Commentary: New ‘Weekend Update’ host, ‘Insidious: Chapter 2’ make pop culture headlines

Halie Williams
Thu, 19 Sep 2013 02:58:18 +0000
Campus, cecily strong, insidious: chapter 2, pop opinions, saturday night live, seth meyers, weekend update

Rose Byrne plays Renai Lambert in ‘Insidious: Chapter 2.’ The film had a record opening following its Sept. 13 release.
Credit: Courtesy of MCT

This is part of a weekly series called “Pop Opinions” where The Lantern offers its take on the week’s pop culture news.

Cecily Strong to co-host ‘Weekend Update’

The 39th season of “Saturday Night Live” is inching closer, with its premiere scheduled for Sept. 28, and its immense loss of cast members isn’t the only change you can expect to see.

Cecily Strong has been added to the “Weekend Update” desk to co-host with Seth Meyers, who is to be leaving the sketch comedy show in the near future to take over for Jimmy Fallon on “Late Night.”

Meyer formerly co-hosted “Weekend Update,” sharing the desk with Amy Poehler before going solo in 2009. And although no pair can compete with the comedic powers of 2004-2006 “Weekend Update” pair Poehler and Tina Fey (who is set to host the show’s premiere), I imagine Meyers and Strong will work well together.

Strong, 29, has already appeared on “Weekend Update” as, arguably her most impressive character, the “Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation with at a Party.”

It’s impossible to deny “SNL” has taken a turn for the worse, after losing Kristen Wiig (following season 37), Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis, Fred Armisen (after season 38) and soon Meyers, but I’m confident Strong will restore my faith in the show, or at least in its funniest segment.

‘Insidious: Chapter 2’ has record opening

When the first “Insidious” movie was released in April 2011, I more or less fell in love. Watching, collecting and obsessing over horror movies has always been a passion of mine.

However, it had been some time since I’d seen one that really caught my eye.

“Insidious,” directed by James Wan, then restored my faith in the genre.

So when the release of “Insidious: Chapter 2” was announced, I could barely contain my excitement — and apparently I wasn’t alone.

After its Sept. 13 release, “Insidious: Chapter 2” brought in about $41 million in just its opening weekend, the second largest opening ever in September, according to CNN.

Wan, who is also the director behind the “Saw” franchise, seems to be having a great few months, considering his summer thriller, “The Conjuring” (July), also brought in about $41 million its first week.