SNL Live Thread: SNL50: The Anniversary Special

Saturday Night Live

Welcome to the live thread for the Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary special! This red carpet pre-show followed by a 3-hour live show on NBC and Peacock at 8 p.m. that will be full of cast and crew past and present. The live show was crafted this week with a writers room full of the show's most popular writers. Numerous alumns are sure to make appearances throughout the night. While SNL is (and always has been) a very inconsistent comedy show, I'd argue it is a good study of the baseline temperature of comedy in America.

7 p.m.: SNL50: The Red Carpet (E! & NBC & Peacock; hosted by Willie Geist and Leslie Jones)

8 p.m.: SNL50: The Anniversary Special (NBC & Peacock)

Appearances: Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Chevy Chase, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Fred Armisen, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, Kristen Wiig, Laraine Newman, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Will Ferrell, Will Forte, Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, Bad Bunny, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Kim Kardashian, Martin Short, Miley Cyrus, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Pedro Pascal, Peyton Manning, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro, Sabrina Carpenter, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and Woody Harrelson.

Musical guests: Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Miley Cyrus, Sabrina Carpenter, Lil Wayne, Brittany Howard, and The Roots

If you want more SNL retrospective-y stuff to consume, you can check out:

• SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night (Peacock; 4-part 2025 docuseries)
• Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (documentary on SNL's musical impact)
• SNL50: Homecoming Concert (Peacock; 3-hour concert special from Radio City Music Hall)
• Saturday Night (Netflix; recent movie dramatizing the events just prior to the first episode)
• Creating Saturday Night (behind the scenes short-form docuseries on Peacock & YouTube)