"Saturday Night Live" has a new anchor for its Weekend Update desk. According to an interview in the New York Times on Sunday, show executive producer Lorne Michaels said that Cecily Strong will sit next to Seth Meyers on the anchor desk as of Sept. 28, the show's season premiere.
"Cecily, from the first show, was right there," Michaels said. "She exploded."
Strong joined the cast last year and created instantly-memorable characters, including "The Girl You Wished You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party."
Michaels explained that he intends for Strong to share the Update desk with Meyers for a few shows, then possibly become a sole anchor. But he also said he might want to have Meyers stay on Update even after he begins hosting "Late Night" on Feb. 24, 2014. (Michaels also executive produces that show.)
Bringing Meyers back occasionally is an option, said Michaels, because "Late Night" does not tape on Friday. That would give Meyers a chance to return to his old stamping grounds over the weekend.
Half a dozen new faces will be on hand to witness the changing of the Weekend Update guard. NBC confirmed Monday that six featured players are being brought on board: Beck Bennett, John Milhiser, Kyle Mooney, Mike O'Brien, Brooks Wheelan and Noël Wells.
Meyers congratulated Strong on Twitter Sunday for her new position on the show, and the comedian's reaction proves she's more than ready for the job:
"SNL" enters its 39th season Sept. 28, with Tina Fey as host and musical guest Arcade Fire.