ECNETNews reports that this weekend marks a significant milestone as the iconic show, Saturday Night Live, celebrates its remarkable 50th anniversary. Kicking off the festivities on February 14, NBC aired SNL50: The Homecoming Concert, a live performance streamed from New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, featuring electrifying acts from renowned artists such as David Byrne, Robyn, Lady Gaga, and Andy Samberg, who thrilled the audience with a performance of The Lonely Island’s classic “Dick in a Box.”
In an exciting follow-up, Lorne Michaels and the team presented SNL50: The Anniversary Special, a three-hour live extravaganza showcasing musical performances, monologues, and fresh takes on classic sketches. The special featured a lineup of celebrated guests from the show’s illustrious history. Stay tuned for highlights from this unforgettable evening.
The milestone event began with a captivating duet by Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon performing “Homeward Bound.” Reflecting on the past, Simon shared a nostalgic moment, mentioning his previous performance with George Harrison on Saturday Night Live in 1976. Carpenter humorously added, “I was not born then, and neither were my parents,” before delivering the iconic show’s introduction: “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!”
Following Simon and Carpenter’s opening, the evening featured a comedic monologue from Steve Martin, along with several memorable sketches. Notably, a parody of The Lawrence Welk Show starred Fred Armisen, Will Ferrell, and Kristen Wiig, who made a return as the quirky Dooneese. The beloved segment “Black Jeopardy” included appearances by Keenan Thompson, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, and Tom Hanks.
Carpenter returned for another installment in SNL’s popular “Domingo” series, which previously featured Ariana Grande and Charli XCX. This segment followed Kelsey (Chloe Fineman) and her friends as they ventured to Manhattan for a Wicked show before Kelsey’s vow renewal. The performance transitioned from a spoof of “Defying Gravity” to Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me,” revealing Kelsey’s lingering feelings for Domingo (Marcello Hernandez). The evening culminated with a surprise appearance by Bad Bunny as the charming third “hot brother,” Santiago.
In an engaging Q&A session, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler interacted with the star-studded audience. “SNL” superfan Quinta Brunson inquired about a specific 1993 episode involving Tim Meadows and musical guest Sade. Meadows humorously recalled the lighthearted inquiry he made to Sade back in the day. Cher, present in the audience, chimed in with her own witty remarks, while Keith Richards playfully sought to retrieve a scarf he left in the studio during 1988.
