After 50 seasons, Saturday Night Live has become a staple of American network television. Its sketches, characters, actors and musical performances have informed decades of popular culture. The variety comedy show’s very first episode, created by current show-runner Lorne Michaels, aired on Oct. 11, 1975. Since then, SNL has made countless stars out of former writers and cast members. Many of the show’s sketches have permeated entertainment culture, from Steve Martin’s “King Tut” performance in 1978 to Timothée Chalamet and Pete Davidson’s hip-hop “Yeet Skrt” in 2020. SNL’s special episode to commemorate 50 seasons victoriously paid tribute to all the Saturday nights that came before it.
Starting with a duet performed by Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon, the episode visibly attempted to form a bridge between younger and older audiences. While Sabrina Carpenter was a breakout star in 2024, Paul Simon is a known musical legend whose career took off all the way back in the 1960s. Such a pair set the tone for most of the show to come, which would go on to boast references and cameos aimed at a wide range of viewers. Even the opening monologue was performed by frequent SNL host Steve Martin, accompanied not only by his long-time collaborator Martin Short, but also by John Mulaney – the latter almost certainly being a more familiar face for younger viewers.
Each sketch seemed intent on blurring the lines between old and new. Established SNL alum Will Ferrell starred in the same segment as 21st century media mogul Kim Kardashian. Season one cast member Laraine Newman appeared alongside Pete Davidson, who portrayed his recurring character from the 2010s, Chad. Former SNL cast members and now established comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler performed a “Q&A” with a range of celebrity audience members. The segment featured newer talent such as Quinta Brunson, creator and star of 2021 sitcom Abbott Elementary, as well as SNL veterans such as Tim Meadows, who left the show all the way back in 2000, and even generation-spanning cultural icons like Cher.
For younger audiences captivated by 2020s pop culture, the highlight of the special may have arrived early on in the night. Current SNL cast member Marcello Hernandez’s character Domingo debuted mere months ago in October of 2024, but rapidly became an internet sensation. Domingo first appeared in a parody of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” sung by Ariana Grande. He returned in November for Charli XCX’s turn hosting SNL, that time accompanied by a parody of Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO!”. On Sunday night, Sabrina Carpenter herself messily belted out Wicked’s “Defying Gravity” complete with cameos from Pedro Pascal and Bad Bunny. The recent success of Domingo reveals that SNL is still full of potential to captivate younger audiences. It was clever to include him in the anniversary episode, boasting a preservation of the show’s reputation for comedy that has spanned decades of time and generations of fans.
Older fans may have enjoyed the return of “Debbie Downer,” the deadpan, negative character portrayed by Rachel Dratch, or the outlandish performances by Kenan Thompson, Eddie Murphy and Will Ferrell as prisoners in “Scared Straight.” Andy Samberg, whose comedy trio and music group The Lonely Island popularized SNL Digital Shorts in the early 2000s, came back to sing a new song about anxiety to current cast member Bowen Yang.
However, some of the episode’s attempts at humor fell short. “Black Jeopardy,” one of the most popular SNL recurring sketches, saw Tom Hanks return as a character he originated in 2016, performing almost the exact same lines and bodily movements. The original segment featuring Tom Hanks has over 80 million views on YouTube; it felt cheap to so closely recreate it without any attempts at adding to the original, or making fresh changes.
On the other hand, for frequent viewers of SNL, finding a sizable portion of the show unfunny may very well be a part of the charm. In a recurring segment of “Close Encounter,” four people shared their claims of being abducted by aliens. While the sketch itself may not have been particularly hilarious, all was forgiven by the appearance of acting legend Meryl Streep, who clearly seemed to be enjoying her take on a ridiculous comedic character onstage. Half of the appeal of SNL might just be the gimmicks of seeing beloved celebrities enjoy lighthearted acting and breaking character.
The night concluded with an energetic musical performance by Paul McCartney and a quick conclusion uttered by Martin Short, as the stage filled with all of its stars and musical guests. Overall, the episode felt like a triumphant victory lap, celebrating 50 seasons of an iconic television show. It wasn’t overly emotional or nostalgic; plenty of the cameos and references paid service to fans, but it was still a welcomed night of pure entertainment. Rating: 4/5 stars.
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Featured Image Courtesy of NBC
