Season 23 is notable for the Weekend Update controversy held in late-1997 and early-1998. Anchor Norm MacDonald was reassigned by NBC executive Don Ohlmeyer, for "not being funny." He was replaced by Colin Quinn starting on the January 10, 1998 episode. Quinn was promoted to repertory status, and with the departures of Mark McKinney and Fred Wolf the previous season and a lack of new hires, there were no featured players.
MacDonald abruptly left the cast midseason, and Jim Breuer would not return for the following season.
Also, former cast member Chris Farley, who hosted earlier this season during its Halloween episode, died unexpectedly from a drug overdose during the Christmas break hiatus early this season. In addition to Farley's untimely death, two weeks after the season ended, former cast member Phil Hartman died in a murder-suicide by his wife Brynn, who then took her own life. Both former cast members have their own tributes during and after the season.
This is the only montage to have no New York footage; the cast members still appear in the montage, but only in still photos.
Cast[]
Changes[]
- Norm MacDonald: Last March 14
Births[]
- Emil Wakim (March 11, 1998)
Deaths[]
- Chris Farley (December 18, 1997)
- Phil Hartman (May 28, 1998)
Gallery[]
Opening montage[]
S23
This intro is from the infamous Chris Farley episode, hence the gag of him not showing up in his own monologue at the end.
| Preceded by: Season 22 |
Season 23 (1997— 1998) |
Followed by: Season 24 |
| Seasons | |
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