SNL50: The Anniversary Special - A Review

I have been an SNL fan since the first episode with George Carlin in October 1975 when I was ten years old, and I haven't missed an episode since. As an expert and historian for Saturday Night Live, who graduated from Second City and prides himself on being an expert on Saturday Night Live, let me say that I absolutely loved this special.

And it wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be.

The Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special  was a three-and-a-half-hour live show filled mostly with new material written specifically for the night.

I didn't expect that at all. I assumed it would be a recycled clip show showcasing old bits from the show's past that we've seen 900 times before. Instead, they actually took the time to write new sketches and brand-new material, including incredible cast members, stars, and hosts from the past, and put together something that was both a celebration and a testament to what SNL is today.

Three weeks ago, they had nothing. And yet they still put together a three-and-a-half-hour live show. The sheer ambition is remarkable.

The Lead-Up: A Celebration Weeks in the Making

Before I even get into the special, let's talk about how SNL has been celebrating its 50th anniversary for weeks. This wasn't just a one-night thing but an extended SNL50 event.

The four-part Peacock documentary was amazing. It gave deep insight into the show's history, legacy, and evolution.

Then, there was the three-hour Questlove-directed documentary, which focused solely on the music of SNL, covering the legendary musical performances, groundbreaking artists, and the moments that changed television history.

And let's not forget the live concert event from Radio City Music Hall, hosted by Jimmy Fallon, featuring an insane lineup of musicians paying tribute to the show's incredible musical legacy.

All told it was six hours of programming culminating in an unbelievable Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special. It has been better than I imagined, and this special was the perfect finale.

The Opening: Setting the Tone

From the beginning of the live 50th anniversary special, it all worked.

Having Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter open with a version of Homeward Bound—the song Simon & Garfunkel played on SNL 50 years ago—was a great way to kick off the night.

And when Sabrina Carpenter joked that not only was she not born when that song was first performed on SNL, but her parents weren't born yet either, it was a hilarious and sobering moment that put the show's legacy into perspective.

Then came Steve Martin's monologue, and who better to open the night? Steve Martin was practically an honorary Not Ready for Primetime Player in the early days. His monologue was classic, filled with great jokes and cameos—including a fantastic bit where ICE came to arrest Martin Short for being Canadian.

Shots of the audience were packed with celebrities, past cast members, and legendary hosts. The energy was electric, and it was clear from the get-go that this was going to be something special.

The Sketches: A Perfect Blend of Past and Present

One of the night's biggest surprises was how much of the current cast got to shine. This wasn't just a nostalgic look back at the past—it was a showcase of how great SNL still is today.

Right off the bat, they did a Marilyn Sisters/Lawrence Welk sketch with Kristen Wiig, Fred Armisen, and Will Ferrell, with guest cameos from Kim Kardashian, Scarlett Johansson, and Ana Gasteyer. It was hilarious and a perfect callback to one of the funniest recurring sketches of the mid-2000s.

Then came a Black Jeopardy sketch featuring Kenan Thompson as the host, with Tracy Morgan, Leslie Jones, and Eddie Murphy playing contestants. The absolute highlight? Eddie Murphy doing a dead-on impression of Tracy Morgan—while standing next to Tracy Morgan.

It was an instant classic, and having Tom Hanks reprise his Doug the MAGA contestant character from the iconic Black Jeopardy sketch in 2016 was the icing on the cake.

Next up was Sally O'Malley. That's right—Molly Shannon's legendary 50-year-old character made a triumphant return, introduced by Emma Stone, who hilariously set it up by saying, "SNL doesn't like to do things that are on the nose."

Of course, what followed was the most on-the-nose bit of all time, as Molly Shannon came out and did her "kick, stretch, and kick" routine with Emma Stone joining in. It was gold.

This led to a fantastic montage of SNL's best physical comedy moments, featuring everyone from Shannon to Chris Kattan to Chevy Chase to Will Ferrell—a perfect tribute to the show's slapstick roots.

Then, Marcelo Hernandez's Domingo character took center stage in a recurring sketch that also brought out Pedro Pascal as Ronaldo, proving that SNL's current cast was not ignored. Having Molly Shannon and Martin Short in the mix here only made it better. This was proof that SNL isn't just about the past but the present and future.

Another highlight was Kate McKinnon's recurring alien abduction sketch, this time featuring Pedro Pascal, Woody Harrelson, Jon Hamm, and—out of nowhere—Meryl Streep.

Yes, Meryl Streep made her SNL debut in the most unexpected way, playing Kate McKinnon's equally inappropriate and traumatized mother.

Watching an Academy Award-winning legend spout crude jokes about alien abductions was both surreal and hysterical. One of the best moments of the night.

The celebrity Q&A segment with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler was pure joy. Quinta Brunson, Adam Driver, Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen, John Lovitz, Julie Louis-Dreyfus, Al Sharpton, Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Cher, and Zach Galifianakis—all doing bits. It was just fun. Peyton Manning even had a hilarious moment.

Then, The Lonely Island debuted a brand-new digital short—a song about SNL through the decades that was catchy, smart, and funny as hell. Andy Samberg and Bowen Yang killed it.

Then came Weekend Update, hosted by Colin Jost and Michael Che, with appearances by Cecily Strong (returning as The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party), Bobby Moynihan (Drunk Uncle in all his glory), Seth Meyers, Vanessa Bayer, Fred Armisen, and Bill Murray, who ranked the Weekend Update anchors.

Murray's biting sarcasm was on full display, and his jokes about Chevy Chase and Jost were killer. Plus, there was a touching tribute to Norm Macdonald, reminding everyone why he was one of the greatest Update anchors of all time.

The Emotional Highs: Sandler, Belushi, and the Final Goodbye

Then came the moment that stole the entire night: Adam Sandler performing an original song, 50 Years, a funny, moving, and heartfelt tribute to SNL. It was classic Sandler—hilarious, nostalgic, and genuinely touching.

The song also featured emotional tributes to legendary cast members from the past who have left us, including Phil Hartman, Jan Hooks, Chris Farley, and Norm Macdonald.

The moment was made even more special by Jack Nicholson, who hadn't been seen in public for years, introducing Sandler. It was perfect.

Following that was Don't Look Back in Anger, the 1978 Tom Schiller short film, which was lovingly introduced by the great Garrett Morris, one of the original cast members.

The classic film short featuring John Belushi, eerily prescient as the "last surviving Not Ready for Primetime Player," is still astonishing. Watching it now, knowing Belushi was the first to pass, was haunting. It was a beautiful, bittersweet moment.

Then came Paul McCartney, closing out the night with a stunning performance of Golden Slumbers/The End. And finally, the goodnights—the stage packed with every legend imaginable (including the one and only Lorne Michaels), old and new, as the iconic SNL closing theme played. It was magic.

Final Thoughts: A Perfect Tribute

This SNL 50th Anniversary Special exceeded every expectation. It wasn't just a Best Of show—it was a celebration of where SNL is today.

It was the perfect mix of nostalgia and new material, with unforgettable appearances of some of the biggest names in the show's history. One of the best live television events I've ever seen. Bravo, SNL.

Here's to 50 more years.

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One of a Kind: The Passing of Shelley Duvall

The truly one of a kind actress/producer, Shelley Duvall, passed away on July 11th, 2024, and boy, will she be missed.

Watching Shelley Duvall play Olive Oyl is a singular delight

She was a unique performer of incredible versatility who appeared in seven films for her director/mentor, the great Robert Altman ("Brewster McCloud," "McCabe and Mrs. Miller," "Thieves Like Us," "Nashville," "Buffalo Bill and the Indians," "3 Women," and as Olive Oyl in "Popeye"), and was known for other iconic performances in such films as "Annie Hall," "Roxanne," "Time Bandits," and of course, as the tormented wife of Jack Nicholson in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining."

I love Shelley Duvall, always have, always will. I vividly remember seeing her for the first time in 1976, when she played Grover Cleveland's wife in Altman's mess of a western/comedy "Buffalo Bill and the Indians," which featured Paul Newman as Buffalo Bill and Pat McCormick as President Cleveland.

She made such a huge impression on my 11-year-old mind (her odd mannerisms, her wonderfully offbeat looks, her voice) that I never forgot her, and would always brighten up when she appeared in anything that followed.

Such as her hilarious small role in Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" as a drugged out writer for Rolling Stone ("Sex with you is really a Kafkaesque experience...") and, especially, when she hosted "Saturday Night Live" in April of 1977. I remember falling in love with her during that episode of SNL. From the moment she walked on stage dressed in the infamous Killer Bee costume, I was hooked and would be a die hard fan for years to come.

Though the Altman films contain her best, most complex, and, at times, jaw-droppingly stellar work, her work in other films stands out as well. Her performance in "3 Women" - with co-stars Sissy Spacek and Janice Rule - is one of my favorite performances by an actress in film history, seriously. And, who else could possibly play a magnificent live-action version of Olive Oyl as well as Duvall did? The answer is: no one.

It was an incredible delight to see her as Steve Martin's pal in "Roxanne." Her hilariously weird scenes in Terry Gilliam's "Time Bandits" made me smile from ear to ear. She popped up in Jane Campion's "The Portrait of a Woman," Tim Burton's lovely short film "Frankenweenie," and even starred with Hulk Hogan in "Suburban Commando," and she was always wonderful.

She was also groundbreaking in the world of children's television, as the creator and producer of "Faerie Tale Theatre" for Showtime, which lasted several seasons. She hosted every single episode (if you wanna have some fun, watch the endless video compilations of Duvall introducing those episodes on YouTube). Many of her Hollywood friends appeared on the show and on its follow up "Tall Tales & Legends.". She really cared about kids (even though she had none of her own) and it was a delight to watch her create entertainment for the younger crowd.

But, the role that EVERYBODY will remember her for most, would be that of Wendy Torrence in Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's "The Shining."

Iconic, brilliant, odd and exhausting, her performance, for me, is the highlight of a movie that I have A LOT of issues with. Although I like the film very much, I've never, ever found it very scary, or particularly complex.

Nicholson gets too nuts too soon, Kubrick's use of his new toy, The Steadicam, was endless (how many Goddamn times do we have to follow Danny down the hallways on his Big Wheel?), not to mention that the movie is NOTHING like the book. But, hey, it's still fun....and, Duvall is awesome.

Now, the infamous behind-the-scenes stories about the making of "The Shining," and the torture that Kubrick put Duvall though on that endless 13-month shoot are, unfortunately, legendary. During the making of the film, Kubrick constantly threatened and screamed at her, made her do hundreds and hundreds of takes (she swung that Goddamn baseball bat at a crazed Nicholson for hours & hours), forced her to stay awake for days at a time, and more.

She has told stories about how she cried 12 hours a day for weeks on end, and how her hair began falling out in clumps, and that she was diagnosed with depression soon after. That film is pretty much the reason why she stopped making movies regularly. The physical and mental issues that would plague her for the rest of her troubled life likely trace back to that experience.

Though Duvall's final years (decades really) were very sad ones, filled with health problems, isolation, and depression (she left Hollywood for her native Texas in the mid-90s and never looked back), I'd rather not dwell on those things here.

I want to remember her as the vibrant, wholly original talent that I fell in love with as a young kid and wildly admired as an adult and beyond.

So, tonight I choose to watch two Altman movies: first, "Popeye" for obvious reasons, and then "3 Women," to witness Shelly Duvall's finest hour (for which she won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival) and revel in her endlessly fascinating talent and her boundless beauty and imagination.

It's time for Duvall's finest performance ever, in Altman's brilliant "3 Women." Incredible

Yep, Shelley Duvall...One of a Kind.

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