What is your favorite part of “Saturday Night Live?” I have always been partial to “Weekend Update.” (Long before I became a broadcast journalist myself.) In college (when Dennis Miller filled the “Weekend Update” anchor chair) my roommates and I would watch the show religiously and often imitated Miller’s famous signature sign-off: “That’s the news and I am outta here.”
In 1991, Kevin Nealon replaced Miller. (Remember: “I’m Kevin Nealon, and that’s news to me.”) As the years passed “Saturday Night Live” became less and less a part of my Saturday night routine. In that time I missed Norm MacDonald and Colin Quinn who both took their turns at the “Weekend Update” desk respectively. In 2000, Tina Fey appeared on “Weekend Update” alongside co-anchor Jimmy Fallon, who was replaced by Amy Poehler two years later. Which is when I started watching “SNL” again. When my baby was born I would time her feedings to coincide with my “Weekend Update” fix. I actually looked forward to watching Fey each week. Now word comes that she too will be exiting the show. Say it isn’t so!
Unfortunately, what I first heard as a “rumor” has been confirmed as fact. Fey is indeed leaving the anchor chair. She says she is quitting “SNL” after six seasons as head writer and co-anchor of “Weekend Update” to focus on her new NBC primetime series, “30 Rock.”
She announced her “SNL” departure on Friday night’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
“This is the big leap I’m making, it’s a show about working at a late-night comedy show,” she told Leno.
In addition to developing and starring in the show, Fey will serve as a writer and executive producer.
“I’m going to go nuts,” Fey said. “I do not understand the train that is about to hit me. We’re trying to get as much done in the writers’ room now before we start and I tried to gather a staff of writers who are experienced so they can proceed when I’m on the set.”
“30 Rock” will also star Alec Baldwin, “SNL” alum Tracy Morgan and “SNL” regular Rachel Dratch.
The news came as an unwelcome surprise to “SNL” executive producer Lorne Michaels.
If you’re asking if I’m happy about it, no,” Michaels told television critics. “Tina disappearing is a huge hole in the writing staff.”
Michaels said various individuals and duos would be tested in September to decide who will replace Fey on the “Weekend Update” segment.
I’ll be tuning in to see who makes the final cut (if I can stay awake)… will you?