Weekend Update

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History of Saturday Night Live series:

1975–1980
1980–1985
1985–1990
1990–1995
1995–2000
2000–2005
2005–Present
Weekend Update

Weekend Update is a Saturday Night Live sketch which 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. 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 host(s) for occasional editorials, commentaries, or other performances by other cast members or guests.

Contents

[edit] Weekend Update (1975-1980)

[edit] Chevy Chase (1975-1976)

Weekend Update was created by original anchor Chevy Chase and SNL writer Herb Sargent,[citation needed] 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".

In addition, the practice of a picture insert of a person simultaneously giving the news read in sign language for the hearing impaired 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."

[edit] Jane Curtin (1976-1980)

Jane Curtin anchored Weekend Update from 1976-1980.

Jane Curtin replaced Chase a few shows into Season 2 when he left in 1976 and stayed as anchor until the end of Season 5 in 1980. Curtin 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 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 of "Point/Counterpoint" featured Curtin and Aykroyd making ad hominem attacks on each other's positions on a variety of topics. Aykroyd regularly began his reply with "Jane, you ignorant slut", which became another of the many SNL catch phrases (Curtin frequently began her reply with "Dan, you pompous ass").

Other popular running features were John Belushi giving editorials that usually ended with him working himself into a frenzy and stating "But Noooooo...." and Gilda Radner's character Emily Litella (later Roseanne Roseannadanna). 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".

[edit] 1980-1985

Charles Rocket anchored Weekend Update from 1980-1981.

Charles Rocket (later teamed with Gail Matthius) anchored during the one-season (1980-1981) tenure of new executive producer Jean Doumanian. Rocket's final appearance was on the March 7, 1981 broadcast, hosted by Bill Murray, when Weekend Update received a one-time name and set change to SNL NewsLine. Rocket signed off each week by saying "Good night and watch out."

Following Rocket's firing from SNL, Chevy Chase hosted on April 11, 1981 (the final show of Season 6), and anchored Weekend Update, as he had on his previous appearances as host.

[edit] SNL Newsbreak (1981-1982)

Brian Doyle-Murray anchored the retitled SNL Newsbreak with various co-anchors from 1981-1985.

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

[edit] 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. For the rest of the 1983-1984 season, and into the next, there were mo regular anchors whatsoever – 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.

[edit] The return of Weekend Update

[edit] Dennis Miller (1985-1991)

In 1985, Michaels returned to the show, bringing the Weekend Update name with him. The new anchor was Dennis Miller, who remained in the chair for six years. Miller opened the segments by saying "Good evening, and what can I tell ya?" and signed off by saying "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 in 1991.

[edit] Kevin Nealon (1991-1994)

Kevin Nealon took over with his "Mr. Subliminal" character and as the straightman in many highlights such as "Operaman" and "Cajun Man" (with both characters being played by Adam Sandler), and 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.

During his final episode as anchorman for Weekend Update, Nealon passed on the position to Norm Macdonald by kissing him on the lips. Nealon signed off with the tagline "I'm Kevin Nealon, and that's news to me".

[edit] Norm Macdonald (1994-1997)

Norm Macdonald would take over the role for Season 20, harkening to the days of Chase and Curtin by reading contrived news stories but acting as if he were a legitimate news anchor. Al Franken, whose history with SNL dated back to 1975, had been lobbying to replace Nealon as Weekend Update host – and left the show after losing the anchor spot.[1] Macdonald would open each segment with "I'm Norm Macdonald, and now for the fake news".

[edit] 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 very 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? -pause- Well I'm Steve, what can I get you?" His sign-off was "I'm Colin Quinn, that's my story and I'm sticking to it".

Quinn left the show in 2000.

[edit] Return to dual anchors

[edit] Jimmy Fallon & Tina Fey (2000-2004)

Over the summer of 2000, cast members auditioned to be replacements. Among the candidates were comics Kevin Brennan and Jeffrey Ross, and two duos – Ana Gasteyer and Chris Parnell; and Jimmy Fallon and writer Tina Fey.[2] The latter group got the nod, 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 & Curtin's "Goodnight, 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, 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' Drunk Girl character.

[edit] Tina Fey & Amy Poehler (2004-2006)

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler anchored Weekend Update from 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.

The 2005 season began with Poehler returning to her seat behind the desk. However, Fey temporarily left the show after giving birth to her first child and was replaced briefly by Horatio Sanz as co-anchor. Fey returned to the show in October for the season's third live episode.

[edit] Amy Poehler & Seth Meyers (2006-2008)

Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers anchored Weekend Update from 2006-2008.

After the departure of Fey, Amy Poehler continued as co-anchor along with new co-anchor Seth Meyers for the 2006-2007 season.[3] The duo began a string of running gags, one of which was introduced during the 2006-2007 season, entitled "Really!?! with Seth and Amy", involved Seth and Amy lambasting celebrities (for example Alberto Gonzales, Larry Craig, Eliot Spitzer, Rob Blagojevich, or Michael Vick) for lack of common sense. Another running gag started on October 1, 2008, where an anchor would make more than one joke about a story, seem to segue, and then immediately make one more joke about the story. Poehler left SNL in Fall 2008 to give birth to her child.

During the 2007-2008 season, two previous hosts returned to the 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.[4] Governor Sarah Palin also appeared on Weekend Update once during the 2008-2009 season, and ended the segment with the traditional "Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow" as Amy Poehler had left the set.

Poehler made a surprise return to her anchor chair on May 16, 2009 in which they did a "Really?!?" sketch about ASU denying President Obama an honorary degree.

[edit] Interim Solo Anchor

[edit] Seth Meyers (2008-2009)

From October 25, 2008 onward, Meyers anchored the segment alone with Poehler still being credited, but not appearing. On December 6, 2008, Amy Poehler returned four weeks after the birth of her child to do Weekend Update with Meyers.

At the end of the December 13, 2008 Weekend Update segment, Poehler announced to the audience that the show was her last one. Since then, Meyers has continued anchoring Weekend Update solo. The "Really!?!" celebrity-mocking gag remained, retitled "Really!?! with Seth".

On March 14, 2009, Tracy Morgan (who was hosting SNL) cut into Weekend Update by rolling in on a chair and doing "Really!?! with Tracy Morgan", where he commented on a new tax for strip clubs, saying "They want to add a tax for strip clubs? I really, really, really, really don't want them to do that, really" which shies away from the traditional "Really!?!" gag.

Myers' sign-off is "For Weekend Update I'm Seth Meyers! Good night!".

[edit] New Season, Primetime Extras

[edit] Seth Meyers & (temporarily) Amy Poehler (2009-Present)

Entertainment Weekly confirmed that Amy Poehler would return to Weekend Update Thursday for at least two broadcasts as co-anchor in Fall 2009.[5] For the third episode of Weekend Update Thursday, Seth Meyers anchored solo.

After each episode, the anchor(s) throw to Parks and Recreation.

[edit] Weekend Update anchors

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) 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.

[edit] Weekend Update (1975-1981)

Seasons 1-2 (1975-1976)

  • Chevy Chase (Last: October 30, 1976)
  • Jane Curtin (First: September 25, 1976)
  • Jane Curtin and Buck Henry (February 20, 1977)[6]
    • Chase began the season as anchor on September 18, but missed the next two episodes due to 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 16-30. Curtin permanently took over Weekend Update beginning November 13. Henry co-anchored with Curtin on the Mardi Gras special.

Season 3 (1977-1978)

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)
  • SNL NewsLine with show host Bill Murray (March 7, 1981)
  • Show host Chevy Chase (April 11, 1981)


[edit] SNL NewsBreak

Season 7 (1981-1982)

  • Brian Doyle-Murray and Mary Gross (October 3-17 , 1981)
  • Brian Doyle-Murray (October 31, 1981 to February 6, 1982)
  • Brian Doyle-Murray and Mary Gross (February 20 to September 20, 1982)
  • Brian Doyle-Murray and Christine Ebersole (March 27 to May 22, 1982)

[edit] Saturday Night News

Season 8 (1982-1983)

Season 9 (1983-1984)

Season 10 (1984-1985):

  • Billy Crystal (as Fernando Lamas) (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)

[edit] Weekend Update (1985-present)

Seasons 11-16 (1985-1991):

Seasons 17-19 (1991-1994):

Seasons 20-22 (1994-1997):

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):

Season 30 (2004-2005):

Season 31 (2005-2006)

  • Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz (Last: October 8, 2005)
  • Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (First: October 22, 2005)

Season 32 (2006-2007)

  • Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers

Season 33 (2007-2008)

  • Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers
  • "Senior political consultant" Chevy Chase(October 6, 2007)
  • "Women's news correspondent" Tina Fey (February 23, 2008)

Season 34 (2008-2009)

  • Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers (Last: December 12, 2008)
  • Seth Meyers (First: October 25, 2008)

Season 35 (2009-2010)

  • Seth Meyers

[edit] Cast members as Weekend Update anchors: the tote board

As of episode 34.22 (Host: Will Ferrell with Musical Guest: Green Day)

Name Appearances as WU anchor Total number of appearances
As anchor As co-anchor
Tina Fey - 118 118
Dennis Miller 110 1 111
Amy Poehler - 81 81
Jane Curtin 20 60 80
Jimmy Fallon - 80 80
Norm Macdonald 69 - 69
Kevin Nealon 61 - 61
Seth Meyers 14 40 54
Colin Quinn 49 - 49
Bill Murray - 40 40
Chevy Chase 29 2 31
Brad Hall 30 - 30
Dan Aykroyd - 20 20
Brian Doyle-Murray 8 12 20
Charles Rocket 6 6 12
Christopher Guest 11 - 11
Christine Ebersole - 6 6
Mary Gross - 6 6
Gail Matthius - 6 6
Horatio Sanz - 2 2
Joe Piscopo 1 - 1

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Shales, T: Live From New York, pages 433-444. Back Bay Books, 2003.
  2. ^ Baldwin, Kristen (May 10, 2002), "Update with Destiny". Entertainment Weekly. (653):26
  3. '^ Bauder, David (September 21, 2006). "Seth Meyers to co-anchor SNLs "Update"". Associated Press. Yahoo! News. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060921/ap_on_en_tv/tv_snl_changes_1. Retrieved 2006-09-24. 
  4. ^ http://www.film.com/features/story/amy-poehler-confirms-she-leaving/21839551
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ SNL Transcripts Mardi Gras Special 2/20/1977 Weekend Update with Jane Curtin and Buck Henry.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weekend_Update"