While Ben Affleck’s apparent fight to hold back tears dominated conversation in the first half of Saturday’s “Saturday Night Live,” by the time Weekend Update came, fan focus was redirected to more overly-emotional moments.
With Bill Hader certainly leaving at the end of this season, Seth Meyers departing next winter for “Late Night” and Fred Armisen and Jason Sudeikis also reportedly close to departure, “SNL” was sure to incorporate goodbyes into its season finale.
And given the success of the character, if Hader was going to say goodbye, so too was Stefon.
Hader reprised his New York City correspondent for one last Weekend Update, which featured a guest appearance from former anchor Amy Poehler. After opening with his usual dose of humor, Stefon ran off–we soon learned to marry Anderson Cooper. With his back against the wall, “Weekend Update” host had to finally acknowledge his feelings for Stefon and confront Cooper in the process.
In a later segment, Jason Sudeikis, Bill Hader and Taran Killam joined Fred Armisen to reprise Ian Rubbish and the Blizzards for one final performance of “It’s a Lovely Day.” Certainly a goodbye moment for Armisen, the epic segment featured guest appearances from his “Portlandia” co-star Carrie Brownstein and musicians J Mascis, Kim Gordon, Aimee Mann, Michael Penn and Steve Jones.
Given the way the scene played out–and the way Armisen and Hader took center stage for the curtain call–it would appear that only those two are imminently leaving; this did not feel like a send-off for Sudeikis.
Full video highlights follows:
Politics Nation: IRS Scandal Cold Open
Ben Affleck’s Five Timer Monologue
Iranian Film
New Xanax
Depression Scene
Kanye West: Black Skinhead
Weekend Update Favorites 5/18/13
Weekend Update: Really?! IRS Scandal
Weekend Update: Stefon’s Farewell
Greg’s Funeral
Hermes
Kanye West: New Slaves
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