Live from New York, it was a night to remember. Saturday Night Live celebrated its 50th anniversary with a star-studded three-and-a-half-hour special, bringing together past and present cast members for a nostalgia-packed tribute to the legendary NBC show.
Here are some of the biggest moments:
The night kicked off with an iconic opening featuring SNL legends Paul Simon (joined by Sabrina Carpenter) and Steve Martin, representing the show’s early years.
John Mulaney brought back his hot dog and heroin cart, chatting with Pete Davidson and David Spade about New York’s ever-changing landscape. Meanwhile, Maya Rudolph and Adam Driver, dressed as heroin and a hot dog, broke into song, while Lin-Manuel Miranda spoofed Rudy Giuliani in a Hamilton-esque musical skit.
Tom Hanks introduced an In Memoriam segment, but with a twist—paying tribute to SNL sketches that have “aged horribly.”
Jack Nicholson made a rare public appearance to introduce Adam Sandler, who performed a song dedicated to all things SNL.
Pete Davidson’s clueless character Chad returned, sharing the stage with original cast member Laraine Newman.
Bill Murray teamed up with Colin Jost to list Weekend Update’s best hosts—none of whom, of course, were Jost.
Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard performed Nothing Compares 2 U in a poignant tribute to Sinéad O’Connor, while Lil Wayne and Paul McCartney also delivered musical performances.
Cecily Strong reprised her role as the “Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With at a Party,” and Rachel Dratch brought back Debbie Downer.
Peyton Manning weighed in on SNL’s future, playfully advocating for Lorne Michaels to stick around. “It’s brutal out here,” he joked about retirement.
Emma Stone joined Molly Shannon’s Sally O’Malley for a celebration of SNL’s best physical comedy moments.
Eddie Murphy took on the role of Tracy Morgan in a hilarious Black Jeopardy sketch, with Leslie Jones breaking character in the first “official break” of the night.
The show ended in classic SNL fashion, with a packed stage full of past and present cast members. Martin Short delivered the closing remarks, thanking the show’s pioneers. Behind him, Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman held up a photo of Gilda Radner, paying tribute to SNL’s legacy. Short wrapped it up with a heartfelt shoutout to Lorne Michaels: “The man who made our dreams come true.”
