Daily Show alum, Michael Che, will join Colin Jost at at the “Weekend Update” desk for the upcoming 40th season of NBC’s Saturday Night Live. He’ll be replacing Cecily Strong, who will return as a full-time cast member.
This casting news is unexpected, and a little disappointing. I thought Cecily was doing just fine at the desk. If anything, I would have expected Colin and his stiff delivery to be replaced. However, Deadline suggests Cecily may have wanted to return to performing full time, as she was juggling both.
Che will be the first African American anchor of Weekend Update, ever.
From the NBC press release:
Named one of Rolling Stone’s “50 Funniest People,” Buzzfeed’s “50 Hottest Men in Comedy” and Variety’s “Top 10 Comics to Watch,” Che has been a writer on “SNL,” a correspondent on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and has performed stand-up on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and “Late Show with David Letterman.” His first comedy special was Comedy Central’s “The Half Hour,” which aired earlier this year.
Repertory player Cecily Strong will return as a full-time cast member. Strong is well known for her Update features and sketches, including “The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation with at a Party,” which Rolling Stone hailed as an “instant classic.” The recurring character of a ditzy porn star-turned-aspiring-pitchwoman that she plays alongside Vanessa Bayer is also an audience favorite.
The new season begins Sept. 27 with host Chris Pratt and musical guest Ariana Grande.
