Changes: Weekend Update

Revision as of 20:44, 18 July 2014

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.

Formats

Seasons 1 (1975-1976)

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."

Seasons 2-5 (1976-80)

Chase was present for first show of season 2. He missed the next and two episodes, however; Jane Curtin filled in for him. Chase returned to the show but only stayed for a couple more episodes before leaving for good. His last episode as a cast member was the October 30, 1976 episode; starting on the following episode, Curtin was named his permanent replacement, and the segment became Weekend Update with Jane Curtin.

Curtin anchored solo for the remainder of season 2. She was paired with Dan Aykroyd for season 3, and Bill Murray in seasons 4 and 5.

Season 6 (1980-81)

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. Afterward, Jean Doumanian was fired as executive 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.

Newsline

Season 7 (1981-82)

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.

Falling letters

Newsbreak

Seasons 8-10 (1982-85)

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.

Seasons 11-16 (1985-1991)

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)

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

Seasons 20-23 (1994-97)

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)

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)

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 35-38 (2009-2013)

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 remained the setup until the end of season 38. Meyers now holds the record for the longest tenure on the show with seven seasons; Fey and Miller are tied for second with six.

During season 38, it was announced that Meyers was chosen to replace Jimmy Fallon on NBC's Late Night, as Fallon was moving to the Tonight Show.^[1] This necessitated changes for season 39.

Season 39-present (2013-)

Prior to the start of season 39, it was announced that Cecily Strong would co-anchor Weekend Update alongside Meyers, until his departure.^[2] The changes in late night programming were scheduled for February of 2014, when The Tonight Show, Late Night, and SNL all had to go on hiatus for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Meyers' last show was February 1, 2014; when it returned a month later head writer Colin Jost was added the cast in his place, joining Strong at the desk. Jost's anchoring Weekend Update marks the first time since Brian Doyle-Murray in season 7 that a person was added to the cast only to anchor the news segment, without taking part in any sketches.

Anchors

Anchor(s)	Image	Season(s)
Chevy Chase		Season 1, Season 2 eps. 1, 4-6
Jane Curtin		Season 2 eps. 2-3, 7-22
Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd		Season 3
Jane Curtin and Bill Murray		Season 4-5
Charles Rocket Alone eps. 1-5 With Gail Matthius eps. 6-11	February 21, 1981	Season 6 eps. 1-11
Mark King (as Dr. Jonathan Lear), Bill Murray (episode host), and Charles Rocket	March 7, 1981	March 7, 1981 As Saturday Night NewsLine
Chevy Chase (episode host)	April 11, 1981	April 11, 1981
Brian Doyle-Murray Alone: Eps. 4-6, 8-11 With Mary Gross: Eps. 1-3, 7, 13-14 special appearances eps. 8, 12 With Christine Ebersole: Eps. 15-20^{[Note 1]}	March 27, 1982	Season 7 As SNL Newsbreak
Brad Hall	March 12, 1983	Season 8 - Mid Season 9 As Saturday Night News
Rotating Guest Anchors: Don Rickles: January 28, 1984 (episode host) Robin Williams: February 11, 1984 (ep host) Joe Piscopo: February 18, 1984 Billy Crystal as Fernando: March 17, 1984 (ep host) May 5, 1984 October 6, 1984 Edwin Newman: February 25, 1984 (ep host) May 12, 1984 November 3, 1984 Michael Douglas: April 7, 1984 (ep host) George McGovern: April 14, 1984 (ep host) Bob Uecker October 13, 1984 (ep host) Jesse Jackson October 20, 1984 (ep host) George Carlin November 10, 1984 (ep host) Ed Asner November 17, 1984 (ep host)	February 18, 1984	Mid Season 9-Mid Season 10 As Saturday Night News
Christopher Guest	December 15, 1984	Late Season 10 As Saturday Night News
Dennis Miller	November 9, 1985	Season 11-16
Kevin Nealon	September 26, 1992	Season 17 - 19
Norm MacDonald	February 15, 1997	Season 20 - mid Season 23
Colin Quinn	November 14, 1998	Mid Season 23 - Season 25
Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey	January 18, 2003	Season 26 - 29
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler	October 22, 2005	Season 30 - 31
Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers	November 18, 2006	Season 31 - Ep. 11 Season 34
Seth Meyers	February 18th, 2012	Ep. 12 Season 34 - Season 39
Seth Meyers and Cecily Strong	November 16, 2013	Season 39 - Ep.13
Cecily Strong and Colin Jost		Ep. 14 Season 39 - Now

↑ During Ebersole's tenure, the segment was titled SNL Newsbreak with Mary Gross, Christine Ebersole, and Brian Doyle-Murray. Ebersole and Murray sat at the desk, while Gross appeared via "satellite feed".

References

[3] During Ebersole's tenure, the segment was titled SNL Newsbreak with Mary Gross, Christine Ebersole, and Brian Doyle-Murray. Ebersole and Murray sat at the desk, while Gross appeared via "satellite feed".

[1] ttp://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/493469-Upfronts_2013_New_NBC_Late_Night_Lineup_to_Bow_Feb_24_2014.php

[2] ttp://nytimes.com/2013/09/16/business/media/saturday-night-live-setting-its-new-cast.html

[1]

[2]

[Note 1]

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 ===Seasons 2-5 (1976-80)===
-Chase was injured on the [[September 18, 1976|first show]] of [[season 2]]. [[Jane Curtin]] filled in for him while he was away on injury leave, the [[September 25, 1976]] and [[October 2, 1976]] episodes. However, after returning to the show, Chase only stayed for a couple more episodes before leaving for good. His last episode as a cast member was the [[October 30, 1976]] episode; starting on [[November 13, 1976|the following episode]], Curtin was named his permanent replacement, and the segment became ''Weekend Update with Jane Curtin''.
+Chase was present for [[September 18, 1976|first show]] of [[season 2]]. He missed the [[September 25, 1976|next]] and [[October 2, 1976|two]] episodes, however; [[Jane Curtin]] filled in for him. Chase returned to the show but only stayed for a couple more episodes before leaving for good. His last episode as a cast member was the [[October 30, 1976]] episode; starting on [[November 13, 1976|the following episode]], Curtin was named his permanent replacement, and the segment became ''Weekend Update with Jane Curtin''.
 Curtin anchored solo for the remainder of season 2. She was paired with [[Dan Aykroyd]] for [[season 3]], and Bill Murray in seasons [[season 4|4]] and [[season 5|5]].
@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
 ===Seasons 35-38 (2009-2013)===
-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.
+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 remained the setup until the end of season 38. 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 Meyers was chosen to replace [[Jimmy Fallon]] on NBC's [[wikipedia:Late Night (NBC)|Late Night]] when Fallon moves to the Tonight Show. His first show will be on February 24,2014.<ref>http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/493469-Upfronts_2013_New_NBC_Late_Night_Lineup_to_Bow_Feb_24_2014.php</ref> Myers will remain a castmember and anchor through the first half of [[season 39]].
+During season 38, it was announced that Meyers was chosen to replace [[Jimmy Fallon]] on NBC's [[wikipedia:Late Night (NBC)|Late Night]], as Fallon was moving to the Tonight Show.<ref>http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/493469-Upfronts_2013_New_NBC_Late_Night_Lineup_to_Bow_Feb_24_2014.php</ref> This necessitated changes for season 39.
 ===Season 39-present (2013-)===
-Prior to the start of season 39, it was announced that [[Cecily Strong]] would co-anchor Weekend Update alongside Meyers, until his departure.<ref>http://nytimes.com/2013/09/16/business/media/saturday-night-live-setting-its-new-cast.html</ref> Following his departure mid-season, head writer [[Colin Jost]] will join the cast in his place, and join Strong at the desk.
+Prior to the start of season 39, it was announced that [[Cecily Strong]] would co-anchor Weekend Update alongside Meyers, until his departure.<ref>http://nytimes.com/2013/09/16/business/media/saturday-night-live-setting-its-new-cast.html</ref> The changes in late night programming were scheduled for February of 2014, when ''The Tonight Show'', ''Late Night'', and ''SNL'' all had to go on hiatus for the [[wikipedia:2014 Winter Olympics|2014 Winter Olympics]]. Meyers' last show was [[February 1, 2014]]; when it returned [[March 1, 2014|a month later]] head writer [[Colin Jost]] was added the cast in his place, joining Strong at the desk. Jost's anchoring ''Weekend Update'' marks the first time since Brian Doyle-Murray in season 7 that a person was added to the cast only to anchor the news segment, without taking part in any sketches.
 <gallery>
 File:Jost-strong-feb-2014.jpg|Promotional photo of Colin Jost and Cecily Strong, 2014
@@ Line 134: / Line 134: @@
 |Chevy Chase (episode host)||[[file:chase-apr-11-81.png|150px]]<br />April 11, 1981||[[April 11, 1981]]
 |-
-|Brian Doyle-Murray<br /><small>''Alone: Eps. 4-6, 8-11<br />With Mary Gross: Eps. 1-3, 7, 13-14<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;special appearances eps. 8, 12, 15<br />With Christine Ebersole: Eps. 15-20''</small>||[[file:Murray-newsbreak.png|150px]]<br />March 27, 1982||[[Season 7]]<br /><small>''As SNL Newsbreak''</small>
+|Brian Doyle-Murray<br /><small>''Alone: Eps. 4-6, 8-11<br />With Mary Gross: Eps. 1-3, 7, 13-14<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;special appearances eps. 8, 12<br />With Christine Ebersole: Eps. 15-20''<ref group="Note">During Ebersole's tenure, the segment was titled ''SNL Newsbreak with Mary Gross, Christine Ebersole, and Brian Doyle-Murray''. Ebersole and Murray sat at the desk, while Gross appeared via "satellite feed".</ref></small>||[[file:Murray-newsbreak.png|150px]]<br />March 27, 1982||[[Season 7]]<br /><small>''As SNL Newsbreak''</small>
 |-
 |Brad Hall||[[file:Brad-hall-mar-12-83.png|150px]]<br />March 12, 1983||[[Season 8]] - Mid [[Season 9]]<small><br />''As Saturday Night News''</small>
@@ Line 181: / Line 181: @@
 |Cecily Strong and Colin Jost||&nbsp;||Ep. 14 Season 39 - Now
 |}
+{{reflist|group=Note}}
 ==References==