Saturday Night Live celebrates 50 years with familiar faces
Saturday Night Live (SNL) marked its 50th anniversary in grand fashion on Feb. 16, airing a star-studded, 2-hour and 32-minute special that brought together both iconic SNL alumni and current cast members.
Here are some of the highlights.
Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon sing a duet
The episode opened with a bang when Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon sang a duet to Homeward Bound, the 1966 hit song by Simon & Garfunkel. “I sang this song with George Harrison on Saturday Night Live in 1976,” Simon said.
Steve Martin presents opening dialogue
Steve Martin presented the opening dialogue. Although Martin was never an official SNL cast member, he made an impact on the show appearing 35 times over the years and hosting 16 different episodes.
Martin was joined on stage by John Mulaney, who was a writer for SNL from 2008 to 2013. While Mulaney mostly worked behind the scenes during his time on the show, he’s since become a fan favorite, hosting five times over the years.
The return of Will Ferrell
The episode kicked off with a skit featuring Will Ferrell, a cast member on SNL from 1995 to 2002. Widely regarded as one of the most successful comedic actors of his generation, Ferrell's return was a fitting start to the celebration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPeo-c0Fmfc
Tracey Morgan and Chris Rock play Jeopardy
Tracey Morgan and Chris Rock were up next, appearing in a classic SNL skit Black Jeopardy. Morgan was on SNL from 1996 to 2003 and starred on the comedy television series 30 Rock from 2006 to 2013. Rock, arguably one of the best stand-up comedians of his generation, was on SNL as a cast member from 1990 to 1993.
Here are some of the highlights.
Andy Samberg performs iconic musical hit alongside Lady Gaga
Andy Samberg took the stage alongside Lady Gaga to perform the iconic SNL hit “D*ck in a Box.” A cast member and writer from 2005 to 2012, Samberg is credited with helping popularize the SNL digital shorts, a series of mini comedy music videos. The SNL 50 special also paid tribute to Samberg and his childhood friends, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, the creative minds behind the comedic trio The Lonely Island.
Amy Poehler and Tina Fey engage with the audience
Amy Poehler and Tina Fey stood on stage to ask audience questions for almost ten minutes. Fey was a SNL cast member and head writer from 1997 to 2006. She starred as a co-anchor and became the show's first female head writer. Poehler was a cast member on the show from 2001-2008 and served as a co-anchor along Fey.
The audience members included in this skit were Jon Hamm, Quinta Brunson, Ryan Reynolds, Nate Bargatze, Cher, Keith Richards, Seth Meyers, Bad Bunny, Rev. Al Sharpton, Ray Romano, Jason Momoa, Fred Armisen and Peyton Manning.
Bill Murray stars in Weekend Update
Bill Murray made a memorable appearance during the show’s Weekend Update segment alongside co-hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost. Murray, who became a fan favorite during his time on SNL, joined the cast in 1977 during its second season and stayed until 1980. His dry humor and impeccable timing made him one of the most beloved early cast members, and his return to the iconic segment was a perfect nod to his lasting impact on the show.
Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard stun in duet
Miley Cyrus joined Brittany Howard on stage to cover Nothing Compares 2 U, the 1990 hit by Sinéad O’Connor. O’Connor was a two-time musical guest on SNL, but never performed Nothing Compares 2 U on the comedy show. Cyrus and Howard paid a heartfelt tribute to Sinéad O'Connor, honoring the late artist who passed away in 2023.
The return of Adam Sandler
"Adam Sandler performed a song to commemorate the show's 50th anniversary, featuring inside jokes and tributes to fellow cast members. Sandler was part of the cast from 1991 to 1995 and became well-known for his short songs on Weekend Update, including The Chanukah Song and The Grandma Song. He concluded his performance by honoring a lineup of classic cast members, including late comedians like Chris Farley, Phil Hartman, and Jan Hooks.
Final thoughts
SNL’s 50th anniversary special was a nostalgic and star-studded celebration of its enduring legacy. The episode brought together both legendary alumni and rising stars, showcasing unforgettable moments, musical performances and classic sketches that defined the show over the decades.
From heartfelt tributes to Sinéad O’Connor to the return of comedic powerhouses like Will Ferrell, Steve Martin and Bill Murray, the special perfectly captured the spirit of SNL’s iconic history. As the show continues to evolve, the anniversary episode reminded fans of the timeless influence SNL has had on comedy, music and pop culture.
