Summer SNL Weekend Update writing staff includes once-suspended Katie Rich

Saturday Night Live brought back a limited-edition primetime half-hour version of Weekend Update last night.

It’s not exactly the same as when they first tried this in 2008. For one thing, those Thursday-night live episodes happened in the run-up to a presidential election. So, secondly, they featured cold opens dealing with the campaign and the presidential and vice-presidential debates. And thirdly, the Weekend Update anchors and supporting cast have all changed over since then, save for Kenan Thompson.

That said, two newsworthy bits to report.

Katie Rich, whom SNL had suspended from the writing staff last season over a Barron Trump Tweet that set off alarms, is back on staff.

Alex Moffat and Mikey Day, who both joined the cast officially last season, both shined as Trump sons Eric and Donald Jr., with Moffat making the biggest best impression with his bemusement with fidget spinners.

And according to the writing credits, Leslie Jones didn’t write her own stand-up desk piece? I wouldn’t have thought that.

Here were the credited writers last night: Megan Callanan, Michael Che, Mikey Day, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Dennis McNicholas, Josh Patten, Katie Rich, Pete Schultz, Streeter Seidell, Kent Sublette, Brian Tucker.

And if you missed it, here’s the full episode on Hulu:

https://www.hulu.com/watch/1126479

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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