b'From SNLs Weekend UpdateWith A Little Holiday CheerIts producer, Scott Weinstein, reflects on how much has changed, and whats stayed the sameBY SARA COURTNEYScott Weinstein (in the red tie) with SNLs Weekend Update hosts, Colin Jost and Michael Che (wearing the hat).I f the holidays in Newwindows of up- tiallyreluctant.Likeeveryone,yousortofhavewith Conan OBrien for one se-Yorkpossessacer- mester and found he enjoyed it tainmagic,thentheimmensely. He was determined epicenterofthatspe- tosecureanotherinternship cialblendofetherealbeforegraduating.Atthe winter charm is surelytime, the only other real option RockefellerCenter.was Letterman, but they want-Surrounded by festively decorateded you to be there full-time, he recalled. And then scale stores, blessed with an ice skating rink to twirlthis idea of Jersey as the Turnpike and thats it. Butthere was SNL. The show was in the midst of one of aroundinandtheRockefellerCenterChristmasthey already knew that the area was home to a lotits rebuilding years, and Weinstein promised himself Tree, with its spectacular annual lighting: This is theof creative types in TV and publishing, and decidedthat if he didnt enjoy it, he would leave. But it turns heart of the holiday season.to give it a chance. Once we saw Maplewood, weout, I loved it. Imaginemakingitthroughthecrowdstoseeknew this felt really right for us, Weinstein says.Unlikemost the tree lighting. Imagine pushing your way to seeCiting as an example his neighbor whos a drummershows, SNL al-MariahCareybeltouttheholidayclassics.Nowon Broadway, he praises the communitys concentra- lowed their in-imagine squeezing your way past the jostling hordetion of creative energy and marvels, Everyone is interns to return to your job at Rockefeller Center for Saturday Nightthe industry here. foradditional Live,perhapsthemosticoniclate-nightprogramGrowing up in Virginia, Weinstein always knewsemesters,so ever. For Maplewood resident Scott Weinstein, thehe wanted to work in television. His parents, how- hisinternship longtime Weekend Update producer and author,ever, were deeply skeptical. He fought a long cam- attheshow that means long days and long nights, constantlypaign, he says, to convince (them) that I wouldntlastedayear evaluating content to be sure it is the best, and, dur- be an out of work actor and thats not what it meant.and a half. His ing the holidays, enjoying a special wonder at theBut then his father, who had studied architecture athard work paid way everything becomes more festive, albeit morePratt, saw a flyer about their film and TV school. Itoff and follow-densely-packed, when he steps outside to grab a slicecompletely changed his mind, Weinstein says. Alling graduation of pizza. of a sudden, he thought it was a legitimate career. he was offered Scott Weinstein is the producer for Weinstein and his wife, Abbey, came to Maple- Taking advantage of the opportunities offered byanentry-levelSNLsWeekend Update. Hes wood in 2012 by way of Park Slope. He was ini- Prattsprogram,WeinsteininternedatLateNightjobinrecep- been at SNL for 26 years. 16/ matters magazine / holiday 2022'