Weekend Update: Difference between revisions
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In between stories, various other ''SNL'' cast members and guests give humorous and sometimes bizarre [[editorial]]s, commentaries, or other performances. |
In between stories, various other ''SNL'' cast members and guests give humorous and sometimes bizarre [[editorial]]s, commentaries, or other performances. |
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Norm McDonald's three-year stint as anchor is regarded by many fans as perhaps the best in the segment's history; he introduced many hilarious recurring items and catchphrases, including repeated references to the Germans and their love of [[Baywatch]] star David Hassellhof, regular jokes about "crack whores" and his sometimes breathtakingly audacious comedic attacks on public figures such as OJ Simpson and [Michael Jackson]]. |
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In one particularly notorious Update item ca. 1996, MacDonald famously denounced the King of Pop during a report about Jackson's recent collapse and hospitalisation. Referring to the fact that Jackson had decorated his room with giant photos of Shirley Temple, Norm stated that " .. in case some viewers are confused, we'd like to remind you that Michael Jackson is in fact a ''homosexual'' pedophile". The outrageous joke elicited audible gasps of disbelief from some audience members. |
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McDonald's time with SNL ended controversially in 1997 when he was sacked from the show at the behest of an NBC senior executive, who reportedly pressured the producers to remove him, claiming that MacDonald was "not funny" -- despite clear evidence to the contrary in his rapturous weekly reception by the SNL live audience. It later transpired that the executive was a close personal friend of former footballer and then murder suspect [[OJ Simpson]]. Simpson had been a regular target of MacDonald's withering satire, with Norm constantly suggesting that he was guilty of the killing of his wife Nicole. |
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==''Weekend Update'' anchors== |
==''Weekend Update'' anchors== |
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Revision as of 15:32, 24 September 2004
Weekend Update is a regular comedy sketch performed on the television series Saturday Night Live.
Typically scheduled after the first musical performance of the guest music act, the action consists of a mock newsroom with one or two of the players in the role of news anchor, telling jokes based on current events.
In between stories, various other SNL cast members and guests give humorous and sometimes bizarre editorials, commentaries, or other performances.
Norm McDonald's three-year stint as anchor is regarded by many fans as perhaps the best in the segment's history; he introduced many hilarious recurring items and catchphrases, including repeated references to the Germans and their love of Baywatch star David Hassellhof, regular jokes about "crack whores" and his sometimes breathtakingly audacious comedic attacks on public figures such as OJ Simpson and [Michael Jackson]].
In one particularly notorious Update item ca. 1996, MacDonald famously denounced the King of Pop during a report about Jackson's recent collapse and hospitalisation. Referring to the fact that Jackson had decorated his room with giant photos of Shirley Temple, Norm stated that " .. in case some viewers are confused, we'd like to remind you that Michael Jackson is in fact a homosexual pedophile". The outrageous joke elicited audible gasps of disbelief from some audience members.
McDonald's time with SNL ended controversially in 1997 when he was sacked from the show at the behest of an NBC senior executive, who reportedly pressured the producers to remove him, claiming that MacDonald was "not funny" -- despite clear evidence to the contrary in his rapturous weekly reception by the SNL live audience. It later transpired that the executive was a close personal friend of former footballer and then murder suspect OJ Simpson. Simpson had been a regular target of MacDonald's withering satire, with Norm constantly suggesting that he was guilty of the killing of his wife Nicole.
Weekend Update anchors
- Chevy Chase (1975-1976)
- Jane Curtin (1976-1980)
- Dan Aykroyd (1977-1978)
- Bill Murray (1978-1980)
- Charles Rocket (1980-1981)
- Gail Matthius (1981)
- Brian Doyle-Murray & Mary Gross (1981-1982) (as SNL Newsbreak)
- Christine Ebersole (1982) (as SNL Newsbreak)
- Brad Hall (1982-1984) (as Saturday Night News)
- Christopher Guest (1984-1985) (as Saturday Night News)
- Dennis Miller (1985-1991)
- Kevin Nealon (1991-1994)
- Norm MacDonald (1994-1997)
- Colin Quinn (1998-2000)
- Jimmy Fallon & Tina Fey (2000-2004)