SNL: Weekend Update Thursday premiere review

If you were to take Saturday Night Live during the election season, remove all the skits that aren't funny (meaning all of them but the opener) and the mostly uninspired musical guests, you'd be left with SNL's Weekend Update Thursday—the best idea Lorne Michaels has had in years. Even without a guest appearance by Sarah Palin—I mean, Tina Fey—the show had plenty of laughs. In the opening debate, both Obama and McCain deliver straight talk to questioner Bill Murray about how the Cubs won't ever win the pennant, much less The World Series.

The "Weekend Update" segment itself was on the money all night, reminding America that Jon Stewart's Daily Show might never have existed without Chevy Chase getting behind a news desk back in 1975. It was filled with rapid fire gems like Seth Meyers saying that O.J. Simpson broke up with his girlfriend before the trial and then clarifying, "Well, he didn't O.J. break up with her; he just regular broke up with her."

Meyers' and Amy Poehler's always funny "Really?" segment covered AIG's $440,000 luxury retreat on the heels of the company's bailout, prompting the duo to rename the sketch, "Oh my God, are you serious?" And the 30-minute show ended with an almost bipartisan song from Hall and Oates (Will Forte and Fred Armisen). Watch it for yourself at SNL: Weekend Update Thursday on NBC.

Related Links:
10 Best Saturday Night Live Male Cast Members
10 Best Saturday Night Live Female Cast Members
SNL Live Blog for 9/13/08