Weekend (news program)

"Weekend" was a television newsmagazine that ran on NBC from 1974 to 1979. It was originally aired in the same time slot as Saturday Night Live, [http://www.americanpressinstitute.org/content/1462.cfm] rotating in on those weekends when the SNL cast was not producing a show, which averaged about once per month. The program was awarded a George Foster Peabody medal in 1975 and attracted a small cult following.

The program was hosted by Lloyd Dobyns. [http://www.asne.org/index.cfm?ID=51] The show's creator and executive producer was past (and future) president of NBC News, Reuven Frank. [http://www.thepomoblog.com/archive/2006/12/] Together, Dobyns and Frank were largely responsible for the distinctive writing and quirky style of the program.

In 1978, NBC moved Weekend to prime time and placed the program in head-to-head competition with CBS's 60 Minutes. [http://www.americanpressinstitute.org/content/1462.cfm] Linda Ellerbee was added as Dobyns' co-host. Placed against the perennial CBS powerhouse, the show eventually died of poor ratings.