On Sunday, February 16, “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” aired on NBC. Celebrities filled both the stage and the audience, while 15 million fans watched the event from home. The program seemed to be designed for the well-versed fan and the celebrity cast, complete with insider sketches, callbacks to SNL history, and a roster of musical guests.
The show opened with a tender duet by singer-songwriter and longtime SNL musical guest Paul Simon and 25-year-old pop star Sabrina Carpenter. The pre-song dialogue demonstrated an uncomfortable attempt to appeal to a wide generational gap, with extended jokes about the ages of the two artists. Sixteen-time host Steve Martin performed the opening monologue, sticking to a safe, prolonged line of jokes about his age.
Iconic segments from the 50 years of SNL made an appearance throughout the night. A new addition to Kate McKinnon’s “Close Encounter” series was Meryl Streep’s SNL debut, alongside Pedro Pascal, Woody Harrelson, Jon Hamm, and Aidy Bryant. Streep, playing the mother of Kate McKinnon’s character, comically recounted her own “close encounter” with extraterrestrial life. A more recent viral skit reemerged, in which bridesmaids sang a parody of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” to their friend, the bride of a wedding, and her new husband, exposing the bride’s extensive affair through lighthearted song. This skit, which first aired in October 2024, has now spawned into three versions, each one less funny than the last. In the most recent installment, Carpenter played one of the bridesmaids, singing off-key to her own song, “Espresso,”which won Best Pop Solo Performance at this year’s Grammys.
Audience interaction was a highlight of the night, revitalizing a tradition in which cast members and celebrities pose as audience members and fire questions at their celebrity hosts. This time, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler answered questions about the long history of SNL from some of the show’s previous guests. Quinta Brunson asked about some iconic SNL lore, Julia Louis-Dreyfus flirted with Adam Driver, and Ryan Reynolds made an awkward reference to the ongoing scandal between his wife, Blake Lively, and Justin Baldoni. As the cameramen panned to the celebrity inquisitors, the star-studded audience had many at-home viewers shouting in recognition. This segment was admittedly an excuse to secure more celebrity cameos in the least amount of time, however, it still felt a bit too long.
Also included in the program was a closing performance by Paul McCartney and an SNL love song by Adam Sandler. Sandler cracked inside jokes, and thanked behind-the-scenes staff such as SNL nurse Theresa Hayde and cue-card manager Wally Feresten, set to a tune and the actor’s ragged, charming voice.
The beloved “Weekend Update” segment successfully incorporated celebrity appearances with classic SNL content. Former “Weekend Update” anchor Bill Murray made an appearance to rank the best anchors of the segment of all time.
Overall, the show was silly, nostalgic, and self-referential. Although not every joke landed and much of it felt exclusive, the anniversary special served a specific purpose. It was an homage to the history of the show, and a thank-you to fans young and old. In a world where so much content seems focused on accessible soundbites and absurdity, with the hope that comedy can stand alone in TikTok or Instagram reel form, it was almost refreshing to see SNL take a risk, dedicating their program solely to those dear, dedicated fans and friends of the show. And to those who have watched for five, 20, or 50 years, it certainly felt personal. Although SNL humor may not be that of the post-ironic internet generations, the show’s success can teach us something about building community and truly sticking with what one — in this case, SNL creator Lorne Michaels — loves and believes in. It has certainly paid off for Saturday Night Live.
