NBC Nightly News Anchor Brian Williams is branching out.

This weekend he will become the first network news anchor to host “Saturday Night Live.”

It's a move that could ruffle feathers in some circles.

But Williams and the network gave it careful thought.

"I know where the line is, propriety-wise. I know what I do for a living. And I know people are used to coming to me a half hour a night for a straight shot at the day's news. But this is my night off, and I think people know how to separate the two," Williams said.

Last season, Williams made a cameo appearance on the show where he filled in on the show’s weekend update desk.

"I think he thought he was getting the weekend update chair, so he was pretty upset when I got it," said head writer and update anchor Seth Meyers.

"It's nice to see him doing some characters,” said cast member Amy Poehler.

“It is nice. I think the real Brian Williams is going to come out. The real B-W," added cast member Maya Rudolph.

More info than that about the show is tough to come by.

"You'd have to beat me with that microphone to go into any details of what we have planned," said Williams.

It's all in the writers' hands and Williams no doubt hopes others find him funny.