The 50th Anniversary Special of Saturday Night Live (SNL) marked a milestone moment for the beloved sketch comedy show. Held on Sunday night, the event brought together numerous guests, past and present cast members, to celebrate five decades of laughter and satire.
Returning characters from classic sketches made a memorable comeback, with Kristen Wiig’s Dooneese, Will Ferrell’s Robert Goulet, and Molly Shannon’s Sally O’Malley among those who reprised their roles. The show also featured an “SNL” talk-show crossover between Amy Poehler’s “Bronx Beat” and Mike Myers’ Linda Richman from “Coffee Talk.”
The special also marked the debut of actress Meryl Streep as a cast member, appearing alongside Kate McKinnon in a sketch about Colleen Rafferty, a character who was abducted by aliens. Musician Paul McCartney performed, and Adam Sandler delivered a heartfelt musical tribute to longtime crew members.
The show acknowledged its past mistakes, including some sketches that have aged poorly, with a highlight reel revisiting satirical ads and characters from the past. Tom Hanks introduced the segment, poking fun at the audience for laughing at outdated content.
Several living “SNL” legends took the stage, including Steve Martin, who delivered a funny opening monologue. The event also saw reunions between past cast members, including John Belushi, Chris Farley, and Gilda Radner, cementing their legacies in comedy history.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/16/entertainment/snl-50th-anniversary-special/index.html