For a show that's been a late-night staple for over five decades, Saturday Night Live has surprisingly few successful spinoffs. Sure, there have been plenty of movies based on sketches, but only one TV spinoff has ever really stuck—and even then, only briefly. Twice, exactly nine years apart, NBC took the iconic Weekend Update segment and turned it into a primetime series called Weekend Update Thursday. Now, with another nine-year gap and a presidential election on the horizon, it's time to bring it back for good.
A Brief History of 'Weekend Update Thursday'
The first attempt came in fall 2008, during the heated Obama-McCain race. NBC ordered three special Thursday broadcasts, airing after The Office, that expanded the fake-news desk into a half-hour show. Hosted by Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler, it featured classic cold opens and guest stars like Will Ferrell as George W. Bush and Tina Fey as Sarah Palin. The concept worked so well that it returned for a few episodes in 2009 and again in 2012. But after that, it vanished.
Then, in summer 2017—exactly nine years later—NBC revived it as Saturday Night Live Weekend Update: Summer Edition. This time, Colin Jost and Michael Che anchored a streamlined version that focused almost entirely on the desk, without the traditional sketches. It ran for just three episodes before disappearing again.
Why Now Is the Perfect Time
History suggests we're due for another revival. But beyond the pattern, there are practical reasons. Weekend Update remains one of SNL's most recognizable segments, and a standalone show would be easy to produce—no full cast needed, just sharp writing and a never-ending news cycle. Plus, with the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race approaching, there's no shortage of material. As other shows have proven, audiences crave timely comedy that cuts through the noise.
A standalone Weekend Update Thursday could also help keep SNL's writers sharp during the offseason. The show just wrapped its milestone 51st season, and a summer or fall run would let the team stay in the groove. It's a low-risk, high-reward move for NBC—especially when you consider how other network experiments have paid off.
What a New Version Could Look Like
Imagine a weekly half-hour show that mixes Jost and Che's signature banter with field pieces, guest commentators, and the occasional sketch. It could air on Thursday nights, bridging the gap between weekend editions and giving viewers a midweek dose of satire. With streaming platforms hungry for content, a Weekend Update spinoff could even find a home on Peacock, reaching a new generation of fans.
The timing feels right. NBC has a proven template, a loyal fanbase, and a political landscape that practically writes itself. If the network wants to rise to the occasion, they already have the blueprint. All they need to do is dust it off and hit the airwaves.
