Top Ten Celeb Appearances That Shaped the Last 50 Years of ‘Saturday Night Live’
A star-studded ensemble took part in a three-hour special to celebrate the 50th anniversary of legendary US comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL). The SNL50 event aired on Sunday from Studio 8H in New York City’s Rockefeller Centre, adhering to the tradition of being live broadcast. Founded in October 1975 and renowned for its sketches and celebrity hosts, SNL has launched numerous comedy legends such as Eddie Murphy and Bill Murray.
Several cast members returned for the anniversary special along with newer talents. Some notable highlights from the show include:
Sabrina Carpenter joins Paul Simon: The evening kicked off with a duet performance by Sabrina Carpenter alongside music legend Paul Simon. They sang “Homeward Bound,” a hit song from Simon and Garfunkel released in 1966. This wasn’t the first time these two had joined forces on SNL; back in 1976, Simon performed the same song with George Harrison of The Beatles.
Nirvana’s reunion: Nirvana returned to the stage for an iconic performance at this anniversary event. With special guest Post Malone and introduced by actor Adam Sandler, they played “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Sandler reflected on Kurt Cobain’s last SNL appearance before his death. This was another in a series of recent performances by surviving members of Nirvana to raise funds for the LA wildfires relief.
A nod to celebrity drama: Given the current high-profile legal dispute between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, references were inevitable at this anniversary show. Ryan Reynolds, who is also named in their court case, participated in a Q&A session alongside Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. When asked about his well-being by an audience member, Reynolds playfully replied “Great!” before expressing concern over unmentioned news.
Aubrey Plaza’s tribute: The show featured a heartfelt moment as US actress Aubrey Plaza made her first public appearance since the death of her husband Jeff Baena. plaza wore a tie-dye shirt to honor him, reminiscent of their wedding attire that reflected his newfound hobby during the pandemic.
Meryl Streep’s debut: In an amusing sketch poking fun at Pedro Pascal and Miranda Priestly from “The Devil Wears Prada,” Meryl Streep made her SNL debut. She humorously referenced her iconic role, saying “This devil wears nada.”
Garrett Morris’ return: One of the first black performers on Saturday Night Live returned to mark its anniversary. Garrett Morris greeted fans and joked about performing in so many reunion shows over the years.
Domingo’s brotherly addition: In another viral character moment, Domingo brought his brothers into a scene from previous seasons. His siblings Santiago (Bad Bunny) and Reynaldo (Pedro Pascal), along with Matts groomsmen, performed in an ensemble as they renewed their vows.
Kim Kardashian’s update to “Maharelle Sisters”: Returning after her memorable kiss on SNL during the Aladdin event, Kim Kardashian was featured in a new version of the singing group Maharelle Sisters with Ana Gasteyer and Kristen Wiig. Scarlett Johansson, whose husband Colin Jost is regularly involved as an anchor for “Weekend Update,” also participated.
Adam Sandler’s SNL cast list: Introduced by Jack Nicholson from his role in Anger Management, Adam Sandler sang about the show’s history and recited a long list of former SNL cast members. He mentioned several who have passed away over the years, including Chris Farley, Norm MacDonald, Gilda Radner, Jan Hooks, and Phil Hartman.
Spoof tributes to yesteryears: Tom Hanks performed in a segment titled “In Memoriam,” featuring spoof montages of outdated SNL characters. Despite the poor taste noted by him, he reminded the audience that they have laughed at these elements, raising questions about societal judgment.
