NBC wasn't quite done teabagging him yet and pulled all of the TV spots for 'Dirty Work'.
Rumor had it that Lorne Michaels was so enraged at Norm's behavior that this led to him to an absolute iron fisted crackdown on cast members and writers. And what made the show the mess of unfunny it is today. NOTHING gets by without a stamp of approval from the Boss to this day.
Unfortunately, the media just ran with 'Norm is just a big crybaby.' with even MAD Magazine poking fun.
I've come to think that Weekend Update has typically been a segment of the program that breaks the rhythm of the entire show. It goes from goofy skit/parody comedy to dropping a comedy news segment that has a completely different format for comedy delivery smack dab in the middle of the 90 minute airtime.
It's had its gems of comedy through the years but it just doesn't match with the format so anyone they get to "anchor" that segment is really in a part of the show that doesn't fit. It's hard not to fall into the pit of criticism when doing this thing. Jost and Che suck anyway.
Read Norm's book if you get the chance. You think it's a celebrity memoir but it turns into what has been described as a Russian novel. Also it's short.