If the decision to further dilute the political comedy environment with yet another show seems a risky move for Saturday Night LiveWeekend Update can also be seen as an attempt to reclaim its rightful role as the king of American news satire. And its four-decade long devotion to the subject isn’t the only motivation behind launching a spinoff. SNL‘s ratings last season increased more than 30 percent from the the season prior, in no small part due to the show’s relentless—and well-received—attention to political parody and impressions. With so much praise for its portrayal of the 2016 election and Trump administration, it’s no wonder SNL is willing to take a shot breaking into a slightly earlier programming slot.

So if you enjoy topical humor presented by well-dressed comedians across multiple platforms, congratulations: We’ve entered a Golden Age. And you have SNL and “Weekend Update” to thank for that.

 

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