"Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special" (also billed as "SNL50: The Anniversary Special") is a three-hour television special to commemorate the 50th anniversary season of Saturday Night Live. It aired on February 16, 2025, on NBC and Peacock. The special was watched by nearly 15 million viewers.
Synopsis The special followed the format of a typical Saturday Night Live episode, extended to 3½ hours instead of the usual 1½, and included a cold open, a monologue, sketches, a short film, commercial parodies, and musical performances.
Sketches Sketch Notes Opening Monologue Steve Martin hosts with featured cameos from John Mulaney and Martin Short, with David Letterman appearing in the audience. Mikey Day and Devon Walker appear as ICE agents escorting Short off the stage. The Lawrence Welk Show & The Maharelle Sisters Fred Armisen as Lawrence Welk, Will Ferrell as Robert Goulet, Kristen Wiig as Dooneese, Ana Gasteyer as Margaret, Kim Kardashian as Holly, and Scarlett Johansson as Janice. Kenan Thompson briefly appears as Florian Trent, a body contortionist. Black Jeopardy! Kenan Thompson reprises his role as Black Jeopardy! host Darnell Hayes with Leslie Jones as Shanice, Tracy Morgan as Darius, Eddie Murphy as Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock as a Special Guest Clue, and Tom Hanks reprising his role as Doug. Physical Comedy clip montage Emma Stone and Molly Shannon as Sally O'Malley present a montage dedicated to physical comedy on SNL. Domingo: Vow Renewal Martin Short and Molly Shannon as parents of the bride, Chloe Fineman and Andrew Dismukes as the couple, Sabrina Carpenter, Heidi Gardner, Sarah Sherman, and Ego Nwodim as bridesmaids, Andy Samberg, Bowen Yang, Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney as the Groomsmen, Marcello Hernández as Domingo, Pedro Pascal as Renaldo, and Bad Bunny as Santiago. Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey Handey's voice reminisces about 50 years of SNL, but values his salary above anything. Q&A Segment Tina Fey and Amy Poehler answer questions from audience members Quinta Brunson, Tim Meadows, Ryan Reynolds, Nate Bargatze, Donna Richards (host dresser), Jon Lovitz, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Adam Driver, Cher, Keith Richards, Zach Galifianakis, Jon Hamm, Bad Bunny, Seth Meyers, Al Sharpton, Ray Romano, Jason Momoa, Fred Armisen, and Peyton Manning. SNL Digital Short Bowen Yang, Andy Samberg, Sarah Sherman, Chris Parnell, Ana Gasteyer, Molly Shannon, Will Forte, Taran Killam, James Austin Johnson, Kenan Thompson, Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney appear in a musical pre-taped digital short about anxiety at SNL. Weekend Update Colin Jost and Michael Che host Weekend Update. Che pays tribute to both Norm Macdonald and O. J. Simpson. Cecily Strong plays The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation with at a Party alongside Bobby Moynihan as Drunk Uncle. Seth Meyers introduces "Lorne's Best Friends from Growing Up" (Vanessa Bayer, Fred Armisen). Bill Murray ranks his favorite Weekend Update anchors. He makes a callback to earlier material in the sketch by ranking Norm Macdonald a favorite anchor and referring to his jokes about O.J. Simpson. "Close Encounters" sketch Aidy Bryant and Jon Hamm play officials investigating an alien abduction. Kate McKinnon reprises her role as Colleen Rafferty with Pedro Pascal and Woody Harrelson playing other abductees and Meryl Streep playing Colleen Sr., Rafferty's mother. "The Stagehand" pre-taped sketch Laraine Newman reminiscences being around Studio 8H and meets Chad (Pete Davidson). Cameo from Mikey Day. "Moving to New York" musical sketch Musical sketch featuring John Mulaney as Big Nick, Pete Davidson, David Spade, Adam Driver, Maya Rudolph, Emil Wakim, Alex Moffat, Paul Shaffer, G. E. Smith, Nathan Lane, Chloe Fineman, Jason Sudeikis, Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney, Scarlett Johansson, Paul Rudd, James Austin Johnson, Kenan Thompson, Cecily Strong, Nick Jonas, Taran Killam, and Ana Gasteyer with Kate McKinnon reprising her role as Rudy Giuliani, Lin-Manuel Miranda reprising his role as Alexander Hamilton, Sarah Sherman as Michael Bloomberg, and Devon Walker as Eric Adams. Audience members Jenna Ortega and Kevin Costner also take part, perhaps unintentionally, sitting between two of the singers. Natasha Lyonne played the role of a Guardian Angel in the final scene, but was obscured by Driver’s hot dog costume and not visible on camera. Commercial parody clip montage Alec Baldwin introduces a montage of commercial parodies (with Sarah Sherman). "Bronx Beat with Betty & Jodi" Sketch Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph as Betty and Jodi with Miles Teller and Mike Myers who reprises his role as Linda Richman. In Memoriam to cancelled sketches Tom Hanks presents an In Memoriam to cancelled characters, stereotypes, jokes in poor taste, or "sketches that have aged horribly." "Debbie Downer" sketch Jimmy Fallon, Ayo Edebiri, Drew Barrymore, and Robert De Niro appear with Rachel Dratch reprising her role as Debbie Downer working as a bartender. "Scared Straight" sketch Sketch featuring Eddie Murphy, Kenan Thompson reprising his role as Lorenzo McIntosh, Will Ferrell, Jason Sudeikis reprising his role as Officer Sikorski, Mikey Day, Michael Longfellow, and Marcello Hernández. "Don't Look Back in Anger" short Garrett Morris introduces the Schiller's Reel short "Don't Look Back in Anger" starring John Belushi. SNL goodnights Martin Short salutes the original cast and thanks Lorne Michaels on-stage as they began the famous SNL goodnights.
Musical performances Presenter Musicians Notes The cold open Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter "Homeward Bound" Aubrey Plaza Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard "Nothing Compares 2 U" Jack Nicholson Adam Sandler "50 Years", a tribute song to SNL written by Sandler Dave Chappelle Lil Wayne and The Roots Medley of "Uproar", "Lollipop", "6 Foot 7 Foot", "Mrs. Officer", and "A Milli" Martin Short Paul McCartney "Golden Slumbers"/"Carry That Weight"/"The End"
Cast and crew Appearances The initial headliners for the 50th anniversary special were announced on February 6, 2025, 10 days before the broadcast. Several more headliners were spoiled, in a picture The New York Times used, during an interview with executive producer Lorne Michaels. On February 14, it was confirmed that cast alumni Dan Aykroyd and Bill Hader would not be present at the event; Aykroyd preferred to watch the event at home with his children, while Hader declined the invitation due to a schedule conflict. Aykroyd later gave his blessing to the special, stating in a social media post that he "smile(d) from start to finish" watching from home. Other alumni who were absent included Dana Carvey (who was suffering from a severe case of influenza), Colin Quinn (who had an engagement booked in North Carolina that night), Dennis Miller and Dick Ebersol. Former notable hosts Elliott Gould, John Goodman, Jim Carrey, Louis C.K., Justin Timberlake, Danny DeVito, Melissa McCarthy, Ariana Grande, Dwayne Johnson, Charles Barkley, Jonah Hill, and Christopher Walken were also absent.
Fred Armisen Alec Baldwin Nate Bargatze Drew Barrymore Vanessa Bayer Beck Bennett Quinta Brunson Aidy Bryant Dan Bulla Bad Bunny Sabrina Carpenter Dave Chappelle Michael Che Cher Miley Cyrus Pete Davidson Mikey Day Robert De Niro Andrew Dismukes Rachel Dratch Adam Driver Ayo Edebiri Jimmy Fallon Wally Feresten Will Ferrell Tina Fey Chloe Fineman Will Forte Zach Galifianakis Heidi Gardner Ana Gasteyer Jon Hamm Tom Hanks Woody Harrelson Marcello Hernández Brittany Howard Scarlett Johansson James Austin Johnson Nick Jonas Leslie Jones Colin Jost Kim Kardashian Taran Killam Nathan Lane Julia Louis-Dreyfus Michael Longfellow Jon Lovitz Natasha Lyonne Lil Wayne Peyton Manning Steve Martin Paul McCartney Kate McKinnon Tim Meadows Seth Meyers Lin-Manuel Miranda Alex Moffat Jason Momoa Kyle Mooney Garrett Morris Tracy Morgan Bobby Moynihan John Mulaney Eddie Murphy Bill Murray Mike Myers Laraine Newman Jack Nicholson Ego Nwodim Ashley Padilla Chris Parnell Pedro Pascal Aubrey Plaza Amy Poehler Ryan Reynolds Donna Richards Keith Richards Chris Rock Ray Romano The Roots Gena Rositano Paul Rudd Maya Rudolph Andy Samberg Adam Sandler Akiva Schaffer Paul Shaffer Molly Shannon Al Sharpton Sarah Sherman Martin Short Paul Simon G. E. Smith David Spade Meryl Streep Emma Stone Cecily Strong Jason Sudeikis Jorma Taccone Miles Teller Kenan Thompson Emil Wakim Devon Walker Jane Wickline Kristen Wiig Bowen Yang
Writers Several past writers for the show returned to become "staff writers" for the special, including Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, Paula Pell, Emily Spivey, and John Mulaney.
Audience members Also in attendance were numerous actors, musicians, comedians, media figures, and celebrities, many of whom had appeared on or hosted SNL in the past, with some seen prominently during some sketches. Confirmed as attending (some with partner/spouse) were:
J. J. Abrams Adria Arjona Aziz Ansari Awkwafina Judd Apatow Kevin Bacon Hilaria Baldwin Lake Bell Jim Belushi Jim Breuer Matthew Broderick Bill Burr Steve Buscemi David Byrne Brandi Carlile Steve Carell Chevy Chase Ellen Cleghorne Sacha Baron Cohen Stephen Colbert Kevin Costner Billy Crystal Jane Curtin Tish Cyrus Claire Danes Larry David Laura Dern Zooey Deschanel Denny Dillon Amelia Dimoldenberg Peter Dinklage Robin Duke Nora Dunn Alexander 'A.E' Edwards Dean Edwards Abby Elliott Ari Emanuel Paul Feig Arcade Fire Chris Fischer Al Franken James Franco Jim Gaffigan Lady Gaga Whoopi Goldberg Grace Gummer Anthony Michael Hall Brad Hall Halsey Darrell Hammond David Harbour Jack Harlow Marielle Heller Ed Helms Siobhan Fallon Hogan Melanie Hutsell Victoria Jackson Olivia Jean Dakota Johnson Nancy Juvonen Anya Taylor-Joy Chris Kattan Tim Kazurinsky Caroline Kennedy Anthony Kiedis David Koechner Gary Kroeger Donna Langley David Letterman Dan Levy Riki Lindhome Lucy Liu Blake Lively Natasha Lyonne Chris Martin Gail Matthius John McEnroe Malcolm McRae Camryn Manheim Dennis Miller Finesse Mitchell Jay Mohr Marcus Mumford Olivia Munn Kevin Nealon Joanna Newsom Don Novello Conan O'Brien Mike O'Brien Bob Odenkirk Catherine O'Hara Sandra Oh Jenna Ortega Guy Oseary Cheri Oteri Ashley Padilla Keke Palmer Sarah Jessica Parker Jay Pharoah Nasim Pedrad Paula Pell Chris Pine Joe Piscopo Questlove Bonnie Raitt Judge Reinhold Jeff Richards Rob Riggle Tim Robinson Robyn Mark Ronson Seth Rogen Lauren Miller Rogen Jonathan Roumie Susan Saint James Horatio Sanz Diane Sawyer Rob Schneider Amy Schumer Liev Schreiber Jonathan Scott Kyra Sedgwick Jerry Seinfeld Jessica Seinfeld Mike Shoemaker Sarah Silverman Robert Smigel J. B. Smoove Steven Spielberg Harper Steele Ben Stiller St. Vincent Julia Stiles Julia Sweeney Terry Sweeney Jorma Taccone Christine Taylor Tyga Eddie Vedder Melissa Villaseñor Jack White Casey Wilson Rita Wilson Susan Yeagley Ramy Youssef Sasheer Zamata Alan Zweibel
Note: former cast members Patrick Weathers and John Milhiser attended the Friday anniversary concert but not the Sunday live show.
Preceding specials Before the main event, NBC aired three other specials: SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, a four-part documentary debuting on Peacock on January 16; Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music airing on NBC on January 27; and SNL50: The Homecoming Concert on February 14 live on Peacock. NBC also aired the first episode of the show the night before the anniversary special. The main special was preceded by a one-hour "red carpet special" featuring interviews with celebrities and past and current cast members (including many participating in that night's show).