Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday

{{Infobox television

| image = SNL Weekend Update Thursday title card.png

| alt_name = Weekend Update: Special Edition (2009–2012)
Weekend Update: Summer Edition (2017)

| creator = Lorne Michaels[http://nbcumv.com/entertainment/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20090730000000-emmynomineeamypoe.html 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

| presenter = {{Plainlist|

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| voices =

| narrated = Don Pardo
Darrell Hammond

| theme_music_composer = Jeff Richmond

| open_theme =

| end_theme =

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 4

| num_episodes = 11

| list_episodes =

| developer =

| writer = Seth Meyers (head writer)

| director = Don Roy King

| producer = Steve Higgins
Marci Klein

| executive_producer = Lorne Michaels

| camera =

| runtime = 30 minutes

| network = NBC

| first_aired = {{Start date|2008|10|09}}

| last_aired = {{End date|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

=Fall 2008=

The show 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.{{cite news| url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-nbcfall08premieredates,0,5315624.story | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080525190949/http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-nbcfall08premieredates,0,5315624.story | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 25, 2008 | title='Heroes' Back in a Big Way This Fall | date=2008-05-23 | access-date=2008-05-28}}

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=

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|date=September 2009}}

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=

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=

On March 14, 2017, NBC announced a three-episode run of the series beginning August 10, 2017.{{cite web |url= http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2017/03/14/saturday-night-live-weekend-update-arrives-in-primetime-beginning-thursday-aug-10-102115/20170314nbc02/ |title= "Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update" Arrives in Primetime Beginning Thursday, Aug. 10 |work= The Futon Critic |date= March 14, 2017 |access-date= March 14, 2017}} 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

{{Series overview

| color1 = #e8a350

| link1 = #Season 1 (2008)

| episodes1 = 3

| start1 = {{Start date|2008|10|09}}

| end1 = {{End date|2008|10|23}}

| color2 = #A11B5C

| link2 = #Season 2 (2009)

| episodes2 = 3

| start2 = {{Start date|2009|09|17}}

| end2 = {{End date|2009|10|01}}

| color3 = #3126d4

| link3 = #Season 3 (2012)

| episodes3 = 2

| start3 = {{Start date|2012|09|20}}

| end3 = {{End date|2012|09|27}}

| color4 = #E18000

| link4 = #Season 4 (2017)

| episodes4 = 3

| start4 = {{Start date|2017|08|10}}

| end4 = {{End date|2017|08|24}}

}}

=Season 1 (2008)=

{{Episode table |background=#e8a350 |overall= |season= |title= |titleT= Original air date |aux2= |aux2T=Special guest(s) |country=US |viewers= |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|EpisodeNumber2 = 1

|RTitle = {{Start date|2008|10|09}}

|Aux2 = Bill Murray and Chris Parnell

|Viewers = 10.9{{cite press release |title=SNL Weekend Update Thursday, The Office and Sunday Night Football Pace NBC's Week Of October 6–12 |url=http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20081014000000-039snlweekendup.html |publisher=NBC Universal Media Village |date=2008-10-14 |access-date=2008-10-21}}

|ShortSummary =

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.

|LineColor = e8a350

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|EpisodeNumber2 = 2

|RTitle = {{Start date|2008|10|16}}

|Aux2 = Chris Parnell

|Viewers = 8.8{{cite press release |title=NBC Primetime Results For The Week Of October 13–19 |url=http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20081021000000-nbcprimetimeresult.html |publisher=NBC Universal Media Village |date=2008-10-21 |access-date=2008-10-21}}

|ShortSummary =

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.

|LineColor = e8a350

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|EpisodeNumber2 = 3

|RTitle = {{Start date|2008|10|23}}

|Aux2 = Will Ferrell and Tina Fey

|Viewers = 8.8{{cite press release|title=NBC Primetime Results For The Week Of 20–26 |url=http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20081028000000-nbcprimetimeresult.html |publisher=NBC Universal Media Village |date=2008-10-28 |access-date=2009-02-25}}

|ShortSummary = 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).

|LineColor = e8a350

}}

=Season 2 (2009)=

Despite Lorne Michaels saying that three episodes would be airing in Fall 2009, then another three in early 2010, and three in Spring 2010,{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/18/AR2009091800152.html?hpid=topnews | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Tom Shales on Season Debut of 'Saturday Night Live's' 'Weekend Update Thursday' | date=September 18, 2009 | access-date=May 23, 2010}} there were only three Weekend Update Thursday installments that occurred in Fall 2009.

{{Episode table |background=#A11B5C |overall= |season= |title= |titleT= Original air date |aux2= |aux2T=Special guest(s) |country=US |viewers= |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|EpisodeNumber2 = 1

|RTitle = {{Start date|2009|09|17}}

|Aux2 = Amy Poehler and Darrell Hammond

|Viewers = 5.70

|ShortSummary =

Amy Poehler returns as a special guest to co-anchor Update alongside Seth Meyers.
Darrell Hammond appears as Jimmy Carter.

|LineColor = A11B5C

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|EpisodeNumber2 = 2

|RTitle = {{Start date|2009|09|24}}

|Aux2 = Amy Poehler, Megan Fox, and Darrell Hammond

|Viewers = 4.66

|ShortSummary =

Amy Poehler returns to co-anchor Update alongside Seth Meyers.
Darrell Hammond appears as Bill Clinton.
Bill Hader appears as Keith Morrison.
Megan Fox appears to parody the finale of the soap opera Guiding Light.

|LineColor = A11B5C

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|EpisodeNumber2 = 3

|RTitle = {{Start date|2009|10|01}}

|Aux2 = Darrell Hammond and Maya Rudolph

|Viewers = 5.08

|ShortSummary =

Darrell Hammond appears as Dennis Franz.
Maya Rudolph appears as Oprah Winfrey.

|LineColor = A11B5C

}}

=Season 3 (2012)=

{{Episode table |background=#3126d4 |overall= |season= |title= |titleT= Original air date |aux2= |aux2T=Special guest(s) |country=US |viewers= |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|EpisodeNumber2 = 1

|RTitle = {{Start date|2012|09|20}}

|Aux2 = {{TableTBA|N/A}}

|Viewers = 5.15

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 3126d4

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|EpisodeNumber2 = 2

|RTitle = {{Start date|2012|09|27}}

|Aux2 = {{TableTBA|N/A}}

|Viewers = 4.67

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 3126d4

}}

= Season 4 (2017) =

{{Episode table |background=#E18000 |overall= |season= |title= |titleT= Original air date |aux2= |aux2T=Special guest(s) |country=US |viewers= |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 9

|EpisodeNumber2 = 1

|RTitle = {{Start date|2017|08|10}}

|Aux2 = Bill Hader

|Viewers = 6.5{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-snl-weekend-update-scores-first-outing-1028806|title=TV Ratings: 'SNL: Weekend Update' Scores in First Outing|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 11, 2017|access-date=August 11, 2017|first=Michael|last=O'Connell}}

|ShortSummary =

Bill Hader appears as Anthony Scaramucci.

|LineColor = E18000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 10

|EpisodeNumber2 = 2

|RTitle = {{Start date|2017|08|17}}

|Aux2 = Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and Tina Fey

|Viewers = 5.8{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/snl-weekend-update-ratings-1202532578/|title = TV Ratings: 'SNL: Weekend Update' Stays Solid with Surprise Cameos|date = 18 August 2017}}

|ShortSummary =

Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers appear as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, respectively.
Tina Fey appears to comment on the 2017 Charlottesville attack.

|LineColor = E18000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 11

|EpisodeNumber2 = 3

|RTitle = {{Start date|2017|08|24}}

|Aux2 = Alec Baldwin

|Viewers = 5.8{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/tv-ratings-boy-band-finale-1202539002/|title = TV Ratings: 'Boy Band' Finale Matches Season High|date = 25 August 2017}}

|ShortSummary =