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| Saturday Night Live Weekend Update | |
|---|---|
| Show name | Saturday Night Live Weekend Update |
| Genre | Comedy, Satire, News Parody |
| Creator | Lorne Michaels |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Network | NBC |
| First aired | October 11, 1975 |
Saturday Night Live Weekend Update is the long-running satirical news segment featured within Saturday Night Live that parodies current events, politics, and popular culture. Originating in the inaugural season created by Lorne Michaels, the segment has blended comedic monologue, character work, and mock journalism to comment on figures such as Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and cultural phenomena tied to Hollywood, Madison Square Garden, and major elections. Weekend Update has influenced late-night formats across American television, inspired writers from The Daily Show to The Colbert Report, and involves performers from The Groundlings, UCB Theatre, and The Second City.
Weekend Update debuted during the 1975 debut season of Saturday Night Live under creator Lorne Michaels, with original anchor Gerald Ford impersonations by cast members and commentary referencing figures like Henry Kissinger and events such as the aftermath of Watergate. Early anchors included Chevy Chase and Jane Curtin before transitions to anchors like Dennis Miller, reflecting shifts through administrations including Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush. The 1990s saw anchors like Conan O'Brien and Norm Macdonald during eras defined by debates around Bill Clinton and cultural touchstones like Seinfeld and Friends. The 2000s and 2010s featured anchors such as Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, and Colin Jost, responding to events involving George W. Bush, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. Weekend Update adapted to new media landscapes including YouTube, Twitter, and streaming on Peacock.
The segment routinely opens with one-liners delivered in anchor desk format, followed by field pieces and correspondent interviews. Recurring bits have included "Weekend Update Top Ten," character-driven pieces such as impersonations of Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and recurring characters drawn from sketch archives featuring performers associated with The Groundlings and Second City. The format integrates pre-taped mock reports, live interviews with guests including celebrities from Hollywood and politicians like Mitt Romney or commentators from Fox News and MSNBC, and recurring props and graphics referencing institutions such as The New York Times and CNN.
Notable anchors include Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Dennis Miller, Kevin Nealon, Norm Macdonald, Colin Quinn, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, Taran Killam (as contributor), Michael Che, and Colin Jost. Prominent correspondents and writers who shaped the segment encompass alumni like Jon Stewart, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, Bill Murray, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, Aidy Bryant, and writers from shows such as Saturday Night Live itself who later moved to The Daily Show and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Guest hosts and figures appearing on the desk have included politicians and entertainers like Barack Obama (in promotions), Al Gore, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Madonna, Beyoncé, and journalists from The Washington Post.
Weekend Update has influenced political satire through connections to programs like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, affected public perception of politicians including Sarah Palin and Donald Trump, and intersected with media controversies involving outlets such as Fox News and The New York Times. Controversies have arisen over jokes about tragedies linked to events like 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, celebrity disputes involving Alec Baldwin and Lindsay Lohan, and internal disputes over credit and authorship involving writers who later joined Late Night and The Tonight Show. Legal and ethical debates have involved libel concerns, standards influenced by FCC regulations, and debates in forums such as The New Yorker and industry panels at Paley Center for Media.
The segment is produced at Studio 8H in 30 Rockefeller Plaza with producers, directors, and writers assembling nightly during Saturday Night Live's rehearsal week. Writers and performers from ensembles like The Second City, UCB Theatre, and The Groundlings contribute material; head writers and showrunners, often mentored by Lorne Michaels, shepherd sketches through cold reads, table reads, and dress rehearsals. The process integrates current-news research from outlets such as The New York Times, Reuters, Associated Press, and CNN, with legal clearance by network standards and practices and executive oversight tied to NBCUniversal executives.
Weekend Update's ratings and critical reception have varied with anchors, political climates, and competing programs on CBS, ABC, and cable networks. Peaks in attention occurred during seasons featuring viral segments on YouTube and major political moments like 2008 United States presidential election and 2016 United States presidential election, boosting Nielsen ratings and social media engagement on Twitter and Facebook. Critics from publications such as Variety, The New Yorker, and Rolling Stone have debated its comedic influence, with awards recognition from institutions including the Primetime Emmy Awards and praise at events like the Peabody Awards.