‘SNL’ 50th Anniversary Special Brings Back Legends and Laughs/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. mansour/ Morning Edition/ “Saturday Night Live” celebrated its 50th anniversary with a star-packed special featuring legendary cast members, iconic hosts, and unforgettable performances. Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter opened the show with “Homeward Bound,” while Steve Martin delivered a nostalgic monologue. Paul McCartney closed the night with a powerful Beatles medley, marking a historic moment for the long-running sketch comedy institution.
‘SNL’ 50th Anniversary Celebration: Quick Look
- Opening Performance: Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter duet on “Homeward Bound.”
- Host & Monologue: Steve Martin, joined by Martin Short and John Mulaney, sets the comedic tone.
- Musical Acts: Paul McCartney, Lil Wayne, and Miley Cyrus perform.
- Cameo Appearances: Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, Keith Richards, Alec Baldwin, and more.
- Sketch Highlights: Iconic revivals featuring Will Ferrell, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, and Kenan Thompson.
- Tributes: Adam Sandler honors late cast members, and Tom Hanks leads a parody “in memoriam.”
- Finale: A massive stage gathering led by Martin Short pays tribute to Lorne Michaels.
‘SNL’ 50th Anniversary Special Brings Back Legends and Laughs
Deep Look: ‘SNL’ Marks 50 Years with Star-Studded Comedy Special
For five decades, Saturday Night Live has been the gold standard of sketch comedy, and its 50th anniversary special proved why. Airing live from its iconic home at Studio 8H in New York’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the celebration was packed with legendary comedians, surprise guests, and musical performances that spanned generations.
Paul Simon, a longtime friend of SNL, opened the night with a heartfelt rendition of “Homeward Bound,” alongside rising pop star Sabrina Carpenter. When Simon reminded Carpenter that he first performed the song on SNL in 1976, she quipped, “I was not born then. And neither were my parents,” earning huge laughs.
The night closed with an emotional performance by Paul McCartney, who delivered a rare live rendition of “Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End” from Abbey Road, bringing a perfect sense of nostalgia and unity to the evening.
Steve Martin’s Opening Monologue Brings the Laughs
Steve Martin, one of the most beloved and frequent SNL hosts, kicked off the night with a monologue full of classic wit and insider humor. He joked about vacationing on a yacht named “The Gulf of Steve Martin” when Lorne Michaels called him to host.
Joining him on stage were Martin Short and John Mulaney, who scanned the packed audience and remarked, “I see some of the most difficult people I have ever met in my entire life.” Mulaney also referenced SNL’s long list of past hosts, noting, “Over 50 years, 894 people have hosted Saturday Night Live, and it amazes me that only two of them have committed murder.”
Martin even took a jab at the show’s notoriously unpredictable alum, Bill Murray: “We wanted to make sure that Bill would be here tonight, so we didn’t invite him.”
Musical Performances Celebrate ‘SNL’s Legacy
Music has always been a cornerstone of SNL, and the anniversary special delivered. Alongside Paul Simon and McCartney’s emotional sets, Lil Wayne and Miley Cyrus performed high-energy numbers, reminding audiences of the show’s role in launching and celebrating musical talent.
The special also followed a full-fledged SNL tribute concert at Radio City Music Hall the night before, further honoring the show’s deep ties to the music industry.
Celebrity Cameos and Unforgettable Moments
The night was packed with cameos from major Hollywood stars, including Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, and Keith Richards.
Alec Baldwin, SNL’s most frequent host with 17 appearances, introduced a montage of classic commercial parodies. His appearance came just months after a manslaughter charge against him was dropped in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Aubrey Plaza, making her first major public appearance since the tragic passing of her husband, introduced Miley Cyrus’s performance.
Jack Nicholson, rarely seen in public in recent years, introduced Adam Sandler’s musical tribute to past SNL cast members. In a touching moment, Sandler sang a roll call of former stars, giving special mention to Chris Farley, Norm Macdonald, Gilda Radner, Jan Hooks, and Phil Hartman. His song ended with the poignant lyrics:
“Six years of our boy Farley, five of our buddy Norm.”
Comedy Tributes and Sketch Revivals
One of the night’s biggest laughs came from Tom Hanks, who jokingly introduced an “In Memoriam” segment—only to reveal it was for SNL sketches that had aged poorly. Clips of outdated bits, including John Belushi’s “Samurai” character and the infamous “Chippendales” sketch featuring Chris Farley and Patrick Swayze, were marked with labels like “Yikes” and “Body Shaming.”
Former cast member Garrett Morris, now 88, introduced a video tribute to the original 1975 cast. “I had no idea y’all that I would be required to do so many reunion shows,” he joked.
The special also revived several fan-favorite sketches, including:
- “Black Jeopardy” – Hosted by Kenan Thompson, featuring Eddie Murphy impersonating Tracy Morgan.
- “Debbie Downer” – Starring Rachel Dratch and Robert De Niro.
- “Weekend Update” – Amy Poehler and Tina Fey led an audience Q&A, with Ryan Reynolds hilariously dodging questions.
- “Bronx Beat” – Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph’s talk show sketch, featuring Mike Myers as Linda Richman.
Meryl Streep made a surprise comedic turn in Kate McKinnon’s classic alien abduction sketch, while Kim Kardashian and Scarlett Johansson (Colin Jost’s wife) joined Kristen Wiig for a revival of “The Maharelle Sisters.”
A Grand Finale Honoring Lorne Michaels
The night wrapped up with a massive gathering of cast members, hosts, and musical guests on the crowded Studio 8H stage. Led by Martin Short, the group gave a rousing ovation to SNL creator Lorne Michaels, who has overseen the show for 45 of its 50 years.
With laughter, music, and a touch of sentimentality, SNL celebrated its past while proving that its influence on comedy remains as strong as ever.
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