 18, 1984) Show host Billy Crystal (as Fernando) (March 17, 1984 and May 5, 1984) Show host Edwin Newman (February 25, 1984) Show host Michael Douglas (April 7, 1984) Show host George McGovern (April 14, 1984) Show host Edwin Newman (May 12, 1984) Season 10 (1984–1985): Billy Crystal (as Fernando) (October 6, 1984) Show host Bob Uecker (October 13, 1984) Show host Jesse Jackson (October 20, 1984) Special guest Edwin Newman (November 3, 1984) Show host George Carlin (November 10, 1984) Show host Ed Asner (November 17, 1984) Christopher Guest (December 1, 1984 to April 13, 1985) Weekend Update (1985–present) Seasons 11–16 (1985–1991): Dennis Miller Seasons 17–19 (1991–1994): Kevin Nealon Seasons 20–22 (1994–1997): Norm Macdonald Season 23 (1997–1998): Norm Macdonald (Last: December 13, 1997) Colin Quinn (First: January 10, 1998) Seasons 24–25 (1998–2000): Colin Quinn Seasons 26–29 (2000–2004): Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey Season 30 (2004–2005): Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Season 31 (2005–2006) Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz (Last: October 8, 2005) Note that Sanz filled in on a temporary basis while Fey was pregnant; the piece was still announced as "Weekend Update with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler" (Sanz wore a pair of horn-rimmed glasses, only during the Weekend Update sketches) Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (First: October 22, 2005) Seasons 32–33 (2006–2008) Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers Season 34 (2008–2009) Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers (Last: December 13, 2008) Seth Meyers (First: October 25, 2008) Seasons 35–38 (2009–2013) Seth Meyers Season 39 (2013–2014) Seth Meyers and Cecily Strong (Last: February 1, 2014) Cecily Strong and Colin Jost (First: March 1, 2014) Season 40–46 (2014–2021) Colin Jost and Michael Che Season 47 (2021–2022) Colin Jost and Michael Che Michael Che and Tina Fey (December 18, 2021) Note that Fey filled in for Jost, due to him testing positive for COVID-19; the piece was still announced as "Weekend Update with Colin Jost and Michael Che" Season 48–present (2022–present) Colin Jost and Michael Che Visual timeline {{#tag:timeline|ImageSize = width:1000 height:800PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:50Alignbars = justifyDateFormat = mm/dd/yyyyPeriod = from:01/01/1975 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:mm/dd/yyyyScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:01/01/1975Legend = columns:2 columnwidth:100Colors = id:brown value:rgb(0.5, 0.25, 0) id:gray value:gray(0.8) id:AnchorMale value:blue legend:Male id:AnchorFemale value:red legend:Female LineData = at:10/11/1975 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/18/1976 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/24/1977 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:10/07/1978 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:10/13/1979 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:11/15/1980 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:10/03/1981 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:09/25/1982 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:10/08/1983 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:10/06/1984 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:11/09/1985 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:10/11/1986 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:10/17/1987 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:10/08/1988 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/30/1989 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/29/1990 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:09/28/1991 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:09/28/1992 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:09/25/1993 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:09/24/1994 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:09/30/1995 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/28/1996 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/27/1997 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/26/1998 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:10/02/1999 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:10/07/2000 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:09/29/2001 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:10/05/2002 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:10/04/2003 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:10/02/2004 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:10/01/2005 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/30/2006 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/29/2007 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/13/2008 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/29/2009 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/25/2010 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:09/24/2011 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:09/15/2012 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:09/28/2013 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:09/27/2014 color:gray layer:back width:1.0 at:10/03/2015 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:10/01/2016 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/30/2017 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/29/2018 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:09/28/2019 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:10/03/2020 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 at:10/02/2021 color:gray layer:back width:0.7 BarData = bar:chase text:"Chevy Chase" bar:curtin text:"Jane Curtin" bar:henry text:"Buck Henry" bar:aykroyd text:"Dan Aykroyd" bar:murray text:"Bill Murray" bar:rocket text:"Charles Rocket" bar:matthius text:"Gail Matthius" bar:lear text:"Dr. Jonathan Lear" bar:murraybr text:"Brian Doyle-Murray" bar:gross text:"Mary Gross" bar:ebersole text:"Christine Ebersole" bar:hall text:"Brad Hall" bar:rickles text:"Don Rickles" bar:williams text:"Robin Williams" bar:piscopo text:"Joe Piscopo" bar:lamas text:"Fernando Lamas" bar:newman text:"Edwin Newman" bar:douglas text:"Michael Douglas" bar:mcgovern text:"George McGovern" bar:uecker text:"Bob Uecker" bar:jackson text:"Jesse Jackson" bar:carlin text:"George Carlin" bar:asner text:"Ed Asner" bar:guest text:"Christopher Guest" bar:miller text:"Dennis Miller" bar:nealon text:"Kevin Nealon" bar:macdonald text:"Norm Macdonald" bar:quinn text:"Colin Quinn" bar:fallon text:"Jimmy Fallon" bar:fey text:"Tina Fey" bar:poehler text:"Amy Poehler" bar:sanz text:"Horatio Sanz" bar:meyers text:"Seth Meyers" bar:strong text:"Cecily Strong" bar:jost text:"Colin Jost" bar:che text:"Michael Che" PlotData = width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) from:10/11/1975 till:09/18/1976 bar:Chase color:blue from:09/25/1976 till:10/02/1976 bar:Curtin color:red from:10/16/1976 till:10/30/1976 bar:Chase color:blue from:11/13/1976 till:05/24/1980 bar:Curtin color:red from:02/20/1977 till:02/20/1977 bar:Henry color:blue from:09/24/1977 till:05/20/1978 bar:Aykroyd color:blue from:10/07/1978 till:05/24/1980 bar:Murray color:blue from:11/15/1980 till:03/07/1981 bar:Rocket color:blue from:01/10/1981 till:02/21/1981 bar:Matthius color:red from:03/07/1981 till:03/07/1981 bar:Lear color:blue from:03/07/1981 till:03/07/1981 bar:Murray color:blue from:04/11/1981 till:04/11/1981 bar:Chase color:blue from:10/03/1981 till:05/22/1982 bar:Murraybr color:blue from:10/03/1981 till:10/17/1981 bar:Gross color:red from:12/05/1981 till:12/05/1981 bar:Gross color:red from:02/20/1982 till:03/20/1982 bar:Gross color:red from:03/27/1982 till:05/22/1982 bar:Ebersole color:red from:09/25/1982 till:12/10/1983 bar:Hall color:blue from:01/28/1984 till:01/28/1984 bar:Rickles color:blue from:02/11/1984 till:02/11/1984 bar:Williams color:blue from:02/18/1984 till:02/18/1984 bar:Piscopo color:blue from:02/25/1984 till:02/25/1984 bar:Newman color:blue from:03/17/1984 till:03/17/1984 bar:Lamas color:blue from:04/07/1984 till:04/07/1984 bar:Douglas color:blue from:04/15/1984 till:04/15/1984 bar:Mcgovern color:blue from:05/05/1984 till:05/05/1984 bar:Lamas color:blue from:05/12/1984 till:05/12/1984 bar:Newman color:blue from:10/06/1984 till:10/06/1984 bar:Lamas color:blue from:10/13/1984 till:10/13/1984 bar:Uecker color:blue from:10/20/1984 till:10/20/1984 bar:Jackson color:blue from:11/03/1984 till:11/03/1984 bar:Newman color:blue from:11/10/1984 till:11/10/1984 bar:Carlin color:blue from:11/17/1984 till:11/17/1984 bar:Asner color:blue from:12/01/1984 till:04/13/1985 bar:Guest color:blue from:11/09/1985 till:05/18/1991 bar:Miller color:blue from:09/28/1991 till:05/14/1994 bar:Nealon color:blue from:09/24/1994 till:12/13/1997 bar:Macdonald color:blue from:01/10/1998 till:05/20/2000 bar:Quinn color:blue from:10/07/2000 till:05/15/2004 bar:Fallon color:blue from:10/07/2000 till:05/21/2005 bar:Fey color:red from:10/02/2004 till:12/13/2008 bar:Poehler color:red from:10/01/2005 till:10/08/2005 bar:Sanz color:blue from:10/22/2005 till:05/20/2006 bar:Fey color:red from:09/30/2006 till:02/01/2014 bar:Meyers color:blue from:09/17/2009 till:09/24/2009 bar:Poehler color:red from:09/28/2013 till:05/17/2014 bar:Strong color:red from:03/01/2014 till:end bar:Jost color:blue from:09/27/2014 till:end bar:Che color:blue from:12/18/2021 till:12/18/2021 bar:Fey color:red }} Tenures by length {| class"wikitable" ! Cast Member !! Tenure !! Total Seasons !! Total Episodes
Colin Jost >		| 198 episodes
Michael Che >		| 190 episodes
Seth Meyers >		| 154 episodes
Tina Fey >		| 118 episodes
Dennis Miller >		| 111 episodes
Jimmy Fallon >		| 80 episodes
Amy Poehler >		| 80 episodes
Jane Curtin >		| 78 episodes
Norm Macdonald >		| 69 episodes
Kevin Nealon >		| 60 episodes
Colin Quinn >		| 50 episodes
Bill Murray >		| 40 episodes
Chevy Chase >		| 32 episodes
Brad Hall >		| 28 episodes
Cecily Strong >		| 21 episodes
Dan Aykroyd >		| 20 episodes
Brian Doyle-Murray >		| 20 episodes
Charles Rocket >		| 12 episodes
Christopher Guest >		| 10 episodes
Mary Gross >		| 7 episodes
Gail Matthius >		| 6 episodes
Christine Ebersole >		| 6 episodes
Billy Crystal (as Fernando) >		| 3 episodes
Horatio Sanz >		| 2 episodes
Joe Piscopo >		| 1 episode

Non-cast members who guest anchored

Several people who have never been SNL cast members appeared as Weekend Update guest anchors (or co-anchors). Almost all these occurrences took place in 1984, during seasons 9 and 10, when a rotating series of Weekend Update guest hosts were employed. As well, actor Mark King (as "Dr. Jonathan Lear") made a lone co-anchor appearance during season 6, in 1981.

• Edwin Newman (Three appearances: February 25, May 12 and November 3, 1984)
• Mark King (as "Dr. Jonathan Lear") (March 7, 1981)
• Don Rickles (January 28, 1984)
• Robin Williams (February 11, 1984)
• Michael Douglas (April 7, 1984)
• George McGovern (April 14, 1984)
• Bob Uecker (October 13, 1984)
• Jesse Jackson (October 20, 1984)
• George Carlin (November 10, 1984)
• Ed Asner (November 17, 1984)

Controversies

Norm MacDonald

In the mid-1990s, Former Weekend Update host Norm MacDonald was fired from SNL for tackling taboo topics including the highly controversial 1994 murder trial of O.J. Simpson. Macdonald's comedic approach to the sensitive subject matter often crossed lines for some viewers and network executives.WEB, 2023-08-17, Norm MacDonald is Fired From 'SNL' Over (Hilarious) OJ Simpson Jokes,weblink 2024-03-12, Rolling Stone Australia, en-AU, Don Ohlmeyer, former president of NBC's West Coast division, was a close friend of Simpson, and took great offense to Macdonald's jokes, ultimately firing Macdonald for his poor taste in comedy during the 1995 season.WEB, Bedard, Mike, 2021-09-20, The Real Reason Norm Macdonald Was Fired From SNL,weblink 2024-03-12, Looper, en-US, Macdonald was immensely popular with audiences, leading to questions about his abrupt removal. Controversy broke out about the comedic freedom regarding sensitive topics highlighting the complex dynamic between the network and talent.WEB, Perkins, Dennis PerkinsDennis, 2022-12-13, When Norm Macdonald Unknowingly Hosted His Last 'Weekend Update',weblink 2024-03-12, Ultimate Classic Rock, en,

Leslie Jones

In May 2014, Leslie Jones was criticized for a string of slave jokes. She made a joke about Lupita Nyong’o, most well-known for her role as Nakia in Black Panther, being named People magazine’s most beautiful person, saying that during the slave days she herself would’ve been the most sought after, making comments about how she would have been paired with the best guy on that plantation and would have been the number one pick in the “slave draft.” On Twitter she responded in defending her joke and how she was sad she has to defend herself to the black community.WEB, Crugnale, James, 2014-05-05, 'SNL' Weekend Update Segment Sparks Controversy Over Racially Charged Slave Jokes (Video),weblink 2024-03-05, TheWrap, en-US,

Michael Che

On December 16, 2023 on the annual Weekend Update Christmas episode, where Che and Jost joke swap, Che faced backlash on his “racist jokes” that were pointed towards Beyoncé, Coretta Scott King, and Obama. The specific joke that had to do with the popular singer Beyoncé was written by Che for Jost to say, and the joke implied that the star "looked so white" that Jost was finally attracted to her. WEB, Colin Jost sparks backlash for 'racist' joke about Beyoncé on SNL,weblink He was criticized by some for making a joke about Beyoncé having a lighter complexion and blonde hair for her tour, saying that she was looking white. He also made a joke in which he said Scarlett Johansson, the wife of co-host Jost, was a better black widow than Coretta Scott King, poking fun at Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. Lastly, he compared former president Barack Obama to an African Dodo bird.WEB, Velasquez, Angelina, 2023-12-19, 'SNL' Comic Michael Che Slammed for 'Belittling Black Women' Following 'Racist' Skit and Jokes About Beyoncé and Coretta Scott King,weblink 2024-02-28, Atlanta Black Star, en-US, On January 31, 2021 Che was accused of being transphobic for his joke about Joe Biden’s executive order that reversed Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military. He joked that Biden was calling it “don't ask, don't tuck” which is a reference to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which banned gays from serving in the military from 1993 to 2010. Many trans activists criticized the joke made and called Che out for the “insensitive” comment.WEB, 2021-02-02, 'Saturday Night Live' under fire for skit criticized as 'transphobic',weblink 2024-03-05, NBC News, en, (File:Michael Che 2022 01.png|thumb|274x274px|Michael Che on the Brilliant Idiots podcast in 2022)While Che has had his share of controversies, in an interview for CBS News on May 15, 2022, Che explained "I do think that controversy brings people to talking. And I think as long as people are talking, it's not all that bad."WEB, May 15, 2022, Michael Che on controversial comedy: "As long as people are talking it's not all that bad.",weblink CBS News, Che has received a lot of backlash for his problematic and controversial jokes, but is often credited for his brilliance and how he has been able to take a broad departure from SNL's much more problematic and racist past while breathing new life into the sketch comedy show as the first black comedian to be a head writer of the show. NEWS, Blackface has long been an issue in comedy. Look no further than 'Saturday Night Live' for proof., The Washington Post,weblink Although they are criticized by people for their controversial jokes, many people stand by the jokes and the hosts/writers as controversy causes conversations to start.

See also

• Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday
• Saturday Night Live characters appearing on Weekend Update
• Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches

References

{{Reflist|2}}

External links

• Official Saturday Night Live Website
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20071221024929weblink">saturday-night-live.com – Weekend Update

{{Saturday Night Live}}