Saturday Night Live marked its 50th anniversary with a star-studded special featuring performances that filled fans with nostalgia as they reflected through five decades of prime comedy. The live event ran for three and half hours, and had a mix of SNL’s classic sketches, musical renditions, and surprise celebrity appearances, honoring its rich history.
The special saw the reunion of former cast members, hosts, and guests, creating memorable moments that delighted both longtime fans and new viewers. Here are the top ten highlights from SNL’s golden anniversary celebration, most of which are still the talk of social media;
Paul Simon’s tribute
SNL’s beloved musical guest, Paul Simon, opened the show alongside Sabrina Carpenter as they did a performance of “Homeward Bound.” Simon originally sang it in 1976 on SNL with George Harriso,n setting a nostalgic tone for the night. Some viewers found the opener unexciting, however, it served as a reminder of the show’s timeless charm.
Steve Martin’s opening monologue
Steve Martin, who has hosted SNL up to 16 times, started the evening with a memorable monologue. Martin Short and John Mulaney joined him for the segment, with the former humorously referring to it as the traditionally weakest part of the show. They made jokes about SNL so far, and how often Steve has returned.
‘Black Jeopardy’ Revival
Kenan Thompson reprised his role as the host of the fan-favorite game show, but this time, it was Black Jeopardy. The contestants humorously struggled with an SNL-themed category, and laughter grew even wilder when comedian Eddie Murphy impersonated Tracy Morgan, who was standing right beside him.
‘Digital Short: Anxiety’
Andy Samberg returned with a new digital short titled Anxiety, which highlighted the pressure SNL cast members encounter due to their roles. The ‘80s synth-inspired piece featuring Bowen Yang highlighted topics like performance stress and IBS, and it was reminiscent of The Lonely Island’s viral hits.
Audience Q&A with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler
Former Weekend Update co-anchors Tina Fey and Amy Poehler led the Q&A session with celebrity audience members. The segment featured conversations with stars like Quinta Brunson and Jon Hamm and a funny back-and-forth between Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively.
‘Close Encounter 50th’ with Meryl Streep
Kate McKinnon’s beloved Close Encounter sketch saw a revival featuring Meryl Streep as Colleen Rafferty’s mother. The duo’s chemistry was impressive, and Pedro Pascal’s appearance with a mullet was the additional twist it needed to make this list.
‘Chad in 8H’ with Laraine Newman
Pete Davidson’s clueless character Chad found himself in Studio 8H with the original 1975 cast, including Laraine Newman. The sketch was a melting pot for different generations, proving SNL’s timeless appeal across several decades.
Tom Hanks’ In Memoriam segment
In a clever twist, Tom Hanks introduced an In Memoriam segment that honored outdated and politically incorrect sketches from the show’s past. This acknowledged the show’s evolution and willingness to reflect on its history while maintaining comedic appeal.
New York 50th Musical by John Mulaney
John Mulaney led a Les Misérables-inspired musical tribute to New York City and was backed up by cast members dressed as famous city figures. Kristen Wiig’s portrayal of the green M&M singing “I Dreamed A Dream” stood out the most amongst others.
Adam Sandler’s 50 Years tribute song
Jack Nicholson introduced Adam Sandler to the stage, and he performed a song reflecting on SNL’s five-decade run. The heartfelt lyrics paid tribute to the show’s cast and crew, and at some point, he paused while singing about the late SNL showman Chris Farley, who died from drug overdose in 1997.
Fans have shared their thoughts about the 50th-anniversary special of Saturday Night Live online, as they were mostly impressed from start to finish. “Steve Martin and Martin Short are comedy legends, love their chemistry on and off screen!” someone gushed, while another said, “The entire SNL 50th could be just Eddie Murphy as Tracy Jordan wandering around shouting stuff in every sketch and that would be the greatest episode of TV ever made. Don’t really need anyone else.”