Dana Carvey was noticeably absent from SNL50: The Anniversary Special, but a flu bug is what kept him away, according to Variety. Carvey had been making frequent appearances on the show this season and was set to address his absence in an upcoming episode of his podcast with David Spade.
Other former cast members, including Bill Hader and Dan Aykroyd, were also absent from the event. While Aykroyd expressed a preference for watching from home last August, reps for Hader claimed he had a scheduling conflict.
Despite their absence, many past and present cast members, writers, and contributors attended the special, with some seated in a separate studio to accommodate the large crowd. However, it remains unclear why others were not in attendance, including notable alumni such as Dennis Miller, Jay Mohr, and Cheri Oteri.
Source: https://latenighter.com/news/a-bad-flu-kept-dana-carvey-away-from-snls-50th