SNL50 - Top 5 Weekend Update Anchors & Top 15 Update Segments

 

Weekend Update has been a cornerstone for SNL since it first began. Lots of great comedic commentary on the news of the week and lots of fun input from the rest of cast as commentators and characters. There have been some rough years with anchors who were not quite up to the task. There have also been some awesome ones. Here’s my top 5 anchors:

5. DENNIS MILLER (Seasons 11-16)
While Dennis was sometimes pretentious with his big words, he made Weekend Update fun again after some abysmal years. He also had a great laugh.

4. TINA FEY (Seasons 26-31)
Tina had no problem being the most intelligent person in the room. Her incredulity of the craziness in the news brought a lot of laughs to Update.

3. COLIN JOST (Seasons 39-present)
While usually good at line delivery, he also knows when a joke is tanking but he doesn’t keep track like Michael Che does.

2. SETH MEYERS (Seasons 32-39)
Seth is so good at joking about the news he does it on his Late Night show. He also was the perfect straight man for his crazy WU guests, especially Stefon.

1. NORM MACDONALD (Seasons 20-23)
Norm didn’t care what people thought. If a joke tanked, he would keep bringing it up until you had to laugh. His bits like “Note to self” and “The Germans love David Hasselhoff” were always hit and miss and still made me laugh. Of course, his constant OJ jokes are what got him fired. One of my favourite moments was after the verdict, Norm started update with, “Well, it’s official, murder is legal in California.”

There will be another list with characters that visited the Update desk. This list is of cast members, as themselves, providing commentary or contributing something else to the Weekend Update proceedings.

15. JOHN BELUSHI COMMENTARY
EPISODE: S02E16 (03.19.1977)
John talks about the luck of the Irish for St. Patrick’s Day but goes off on a rant about a guy who wants to borrow some money. Love his exit.
LINK: Click here

14. JON RUDNITSKY AUDITION
EPISODE: S41E12 (02.06.2016)
Jon wants to audition for a Dirty Dancing musical so he acts out the dance scene but things go horribly wrong and he needs to improvise. Fun miming.
LINK: Click here (missing intro)

13. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE SNL EPISODE
EPISODE: S34E08 (11.15.2008)
Since Justin is unable to make the show next week so he does the entire show at the desk. Little narcissistic, but okay, he earned it.
LINK: Click here

12. PETE DAVIDSON COMMENTARY
EPISODE: S41E05 (11.14.2015)
Pete talks about the absurdity of people thinking transgender individuals just want to sneak into the opposite sex’s bathroom. Lots of good points.
LINK: Click here

11. WOMEN’S NEWS &
TRACEY MORGAN’S COMMENTARY
EPISODE: S33E05 (02.23.2008)
EPISODE: S33E08 (03.15.2008)
Tina talks about women but ends on Hilary Clinton with the classic closer: “Bitch is the new black!” Later, Tracey Morgan defends Obama and has some more things to say and calls out Tina.
LINK: Click here then here

10. SARAH SHERMAN REVIEW
EPISODE: S47E06 (11.13.2021)
Sarah may be new to the cast but she is ready to attack Colin Jost with all she’s got.
LINK: Click here

9. BILL MURRAY COMMENTARY  
EPISODE: S05E10 (02.09.1980)
Should women be drafted? Bill thinks so.
LINK: Click here (start at 3:54)

8. WEEKEND UPDATE JOKE OFF
EPISODE: S37E10 (12.17.2011)
Toy donations at a strip club? Former WU anchors join Seth for a rousing Joke Off competition.
LINK: Click here

7. JIMMY FALLON SINGS
EPISODE: S24E13 (02.13.1999)
Jimmy would often sing about different holidays using modern songs. His first was Halloween but I like this follow up concerning Valentines better.
LINK: Click here

6. HOLLYWOOD MINUTE
EPISODE: S18E04 (10.24.1992)
David Spade goes for the jugular insulting anyone he can despite his own lack of success. The one I like best mentioning that the Encyclopedia Britannica kid needs a beating is not online. You can catch some other ones if you look for them though.
LINK: Not Available

5. REALLY!?!
EPISODE: S35E21 (05.08.2010)
Seth and Amy go on rants questioning things like suspicious things in Times Square and Greece not paying their taxes. Less specific than previous installments but funny nonetheless.
LINK: Click here

4. JOHN MULANEY COMMENTARY
EPISODE: S35E20 (04.24.2010)
John is not a fan of the Girl Scout’s marketing plan concerning their delicious cookies. Great stand up.
LINK: Click here

3. EDDIE MURPHY COMMENTARY
EPISODE: S06E09 (02.07.1981)
Eddie is concerned that the Emancipation Proclamation was not signed. He has a great idea though if you want to regain your slaves.
LINK: Click here

2. ADAM SANDLER SINGS
EPISODE: S20E07 (12.03.1994)
I was tempted to include Adam’s “Red Hooded Sweatshirt” but you can’t top his now famous “Hanukah Song”. A holiday classic.
LINK: Click here

1. POINT/COUNTERPOINT
EPISODE: S04E15 (03.17.1979)
Dan Aykroyd was not much of a news anchor but he did shine in this segment with Jane Curtain. Every one of them is fast paced and biting but this one is my favourite. “Jane, you ignorant slut.”
LINK: Click here