SNL holds 50th season anniversary special

After half a century of the iconic sketch comedy and music show, Saturday Night Live premiered its 50 year anniversary special on Feb. 15, 2025, celebrating the legacy and cultural impact of the groundbreaking show.

The runtime was three and a half hours long with appearances from iconic cast alumni and current stars, bringing together generations of talent and paying tribute to the show's influence on comedy, politics, and pop culture.

The program opened with a performance from Paul Simon, former member of Simon & Garfunkel, and Sabrina Carpenter singing “Homeward Bound.” Simon was one of the earliest musical artists on SNL, performing in season one.

Up next was Steve Martin doing the classic monologue on home base. He was the perfect choice for the job and nailed what he sarcastically referred to as the “worst part of the show,” with his trademark wit and charm.

For the first sketch of the night, cast members revived a memorable SNL character known as Dooneese, who is an unsettlingly strange woman with a huge forehead and baby hands. Her performance along with Will Ferrell’s made a hilarious dynamic and kept the audience laughing and engaged.

Another sketch titled, “Black Jeopardy” was another tribute to the SNL Jeopardy fans. Kenan Thompson, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan and Eddie Murphy were standouts, especially because of Murphy’s impression of Morgan.

One of the biggest hits of the night was the third installment of the “Domingo” storyline, featuring Sabrina Carpenter singing a parody of “Defying Gravity,” “You Belong With Me” and her own song “Espresso,” alongside Marcello Hernandez, Pedro Pascal and Bad Bunny. With secrets being revealed through song, the humor is unmatched and continues to be a fan favorite.

Another huge sketch of the special involved Meryl Streep’s SNL debut, in another rendition of Kate McKinnon’s famous “Close Encounter.” Their dynamic together was impeccable and McKinnon’s fearless ability to invade personal space remains superior.

“Debbie Downer” made a return, however, failed to deliver originality by using predictable remarks. While her presence still evoked laughs, the lack of fresh material felt like a missed opportunity to revitalize the character.

However, the best sketch of the entire special was another portrayal of John Mulaney’s New York musical series, this time with over 25 cast members singing musical parodies as they are dressed in ridiculous costumes. Watching felt like a fever dream in the best way possible, and the creativity behind the writing was nothing short of genius, blending absurdity with clever humor in a way that only SNL could pull off.

The special also featured pre-recorded montages showing compilations of physical comedy and commercial parodies. These segments fell flat in comparison to the other parts of the show.

Additionally, Andy Samberg made one of his classic digital shorts reassuring us that everyone who works at SNL has anxiety. The quality of the editing and autotune was exceptional, and Bowen Yang’s appearance compliments Samberg’s chemistry well.

Another highlight of the night was none other than Weekend Update with Colin Jost and Michael Che. Great bits included, “Girl Who You Wish You Hadn’t Started A Conversation With At A Party,” and “Drunk Uncle,” along with Seth Myers introducing “Lorne’s Best Friends.”

However, no one could overshadow Bill Murray’s presence while he ranked previous Weekend Update anchors, making sure to leave Jost off the list.

The 50th Anniversary also featured many musical performances from artists such as Miley Cyrus, Brittany Howard, Lil Wayne, The Roots and the iconic Paul McCartney.

Adam Sandler also performed an original power ballad, called “50 Years,” which was incredibly sentimental and included tributes to his late castmates Norm Macdonald and Chris Farley. While quite emotional, the lyrics were packed with inside jokes about the cast and crew, making the audience laugh and reminisce.

The closing act was McCartney’s medley of songs from “Abbey Road,” putting a fitting end to 50 years of remembrance.

For a three and a half hour episode, the lulls in between the hard-hitting comedy were not so bad. Bringing back iconic characters from Saturday Night Live history and highlighting old and new cast members worked well for the anniversary.

However, one important critique to be made is not including Bill Hader, who has some of the most famous characters on the show. Many of the original cast members from the first season also did not have much of a presence.

Ultimately, the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special was a celebration of its rich legacy, honoring both its groundbreaking moments in television and the unforgettable cast members who helped shape comedy for generations.

Rating: 4/5

Favorite Sketch: “New York 50th Musical”

Least Favorite Sketch: “Debbie Downer”

MVPs: Eddie Murphy and Will Ferrell

Unsung Hero: Kenan Thompson

Allison Curley is a second-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact her, email amc9204@psu.edu.