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Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday

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Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday
Also known asWeekend Update: Special Edition (2009–2012)
Weekend Update: Summer Edition (2017)
GenreComedy
Satire
News Parody
Created byLorne Michaels[1]
Written bySeth Meyers (head writer)[1]
Directed byDon Roy King[1]
Presented by
Starring
Narrated byDon Pardo
Darrell Hammond
Theme music composerJeff Richmond
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes11 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerLorne Michaels[1]
ProducersSteve Higgins
Marci Klein[1]
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseOctober 9, 2008 (2008-10-09) –
August 24, 2017 (2017-08-24)
Related
Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday is an American limited-run series broadcast on NBC. It is a political satire news show spin-off from Saturday Night Live, featuring that show's Weekend Update segment. It initially ran for three 30-minute episodes in October 2008, during the lead-up to the 2008 United States presidential election.

On March 14, 2017, NBC ordered a three-episode fourth iteration to be hosted by Michael Che and Colin Jost, premiering August 10, 2017, and going by the title Weekend Update: Summer Edition.

Production history

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Fall 2008

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It premiered on Thursday, October 9, 2008, at 9:30 p.m. ET, after The Office. The remaining episodes aired in the same timeslot on October 16 and 23.[2]

The format consists of a topical cold open sketch similar to most episodes of SNL, followed by an extended Weekend Update for the remaining time. The series is essentially a continuation of the short-form "primetime extra" specials which have aired intermittently since the 2000–2001 season, when NBC needed to fill time following "supersized" 40-minute episodes of Friends.

Several former Saturday Night Live alumni returned to this show: Will Ferrell reprised his role as President George W. Bush, while Tina Fey appeared as vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, in a continuation of her much-publicized appearances on the regular show. During the first show, Bill Murray appeared as himself, one of the undecided voters at the second presidential debate sketch. Chris Parnell appeared in the first two episodes as the moderators of the debates, Tom Brokaw and Bob Schieffer.

Fall 2009

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Although originally intended to be a limited-run series, NBC announced on May 4, 2009, that they had ordered six new episodes of the show, making it the only show NBC introduced at the beginning of the 2008–2009 fall season to survive into a second term.[citation needed]

Darrell Hammond made guest appearances in the first three episodes, despite no longer being an SNL cast member. Former cast member Amy Poehler also returned as a special guest to co-anchor the first two episodes of the season. Although six were announced, the spring 2010 episodes were scrapped.

Fall 2012

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NBC announced two SNL specials to be broadcast on 8 p.m. Thursday beginning September 20, 2012. This time around, the show was listed as "SNL Primetime Election Special" in some TV listings, but the actual on-air program retained its original title.

Summer 2017

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On March 14, 2017, NBC announced a three-episode run of the series beginning August 10, 2017.[3] This time, the program takes on the title of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update: Summer Edition and, with the exception of the third episode, completely does away with the cold open sketch and goes right into the news.

Episodes

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See also: List of Saturday Night Live episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
13October 9, 2008 (2008-10-09)October 23, 2008 (2008-10-23)
23September 17, 2009 (2009-09-17)October 1, 2009 (2009-10-01)
32September 20, 2012 (2012-09-20)September 27, 2012 (2012-09-27)
43August 10, 2017 (2017-08-10)August 24, 2017 (2017-08-24)

Season 1 (2008)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		Original air dateSpecial guest(s)US viewers
(millions)
11October 9, 2008 (2008-10-09)Bill Murray and Chris Parnell10.9[4]

  • Cold opening sketch features Darrell Hammond as Sen. John McCain and Fred Armisen as Sen. Barack Obama in the middle of the 2nd Presidential Debate.
  • Chris Parnell guest appears to reprise his Tom Brokaw impression and moderated the debate. Bill Murray also appears as townsperson "William Murray" asking a question.
22October 16, 2008 (2008-10-16)Chris Parnell8.8[5]

  • Cold opening sketch focuses the 3rd Presidential debate between McCain and Obama. Chris Parnell guest appears as Bob Schieffer and moderated the debate.
  • A new segment named "We Liked It" debuts.
33October 23, 2008 (2008-10-23)Will Ferrell and Tina Fey8.8[6]
The opening sketch features George W. Bush's (Will Ferrell) endorsement of a proud Sarah Palin (Tina Fey) and rather reluctant John McCain (Darrell Hammond).

Season 2 (2009)

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Despite Lorne Michaels saying that three episodes would be airing in Fall 2009, then another three in early 2010, and three in Spring 2010,[7] there were only three Weekend Update Thursday installments that occurred in Fall 2009.

No.
overall		No. in
season		Original air dateSpecial guest(s)US viewers
(millions)
41September 17, 2009 (2009-09-17)Amy Poehler and Darrell Hammond5.70

52September 24, 2009 (2009-09-24)Amy Poehler, Megan Fox, and Darrell Hammond4.66

63October 1, 2009 (2009-10-01)Darrell Hammond and Maya Rudolph5.08

Season 3 (2012)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		Original air dateSpecial guest(s)US viewers
(millions)
71September 20, 2012 (2012-09-20)N/A5.15
82September 27, 2012 (2012-09-27)N/A4.67

Season 4 (2017)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		Original air dateSpecial guest(s)US viewers
(millions)
91August 10, 2017 (2017-08-10)Bill Hader6.5[8]

102August 17, 2017 (2017-08-17)Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and Tina Fey5.8[9]

113August 24, 2017 (2017-08-24)Alec Baldwin5.8[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Emmy Nominee Amy Poehler to Guest-star in First Two Episodes of NBC'S New 'Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Thursday' on September 17 and 24 a July 30, 2009 press release from the NBC Universal website
  2. ^ "'Heroes' Back in a Big Way This Fall". 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
  3. ^ ""Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update" Arrives in Primetime Beginning Thursday, Aug. 10". The Futon Critic. March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  4. ^ "SNL Weekend Update Thursday, The Office and Sunday Night Football Pace NBC's Week Of October 6–12" (Press release). NBC Universal Media Village. 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  5. ^ "NBC Primetime Results For The Week Of October 13–19" (Press release). NBC Universal Media Village. 2008-10-21. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  6. ^ "NBC Primetime Results For The Week Of 20–26" (Press release). NBC Universal Media Village. 2008-10-28. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
  7. ^ "Tom Shales on Season Debut of 'Saturday Night Live's' 'Weekend Update Thursday'". The Washington Post. September 18, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  8. ^ O'Connell, Michael (August 11, 2017). "TV Ratings: 'SNL: Weekend Update' Scores in First Outing". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  9. ^ "TV Ratings: 'SNL: Weekend Update' Stays Solid with Surprise Cameos". 18 August 2017.
  10. ^ "TV Ratings: 'Boy Band' Finale Matches Season High". 25 August 2017.
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