LIVE FROM NEW YORK, IT’S FIFTY YEARS!
A frequent host and longtime friend of SNL, Steve Martin, opened the night with a witty monologue and playful nods to the show’s most memorable moments. With his trademark dry humor, Martin successfully set the tone for a night that would be filled with nostalgia, laughter, and a reminder that SNL has become part of American culture.
“Now, I hope that you are enjoying my monologue tonight,” he said, “but if you aren’t enjoying it, maybe you should get up and take a good look at yourself in the mirror and say to yourself, ‘What have I become? It can’t be Steve’s fault.’ Ask yourselves, ‘When did I abandon joy, and what can I bring to the monologue as an audience member?’”
The monologue has always served as the introduction to the night, and at its best, it’s a work of art. Martin’s delivery was a comical and engaging way to open a show that thrives on audience participation, and he wonderfully set the stage for an evening of laughter and nostalgia.
Musical performances played a considerable role in the celebration, a nod to SNL’s history of inviting artists to the stage during pivotal moments in their musical careers. The show has long provided an opportunity for artists to make musical statements, and this night proved to be no different. With his distinctive way of merging comedy with sincerity, Adam Sandler delivered 50 Years, a humorous yet heartfelt song paying tribute to the show’s success and legacy. The number brought back memories of SNL’s history, celebrating the defining people throughout the history of the show. Though he sang it with a smile, the tribute was quite bittersweet, as it revisited specific memories and inside jokes with warmth and nostalgia, while also acknowledging the members who have become part of the past.
Adding onto the touching tribute, Paul McCartney ended the night with a moving performance of Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End, where it was clear he was carrying more than just the applause of an audience. His voice reflected the feelings of nostalgia in the room and resonated with those who had poured their creativity into the show’s journey. As he sang about perseverance and the passage of time, there was an unspoken understanding of the significance of tradition; SNL is not just an iconic piece of entertainment, but a lasting community shaped by the minds that have come before and the ones who will carry it forward.
The musical elements woven into the production provided a unique depth that the sketches cannot always accomplish. It allowed the audience a chance to reflect and connect while experiencing a different type of storytelling in the form of melody and lyrics. On this particular night, following a special Friday night concert where past and present SNL cast members performed musical numbers and comedy sets, the performances added an undeniable weight to the celebration, perfectly capturing the emotion felt by casts and viewers alike.
Weekend Update has long been a staple of SNL, combining political satire with cultural comedy to offer a lighthearted view of current events. During the anniversary special, the segment continued this tradition, with current anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che delivering friendly banter and dry wit. Not only did they take time to address current happenings with sarcasm and irony, but they also fit in a reflective tribute to the generations of Weekend Update hosts who paved the way before them.
By combining comedy with critique, Weekend Update has become one of SNL’s most enduring and influential segments. From Chevy Chase, to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, to Norm Macdonald, and so many more, each anchor has brought their own style to the Update. The anniversary honored this evolution, celebrating how SNL has consistently used humor as a means of satirizing politics, media, and social trends. In turning news into comedy, Weekend Update has not only entertained audiences around the world but also shaped the way people interact with social and political exchanges.
Much of the evening’s success was owed to the writers’ remarkable ability to stay current and creative, constantly pushing boundaries with new ideas. They skillfully balanced honoring the show’s history with producing content that speaks to the newer generations. Whether through political satire on Weekend Update or the reimagining of classic sketches through a modern twist on Celebrity Jeopardy, the writers managed to unify the show’s many moving parts, making sure to incorporate humor that resonated with a diverse audience. Especially with the fake advertisements, they undoubtedly delivered some of the night’s most absurd moments, showcasing some of the most clever commercials from the past. On many Saturday nights, their attention to detail makes them nearly indecipherable from actual commercials, adding to the humor and making their eventual punchline all the more amusing. From classics like the Bass-O-Matic to newer ‘ads’ for things like streaming services or Wells for Boys, this brilliance suggests that the show continues to grow alongside its audience, adapting to the present while keeping the enduring spirit that has defined SNL for so long.
At the heart of this evolution is Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator and executive producer, who has shaped SNL into the triumphant force that it is today. His brilliant visions guided the show through decades of cultural shifts, ensuring that audiences always had a place to turn when in need of a laugh. In a 2020 interview, Michaels explained how the country was going through a time of significant distrust, and SNL aimed to take on the role of the honest voice in people’s lives. His humble leadership kept the focus on the performers and writers who brought the show to life, but his pride was unmistakable as the night came to a close, knowing the legacy he had built would certainly stand the test of time.
The night felt like a true full-circle moment for SNL, as it united generations of talent in a genuine celebration of the present. There was no sense of finality, no somber reflection, just joy, admiration, and nostalgia for what the show continues to be. As cast members, writers, and fans came together, they admired the influence of the legacy they helped build, feeling pride for having contributed to something as impactful as ever. How unique is it to have something so enduring that it calls for celebrations, without closing a chapter? SNL has never been about endings, and this anniversary wasn’t a send-off; it was a reminder that the show is still writing its chapter every Saturday night.
As the final moments of the night played out, the stage was packed with a surreal mix of characters; it’s very telling of a show’s magic when so many people in the weirdest costumes can come together to create something unforgettable. This idea of boundless imagination perfectly fits the image of SNL’s legacy: a place where the absurd is celebrated, the brilliant and bizarre minds coexist, and where decades of comedy, creativity, and weirdness blend together seamlessly. In that moment it was clearer than ever – there’s truly no place like Studio 8H.
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