# Does anyone enjoy the "guest" bits on SNL's Weekend Update? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** talk-variety-show\ **Created:** [November 13, 2022, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844 "2022-11-13T08:46:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/21 "2022-11-14T06:25:59Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > That was Emily Litella. Roseanne Roseannadanna was the character who would wander off into gross tangents about celebrities and bodily functions etc. with the catchphrase “I thought I was gonna die”. Right you are. Although Rosannadanna was based loosely on an actual local (NYC) newscaster of the time in that period, Anna Scamadella or something like that, so the character had some business, theoretically, being on a news report. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/22 "2022-11-14T12:36:40Z")
Turns out it was [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseanne\_Roseannadanna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseanne_Roseannadanna) Rose Ann Scamardella I was trying to think of, and she was supposed to be a consumer affairs reporter on the show who digresses into irrelevancies. That was the joke, that she went off-topic, exceeding her role as a consumer affairs reporter, which seems to have given rise to the idea that WU update guests don’t need a rationale for their bits. The humor, I suppose, was that her unhingedness was funny on a serious news show. So now they just go straight to unhinged. I found Radner funny, not for her material but for her delivery. Somewhere along the way, SNL’s writers seem to have gotten the idea that “unhinged” is inherently funny, which it is not, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/23 "2022-11-14T13:39:45Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Why is that character on the news, though? Doesn’t work as a standalone sketch. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/24 "2022-11-14T14:39:33Z")
I’d say that the guest bits have a hit/miss ratio that’s lower than most sketches on the show, but successful guest bits tend to be some of the more memorable ones they do. I’ll also say that with the exception of the Eric Trump and Don Jr. skits and the yacht guy ones, they’re considerably worse than I remember. Maybe part of that is because I don’t recall Weekend Update being particularly funny until the recent Jost/Che era, and the guest spots were the high points. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/25 "2022-11-14T14:47:52Z")
it stopped being a news parody after miller left and the daily show started doing it better ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/26 "2022-11-14T15:12:58Z")
I was missed a good period in the 90s-00s, but on rewatching, I was surprised at Miller’s approach. Quite different from the prior more deadpan approach. We started to watch again w/in the last 5 years or so. I’m not sure I can recall a news guest I did not dislike. Baby Yoda, Yacht Guy, Andy Bryant’s various children, Andy Bryant and Ben Yang. Even the Judge Pirro - just an excuse for her to spill/spit wine. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/27 "2022-11-14T16:02:19Z")
Totally agree. If you had asked me at the time who in that SNL cast was likely to make it mega-big, I would never have guessed Sandler. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/28 "2022-11-18T07:59:24Z")
I generally go into Weekend Update thinking how neat it would be if they happened to give us one of their rare guest-free versions of the segment. I’m doing my damnedest to think of guests that I actually looked forward to instead of simply putting up with. I always liked the Trump Brothers. Stefon was always welcome. Jason Sudeikis could bring The Devil around whenever he wanted. Boy, no one else is coming to mind at the moment. Drunk Uncle? I’m feeling generous. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/29 "2022-11-18T16:41:59Z")
I mostly feel the same way. Not to hijack, but is it just me, or have they somewhat gone away from the sort of third-party canned sketches that used to be some of the funniest things on there? Like Mr. Bill, the Ambiguously Gay Duo, or the Lonely Island songs? The only thing like that I can think of are those sketches by the three writers, which are usually solid, but not anything beyond that. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/30 "2022-11-19T13:18:21Z")
I like about half the guests: Anything with Cecily Strong, Heidi Gardener, and Sarah Sherman (so far). Stefon. Drunk Uncle. I like everything with Andrew Dismukes so far. About half of Kenan’s appearances, and Chloe Fineman’s as well. Some characters I like: Guy who just bought a boat. Eric & Donald Trump jr. Jacob the Bar Mitzvah boy. On the other hand, I dislike just about anything by Kyle Mooney or Bowen Yang. Overall, for me, guests are about 75% hit, 25% miss. . .but I do often find myself wishing Weekend Update had more Che and Jost. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/31 "2022-11-19T13:31:16Z")
“Last week, on an episode of ‘Chicago Hope’, doctors used leeches to help with the reattachment of a patient’s ear. Here with an editorial is our host, George Clooney.” _“Thank you, Norm. How low will ‘Chicago Hope’ sink? I mean - leeches. Who writes this crap?”_ “…George Clooney, everybody!” ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/32 "2022-11-19T13:42:39Z")
I am showing my age - but there was a time when local TV stations gave ordinary people airtime to respond to editorials that the station had aired .(like in this [All in the Family](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0509806/)episode) . Unrealistic that one person would do so many - yes. Unrealistic that a non-reporter would get on air - nope. ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/33 "2022-11-19T16:06:58Z")
Where I was they did do them, but they were at the end of the newscast, with the person just by themselves. No give and take. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2022, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/34 "2022-11-20T18:18:30Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Eric & Donald Trump jr Yeah, that was an excellent one. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2022, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/35 "2022-11-20T19:44:33Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I’ve never understood the appeal of Adam Sandler, including his WU characters. I’m not entertained by a person routinely sniggering at how funny he thinks his own jokes and characters are. I had a gym acquaintance who kept trying to get me to see whatever hockey movie Sandler made because I had season tickets to the Kings. Nope. I can’t stand him. Doesn’t matter the context. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2022, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/36 "2022-11-20T20:16:21Z")
I’m not trying to change your mind or convince you to watch it, but FWIW, Happy Gilmore is a pretty good movie. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2022, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/37 "2022-11-20T20:31:09Z")
It’s the actor I don’t like, so the movie itself doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2022, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/38 "2022-11-20T20:37:47Z")
Yeah, it’s hard to watch a “pretty good movie” if the main character repulses you. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2022, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844/39 "2022-11-20T20:46:34Z")
I can’t figure out what Pete Davidson does. He doesn’t even have a routine or a character to play. He just plays himself, a boring, droning guy from Staten Island with no distinguishing characteristics and no discernable talent. How does he have a career, much less his pick of supermodels? Am I not getting the source of his appeal? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-enjoy-the-guest-bits-on-snls-weekend-update/974844.md?page=1)