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‘SNL’ Segment Moves to Prime Time

Mar 14, 2017  •  Post A Comment

NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” is ready for prime time — or at least one of its most popular segments is. The network announced today that the sketch show’s “Weekend Update” will be airing in prime time in the form of four NBC specials.

The specials, “Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update,” will begin airing Thursday, Aug. 10, at 9 p.m., with Michael Che and Colin Jost anchoring. Other “SNL” cast members will also appear.

In the announcement, Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, said: “‘SNL’ is having its best season in a quarter of a century — how many shows can say that?! — so we didn’t want them to take the summer off.”

The announcement adds: “‘Weekend Update,’ which comments on and satirizes the news and current affairs of the week, has consistently ranked as one of the most popular segments of ‘Saturday Night Live’ throughout the show’s storied 42-year history. Previous ‘Weekend Update’ anchors include Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Dennis Miller, Norm Macdonald, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers.”

Original episodes of “Saturday Night Live” have been averaging a 3.57 rating in adults 18-49 this season, and 11.022 million viewers overall, in Nielsen “live plus seven day” averages, making this the show’s top-rated season at this point in eight years in 18-49 (since 2008-09) and its most-watched season in 24 years (since 1992-93).

“SNL” is up +21% from a year ago in adults 18-49 (3.57 rating vs. 2.94) and up 2.2 million persons, or +26%, in total viewers with 11.022 million.

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