*“Saturday Night Live’s” Weekend Update is headed to primetime.
NBC has ordered four half-hour specials of the “SNL” segment to begin airing on Aug. 10 at 9 p.m., it was announced Tuesday.
“Anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che will host, with other SNL castmembers expected to appear, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“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 NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt. “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.”
So far this season, “SNL” has been averaging more than 11 million viewers with seven days of delayed viewing factored in. This makes the current season “SNL’s” highest-rated since the 2008-09 season, which not so coincidentally timed with the 2008 presidential election between candidates then-Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain, during which time former castmember and writer Tina Fey returned to memorably portray vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
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