Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Last night saw the grand finale of a weekend crammed with celebrations of Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary. Indeed, SNL50 packed a punch, with back-to-back live performances, skits, and tributes by former cast members, hosts, pop stars, and cultural legends in allegiance to Lorne Michaels’s cultural behemoth of a sketch show. From Sabrina Carpenter to Pizza Rat, Adam Driver as a hot dog, Pete Davidson as the iconic Chad, and “cocaine and some vodka” to the tune of “Hakuna Matata,” we really got it all.
Many, many SNL alumni from across its five decades were present for the occasion, including Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chevy Chase, Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Leslie Jones, Andy Samberg, Rachel Dratch, Chris Rock, Fred Armisen, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, Laraine Newman, Kate McKinnon, Ana Gasteyer, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Seth Meyers, Tracy Morgan, and Will Forte—to say nothing of the current SNL 50 cast. Billy Crystal also came along—even though he was cut before the first episode even aired—as well as the show’s youngest-ever host, Drew Barrymore (she was just seven at the time). The audience, too, was star-studded and up for participating: from Bad Bunny to Pedro Pascal, Kim Kardashian, and Ryan Reynolds.
Below, we recap some of the best, brightest, and silliest moments of Saturday Night Live’s anniversary extravaganza.
Steve Martin’s opening monologue
I feel like Steve Martin has remained exactly the same age for the entire time I’ve been alive. Last night, Martin—who has appeared on SNL more than 35 times despite never being a cast memeber—launched the 50th anniversary celebration finale, describing himself as the “diversity hire.” He was joined by John Mulaney and Martin Short. “This is the monologue, the weakest part of the show,” he quipped.
“Over the course of 50 years, 894 people have hosted Saturday Night Live, and it amazes me that only two of them have committed murder,” he added, curtly, referencing Robert Blake and O.J. Simpson. There were also, of course, some more playful shout-outs, like one to Bill Murray: “We wanted to make sure Bill would be here tonight, so we didn’t invite him.” Martin went on to pay tribute to SNL’s writers—who the cameras captured standing outside in the rain.
A Pete Davidson and Laraine Newman crossover moment
Davidson reprised his iconic character Chad in a sketch with original cast member Laraine Newman (Hannah Einbinder’s mom, lest you’ve forgotten!). In it, Newman drifts nostalgically through Studio 8H—before finding herself repeatedly interrupted by Chad. (And then, a naked Chad.) Hilarious, silly, but also quite moving.
Hot dogs and heroin!
A wacky, decade-hopping musical for the poets and dreamers who try to make it in the Big Apple. And those hopefuls gotta eat—hot dog and heroin, coming right up! Adam Driver is a life-size hot dog, while Maya Rudolph is a spitting syringe, extolling the drug-fuelled peaks and troughs of New York through the decades. How best to define the ’80s? Cocaine and vodka, sung to the tune of “Hakuna Matata.” Disney must be psyched.
Sabrina Carpenter does “Defying Gravity,” defiantly off-key
The Domingo-verse expands. Here, after singing versions of “Defying Gravity” and “You Belong With Me” for their friend’s (Chloe Fineman) vow renewal, Sabrina Carpenter, Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, and Sarah Sherman are interrupted not only by the philandering Domingo (Marcello Hernández)—but also Pedro Pascal (a.k.a. Ronaldo) and Bad Bunny (a.k.a. Santiago).
Black Jeopardy
“Welcome to Black Jeopardy, the only Jeopardy where every single viewer fully understood Kendrick’s halftime performance,” Kenan Thompson says in his herladed return to one of SNL’s greatest game show parodies. Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, and Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, as well as an extra-extra Tracy Morgan all join in on the fun—along with Tom Hanks, reprising his role as “Doug.”
Kick, stretch, kick!
Physical comedy is a tenet of the SNL oeuvre, so of course Molly Shannon—as the permanently 50-year-old Sally O’Malley—did her bit, kicking, stretching, and kicking some more (alongside Emma Stone) to introduce a decades-spanning montage of falls, smacks, and wipe-outs.
Bronx Beat is back, honey
Oh, la la! Welcome back to Bronx Beat. This time, Betty (Amy Poehler) and Jodi (Maya Rudolph) interview SNL50 audience member Miles Teller—as well as their friend Linda Richman (Mike Myers), from Coffee Talk. Talk about a crossover special!
A bare-all audience Q+A
During an audience Q&A led by Amy Poehler and Tina Fey—and featuring the likes of Quinta Brunson, Ryan Reynolds, Nate Bargatze, Cher, Keith Richards, Seth Meyers, Rev. Al Sharpton, Ray Romano, Jason Momoa, Fred Armisen, and Peyton Manning—Jon Hamm (or Jon Jamon) and Bad Bunny ask if they’re funny; and Fred Armisen reaches out to find out why Lorne Michaels cut his sketch, “Vampire Office,” in 2005. Chaois ensues.
Another killer performance by Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard
Miley Cyrus has proved herself to be one of SNL’s mightiest musical guests. Earlier in the weekend, she took to the stage at Radio City Music Hall to perform her Grammy award-winning “Flowers” and a cover of Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” with Brittany Howard. Then, on Sunday evening, she gave a big-vocaled performance of “Nothing Compares 2 U.” A fitting tribute to another legendary SNL musical guest.
This article was originally published on Vogue.com.
