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Weekend Update
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Weekend Update
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 been featured in the vast majority of episodes since. It is typically presented in the middle of the show immediately after the first musical performance, and with some exceptions is the only sketch not to feature the episode's host.
The format of the sketch involves one or two of the players cast in the role of news anchor, presenting news headlines based on current events that are immediately followed by a gag commentary that twists the context into something humorous. The anchors also act as hosts for occasional editorials, commentaries, or other performances by other cast members or guests, either playing fictionalized versions of themselves, impressions of real-life figures, or invented characters; these guests often display eccentric behavior and baffling commentaries, with the anchors acting as straight people reacting accordingly.
In modern times, dedicated anchors are chosen among writing staff, often lead writers, in lieu of cast or featured players, although anchors still occasionally appear in other sketches. Chevy Chase, the original cast member filling the role of the anchor, has said that Weekend Update paved the way for comedic news shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, and several Weekend Update hosts have gone on to host their own late-night talk shows, most notably fellow NBC properties Late Night (Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers) and The Tonight Show (Fallon). The current hosts of the segment are writing staff members and former lead writers Colin Jost and Michael Che; they also hold the longest tenures of any Weekend Update host, with Jost beating out Che by eight episodes.
Weekend Update was created by original anchor Chevy Chase and SNL writers Herb Sargent and Al Franken. The sketch appeared on the first SNL broadcast on October 11, 1975, as the weekly "Update" to NBC News' monthly news magazine "Weekend", hence "Weekend Update". 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 substituted for Chase during Season 2 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".
Other popular guests during Curtin's tenure as anchor included John Belushi and Gilda Radner's characters Emily Litella and 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".
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Weekend Update
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 been featured in the vast majority of episodes since. It is typically presented in the middle of the show immediately after the first musical performance, and with some exceptions is the only sketch not to feature the episode's host.
The format of the sketch involves one or two of the players cast in the role of news anchor, presenting news headlines based on current events that are immediately followed by a gag commentary that twists the context into something humorous. The anchors also act as hosts for occasional editorials, commentaries, or other performances by other cast members or guests, either playing fictionalized versions of themselves, impressions of real-life figures, or invented characters; these guests often display eccentric behavior and baffling commentaries, with the anchors acting as straight people reacting accordingly.
In modern times, dedicated anchors are chosen among writing staff, often lead writers, in lieu of cast or featured players, although anchors still occasionally appear in other sketches. Chevy Chase, the original cast member filling the role of the anchor, has said that Weekend Update paved the way for comedic news shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, and several Weekend Update hosts have gone on to host their own late-night talk shows, most notably fellow NBC properties Late Night (Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers) and The Tonight Show (Fallon). The current hosts of the segment are writing staff members and former lead writers Colin Jost and Michael Che; they also hold the longest tenures of any Weekend Update host, with Jost beating out Che by eight episodes.
Weekend Update was created by original anchor Chevy Chase and SNL writers Herb Sargent and Al Franken. The sketch appeared on the first SNL broadcast on October 11, 1975, as the weekly "Update" to NBC News' monthly news magazine "Weekend", hence "Weekend Update". 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 substituted for Chase during Season 2 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".
Other popular guests during Curtin's tenure as anchor included John Belushi and Gilda Radner's characters Emily Litella and 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".