Weekend Update
Updated: 12/11/2025, 2:58:21 PM Wikipedia source
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.
Tables
· Tenures by length
Colin Jost
Colin Jost
Cast Member
Colin Jost
Tenure
March 1, 2014 – present
Total seasons
11 seasons+
Total episodes
226 episodes
Michael Che
Michael Che
Cast Member
Michael Che
Tenure
September 27, 2014 – present
Total seasons
10 seasons+
Total episodes
219 episodes
Seth Meyers
Seth Meyers
Cast Member
Seth Meyers
Tenure
September 30, 2006 – February 1, 2014
Total seasons
8 seasons
Total episodes
154 episodes
Tina Fey
Tina Fey
Cast Member
Tina Fey
Tenure
October 7, 2000 – May 21, 2005, October 22, 2005 – May 20, 2006 and December 18, 2021
Total seasons
7 seasons
Total episodes
118 episodes
Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller
Cast Member
Dennis Miller
Tenure
November 9, 1985 – May 18, 1991
Total seasons
6 seasons
Total episodes
111 episodes
Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon
Cast Member
Jimmy Fallon
Tenure
October 7, 2000 – May 15, 2004
Total seasons
4 seasons
Total episodes
80 episodes
Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler
Cast Member
Amy Poehler
Tenure
October 2, 2004 – October 18, 2008, December 6–13, 2008, May 16, 2009, and September 25, 2010
Total seasons
6 seasons
Total episodes
80 episodes
Jane Curtin
Jane Curtin
Cast Member
Jane Curtin
Tenure
September 25, 1976 – May 24, 1980
Total seasons
4 seasons
Total episodes
78 episodes
Norm Macdonald
Norm Macdonald
Cast Member
Norm Macdonald
Tenure
September 24, 1994 – December 13, 1997
Total seasons
4 seasons
Total episodes
69 episodes
Kevin Nealon
Kevin Nealon
Cast Member
Kevin Nealon
Tenure
September 28, 1991 – May 14, 1994
Total seasons
3 seasons
Total episodes
60 episodes
Colin Quinn
Colin Quinn
Cast Member
Colin Quinn
Tenure
January 10, 1998 – May 20, 2000
Total seasons
3 seasons
Total episodes
50 episodes
Bill Murray
Bill Murray
Cast Member
Bill Murray
Tenure
October 7, 1978 – May 24, 1980
Total seasons
2 seasons
Total episodes
40 episodes
Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cast Member
Chevy Chase
Tenure
October 11, 1975 – October 30, 1976, February 18, 1978, April 11, 1981, and December 6, 1986
Total seasons
2 seasons
Total episodes
32 episodes
Brad Hall
Brad Hall
Cast Member
Brad Hall
Tenure
September 25, 1982 – December 10, 1983
Total seasons
2 seasons
Total episodes
28 episodes
Cecily Strong
Cecily Strong
Cast Member
Cecily Strong
Tenure
September 28, 2013 – May 17, 2014
Total seasons
1 season
Total episodes
21 episodes
Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Cast Member
Dan Aykroyd
Tenure
September 24, 1977 – May 20, 1978
Total seasons
1 season
Total episodes
20 episodes
Brian Doyle-Murray
Brian Doyle-Murray
Cast Member
Brian Doyle-Murray
Tenure
October 3, 1981 – May 22, 1982
Total seasons
1 season
Total episodes
20 episodes
Charles Rocket
Charles Rocket
Cast Member
Charles Rocket
Tenure
November 15, 1980 – March 7, 1981
Total seasons
1 season
Total episodes
12 episodes
Christopher Guest
Christopher Guest
Cast Member
Christopher Guest
Tenure
December 1, 1984 – April 13, 1985
Total seasons
1 season
Total episodes
10 episodes
Mary Gross
Mary Gross
Cast Member
Mary Gross
Tenure
October 3–17, 1981, December 5, 1981, and February 20 – March 20, 1982
Total seasons
1 season
Total episodes
7 episodes
Gail Matthius
Gail Matthius
Cast Member
Gail Matthius
Tenure
January 10 – February 21, 1981
Total seasons
1 season
Total episodes
6 episodes
Christine Ebersole
Christine Ebersole
Cast Member
Christine Ebersole
Tenure
March 27 – May 22, 1982
Total seasons
1 season
Total episodes
6 episodes
Billy Crystal (as Fernando)
Billy Crystal (as Fernando)
Cast Member
Billy Crystal (as Fernando)
Tenure
March 17, May 5, and October 6, 1984
Total seasons
2 seasons
Total episodes
3 episodes
Horatio Sanz
Horatio Sanz
Cast Member
Horatio Sanz
Tenure
October 1 & 8, 2005
Total seasons
1 season
Total episodes
2 episodes
Joe Piscopo
Joe Piscopo
Cast Member
Joe Piscopo
Tenure
February 18, 1984
Total seasons
1 season
Total episodes
1 episode
| Cast Member | Tenure | Total seasons | Total episodes |
| Colin Jost | March 1, 2014 – present | 11 seasons+ | 226 episodes |
| Michael Che | September 27, 2014 – present | 10 seasons+ | 219 episodes |
| Seth Meyers | September 30, 2006 – February 1, 2014 | 8 seasons | 154 episodes |
| Tina Fey | October 7, 2000 – May 21, 2005, October 22, 2005 – May 20, 2006 and December 18, 2021 | 7 seasons | 118 episodes |
| Dennis Miller | November 9, 1985 – May 18, 1991 | 6 seasons | 111 episodes |
| Jimmy Fallon | October 7, 2000 – May 15, 2004 | 4 seasons | 80 episodes |
| Amy Poehler | October 2, 2004 – October 18, 2008, December 6–13, 2008, May 16, 2009, and September 25, 2010 | 6 seasons | 80 episodes |
| Jane Curtin | September 25, 1976 – May 24, 1980 | 4 seasons | 78 episodes |
| Norm Macdonald | September 24, 1994 – December 13, 1997 | 4 seasons | 69 episodes |
| Kevin Nealon | September 28, 1991 – May 14, 1994 | 3 seasons | 60 episodes |
| Colin Quinn | January 10, 1998 – May 20, 2000 | 3 seasons | 50 episodes |
| Bill Murray | October 7, 1978 – May 24, 1980 | 2 seasons | 40 episodes |
| Chevy Chase | October 11, 1975 – October 30, 1976, February 18, 1978, April 11, 1981, and December 6, 1986 | 2 seasons | 32 episodes |
| Brad Hall | September 25, 1982 – December 10, 1983 | 2 seasons | 28 episodes |
| Cecily Strong | September 28, 2013 – May 17, 2014 | 1 season | 21 episodes |
| Dan Aykroyd | September 24, 1977 – May 20, 1978 | 1 season | 20 episodes |
| Brian Doyle-Murray | October 3, 1981 – May 22, 1982 | 1 season | 20 episodes |
| Charles Rocket | November 15, 1980 – March 7, 1981 | 1 season | 12 episodes |
| Christopher Guest | December 1, 1984 – April 13, 1985 | 1 season | 10 episodes |
| Mary Gross | October 3–17, 1981, December 5, 1981, and February 20 – March 20, 1982 | 1 season | 7 episodes |
| Gail Matthius | January 10 – February 21, 1981 | 1 season | 6 episodes |
| Christine Ebersole | March 27 – May 22, 1982 | 1 season | 6 episodes |
| Billy Crystal (as Fernando) | March 17, May 5, and October 6, 1984 | 2 seasons | 3 episodes |
| Horatio Sanz | October 1 & 8, 2005 | 1 season | 2 episodes |
| Joe Piscopo | February 18, 1984 | 1 season | 1 episode |
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