SNL 50th Anniversary Special

I’m tired of celebrating SNL 50th anniversary

The SNL Music special that aired a couple of weeks ago was really good. Hoping this one is too.

I'm not going to watch it either. I watched SNL every week from the first episode to the early 90s. Then I watched it sporadically with longer periods in between... finally stopped totally several years ago because it was just plain lame.

I tried to watch the music special but I didn't want watch to watch a bunch of people talking, I wanted to watch the music acts I liked on SNL decades ago but of course none of THEM were shown.

I just hope that before next season, Lorne retires, ugly ass Michael Che is fired, the cast is cut down to half, and we have a whole new show runner and head writer, preferably Tina Faye.

Lemme guess OP. You're one of those guys who posts every week about how unwatchable SNL is and should have gone off the air 35 years ago and you're also one of those guys who posts every week about how Bill Maher has totally lost it and should have folded 10 years ago and you either never watch it or this week was the last straw you're never going to watch it again but it's so shitty shitty shitty. You'll see guys. I'm telling you. It will be even shittier next week and how could anyone watch this shit.

Won't watch.

Saw the first show in college. I have aged out of its demographic.

The 40th anniversary special had a hand picked audience and they sucked.

SNL needs to do a show comprised of only dead performers.

Is Terry Sweeney still alive?

How about a show with nothing but drag?

Hours and hours of material.

Anyone watching the music special on Peacock. Opening with Fallon performing Soul Man was not encouraging.

I hate Jimmy Fallon. Bad Bunny is terrible at lip syncing.

Granted, Aykroyd likely can't dance like that anymore, but would have been nice to see him in that number.

[quote] you're also one of those guys who posts every week about how Bill Maher has totally lost it and should have folded 10 years ago

What's wrong with that? That, or complete disdain, is the only appropriate response to Bill Maher.

Who is this buffoon trying to sing Petty?

Eddie Vedder

r14 - WHAT? This is painful.

But we do have Bill Freakin' Murray

I love the B52s. They sound better than they did the last time I saw them on TV, but they look ridiculous.

R9, It's the worst Jimmy has ever sung!

The line-up hasn't been the best. Too much Bad Bunny and Spanish (and I really like Spanish Pop songs).

At least Eddie Vedder brought energy.

The BSB!!!!!!!!

We are not (old) men, we are Devo!

I loved Peyton Manning in the SNL Digital Short: United Way.

When is it?

When is what? Airing on Peacock right now is the "SNL 50th Anniversary Homecoming Concert". The main SNL Anniversary special is on Sunday night on NBC, and probably Peacock, though not sure about that.

[quote] When is it?

“So I can complain about how bad it is and how it’s ruined what’s left of my life”.

We're going to have to endure the 50th anniversary of SNL all fucking year.

Yes, r22, Peacock Premium as well.

r24, This weekend is it, I think

Saturday night is the repeat of Season 1, Episode 1, 1975.

At 10, EST, R25.

Am I wrong thinking that this is the first time Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic have played Nirvana songs on stage since Kirt Cobain died? Especially Grohl

Kurt, not Kirt

No Bill Hader? He’s not among the scheduled guests.

CHER!

8:00 p.m., ET, r26. I mean, as long as we're mentioning it....

I tried to delete, sorry.

Anyway, here are the times and channels for SNL 50, Saturday and Sunday:

Justice for Melanie Hutsell!!

lorne looks mad

um....jimmy fallon

Jack White closing it out.

There has been neither rhyme nor reason to the order of performers, their connection to SNL (if any), or their respective genres. If you didn't know the title of the show, you would be forgiven for not making the SNL connection, the couple skits with older cast members notwithstanding. E.g., John Mullaney contributed nothing.

Jimmy Fallon was incapable of improvising banter when Jack White's set wasn't quite ready.

Verdict: Pretty good. Not great.

You’re right, my bad, R31.

I'm thinking that all of the performers were on SNL at one time or another. Would have been cool to see their picture card (or whatever they call it) from when they were on, like they how they showed the Nirvana card after the Post Nirvana bit.

BTW, I was wrong up above in R27 as I googled to find that Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic have played Nirvana songs with other artists and for benefits since Kurt died.

Fallon needs to lay off the coke.

Seeing Robyn and David Byrne sing Dancing on My Own made the whole night.

But I was upset they couldn’t do a single cut away to Taran Killam in the audience. He is a beautiful beast in his version.

R36 Jack White closing it out sucked all the energy out of the room. They had Gaga and chose him? Audience looked decidedly bored during the performance.

Why did Lorne Michaels look so constipated throughout?

The concert was iconic in my opinion.

Hold on - so there's a 4 part documentary on The 'Cock, there's a 50th anniversary concert AND there's a 50th anniversary special?

Yep, there was also a SNL Music special that aired on NBC earlier.

There are also several new SNL documentaries on YT and Peacock. They are going all out.

I wish their writers would

I’m one of those people who watched the first cast religiously as a tween/teen, watching the second cast with a feeling of unease, and only watched very intermittently in the rest of the 80s.

To me it does feel like a zombie that’s been shuffling around for over 40 of its 50 years.

All that said, if people want to watch it, I don’t care and I’m certainly not going to chase them down and scold them for it. They do attract very high profile talent as guest stars, and it’d live so feels like an event. If you enjoy it, Mazeltov.

I thought they already had a big anniversary show and Eddie Murphy showed up.

R45, Four majors:

1/27= 50 Years of Musical Guests.

2/14 = Live Concert From Radio City Music Hall.

2/15 = Season 1, Episode 1.

2/16 = Big Anniversary Show with live guests and bits from old episodes.

R42, The show should have closed with Cher's "If I Could Turn Back Time." After all, it was a nostalgia special.

And she is freakin' CHER.

It’s amazing how great Bonnie Raitt still sounds.

R52 That would have worked too.

I just rewatched it after missing parts last night.

Some observations: When did Miley Cyrus turn into Sheryl Crow? Why is Jimmy Fallon still famous? He is painfully unfunny and acts like an unmedicated, hyper first grader. Snoop Dogg is timeless. Adam Sandler's accent seems even more New Englandy than ever before. Why was Jerry Seinfeld there (he was one of the least favorite hosts, per several writings, as he insisted on bringing his own team to help write). Where were the original performers who made SNL great, like Laraine Newman and Dan Ackroyd? I see they panned to poor old Garrett Morris a few times, but the old stars deserved way more recognition.

R55, You've heard of the Tonight Show?

Also, the LIVE RCMH show was all about music. Did Laraine Newman sing?

There's always Sunday's show to see older cast members, at least on video.

Everywhere I look online there are former SNL castmembers talking. NBC has done a full court press with getting them out there.

I like how the guide on TV shows S1E1 for tonight's SNL episode.

Well, that's because it is!

At the beginning of tonight’s 3-hour special, there was a 7 or 8 minute mashup of various songs that was really good. Any idea where to find it?

Yeah, they did a really great job with tonight’s music anniversary special’s opening segment/collage of the musical performers and performances through the decades.

CBS Sunday Morning report.

Cincinnati's NBC affiliate refused to show the first season, deeming it " inappropriate" for its tv audience.

Sick and tired of it

R62,,I'm not sure what you mean by "report," but the CBS segment didn't have anything from the televised specials thus far. It might be a "trailer" of sorts for tonight's big Finale.

Jimmy Fallon used to be a real hottie!

Was Jane Curtin apart of the show in any way? She has always had a prickly relationship with Lorne and was not pleased with how he handled many of the anniversarys.

Looks like a lot of smirking mediocrity.

I suspect many of the veteran performers who didn’t get big films and sitcoms might resent those who did.

"Jimmy Fallon used to be a real hottie!"

He was, until I got ahold of him.

Don't recall if it was last night's or the other music special but yes Jane Curtin has been seen there.

There will be the Red Carpet appearances at 7pm eastern before the big show starts at 8pm. NBC/Peacock

R61- you’re thinking of the music documentary that Questlove did- Ladies and Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music. There’s a glut of shit happening, so it’s easy to get confused. You can stream it on Peacock.

Red carpet is on now and Leslie Jones is one of the hosts. She was one of the worst SNL performers, yet everyone acts like she's talented.

Seven minutes in and it’s rough. Not sure how long I can watch it

Just saw Emma Stone and her haircut is awful.

Will the show include an In Memoriam?

I hope they do, R76.

I stopped watching early on. I liked the original cast, especially John Belushi. Samurai Night Fever is still stuck in my brain.

Ryan Reynolds is fake smiling, he and Blake are there

If there is an In Memoriam segment, I wonder if I'll be included. But, I doubt it I wasn't forgiven for dropping an F bomb on air and that poor little Jenny Slate was never forgiven for her F bomb.

So far three integrations - Maybelline, VW and T Mobile. Tacky, tacky garbage. I hate our world.

I won't be watching but they should show George Harrison and Paul Simon singing Homeward Bound. George was a wonderful surprise, no spoilers then.

The Marcello and Kenan T Mobile commercial is awful. Both are overrated hacks.

I see Martin Short there. I wonder if his wife is with him.

The meeting of the minds, Leslie Jones and Kim K

Leslie Jones is an untalented hack. Michaela Watkins is a talented performer and she was only on SNL for one season, yet Leslie Jones stayed on for several years and was a shitty sketch performer.

lol at Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson having to pretend to tolerate Leslie Jones.

SNL has sucked donkey balls for decades

Leslie Jones is terrible. Always was, always will be. How the fuck do these hacks score on a show like SNL, while brilliant actors struggling out there will never be discovered?

Oh, and by the way, I'd like Mikey Day in me quite deeply.

I'll second that, and add the wacky Pete Davidson to that "Quite Deeply" list.

83 year old Paul Simon

They should've invited Art.

Sabrina Carpenter the the ghost of Paul Simon

Paul Simon should not be singing. This is painful.

Sabrina's voice is weak, Paul needs a stronger voice to duet with him.

OMG, such a sorry substitute for George.

Leslie Jones always tripped over her lines or just flat out forgot them. She was terrible.

Amy hit at a time when there were few women on the show. Like many comedians have in them, I see a lot of anger in her.

All these chicks with Groucho Marx "bold brows" like Sabrina Carpenter are going to look ridiculous in years to come.

r92 do Art and Paul hate each other? It would have been great to reunite them

Paul Simon was wonderful back then.

Sabrina needs more make-up on her face. It's too 'demure'.

They look ridiculous now, R99.

Was Jean Doumanian invited?

That duet started rough, but got better as it went on. Love Paul Simon.

Paul’s a legend but his voice is shot. And Sabrina Carpenter has no idea what this song is about. At least, she doesn’t show it.

I loved when Bernie used Simon and Garfunkel's "America"

R100 Art really looks like a Jewish great grandpa.

I really wonder after hearing Paul if he can even do the harmonies anymore.

R104 I would guess she is there.

So nice to see Martin Short with his lovely wife Nancy.

Wait a minute, the Saturday Night Live special is on a SUNDAY? In PRIME TIME? This is lame on the face of it.

If only Gilda was still around to dance with Steve. How I loved that.

[quote]I really wonder after hearing Paul if he can even do the harmonies anymore.

He has severe hearing loss from COVID, so he may be able to.

Didn't Bowen Yang say he talked to Jean Doumanian

[quote]He has severe hearing loss from COVID, so he may be able to

May NOT be able to.

Exsqueeze me. Say it Steve!

Steve Martin is the best

R115 that's really sad to know. Damn.

I loved it when martin short sang to Cher

Bowen Yang said he talked to two cast members from Jean Doumanian's disastrous 1980-81 season: Gail Matthius and Denny Dillon.

Denny Dillon was hilarious on Dream On and was a Tony nominee; she deserved better.

And Bill’s the only one I care about seeing, R29. Bill and Colin.

I want nostalgic clips! It will make me feel young again. For a brief time, anyway.

Who were the two hosts who committed murder? OJ and Robert Blake? Phil Spector?

watching it now and it's meh! rather like the show.

The 70s were my favorite shows. They were fresh and funny with the best musical guests.

Bill Hader is too busy sticking his big bisexual cock in Ali Wong to attend.

I hate the tiny hands character.

[quote] Leslie Jones is terrible. Always was, always will be. How the fuck do these hacks score on a show like SNL, while brilliant actors struggling out there will never be discovered?

She got on SNL because she begged her pal Chris Rock to recommend her to Lorne Michaels. She was hired initially hired as a writer and then became a featured player and then became a repertory player.

I watched that four part SNL docuseries on Peacock over the weekend and one of the producers interview in the first episode said that George Wendt called her to recommend his nephew Jason Sudeikis and Gwyneth Paltrow called her to recommend Maya Rudolph. Sudeikis and Rudolph are decent sketch performers unlike Jones.

A Robert Goulet spoof is sure to bring in the young audience.

What's worse than the tiny hands character? Actually saying she was born anally.

On the 50th anniversary show.

Madeline Kahn was one of my favorite hosts.

the show is dying 20 minutes in

I’m off to read a book. This is dismal.

What was the point of that opening sketch?

Yes OJ was around '78 and Blake was '83.

But I'd guess there must be at least one or two others.

You have to be really old to know about the Lawrence Welk show. Not a great choice.

Is this just new sketches? No archive material?

Former host DJT has quite a body count himself

So far, it really sucks. That Lawrence Welk shit was PAINFUL.

Carly Simon was the musical guest on that show. I remember, no Alzheimer's yet.

They need to show more 70s stuff.

Lorraine Newman always made me laugh.

I know he wasn't to everybody's taste, and I didn't care for the Blues Brothers thing, but, sometimes, John Belushi cracked me up.

Here's one of the older funnier skits where Elliot Gould leads group therapy featuring both Newman and Belushi.

Richard Pryor was one of the best hosts they ever had. Show some of that.

And now, “Black Jeopardy.”

‘Cause of course, you gotta have the “Black Jeopardy.” 😉

I'm excited to see the commercials

[quote]Bill Hader is too busy sticking his big bisexual cock in Ali Wong to attend.

A few years ago we had a poster whose male friend worked on IT in Canada and had a fling with Bill. He had some very detailed stories.

Leslie Jones stinking up the sketch with her botched lines.

Were Denny and Gail in the audience? Or were they just a cheap shot for a lame gag?

But Eddie’s still hilarious.

Chris Rock needs a darker face powder

Where's Joe Piscopo?

This was a bad idea. The writing is baaaaad. Oy.

WTF did Emma Stone do to her hair?

Emma Stone could use some face powder on that forehead

I mean, a gurl’s gotta have pockets big enough in case she wants to carry around—I dunno, other people in them, maybe (?!).

I demand Samurai Night Fever!

Is Imogene Coca going to be on?

At least they showed a brief clip of Gilda and Steve dancing.

I wish they would show clips of Jan Hooks - she was the best by far.

Is anybody else having audio problems with it cutting out? It could be my internet, we have high winds and frozen wires but commercials are fine.

[quote] If only Gilda was still around to dance with Steve.

Nice. I remember that was shown again when Steve Martin hosted the day Gilda died.

r160 I am streaming and it cut out on me too

Where was Gilda's Judy Miller Show, with her literally bouncing off walls, in the physical comedy roundup?

They should have shown the whole "Dancing in the Dark" sketch. The edit didn't even include the funniest parts.

Big fail.

Steve's emotional tribute to Gilda.

Molly Shannon looks great. Love her.

So far so good! Enjoying it

I miss the days when life was easier and people were happier. I'm glad I was young when I was. It would suck now.

Yes, screen is freezing in and out, maybe because of this weekend’s widespread storm’s winds and power outage issues

If Kate McKinnon doesn't turn up in a sketch, her crazy L Chat fangirls will launch her into tirades against Heidi Gardner, Mikey Day, and other cast members they hated.

Can’t stand these airhead/dumb-sounding girlfriends skits.

Why are they reprising this dumb undermining bridesmaids sketch

Wow, this show went on to really suck. The last time it was entertaining was the Eddie Murphy days.

My cutie former castguy is back on the far-right! Wish he’d rejoin the show. 🤗

lolz Reynaldo

Because the original got a gazillion views on social media, R171.

Why has Sabrina fucking Carpenter featured in like 50% of the 50th-anniversary content?

She is the definition of a flash in the pan.

Who's the "hot" brother in the sketch?

Love it! Pedro Pascale as Domingo’s bi brother.

R177 Bad Bunny

Marcello Hernandez is super hot. And he knows it.

R177 Bad Bunny

I’ll always love the Domingo sketches

Molly Shannon just full-on ground her ass on Bad Bunny's dick. Did not have that on my bingo card for this.

Amy looks... different.

They totally went against the original Tom Hanks character on Black Jeopardy and missed what made it funny the first time.

There's Fey and Poehler, still apparently not able to appear separately any-fucking-where.

Amy got really fat for a minute, then shrank, not entirely successfully.

AL Sharpton in the audience....egads

I couldn't make it a full hour. Seemed pretty bad but I might just not be in the mood for all that tonight.

Fuck Ryan Reynolds

Ryan's jazz hands, that boy is G-A-Y

Ryan Reynolds has some nerve showing his face

Cher looks awful.

Julia Louis Dreyfus looks great in that dress.

Wow so many massive stars there tonight

Kevin Costner looks HAWT

Cher with her hot young boyfriend -- get it gurl!

Wow, Sarah Silverman got punted off the show after one season and she still got a seat in the studio audience.

How TF did they make this seating chart.

I'm assuming the overflow room is Radio City Music Hall, but still.

Love Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

R198 any former cast members who wanted to come were given a seat.

Even Fey and Poehler — the best award show hosts of all time — are falling flat here.

Disagree. I think this Q&A is great

Hey, SNL 50th writers -- you realize there are still pre-2000 castmembers around, right?

[quote] any former cast members who wanted to come were given a seat.

I see Rob Riggle.

[quote]Even Fey and Poehler — the best award show hosts of all time

Oh please. Not even close.

Any and Tina were great

Andy Samberg this is not it

[quote] Wow, Sarah Silverman got punted off the show after one season and she still got a seat in the studio audience.

Sarah probably blew someone for that seat. Fucking cunt.

Bowen should play Ellen Travolta in a sketch.

The 40th special had many old cast members

The best part of these specials that bring cast members of yesteryear and modern cast members together is it shows us how much better the cast members pre-2010 are.

Molly Shannon and Martin Short were a million times better than the new cast members during the Domingo skit

It would be hilarious if SUITS LA flopped.

The Julia Louis-Dreyfus bit - with Jerry Seinfeld seated behind her - has been my highlight so far.

For me the musical guest is the weakest part of the show

Redemption for Sinead!!!

WTF

Hardly any old clips just new unfunny ones

Good time for a bathroom break.

Nod to Sinead. Like it.

Rob Schneider is sitting next to Al Sharpton and he said Cher's hair is blocking his view. He ended up being a MAGA douche.

This would be a good time for an In Memoriam montage.

Who is this Brittany Howard? Her low voice is gorgeous

Brittany Howard could've done this song solo, just sayin'.

Oh, Phoebe Snow.

SND Sunday Night Dead

Does Prince have any significance in SNL history? Don't get the tribute.

I'll have to catch White Lotus another time

[quote]Who is this Brittany Howard? Her low voice is gorgeous

She and her band Alabama Shakes were the musical guests a few seasons back and brought the house down.

r225, he performed 4 times on SNL from '81 to '14.

[quote] Does Prince have any significance in SNL history? Don't get the tribute.

It's a nod to Sinead & her hit version.

R231: Check out Alabama Shakes song “Hold On.”

Scarlett is going to have to watch her ass. It’s huge.

Is anybody really enjoying this?

The Nothing Compares 2 U thing was a reference to Sinead O'Connor, who caused a giant hoo-ha in 1992 when she was the musical guest and tore up a picture of the Pope after one of her performances (which was of Bob Marley's "War," not the Prince song).

No, R232.

Not many laughs, not enough fond memories.

Marcelo Hernandez is hot but his raspy voice can be hard to listen to after a while. And he’s not especially funny.

I am, R232. Like R226, I was going to switch to White Lotus at 9, but I think this is fun.

I figured it was a Prince reference since Miley was wearing purple and they did a more rock version. I forgot about the Sinead thing.

Drunk Girl/Cecily! ❤️

It’s a nod to Sinead. They sang HER version.

R235 I find his deep, manly voice to be a big part of what makes him hot. Guessing he's got a big one.

Ok, this part is actually making me laugh.

Of all the Weekend Update "bits" to do, Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin doing a Point/Counterpoint reunion here would've been the best option.

I miss Vanessa Bayer, she was so cute.

That being said, too much Fred Armisen tonight.

[quote] Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin doing a Point/Counterpoint reunion here would've been the best option.

It may yet happen.

Ugh, Too-Many-Teeth Bayer.

Yay, Bill Murray!

Damn, Bill Murray looks like death's shit warmed over.

Why let yourself go like that when you have showbiz money.

Dan Aykroyd isn't there.

Calling Jane Curtis a dumb slut was hysterical

I think Aykroyd's daughter was at the concert last night, she look pretty like her mom. I thought Donna Dixon was beautiful.

This is garbage.

They better give Jane Curtin a talk-show sketch or something.

The original cast has been completely shafted. (Bill Murray joined in season 2.)

No, NO!! The camera just panned the dressing room before commercial break, and Ms Lynn-Miranda is seen dressed in her Hamilton get-up.

Can this one give it a fucking rest already with that show?

[quote] Calling Jane Curtis a dumb slut was hysterical

Ignorant slut.

Woody Harrelson

Love Aidy Bryant.

I never found those Alien abduction sketches to be funny. Ugh.

Was too much focus on Kate's private area.

This is just a regular show with a few old cast members sprinkled in to do their "greatest hits". It doesn't feel like a celebration of the show's half-century history at all. Very disappointing.

Miss Aidy on the show

FUCKING M

Jane Curtin could have played this instead of Streep. This skit is going on too long

Wow, who knew all it took was Martin Short's dick to get Meryl Streep to finally appear on SNL?

Jon Hamm's new wighat is fabulous!!!

Meryl Streep!

TAKE BACK ONE OF HER OSCARS!

This sketch is one of my least favs. Even Streep isn’t helping.

I do not like Martin Short's influence on Meryl Streep at all.

Meryl will show up to the opening of an envelope nowadays.

R258 I also thought it would be more of a retrospective of the last 50 years.

This show is sort of impossible, but I’m shocked they’re giving so much to the current casts. Not only are the 70s era crew being rejected, but also the eighties and nineties casts.

OK, WTF does Meryl Streep have to do with SNL?

Vanessa Bauer is indeed one of the best. Didn’t get enough due.

This is humiliating for Meryl.

Bad sketch and she fluffed her lines.

Here you go. One of the originals has a skit

Larraine Newman looks great.

I'm glad they didn't forget Laraine Newman. I remember she was the thinnest woman I'd ever seen in my life!

I loved everything about that Laraine Newman sketch. That is exactly what this night should be.

The Chad sketch was funny. I'm surprised Newman's spawn didn't show up in it.

I knew they wouldn’t forget her when I saw her on WWHL a few days ago.

Her daughter is the one someone on here hates on Hacks

r273 and showed her flabby stomach by accident

They could have had Jane Curtain do the Meryl bit.

Aidy Bryant lost a lot of weight - you can see it in her face. Ozempic ?

Oh wow they got Jack Nicholson?

Laraine Newman was really underrated in the original cast.

Her news reporter, Lina Wertmuller, Christy in the E. Buzz Miller sketches — and she did the original Valley Girl, Sherry, in the iconic Godfather Therapy sketch. She created so many characters others borrowed from.

R282 no. Because she would be very thin and her face would look weird like they always do. She’s still plump. Just thinner.

Oh fuck. Adam Sandler deserves zero exposure in any celebration of what made SNL great.

They really are going lowest-common denominator here.

[quote] Laraine Newman was really underrated in the original cast.

She was the weakest link. Next to George Coe.

Garrett Morris was always the most underrated and unappreciated original cast member r284. No one even acknowledges him and my stepdad always acknowledges that he was funny but never given the respect her deserved.

R286 not even slightly. He became a massive star.

Adam Sandler's song is waaay too much inside baseball.

Can someone please put an end to SANDLER’S HORRIFIC SINGING!!??

Jane Curtin was the best original female cast member.

Where is Charles Rocket?!!!

Sandler has massive-alcoholic face.

Aww tha5 made me cry.

Us this the In Memoriam?

Where's Dana Carvey?

R256 are they as endless as that one was; making the same point over and over again

Of course he can’t sing but that was a nice bit.

Laraine was in no way the weakest link. She just got overshadowed and was underutilized.

R293 Charlene, he wasn't invited due to his F bomb scandal. Cast members who had F bomb scandals were banned from the anniversary special.

Where is that cunt Mike Meyers?

Is David Spade there (and Dana Carvey) r297

I wasn't that big on Adam Sandler when he was on SNL but he has grown on me. He takes care of his friends and seems to be a good human.

R301 actually he could not come because he blew his brain out of his head

nevermind there's Spade

[quote] Laraine was in no way the weakest link. She just got overshadowed and was underutilized.

Her only recurring character of note was the Patti Smith-type rocker.

A musical number?

Oh, it’s not over yet. Maybe they’re saving the best for last.

If she was constantly overshadowed that means she was the weakest link

Nathan Lane

GE Smith is still alive??

I thought he died years ago.

A singing Maya making her mom proud.

R307, that was Gilda Radner, you dumb shit.

GE Smith, Gilda's first husband.

that Wednesday actress needs to chill, what a brat acting like she was getting hurt or something

[quote]Her only recurring character of note was the Patti Smith-type rocker.

r307 - Oh, Dear!

I wonder if Julia's husband Brad Hall felt snubbed at not being mentioned in Bill Murray's skit.

I love this skit. Showing how NyC changed so much from 1975 to now

I'd say Gilda.

You're joking, right, r293?

I wish they would run the Adam Sandler/Chris Farley Schmitts Gay commercial. A classic.

[quote][R293] Charlene, he wasn't invited due to his F bomb scandal. Cast members who had F bomb scandals were banned from the anniversary special.

That, and also he's dead

Leaving Laraine, then, with no recurring characters of note, R317.

R322 killed himself in a particularly horrible way.

I wonder if Paul Rudd and John Mulaney have bonded over their mutual issue: Womanly hips

We GET it, Ana Gastyer, you were Elphaba in "Wicked"!

R320, I always thought Gilda, my fellow Detroiter, was overrated. Her tragically abbreviated & undistinguished post-SNL career confirmed that.

Paul Shaffer is enjoying himself

Giving this a D-minus.

A disappointment or fail at every turn.

I hope Lorne is enjoying this. At least it’s a reunion.

She got very lucky, R327. She was extremely likable and that really worked in the 70s. Same with Chase. Just directly connecting with audience was a big part of the early success, and Laraine did not do that (Jane unwittingly did it through being chosen to succeed Chase ag Update).

Has Candace Bergen been seen in any of these SNL specials? She was a big part of the first few seasons.

[quote] I wish they would run the Adam Sandler/Chris Farley Schmitts Gay commercial. A classic.

Granted!

I gave up on it when the NYC song came on.

R331 Gilda and Jane created memorable characters. That’s the difference.

Chevy Chase was the breakout star.

Miles Teller looks amazing

Mike Myers....

Miles Teller got a nose job.

[quote]Leaving Laraine, then, with no recurring characters of note, [R317].

If you don't know that Gilda famously played the Patti Smith character (her name was "Candy Slice", by the way), then it's a waste of time trying to argue with you. But anyway:

Adult film star Christy Christina

Connie Conehead

Sherry, the proto-Valley Girl

Sandy, the Greek diner waitress

Katharine Hepbuen

The Shirley Temple-type child actress

Laraine, the Weekend Update reporter repeatedly assaulted at the seedy Blaine Hotel

[quote] Has Candace Bergen been seen in any of these SNL specials? She was a big part of the first few seasons.

The first female 5-timer host.

When are we going to get Austin Powers IV?

Oh my GOD! All is redeemed. Linda Richman bringing back the running Paul Baldwin gag is everything.

That's your case for Laraine, R339. The only memorable one was her role as a Conehead family member (where she was overshadowed by Dan & Jane).

You can tell Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph hated being in a sketch with that hack Mike Myers.

No Cheri Oteri? She was a no-show at the 40th.

Lorne himself said people's favorite era tends to be when they're in high school so that seems to be who the comedy is aimed for.

I saw Cheri Oteri interviewed on the red carpet so she must be there

Oteri was in the 4 part Peacock docuseries. Maybe, that was enough for her.

It's my case for Laraine too, R343.

She did a brilliant job on the show. I'd add her Lina Wertmuller to R339's list.

I’m someone who defended Laraine earlier and I actually agree: Laraine didn’t have many original characters. That’s because she didn’t want to. There early SNL biographies note how she thought it was lame to do so, which of course limited her. But she rally was a great actress. If you watch the earliest interviews with the cast, she seems the most capable of all, men or women.

[quote]Lorne himself said people's favorite era tends to be when they're in high school so that seems to be who the comedy is aimed for.

I liked the Billy Crystal season and I just checked and I was in high school then so that makes sense

R343 Laraine was under used, or never really found her way on the show. However, she had her moments. She was the first person to do the Valley Girl speak on television, first on a Lily Tomlin special and later on the SNL Godfather group therapy sketch. She was great as the little girl in the Death sketch with Christopher Lee, and as Squeeky Fromme in the Dangerous But Inept sketch.

r343 I swear, you bitches pick the weirdest things to fight over!

Okay, Laraine was overshadowed and had no memorable recurring characters -- happy?

I mean, it's not like she was on the show 10+ years with lazy writers who beat characters into the ground or anything.

Cheri is there. She also did WWHL the other day.

So who all is missing?

I count:

Kevin Nealon

Collin Quinn

Victoria Jackson (probably at a MAGA rally)

She may well have been underused, R353, but that doesn't detract from my original point that was the weakest link in the continuing original cast.

Whose idea was it to bring that MAGAt Lil Wayne on the show?

What's this all about? I don't get this musical guest being on here.

How do they honor the best commercial spoofs without a nod to the shimmer floor wax one?

I was in high school during the shit-rock-bottom David Spade/Adam Sandler/Chris Farley years.

If I was the audience toward which this era was pitched, I knew it was garbage. I hated it and stopped watching.

I knew because the original SNL was playing in reruns on Nick at Nite and Comedy Central, I had discovered the show during the 1986 revival (when I was 10), and I knew the Spade/Sandler/Farley era was just the dumbest shit for the lowest common denominator.

The 40th Anniversary Special was much better

Refresh my memory. Who was the fat(tish) cast member from the aughts who got into legal trouble?

R360, I didn’t like it either. They were just loud and chaotic .

I know people love Matt Foley and the van by the river but I think it’s nit as great as people say.

Looks like republican fundraiser with less laughs. Pass

Victoria Jackson’s dumb blonde was not just an act. Dunn and Hooks did not like her.

She gave out Bibles.

I forget the early seasons would drop the N bomb and faggot on live tv

R362 Sanz

There's one glaring omission for problematic guests

How did Garrett Morris's news for the hard of hearing not make the last segment?

[quote] There's one glaring omission for problematic guests

How soon they forget.

R368 Lorne doesn't need THAT headache.

R369 like I said upthread, he’s always been criminally overlooked.

You would think they would show a bit more respect to the shows first (and only) black cast member for a while

Debbie Downer!

The lawsuit against Horatio Sanz and NBC was dropped a year or two ago. The woman who sued also claimed in her complaint that Jeff Richards, the guy who left MadTV to join SNL was a perv and that SNL employees often warned young women to stay away from Richards

Drew looks amazing

It was kind of a wistful moment when Lorraine’s welcome segment included her wishing to be on that stage one last time—a reminder of how the cast that introduced the pop-culture phenomenon that is “SNL,” are now up there in their years.

Woulda liked one segment with all the first seasons’ cast altogether reminiscing. But maybe some don’t want to be seen or remembered except for how they were in their “glory days” (?).

I always liked the Debbie Downer skits even though Fallon usually laughed through them

R375 interesting. Back then, I wondered why they got rid of Richards because his drunk girl character seemed to be getting some heat.

It's clear they were aiming just to reprise the show's most viral moments from the 2000s here.

Without any writing to create comedy.

The last bumper leading into the commercial showed hardly anyone in the audience applauding.

[quote] I always liked the Debbie Downer skits even though Fallon usually laughed through them

What skit did he not?

R360, I’m exactly you. I spent my middle school years wondering how SNL had become so debased and, even worse, mainstream frat boy. I was however stoked when the 95 era started and you started seeing the creative of Tina and Paula Pell and many other shine through.

Wait. Is this going over 3 hours?

Okay, Eddie might save this sketch

I'm still enjoying this. There have been a bunch of retrospect shows with clips. It's clever to combine casts from over the years for similar, but new, skits.

The Scared Straight skits were always better than the alien ones.

Where is Jane Curtin?

Until 11:15.

The writing was weak. But then, it has been for the past 12 years or so.

They have to leave time for Paul McCartney to close it out with Hey Jude

I keep holding out hope Cheri Oteri will have a moment before the show ends. If not, she and Nora Dunn will be hitting the bar hard tonight.

Finally, Will Farrell!

Can you believe they put this abortion on in my old studio?

Eddie dropping the f=bomb on live tv!

Why are they choosing the most C-grade sketches over the last decade to include here?

Why not update the classics from the beginning: the Coneheads, the loud family, Jane Curtin's talk show host or Nora Dunn's Pat Stevens interviewing RFK Jr. or something. Dana Carvey's Church Lady came back on the weekly show recently, but why would you not do that on the 50th anniversary special?

I am so mystified by the content choices. Just piss-poor and random. And disrespectful of what really gave SNL a heritage.

Will Farrell was in the Lawrence Welch thing at the beginning.

Ferrell, my bad.

The scared straight skit was good for some laughs. Mikey Day was not necessary for that

Eddie Murphy just saved the night

Eddie's hair alone made me laugh

I hope they run out of time so we don't have to listen to McCartney try to sing.

[quote] Will Farrell was in the Lawrence Welch thing at the beginning.

Of course, he was Robert Goulet. But it WAS hours ago.

Does my favorite Nora Dunn appear?

After Eddie Murphy the show sucked.

Garrett Morris!

Nice to see Garrett

How ironic that Belushi was the first to go.

This old film with Belushi supposedly outliving the cast hits different

who is playing the old guy?

This old film is actually sad and eerie

Why are they showing this in-jokey film about the original cast in full when they didn't even establish why most of the original cast was important?

John Belushi.

R411 because if you’re watching this, a 50 year anniversary special for a show, self-explanatory why the original cast was important. It doesn’t need to be explained.

What just happened? Right after the Garrett Morris segment, my local news came on. Where was the ending? Where was Cher?

What the heck, my TV just switched over to local news. Show hasn't ended yet.

My local news just started. I'll have to watch Peacock if there was more, like the billed Paul McCartney.

Yes! Part 2 of the Abby Road medley is perfect t o end it.

"And in the end, the love you make is equal to the love you make."

I am streaming it on NBC live and the show is still going on

You have a crap local, r414 and r415. My Philly NBC is showing Paul.

Elderly men in wigs

Paul can't sing anymore. He doesn't look bad for 82. But he needed someone else on vocals to help him out.

Had to switch to Peacock to see the end with McCartney.

Paul should have stopped "singing" about a decade ago.

Here in NY it’s still going fine.

Correction

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."

He does look spray - I don't see many 82 year olds doing stuff like this.

But his voice is gone. Seems more sad than celebratory - all this music and it feels dead.

Paul has lost his voice but I guess they are showing respect for a legend

Once you hit 80, it seems like the vocal chords are pretty much gone.

I'm in New Mexico and I was surprised that the ABQ affiliate didn't cut to the local news.

RI carried the whole show. Sunday nights are a slow night for local news.

In Charleston we saw Paul.

Larraine holding up a pic of Gilda.

Not in Detroit.

How did it end?

My dvr cut off in the middle of McCartney.

was there more sketches?

R428 Wait until you hear my duet with him on my upcoming album !

This was terrible.

FWIW, the commercials promised Jane Curtin and Chevy Chase. They only appeared silently in the goodnights?

Couldn't care less about asshole Chevy, but Jane deserves a spotlight.

And Martin Short — the SCTV guy who was only in the SNL cast for one year — gave the goodbye speech?

Fuck this.

I see Melanie Hutsell is there. I tried to get that cunt canceled.

No more sketches - just Martin Short thanking other players and Lorne Michael, who looks like death.

Who’s the black in the front next to Martin Short, holding Garrett Morris’ hand? Is that Ellen Cleghorne?

Show ended with Paul and Lorne Michaels & a gathering of the people there. Now the fun starts for them, I guess.

Didn't McCartney just finish a tour. His voice is probably raw from that. Great ending.

No Trump sketches ?

It seems Chevy Chase was there and wasn't asked to or didn't want to participate.

Laraine & Kenan were the only original cast members to be in a skit.

[quote]No Trump sketches ?

No, and it must be eating him up that he can't rage-post about how "SNL, A SHOW THAT HASN'T BEEN FUNNY IN YEARS, NEEDS TO MENTION ME IN ORDER TO GIVE THEIR LOW-RATED SHOW ANY ATTENTION!!"

Why is this stupid show still on the air?

It had its moments with some fun memories. I didn’t have anything better to do tonight.

Keenan wasn't an original cast member.

[quote] Who’s the black in the front next to Martin Short, holding Garrett Morris’ hand? Is that Ellen Cleghorne?

Yup it was Ellen Cleghorne. A few years ago, Cleghorne said in some interview that she was never allowed to met with Lorne when during her time on SNL and alluded to other mistreatment. I read Jay Mohr's book Gasping for Airtime which was about his 2 seasons at SNL. He said that Cleghorne and Rob Schneider were the major assholes at SNL during his two years. He said Cleghorne was worse than Schneider.

Interesting that they didn't do a memorial section.

R439 - “ .. Who’s the black in the front .. ”

Seriously? Don’t you have a KKK meeting to get to?

[quote] Keenan wasn't an original cast member.

Sarcasm can be lost in writing.

The Merry Widow

R443 not that he wasn’t asked, he didn’t want to. You seem to fail to understand they have to WANT TO. He didn’t even wanna come but they convinced him to come.

I suspect we just witnessed the finale of network television. This may be the last bit of network programming that attracts any kind of decent ratings.

Sporting events excluded.

[quote] Why is this stupid show still on the air?

Yeah, especially since Hee Haw is no longer on.

R450 they gave John, Gilda, Phil, and Norm their due.

And didn’t even acknowledge Charles Rocket, as usual.

Jay Mohr...three's a name long forgotten.

I thought Sandler was eventually going to launch into his own a cappella version of “Eve Of Destruction.”

Omg r451! I thought I wrote black WOMAN! That’s why you need to proofread here.

Chris Kattan was in the audience, I loved "Mango"

am I the only one who thinks Will Ferrell isn't funny at all?

[quote] And didn’t even acknowledge Charles Rocket, as usual.

His cause isn't helped by the fact that his era was during Lorne's absence.

[quote]Omg [R451]! I thought I wrote black WOMAN! That’s why you need to proofread here.

I once misspelled Whitney Houston as "Whitey Houston" in a thread here and you would've thought I was a member of the KKK they way some posters went crazy on my ass. DLers are a strange lot.

You know you're old when a 50-year celebration of comedy doesn't reach back to the Bob Hope era.

Just now watching the red carpet & Leslie Jones asked Drew Barrymore if she ever hosted SNL. Not only is she a member of the hallowed "five-timer" club (hosting six times) but - at seven - the youngest host in history.

Jay Mohr is one lucky bastard being able to trade up with each successive wife.

Why would they mention Charles Rocket? He did nothing of note during his 15 or so episodes except say fuck. Not saying he was untalented, but for whatever reason his time of the show was not fruitful creatively for him. They didn't mention Gail Mathius, Gilbert Gottfried, Denny Dillon or even Joe Piscapo either.

Rocket was promoted as the star of his cast. The next Chevy Chase.

R469 - Piscopo was more than mentioned in last night’s 3-hour SNL music special. They showed him doing Sinatra, and included current day interview clips.

Goddammit, where is Nora Dunn?!

Where was Dan Akroyd?

Saturday Night Live now gets higher ratings than any scripted primetime show on a broadcast network.

This show is really not a retrospective of 50 years.

R474, link.

Mentioned here, R476.

Is Tina Fey likely to take Lorne’s place? Amy? Both?

Don, Jr., R478.

[quote] Is Tina Fey likely to take Lorne’s place? Amy? Both?

If God is merciful. 🙏 I just started watching again this season after not watching for the last 3 seasons. If by next season Lorne isn't replaced, Michael Che isn't fired, and the cast isn't cut in half, I will stop watching again. Remember, SNL became the institution that it is with the majority of it's time using 7-8 main players, with 2-3 backup. That's at most, 11 total.

R127, do you mean Dooneese? That's the only Wiig character I like, otherwise she's a hack.

[quote]Laraine & Kenan were the only original cast members to be in a skit.

Kenan was NEVER an original cast member. His MOTHER wasn't even an idea in the cosmos when SNL debuted in 1975.

SNL premiered the same day that Bill & Hillary got married.

I don’t know if you’re being whimsical, R482, but Kenan was born in 1978, so I suspect his mother was alive in 1975.

Vanessa Bayer is so funny. Love her.

R484 I didn't care enough to check his birth year. Be that as it may he's not part of the original cast.

As had been noted, R486, that comment was in jest.

I don't CARE, R487.

Move on.

You're not very bright, are you R488?

I've sunk to doing SNL. Someone call Gummer and see if he'll take me back.

I wanted to see Nora Dunn.

If it's good enough for Sir Paul, Missy, it's good enough for you. Your problem was that you were not quite as committed to the Aliens skit as you might have been.

Will Ferrell in the "Scared Straight" short-shorts = Allusion to a much better original sketch:

WHY couldn't they give us Tina and Amy doing Weekend Update tonight? I really didn't want to see Michael Che's ugly ass tonight.

[quote][R443] not that he wasn’t asked, he didn’t want to. You seem to fail to understand they have to WANT TO. He didn’t even wanna come but they convinced him to come.

And YOU seem to have failed to fully read or comprehend my post; here it is again, Cuntina:

[quote]It seems Chevy Chase was there and wasn't asked to OR DIDN'T WANT TO participate.

See what happens when you're so eager to cunt up the place that you forget how to read?

No Muppets and the Land of Gorch?

No one, especially DL-ers, would have been completely happy with this 50th-anniversary show no matter what was included, or excluded. But I think there were enough good moments to make up for the rest.

I only watched highlights on youtube so thought I missed Chevy. Guess not.

I honestly thought Jean Doumanian died a few years ago but I see I'm wrong. I swear I remember reading she succumbed to cancer. Mandela effect or alternate timeline...

What was up with Cher's Marie Antoinette wig? Not a good look but I liked her exchange with Tina and Amy.

I'd also love to know details of the seating. I saw Terry Sweeney in the upper section when Jon Hamm stood during the Q&A. Rob Riggle was up there too and Sarah Silverman was next to Seth Meyers behind Keith Richards in the lower section. If those one-season performers got seats in the main audience was there a better section somewhere for the A-listers like Chevy Chase, Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray? I didn't see them in the audience but Eddie Murphy was there. Was Brad Hall there with Julia Louis-Dreyfuss when she wasn't with the dog and Adam Driver?

Would love to see a list of who all was and wasn't there. 50 years of performers, writers, hosts, musical guests and other staff is a lot of people to include. Plus significant others. I hate that more deserving people probably got bumped to satellite viewing rooms so Olivia Munn and Blake Lively could sit up front.

Omg Keith Richards was there???

"It seems Chevy Chase was there..."

Bill Murray leads the anti-Chevy movement. He referred to him as 'Connie'.

I have only watched the first half so far…did they have Cheri Oteri in anything? IIRC, she wasn’t in the 40th anniversary show either. Bad blood with Lorne?

I know a senior NBC exec, who’s like one of the top five guys at the company. Even he couldn’t bring a plus one, and was in the overflow room. Seating was that tight.

It had its moments, but there were some serious oversights. I don’t understand reusing the same cast members multiple times when so many did nothing. Personally I would have rather seen all the celebrity cameos go to actual cast members instead. Some of the sketches made sense, but some were like it was just a regular SNL show, which is a stupid waste of time. Could have had at least two few musical performances, especially since they did the (great) concert on Friday nights. And most importantly, way too little affection for the original cast.

Was Brooks Wheelan there? Jon Rudnitsky? John Milhiser? Aristotle Athari?

most of the newer material, of which there was far too much, didn’t land.

It’s never made sense to me why these SNL anniversaries, from the 15th to now, always put celebrity hosts on equal footing to cast members. Maybe I’m in the minority, but I see the hosts as visitors. They’re the lucky ones to get to do it, not the other way around. I want to see as many cast members as possible.

Christopher Walken?

Did he appear either by tape or in person?

Eddie and Joe Piscopo should have done a sketch. They were the breakout stars of the early 80s.

Were Dick Ebersol and Susan Saint James there?

Cheri did a boatload of publicity for this anniversary and she really should have been in something. She is so funny in that kinda addled way of hers.

I am going to look again for Nora Dunn. I know she and Lovitz don’t get along but it doesn’t seem that would keep her away.

It was nice to hear the applause for Garrett Morris…and to see Jane, Laraine and even Chevy hold up the picture of Gilda at the end. They probably figured she was shafted a bit with all the awful sketches that ran instead.

Nora was in the audience toward the back. You could see her during Tina and Amy’s bit.

R463 Agree. I find him more cringe than anything. Never found Will Ferrell's schtick funny. I guess we are in the minority.

[quote] Was Brad Hall there with Julia Louis-Dreyfuss when she wasn't with the dog and Adam Driver?

Yes.

Chris Parnell has become a silver Fox.

R470 correct, he was. NBC execs told the new showrunner they needed a new Chevy Chase, who was a massive breakout during that first season. They told the showrunner to find a tall, handsome masculine white man who could be their next Chevy.

R505 because the majority of people tune into specific episodes based on who is Hosting. It’s not a show that has the same viewership week after week, or at least didn’t for most of its time on air.

R508 maybe she didn’t want to be in anything. Maybe doing the press is what got her to show up. I’m sure she was paid to do it.

Loved every minute, it was a fun way to end the weekend. The scared straight prison skit had me laughing so hard, Eddie Murphy was my SNL generation and he still has got it.

Did anyone see Datalounge fave Melanie Hutsell? It would've been funny if they had a whole segment (or show?) of people whom no one remembers.

Hutsell was shown in the goodnights at the end. She was wearing a black dress.

I guess it is possible that some people might not have wanted to do anything. We just assume they all wanted airtime, but maybe not.

It’s is weird though they announced certain performers, like Ellen Cleghorne and Jane Curtin, who did nothing other than attend.

It is curious R515, though, that Cheri Oteri, so popular in her SNL years, was not in either of the last two anniversary specials.

Last time I saw Cheri Oteri perform was when she was on the New Years Eve show with the two Andys and she did her Barbara Walters impression for the year 2020

Cheri Oteri is bipolar and during her SNL days she clashed with people during her manic phases. I think she has made piece with Lorne and others and was fine being in the Peacock docuseries and doing press for the show. She might have treated it as a reunion because I think she did get along with Molly Shannon and Ana Gasteyer. I think there were a couple of seasons where they were the only female cast members and they probably all had to deal with the boys club environment of SNL. I think there was also that period in the late 80s/early 90s where Nora Dunn, Jan Hooks, and Victoria Jackson were the only few female cast members.

"I think she has made piece with Lorne."

Yea, Cheri was a real hot piece.

Cheri was there. Chris Kattan was there. Rob Schneider was there. TONS of alum were there in the audience. Lorne had to convince Chevy Chase to come. He didn’t even want to be there. He did it for Lorne.

In the SNL oral history that came out in 2002, Cheri did not speak well of her time on the show. It was surprising to me since she was so popular during her run. Apparently she hated the experience.

It’ll be interesting to see where the shoe goes from here. There has always been a certain mystique surrounding the show that has kept it interesting all these years, but this long celebration really demystifying a lot of it. I’ve always been fascinated by the show and have read everything, but I’m pretty much done. There isn’t much left to say.

It will be interesting to see what happens to SNL after Lorne's gone. He's 80 years old FFS.

That’s another weird thing about this anniversary, R527. It’s most likely the last for a lot of people.

R526, Excellent point.

I used to work in entertainment journalism. Believe it or not, there were things journalists simply would not print.

Now, the narrative is in the hands of the talent and BOY, DO THEY OVERSHARE!

I would hate to be the person in steps in after Lorne leaves.

Lorne only survives because he's been coasting on the fumes of past successes for years. Also, Lorne was at NBC way before Comcast took over and he knows where all the dead bodies are.

The new person won't have those luxuries.

R526 what a stupid comment. This isn’t the first long celebration they’ve had. The 40th anniversary special revealed a lot more, played a lot more homage to the early seasons and was even longer.

R530 Lorne is still successful because the show is still successful with young people. You all can sit and bitch about it but young people like the new cast and skits and it brings in ratings and goes viral all over social media.

Sorry you think it’s “stupid,” R531, but it’s how I feel. There wasn’t as much ancillary material surrounding the other anniversaries. This time there was the Peacock docuseries, the music special, the homecoming concert, the special itself, an autobiography on Lorne, and a shit ton of press, including multiple lengthy features on the process. Also the Saturday Night movie. That’s a lot of content.

Why did they squander their last chance to get the surviving original cast members on stage for even a brief moment? Jane, Chevy, Larraine and Garrett were there. Is it because they all hate Chevy? Dan Ackroyd must be on his deathbed to not attend.

If I could make it, Ackroyd can.

Ratings are beside the point. This show used to take the piss out of celebrity culture, and no target was deemed as sacred. In the last decade and a half, all it's done mainly are sendups of old shows (Lawrence Welk, MacGuyer) and umpteen game show parodies. Many celebrities they've left untouched. Once they started hyping Justin Timberlake as some irrelevant, edgy talent the coolness from this show started to fade FAST.

Having Blake and Ryan there last night shows you how out of touch Lorne is with social media and what's current. Read the fucking room. People hate them with a passion. You couldn't get two more uncool people in that room at that moment.

They clearly didn't get the real joke of Tom Hanks segment.

"It will be interesting to see what happens to SNL after Lorne's gone"

Less homophobia, racism, sexism, bigotry and ethnic stereotypes?

Regarding the shoe being no longer edgy: Lorne’s biographer said that at some point he coined the phrase “let’s do it in sunshine,” by which he meant do the show in a brighter, more crowd-pleasing way than in the old days. I thought that was a good distinction between the old show and what we get now.

"Looks like a lot of smirking mediocrity."

That's a good general description of SNL. I was a teenager when the show debuted. Everyone watched it. It was original, with a lot of great cast members. It was always marred by sexism and racism. The only original black cast member, Garrett Morris, was drunk & barely present, when they had the world to choose from.

Various misogynist things helped ruined the show for me. The writing is crude and juvenile. It relies on mindless repitition of a stupid buzz phrase. Sarah Silverman said Lorne Michaels hires male (?) writers from Harvard I think. She said she was "unaware" that they were the best writers.

We deserve better

It's weird that they have so many shows about SNL now.

R539 funny you attack Garrett Morris but not the white drunks and coke heads on the show who were high and fighting backstage every week.

Garrett was treated like shit and turned to the bottle.

R541 agree with you. But it’s in true low-class DL fashion to attack the black man and single him out while ignoring how awful and problematic the majority of the white cast were, outside of Gilda and Jane.

Garrett is old and frail but seemed to be in good spirits and had good energy. It was nice seeing him again.

Our attitudes about what’s appropriate to say are ever-evolving. I’m not saying we should keep doing it because people did it in the past, but I don’t think we should judge people by attitudes half a century later.

I’m a big fan of MST3K and rewatch the shows from the 90s often. You can’t help but notice that things that were ok for comedians to say in the 90s would not be ok now. I’m not some rightwing asshole who’s mad we are more respectful to each other. But I’m also not going to throw my tv out the window because of bad things people say that weren’t bad when they said them.

Eddie was such a piece of shit to Garrett when he was first starting out. It would be nice if Eddie publicly apologized while Garrett is still here.

I loved Garrett's quote from the SNL book on how the same people who called him a sellout turned around and started doing the voice of donkeys in cartoons.

The special is getting lukewarm reviews. I don't think it was the success they had hoped it would be. I'm curious as to how it did in the ratings.

Eddie and Garrett weren’t on at the same time

Speaking of Timberlake did he participate at all?

Also how did Kim Kardashian of all people land a featured role in the Lawrence Welk sketch? Scarlett Johansson I get for the nepo connections but it would have been better if they used all former cast members as the sisters.

Timberlake didn’t go

Eddie trashed Garrett when he first appeared on SNL, in this sketch for one. He also criticized Garrett in interviews around that time.

Eddie got his in return when David Spade made fun of him in the 90's.

I thought the Lovitz bit with him having to sit across the street with the American Girl dolls was funny

R551 based on his history on the show, it was fitting to joke about that

I agree that they should've had all of the surviving original cast members onstage one last time, they're all pretty old now.

But maybe the hatred for Chevy is still too strong after all these many years.

Ackroyd declined his invitation so there would have only been 4 original cast members up there (5 if they chose to include Bill Murray.) Would have been pretty depressing to look at

One of my favorite stories about the original cast was when Chase returned to host. Chase made an off color comment about Jane Curtain, Bill Murray got angry about it, Belushi egged him on and there was almost a knock-down drag-out fight right before the monologue.

Bill Murray joined season 2. Can we stop calling him one of the originals?

Does Akroyd bear a grudge for some reason? If so, why?

Or is he ill, really fat, or had a conflict?

During the special, Amy Poehler said that usually the person’s favorite cast is the cast that was on while they were a young teen. And that’s true. My cast was Cheri, Molly Shannon, Ana, Tracy Morgan, Chris Kattan, Will Ferrell etc. and I always say they were the best cast.

Of course Amy etc. all joined and some left during the early 2000s but I remember them more than anything. I had a good cast in my HS years.

R557 many former cast members have negative experiences with this show.

R548 and r549, There were 4 specials:

50 Years of SNL Music, 1/27**;

Live Concert From RCMH, 2/14;

Episode #1, 2/15;

The Anniversary Special, 2/16.

**Justin Timberlake was shown discussing and being in the Beyonce "Single Ladies" dance video.

R557 I don't think Aykroyd has a grudge with SNL. This article mentions that he posted supportive tweets on X for SNL and Lorne Michaels. Aykroyd's daughter attended the concert on Friday. Months ago Aykroyd said on a podcast that he would rather watch the show at home with a viewing party.

[quote] many former cast members have negative experiences with this show.

After Lorne Michaels dies, former cast members who had negative experiences will starting spilling more tea via articles, podcasts, or books.

[quote]Were Dick Ebersol and Susan Saint James there?

Ebersol also declined his invitation due to health issues.

Shout-out to long-time SNL Director Don Roy King, fellow Penn State alumnus in the late 60s.

They should’ve had Ellen Cleghorne in Black Jeopardy instead of amateurish Lesley Jones.

[quote]Nora was in the audience toward the back. You could see her during Tina and Amy’s bit.

Thanks, R509. I didn't see her, but glad to know that she was in the audience. I love Nora Dunn. I would have liked to see her do her wonderfully snooty, insensitive, talk-show host character, "Pat Stevens." So damn funny.

Was Jan Hooks there? Didn't see her!

Would have been great to show a clip of Nora Dunn and Jan Hooks doing their Lifetime / "Attitudes" talk show hosts characters. Omg, so funny.

...or a clip of them performing the singing Sweeney Sisters. So good.

I feel like any dictionary should include Paul Simon's photo beside the word "depression". Wow, does that guy have a sour expression, 100% of the time.

R567 - Jan Hooks died in 2014.

I see Sarah Jessica Parker and her drunk husband bullied their way into studio seats

Paul McCartney was amazing! Favorite part of the show.

[quote]Bill Murray joined season 2. Can we stop calling him one of the originals?

He was for all intents and purposes a part of the original cast.

[quote]During the special, Amy Poehler said that usually the person’s favorite cast is the cast that was on while they were a young teen. And that’s true. My cast was Cheri, Molly Shannon, Ana, Tracy Morgan, Chris Kattan, Will Ferrell etc. and I always say they were the best cast.

Jan Hooks/Phil Hartman were my young teen years and they're my favorite. My high school years were Farley/Sandler/Spade and they were ok but my college years were Ana Gasteyer/Molly Shannon/Cheri Oteri and that cast was my second favorite.

r562 that's going to be interesting.

As Natasha Leggero said to Andy Samberg on one of the Comedy Central Roasts: "I can't wait to hear your acoustic version of 'Dick In A Box' at Lorne Michaels' open casket funeral.'

The special felt like a mutual cast and alumni back-pat salute. Then when Lorne appeared at end, it was like what the last May 1971 “Ed Sullivan Show” new episode must’ve felt like. I really wish he’d consider moving on for a Season 51 letting new producers and writers come in to mix up the format, comedy, set, performer types and writing.

r537 that's not part of SNL today, and when it was, it was the times.

BTW Does anyone really think that Meryl Streep and Martin Short are a romantic pairing?

[quote][R567] - Jan Hooks died in 2014.

R569. I know. It was a joke.

Didn’t realize Carvey missed the show too. That’s a weird one considering he was on the show this season and hosts an SNL podcast.

Maybe all the SNL shows are because Lorne Michaels is retiring. From a gossip column:

"The back stabbing going on this weekend is mind blowing as people fight to take over from this television creator. He will be stepping down this season. The actress/writer wants it the most. “Saturday Night Live”/Lorne Michaels/Tina Fey"

I hope Lorne Michaels feels adequately lauded for very uneven work that was often racist & sexist. He made the guests to the 50th anniversary show wear black tie.

Last night's show drew 14.8 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, ranking as NBC’s biggest primetime entertainment telecast in five years, since 18.33 million people watched the 2020 Golden Globes.

The audience is also the second-largest for any non-sports primetime network show so far in the 2024-25 season, behind only the 15.4 million viewers for the Grammy Awards.

Dana Carvey got to revive the Church Lady in a whole sketch this season and featured as Biden. I wonder if he figured that he got a huge spotlight already, why bother with the hoo-ha when he'd inevitably not be given much to do.

I could also see how showing up for these anniversary specials could be depressing — a reminder of when your career peaked and how you failed to live up to your promise.

Or maybe I'm just terminally depressed.

Or maybe he's dying.

Maybe there wasn’t an “all the original cast members” appearance or sketch on stage, because some or all of them wanted not to be remembered or seen for their older selves they are now for one reason or another, or because they or Lorne wished to avoid it seeming that the show was about them and its initial seasons when they were the featured players.

[quote]I hope Lorne Michaels feels adequately lauded for very uneven work that was often racist & sexist.

It was of its time.

Why were certain celebs invited, like Cher?

Because she had been a musical guest?

R585, "[C]ertain celebs"? Can you be more vague?

R555 It seems like almost everyone, on the show or not, thinks Chevy Chase is an asshole.

Rightly.

Chevy Chase had an abusive upbringing. Is Jim Belushi there?

[quote]BTW Does anyone really think that Meryl Streep and Martin Short are a romantic pairing?

I do. If they weren't I don't see why her daughter and her husband Mark Ronson went to the SNL tasting that Short hosted at the end of the year.

SNL tasting?

Was Lindsay Lohan on the scene?

Amy Poehler reminds me of every now-middle-aged popular girl I went to high school with.

[quote] Is Jim Belushi there?

Yup, he attended.

When you have 50 years of really inconsistent material and half the cast is usually a throw-away, maybe you need to look at the owner of the show as to the reason why.

Lorne Michaels lucked into this - he wasn't a comedian but he pitched a show with Chicago and Toronto Second City Improv comedians, using their talent to make a show.

And he acts like he's some sort of God.

Where was Ellen Cleghorne?

[Quote] BTW Does anyone really think that Meryl Streep and Martin Short are a romantic pairing?

[Quote] I do. If they weren't I don't see why her daughter and her husband Mark Ronson went to the SNL tasting that Short hosted at the end of the year.

Don't see how that makes Streep and Short a romantic pairing. They are costars and friends.

Mark Ronson is married to a woman? What?

For those posters who wondered why Candice Bergen wasn't at SNL's 50th anniversary special

Marshall Rose, Candice Bergen's husband, dies at 88 from Parkinson's

I watched the entire show and somehow it fell short for me. When it was good, it was great ('Scared Straight') but when it was mediocre, it was rather painful ('Weekend Update'). I don't think it needed 3.5 hours.

[quote]Eddie trashed Garrett when he first appeared on SNL, in this sketch for one. He also criticized Garrett in interviews around that time.

Yeah, that clip is from the abortion that was "SNL season 6". Eddie Murphy didn't write that sketch, He was a 19-year-old featured player who was barely on the show; the writers didn't know how to use him. The interview I'm guessing you're referring to is a 1983 TV Guide article on the show, in which he "trashed" not Morris, but the former writers who constantly gave the veteran actor stereotypical and humiliating roles.