The regular sketch on 'SNL' will expand with 30-minute weekly telecast featuring Colin Jost and Michael Che during the show's summer hiatus.
- Mar 15, 2017
AceShowbiz - "Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update" is getting a primetime run. NBC has ordered four half-hour specials of the popular segment on the sketch series to air weekly in primetime beginning Thursday, August 10 at 9 P.M.
The specials will feature "Weekend Update" anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che, with additional "SNL" cast members set to make appearances. The half-hour telecasts will fill the gaps between seasons of the late-night variety series, which will take a long break in summer.
" '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," said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. "We're thrilled to have Colin Jost and Michael Che continuing their unique brand of news with fresh Weekend Update shows in primetime this August."
Update is coming to primetime! #SNL Weekend Update premieres August 10 at 9/8c! pic.twitter.com/YG7AB3A1mQ
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) March 14, 2017
Talks about the primetime installment of "Weekend Update" began several weeks ago as ratings for the late-night staple surged since the Donald Trump inauguration. This season so far, "SNL" originals are averaging a 3.57 rating in adults 18-49 and 11.022 million viewers overall in Live+7, making it the show's top-rated season in the demo since the show's 2008-09 season and the most-watched season in 24 years.
"Weekend Update" previously got three primetime specials in 2008 when Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler hosted "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" in the weeks leading to the Presidential election between Barack Obama and John McCain.
