Saturday Night Live(SNL) has shaped comedy, music, and pop culture for over five decades now. They’ve provided the world with bad and great sketches, comedic events and a platform for comedians, hosts and actors to to be seen. On Valentine’s Day, they marked their 50th anniversary in grand style. And in SNL fashion, they brought together past and present SNL guest hosts, musicians and other celebrities for a night of comedy, music, and nostalgia.
Fans expected performances and tributes, but one unexpected moment quickly became the talk of the night. Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, left the audience in shock when they walked out in the middle of the show after Jimmy Fallon made an announcement.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson walked out of SNL (jokingly)
During the event, Fallon made it clear that no awards would be given out, saying, “Apparently, there’s been some confusion. This is just a concert. We’re not giving out any awards tonight.” Right after, the camera captured Hanks and Wilson standing up and walking out in mock protest. Rita playfully wagged her finger at Fallon while holding Hanks’ hand, making it obvious they were in on the joke.
Fallon acted surprised, calling after them, “Tom? Rita?” while the audience burst into laughter. The skit was fitting for Hanks, who has hosted SNL ten times since his first appearance in 1985. A Five-Timers Club member since 1990, he remains one of the show’s most beloved recurring guests, often delivering some of its most memorable moments.
Other guest performers wowed the audience
Beyond the comedic exit, the night was filled with standout performances. Miley Cyrus sang Flowers and gave a shout-out to Paul Rudd, who smiled and blew her a kiss. She also teased the crowd for not singing along, joking that they were acting like a Grammy audience.
Lady Gaga’s performance also brought unexpected laughs. She started singing “Shallow” with Andy Samberg but stopped midway, telling him, “Andy, Andy, I got to stop you. It’s very bad.” They quickly switched to an even worse, explicitly titled song.
Cher delivered one of the night’s biggest performances, singing “If I Could Turn Back Time” in a dazzling outfit. Kevin Costner and Billy Crystal were seen admiring her from the audience, clearly enjoying the moment. Other performers included Post Malone, Jelly Roll, Backstreet Boys, and Arcade Fire.