Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special delivered countless nostalgic and laugh-out-loud moments, 

but one of the highlights of the night came when former Weekend Update anchor Bill Murray returned to the iconic desk. 

Murray, who helmed the segment in the late 1970s, joined current co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che, as well as fellow alum Seth Meyers, to celebrate SNL’s storied past. 

True to form, the comedy legend didn’t just reminisce—he took the opportunity to rank his fellow Weekend Update hosts in a bit that had the audience in stitches.

A Comedic Nod to ‘Weekend Update’ History

The Weekend Update segment during SNL50: The Anniversary Special, which aired on Sunday, February 16, was packed with both reverence and humor. 

As Jost and Che kicked things off, they reflected on the longevity of the show.

“It is an honor and a thrill to be hosting Weekend Update for the 50th and—if it was up to our president—final season of SNL,” Jost quipped. “It is incredible that SNL is still going after all this time, and I’m just talking about tonight’s show!”

Che followed up by acknowledging SNL’s numerous awards and achievements, while also throwing in a playful jab at the number of Tony Award winners working behind the scenes. Jost then joked about the current “quademic” of illnesses and how, despite that, SNL still packed a room full of entertainment icons.

However, the biggest laughs came when Bill Murray took his place at the desk to present his personal ranking of Weekend Update hosts.

Murray’s Take on ‘Weekend Update’ Anchors

Murray began his segment with a tongue-in-cheek nod to Black History Month, announcing that he would start by ranking the African American Weekend Update anchors. With a grin, he pulled out a board featuring just one name: Michael Che.

“We’ll start with number one, and this is by default—Michael Che,” he said, prompting laughter from both the audience and his co-hosts.

Moving on to his ranking of the “regular” anchors, Murray made it clear that his list was both completely arbitrary and meant for comedic effect. “These are in no particular order, so I’ve listed them from worst to best,” he teased.

Before getting into the rankings, Murray disqualified himself from consideration, admitting, “My entire time here, I was on performance-enhancing drugs—what we call an eight shaker—quaaludes, cocaine, and nighttime TheraFlu.”

With that, he launched into his list:

#10: Murray initially teased that Colin Jost had made the cut, only to reveal that he was actually referring to Colin Quinn.

#9: Kevin Nealon secured the ninth spot.

#8: Dennis Miller followed in eighth place.

#7: Seth Meyers, who was present for the segment, landed in seventh.

#6: Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon were tied, though Murray hinted that Fey edged Fallon out due to the popularity of “girl-on-girl” content.

#5: Amy Poehler, just beating out Fallon.

#4: Chevy Chase, SNL’s first-ever Weekend Update anchor.

#3: Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd, with Murray joking that he was the first to call Curtin an “ignorant slut” backstage before Aykroyd made it a classic on-air insult.

#2: Norm Macdonald, a fan-favorite and one of SNL’s most legendary anchors.

Then, in classic Murray fashion, he built up suspense for the top spot, leading Jost to believe he might finally receive some recognition.

“That brings us to number one. Colin, I’ve got a good feeling about this,” Murray said, only to reveal his actual pick:

“Okay, number one is funny, got a great smile. He’s currently sleeping every kind of way with the lovely actress, Scarlett Johansson…”

The audience erupted in laughter, assuming he was referring to Jost, who is married to Johansson. But Murray delivered the ultimate fake-out:

“Of course, I’m talking about my brother, Brian Doyle-Murray!”

The punchline left the room roaring as Jost shook his head in amused disappointment.

A Nostalgic and Star-Studded Celebration

Murray’s ranking wasn’t the only highlight of Weekend Update during the anniversary special. The segment was filled with SNL alums and tributes to the show’s long history, blending classic humor with modern wit.

As the SNL50 special celebrated five decades of comedy, moments like this reminded fans why the show has endured. The combination of sharp writing, absurdist humor, and legendary performers continues to make Saturday Night Live one of television’s most iconic programs.

Whether or not Jost will ever top Murray’s personal list remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—his ability to take the joke in stride proves why he’s one of the best.

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