Courtesy of NBC
NEW YORK, NY – “Live from New York,” it was a star-studded, three-and-a-half-hour tribute
to five decades of “Saturday Night Live.”
NBC’s long-running sketch comedy institution marked its 50th anniversary Sunday night with a
special featuring former cast members, celebrity guests, and musical performances that blended
nostalgia with humor.
The night opened with familiar faces from the show’s early years, including comedian Steve
Martin, a member of the “Five-Timers Club” for repeat hosts, and folk legend Paul Simon, who
performed alongside pop star Sabrina Carpenter.
John Mulaney played a hot dog and heroin cart vendor in a sketch with Pete Davidson and David
Spade, reflecting on New York City’s evolution. Maya Rudolph and Adam Driver, dressed as
heroin and a hot dog, joined in for a musical performance. Lin-Manuel Miranda satirized former
New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani with a Broadway-style number reminiscent of his
“Hamilton” days, portraying the embattled politician as someone now “throwing away” his shot.
Tom Hanks introduced an in Memorium segment dedicated to “SNL” sketches and characters
that have “aged horribly,” while Jack Nicholson, in a rare public appearance, introduced Adam
Sandler, who performed a tribute song celebrating the show’s legacy.
Davidson reprised his clueless character Chad, sharing the screen with original cast member
Laraine Newman. Bill Murray appeared on “Weekend Update” with co-host Colin Jost to count
down the top 10 hosts in the show’s history—none of whom, they noted, were Jost.
Musical performances included Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard covering “Nothing Compares
2 U” in honor of the late Sinéad O’Connor, as well as sets from Lil Wayne and Sir Paul
McCartney.
Cecily Strong revived her “Weekend Update” character, “Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a
Conversation With at a Party,” while Rachel Dratch brought back Debbie Downer. Emma Stone
joined former cast member Molly Shannon to highlight the show’s tradition of physical comedy,
appearing as Shannon’s beloved character, 50-year-old Sally O’Malley.
Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning made a surprise appearance to endorse executive
producer Lorne Michaels’ continued leadership of the show, despite his age. “It’s brutal out
here,” Manning said, referring to retirement.
Eddie Murphy took part in a new “Black Jeopardy” sketch, portraying fellow “SNL” alum Tracy
Morgan. Leslie Jones broke character laughing—the first instance of “breaking” during the
special. Murphy, a star of the show in the 1980s, had previously distanced himself from “SNL”
after Spade made a joke at his expense in 1995. The two have since reconciled, and Murphy has
returned for major anniversaries, including the 40th and now the 50th.
The night was a testament to the show’s enduring cultural impact, blending nostalgia, comedy,
and a celebration of the talent that has defined “Saturday Night Live” for half a century.
NEW YORK, NY – “Live from New York,” it was a star-studded, three-and-a-half-hour tribute
to five decades of “Saturday Night Live.”
NBC’s long-running sketch comedy institution marked its 50th anniversary Sunday night with a
special featuring former cast members, celebrity guests, and musical performances that blended
nostalgia with humor.
The night opened with familiar faces from the show’s early years, including comedian Steve
Martin, a member of the “Five-Timers Club” for repeat hosts, and folk legend Paul Simon, who
performed alongside pop star Sabrina Carpenter.
John Mulaney played a hot dog and heroin cart vendor in a sketch with Pete Davidson and David
Spade, reflecting on New York City’s evolution. Maya Rudolph and Adam Driver, dressed as
heroin and a hot dog, joined in for a musical performance. Lin-Manuel Miranda satirized former
New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani with a Broadway-style number reminiscent of his
“Hamilton” days, portraying the embattled politician as someone now “throwing away” his shot.
Tom Hanks introduced an in Memorium segment dedicated to “SNL” sketches and characters
that have “aged horribly,” while Jack Nicholson, in a rare public appearance, introduced Adam
Sandler, who performed a tribute song celebrating the show’s legacy.
Davidson reprised his clueless character Chad, sharing the screen with original cast member
Laraine Newman. Bill Murray appeared on “Weekend Update” with co-host Colin Jost to count
down the top 10 hosts in the show’s history—none of whom, they noted, were Jost.
Musical performances included Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard covering “Nothing Compares
2 U” in honor of the late Sinéad O’Connor, as well as sets from Lil Wayne and Sir Paul
McCartney.
Cecily Strong revived her “Weekend Update” character, “Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a
Conversation With at a Party,” while Rachel Dratch brought back Debbie Downer. Emma Stone
joined former cast member Molly Shannon to highlight the show’s tradition of physical comedy,
appearing as Shannon’s beloved character, 50-year-old Sally O’Malley.
Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning made a surprise appearance to endorse executive
producer Lorne Michaels’ continued leadership of the show, despite his age. “It’s brutal out
here,” Manning said, referring to retirement.
Eddie Murphy took part in a new “Black Jeopardy” sketch, portraying fellow “SNL” alum Tracy
Morgan. Leslie Jones broke character laughing—the first instance of “breaking” during the
special. Murphy, a star of the show in the 1980s, had previously distanced himself from “SNL”
after Spade made a joke at his expense in 1995. The two have since reconciled, and Murphy has
returned for major anniversaries, including the 40th and now the 50th.
The night was a testament to the show’s enduring cultural impact, blending nostalgia, comedy,
and a celebration of the talent that has defined “Saturday Night Live” for half a century.