Ep 1. Weekend Update Thursday - September 20, 2012

Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Thursday is a spinoff series of Saturday Night Live dedicated solely to the popular Weekend Update segment. The third season of the show premiered with its first episode on September 20, 2012. The episode, named Weekend Update Thursday - September 20, 2012, features a roundup of the week's top news stories with witty and satirical commentary from hosts Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler.

The episode starts with a cold open sketch featuring the popular character Drunk Uncle, played by Bobby Moynihan, who shares his views on the upcoming presidential election. In the Weekend Update segment that follows, Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler take on the hot topics of the week, including the controversial comments made by Republican candidate Mitt Romney about the 47% of Americans who do not pay federal income tax. They also talk about the anti-American protests in the Middle East that were sparked by a video insulting Islam.

The hosts also take jabs at the new iPhone 5, which had just been released at the time and was causing a buzz in the tech world. They make fun of the various glitches that users were experiencing with the device, including issues with its maps app.

In the next segment, Meyers and Poehler are joined by special guest Andy Samberg, who plays New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman. Samberg's character shares his thoughts on the recent protests in the Middle East and suggests a solution involving the creation of a new country called "Islamerica."

The episode also features a funny sketch about a couple who accidentally swap their baby at the hospital, leading to a series of awkward and hilarious encounters with the other couple who received their child. The sketch is full of absurd and unexpected twists that keep audiences laughing throughout.

Another memorable moment from the episode is when Meyers and Poehler engage in a lively debate about whether it is appropriate to use the word "retard" in comedy. They bring up instances when the term has been used in past episodes of Saturday Night Live and discuss the controversy surrounding it. The segment is a lighthearted yet thought-provoking discussion that shows the hosts' ability to tackle sensitive topics with humor and insight.

Overall, the first episode of Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Thursday season 3 offers a fun and insightful look at the week's biggest news stories. With its sharp writing, timely commentary, and talented cast, the show delivers the laughs and entertainment that fans of Saturday Night Live have come to expect.