Weekend Update is a news segment on Saturday Night Live. It has previously been known as Saturday Night NewsLine (on the March 7, 1981 episode), SNL Newsbreak (season 7), and Saturday Night News (seasons 8-10). It occurs in every episode of SNL, commenting on or parodying current events as a 'fake news' sketch with one or two cast members pretending to be anchors, reading the week's important news headlines (and a few wierd stories) and deadpanning a joke about each. "Guests" played by other cast members tend to show up and talk with the anchor(s). At various times, especially in the 1980s/early '90s, sets and graphics were modeled closely after contemporary NBC News branding while at other times a more unique/generic look was sought.

FormatsEdit

Seasons 1-5 (1975-1980)Edit

Weekend Update was created by original anchor Chevy Chase and SNL writer Herb Sargent, and appeared on the first SNL broadcast on October 11, 1975. Chase popularized several catch phrases 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". When Weekend Update begins, Chase was consistently on the phone presumably talking to his lover, and would talk until realizing he was "on air."

In addition, the practice of a picture insert of a person simultaneously giving the news read in sign language for the hearing impaired—common in the days before closed captioning—was parodied by Garrett Morris. Chase would sometimes repeat the top story at the end of the segment, while Morris simply cupped his mouth and shouted the headline loudly. He would also end the segment with the line "That's the news, goodnight and have a pleasant tomorrow."

Chase's last episode as a castmember was the October 30, 1976 episode. Starting on the following episode, the segment became Weekend Update with Jane Curtin. This format had previously been used on the September 25, 1976 and October 2, 1976 episodes, which Chase missed do to an injury in the previous show. Curtin anchored solo in season 2, with Dan Aykroyd in season 3, and Bill Murray in seasons 4 and 5.

Season 6 (1980-81)Edit

Following the departure of the entire cast at the end of season 5, new producer Jean Doumanian built a new cast, and installed Charles Rocket as anchor. Rocket anchored five episodes solo before being teamed with Gail Matthius for another six.

The twelfth episode of the season, broadcast March 7, 1981, featured a one-time name change to Saturday Night NewsLine. NewsLine consisted of three segments scattered throughout the show: Mark King, as Dr. Jonathan Lear, talked about DNA in the science segment. Bill Murray, who hosted the episode, appeared as "arts and leisure correspondent", discussing the upcoming Oscars. Charles Rocket anchored the third segment solo as a typical, albeit shortened, Weekend Update segment.

NewsLine took place on the second-to-last episode of the season. The last episode was delayed due to a writers' strike; during the delay, Jean Doumanian was fired as producer. Dick Ebersol succeeded her, and immediately fired most of the cast, including Rocket. For what would be the last episode of the season, Chevy Chase hosted, and the segment was billed as Weekend Update with Chevy Chase, in the same style as the first season.

Mark King as Dr. Nicholas Lear on Saturday Night NewsLine, March 7, 1981

Mark King as Dr. Nicholas Lear on Saturday Night NewsLine

Title card used for the Chevy Chase WU, April 11, 1981. It also appeared on the background screens on the early Rocket-only broadcasts from that season.

Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

Season 7 (1981-82)Edit

At the start of season 7, the segment was renamed SNL Newsbreak, and was hosted by Brian Doyle-Murray. At different times, Murray would host solo, or be joined by Mary Gross and/or Christine Ebersole. Initially, the segment began with a gag wherein the word "break" in the superimposed "SNL Newsbreak" title would explode when struck by lightning, and pieces of the letters would rain down upon Murray's head. This gag was later dropped.

Brian Doyle-Murray on SNL Newsbreak

Murray and Ebersole (as Princess Diana) on the November 7, 1981 episode. An example of the "falling letters" gag.

Murray and Gross on the February 20, 1982 episode

Technical problems on the March 27, 1982 broadcast, Ebersole's first as co-anchor

Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

Seasons 8-10 (1982-85)Edit

Murray was let go at the end of the season, and the segment changed names again. Initially, it was Saturday Night News with Brad Hall. Hall was pulled off of Weekend Update after a season and a half. For another year, the anchor position rotated, starting with Don Rickles on the January 28, 1984 episode. Halfway through season 10, Christopher Guest took over as permanent anchor. He began on the December 1, 1984 episode and remained until the end of the season.

Saturday Night News with Christopher Guest

Saturday Night News with Christopher Guest, December 15th, 1984

Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

Seasons 11-16 (1985-1991)Edit

Dick Ebersol departed the show after season 10, taking the remaining cast members with him. Lorne Michaels returned as producer, and the name returned to Weekend Update. From the new cast, Michaels installed Dennis Miller as anchor. Miller remained until the end of season 16, giving a final goodbye on the May 18, 1991 episode.

Seasons 17-19 (1991-1994)Edit

Following Miller's departure, Kevin Nealon was installed as anchor. He had previously done segments on Weekend Update, notably Mr. Subliminal. He left because he wanted to perform in more sketches, which he found impossible while anchoring Update.

Seasons 20-23 (1994-97)Edit

Norm MacDonald was chosen to replace Nealon; he took over at the beginning of season 20. His constant references to the O. J. Simpson murder case created friction between Michaels and NBC executive Don Ohlmeyer; Ohlmeyer eventually forced MacDonald off Weekend Update as a result. His last episode as anchor December 13, 1997; he remained on the show for a few more episodes before leaving.

Seasons 23-25 (1998-2000)Edit

MacDonald was replaced by Colin Quinn; Quinn had been a frequent commentator on the MacDonald-era Weekend Update. Quinn started on the January 10, 1998 show, and gave the following humorous opening to explain his sudden ascension to the position:

"You know how you go to your favorite bar, and your local bartender isn't there? You ask, 'Where's Jeff?' ... 'Jeff no longer works here, I'm Steve.' And you're thinking, 'Hey, who's this idiot? I like Jeff.' But you still want your drink? And even though Steve doesn't mix your drink the same way you're used to, like Jeff, you still like the same bar. You don't want to have to go to a different bar. And even Steve might feel kinda bad, because Jeff trained him. Jeff showed him how to work the cash register, where the tonic was on the soda gun, who tips, who doesn't... Well, I'm Steve. What can I get you?"

Quinn left the show at the end of season 25.

Seasons 26-34 (2000-08)Edit

Following Quinn's departure, the show switched to a two-anchor format. It was initially known as Weekend Update with Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey. This lasted until Fallon left the show at the end of season 29; he gave a goodbye to the audience on the May 15, 2004 show.

Starting with season 30, the segment became Weekend Update with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Fey missed the first three shows of season 31 due to maternity leave; Horatio Sanz anchored alongside Poehler, though the name of the segment remained unchanged. Fey and Poehler remained co-anchors until Fey left the show at the end of season 31.

The segment became Weekend Update with Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers at the beginning of season 32. The first episode of the season, airing September 30, 2006, began with NBC anchor Brian Williams entering and sitting at the desk, believing himself to be Fey's replacement, until Poehler breaks the news and Meyers enters. Poehler left halfway through season 34; her last episode was December 13, 2008.

Seasons 34-present (2009-)Edit

Following Poehler's mid-season departure, Seth Meyers took over as sole anchor, with the name of the segment becoming Weekend Update with Seth Meyers. This remains the current setup. Meyers now holds the record for the longest tenure on the show with seven seasons; Fey and Miller are tied for second with six.

Seth Myers was chosen to replace Jimmy Fallon on NBC's Late Night when Fallon moves to the Tonight Show. His first show will be on February 24,2014.^[1] Myers will remain a castmember and anchor through the first half of season 39, and his replacement at the WU desk is expect to join the cast at the beginning of the season.

AnchorsEdit

• Chevy Chase
• Jane Curtin (variously co-hosting with Dan Aykroyd or Bill Murray)
• Charles Rocket (sometimes co-hosting with Gail Matthius, once with Bill Murray and Dr. Nicholas Lear)
• Brian Doyle Murray (variously co-hosting with Mary Gross and/or Christine Ebersole)
• Brad Hall
• Christopher Guest
• Dennis Miller
• Kevin Nealon
• Norm MacDonald
• Colin Quinn
• Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey
• Tina Fey and Amy Poehler
• Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers
• Seth Meyers

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/493469-Upfronts_2013_New_NBC_Late_Night_Lineup_to_Bow_Feb_24_2014.php