Since its debut in 1975, Saturday Night Live has been a giant in television comedy. For over 48 seasons, one segment has consistently stood out as its longest-running and arguably most popular sketch: Weekend Update. This brilliant format features one or two comedians delivering real news headlines paired with hilariously sharp jokes. It’s a recipe for laughter that’s always timely and quick-witted.
Audiences adore hearing jokes about current events. A touch of humor can certainly take the edge off challenging news stories. In more recent seasons, SNL has spiced things up by inviting guest stars. These guests offer deeper, often absurd, commentary on topics deserving a bit more airtime, featuring stars like Pete Davidson, Bill Hader, and even surprise appearances by Jennifer Aniston and Nicolas Cage.
Get ready to chuckle! Here’s a rundown of the ten most beloved moments (plus an honorable mention!) from SNL’s Weekend Update, based on their YouTube popularity.
10 Adam Sandler on Hanukkah
Our journey begins in the mid-1990s, a time when the legendary Norm Macdonald anchored the Weekend Update desk. In this memorable clip, comedy icon Adam Sandler shares a relatable childhood feeling: being left out during the Christmas season because there were so many Christmas carols but very few Hanukkah songs.
Sandler’s solution? He penned an incredibly catchy Hanukkah song. This tune playfully lists numerous well-known personalities whose Jewish heritage might not be widely known. While it’s a silly song, it undoubtedly brought a smile and a sense of inclusion to Jewish kids who felt the same way Sandler did. His clever wordplay, like rhyming “Scrooge is” with “Stooges,” combined with his signature musical charm, makes this a truly delightful and uplifting moment.
9 Will Smith and Chris Rock Slap Attack
Next up is a segment that couldn’t have been more current – a comedic recap of the shocking slap incident at the 2022 Oscars! The Weekend Update sketch kicks off typically, with hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che delivering their usual fare of (sometimes unsettling) news headlines. Then, BAM! The punchline hits, directly targeting Will Smith’s actions at the awards ceremony. Suddenly, the entire segment transforms into a hilarious roast of that bizarre and unforgettable moment. It was the slap heard ’round the world, and SNL didn’t miss a beat.
Towards the end, the anchors transition back to more general, albeit still humorous, headlines. A particularly memorable joke involved a certain politician and his rather wild claim about being invited to a drug-fueled party. This clip perfectly showcases Weekend Update’s ability to tackle major pop culture events with a sharp, comedic edge.
8 Get in the Cage with Nicolas Cage and Nicolas Cage
This segment features an unexpected duo: Nicolas Cage and… Nicolas Cage! (Though, one of them looks suspiciously like Andy Samberg wearing a bald cap). They join Seth Meyers at the Update desk to announce the startling news that there are now two of them. Apparently, the original Nick Cage found it challenging to keep up with his ambitious goal of appearing in every movie ever made. His solution? He cloned himself to share the workload. The burning question, of course, is: which one is the clone?
One of the funniest parts is how the (presumed) original Cage subtly critiques his clone’s over-the-top impression of him. The clone, in turn, looks genuinely miffed by the criticism. In a retaliatory move, the clone showers the original Nick with flowery, slightly backhanded compliments, such as describing his “eyes that sparkle and pierce the hearts of women both old and middle-aged alike.” It’s a wonderfully absurd and meta piece of comedy.
7 Pete Davidson and John Mulaney Review Clint Eastwood’s The Mule
Sliding into seventh place is a clip featuring the brilliant John Mulaney! He teams up with Pete Davidson, both visibly excited to share their latest obsession with the audience. Their self-aware descriptions of what they must look like hanging out together – perhaps a “crazy man and his lawyer” or a “basketball coach and his most wayward trainee” – are hilariously accurate.
The main event, however, is their enthusiastic and slightly unhinged review of Clint Eastwood’s film, The Mule. Their passionate retelling of the movie’s plot is so compelling, it makes you want to watch it immediately. Mulaney describes it as “a superhero film for old people,” an ultimate power fantasy for those in their nineties. And the rumor that Clint Eastwood wrote and directed himself into two romantic scenes? You can’t help but be intrigued to see what this wild movie about the world’s oldest drug smuggler is all about.
6 Pete Davidson on Staten Island
In this segment, Pete Davidson and Weekend Update co-anchor Colin Jost bond over their shared hometown: Staten Island. However, Davidson hilariously points out that he and Jost receive very different treatment from the locals. This premise allows Davidson to unleash his true, unfiltered feelings about the borough, including a humorous debate on whether a hurricane should just wipe it out. The comedic tension is amplified by his comparisons to Jost.
“You represent what they could be,” Davidson quips to Jost, “you know, the kid who got out… I represent what they are—you know, a mentally ill college dropout who got a Game of Thrones tattoo before watching the show.” To his credit, Davidson admits that dire wolves do look pretty cool, even as tattoos! It’s classic Pete Davidson: self-deprecating, edgy, and undeniably funny.
5 Colin Jost and Michael Che Switch Jokes
This clip doesn’t rely on special guest appearances or elaborate bits. Instead, it’s a showcase of classic Weekend Update: top news stories paired with razor-sharp jokes. But there’s a fantastic twist! As a season-ending tradition (common in recent years), co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che exchange the “gift” of jokes. This means they write outrageous, often controversial, jokes for each other to read live on air, completely unrehearsed!
The results are predictably hilarious, as each jab is designed to make the other look as uncomfortable or politically incorrect as possible. Watching Jost’s reaction when he sees the graphic for one of Che’s jokes—knowing it’s bound to be racially charged—is priceless. Why their clothes are inexplicably wet in this particular segment remains a mystery, adding another layer of delightful absurdity.
4 Pete Davidson on Kanye West
Oh, this one certainly has taken on new layers with time! The sketch opens with a playful discussion about why Pete Davidson, rather than Michael Che, was chosen to tackle the topic of Kanye West’s recent controversial behavior. Davidson explains, “‘Cause Che’s black, but like, I’m crazy, and we both know which side of Kanye’s at the wheel right now!” It’s a frank and funny setup.
One of the highlights is reviewing the tape of Davidson’s reaction to Kanye’s infamous speech from a previous week’s show. His thought process? “‘I want a career!’ So I leave.” The remainder of the segment is a no-holds-barred roast of Kanye’s actions, peppered with Davidson’s signature self-deprecating humor. His joke, “Can you imagine that that T-shirt was the second stupidest thing I was wearing?” is a standout, perfectly capturing the riotous and slightly edgy humor of the piece.
3 Stefon on Autumn’s Hottest Tips
To help New York City tourists prepare for the fall season (or rather, any season he appears in), the hosts bring in city correspondent Stefon, memorably played by Bill Hader. Stefon is an delightfully unsettling character who claims to know all of the city’s hottest, and most bizarre, hangouts. The places he recommends have increasingly outlandish descriptions, such as one with a “vibe and sight that is strange yet familiar, like when you see billboards for Seinfeld reruns in a Puerto Rican neighborhood.”
These descriptions often become so absurd that they cause Bill Hader himself to break character, much to the audience’s delight. Thankfully, Stefon frequently hides his face behind his hands, attempting to conceal his laughter. Stefon is also unapologetically open about his sexuality, often leading to hilariously uncomfortable reactions from the hosts (especially Seth Meyers) and uproarious laughter from everyone else. Stefon’s segments are always a guaranteed high point.
2 Rachel from Friends on ’90s Nostalgia
This clip is a fan favorite, largely due to Vanessa Bayer’s absolutely spot-on impression of Jennifer Aniston’s iconic character, Rachel Green, from Friends. Bayer nails Rachel’s distinctive vocal tics, with her “uhs” and “ohs” making the impersonation incredibly convincing. Then, in a brilliant comedic twist, as Bayer stammers through her Rachel impression, the REAL Rachel, Jennifer Aniston herself, appears to playfully confront Vanessa.
Things get wonderfully meta as Aniston then does an impression of Bayer’s impression of Rachel. Bayer, not missing a beat, continues the chain, and the whole exchange hilariously spirals. The best moment is when Aniston sighs in mock defeat, realizing with a laugh… she actually does sound like that. It’s a delightful collision of comedy and 90s nostalgia.
1 Rebecca Larue, the Flirting Expert
And taking the top spot is the unforgettable sketch featuring Rebecca Larue, played by the comedic genius Kristen Wiig. Introduced as a flirting expert, Rebecca wastes no time demonstrating her supposed skills—it’s all action, no tedious tips. The video’s thumbnail image perfectly captures the essence: Rebecca, legs spread wide, scooting her chair aggressively towards host Seth Meyers, leaving absolutely no room for misinterpretation of her intentions. Her commitment to the bit is total.
A particularly hilarious moment occurs when, after Meyers repeatedly (and awkwardly) rebuffs her advances, Rebecca breaks down in tears to elicit sympathy, only to snap right back into her giddy, over-the-top, high-school-girl-with-a-crush persona. There are moments throughout the sketch where you genuinely, if briefly, believe this character might actually have a serious, albeit hilariously misguided, romantic interest in Meyers. Wiig’s performance is fearless and laugh-out-loud funny.
+ Honorable Mention: The Late Great Norm Macdonald
Before the era of Jost and Che, Seth Meyers, or even Tina Fey, Norm Macdonald arguably set the gold standard for Weekend Update hosts. Even Chevy Chase, the original anchor, acknowledged Macdonald as “the only other guy who did the segment funny.” Norm’s timing and delivery were nothing short of impeccable. He rarely, if ever, broke character or lost his composure, delivering jokes with a deadpan seriousness that made them seem almost like part of the actual news report.
One of Macdonald’s signature moves as host was to weave in jabs at O.J. Simpson as frequently as possible, even when the news stories had absolutely no connection to that infamous chapter in American crime history. A standout moment from this compilation, around the 6:22 mark, showcases his genius as he delivers jokes that leave the audience unsure whether they are sexist or simply brilliant social commentary. His famous line, “Now you don’t know what the hell to do, do ya?” perfectly encapsulates his unique comedic style.
Weekend Update has given us countless laughs over the years, turning news headlines into comedic gold. These ten moments (plus one incredible honorable mention) are just a glimpse into the genius that makes this SNL staple so enduringly popular. From timely political satire to absurd character bits, Weekend Update continues to be a highlight of Saturday nights.
Which Weekend Update moment always makes you laugh? Did your favorite make the list? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
