On Sunday evening, Saturday Night Live celebrated its 50th anniversary of producing live comedy. The New York institution has always been a haven for celebrities, comedians, and musical artists, and they flocked to join the three-hour long special aired by NBC, titled SNL50: The Anniversary Special.
The event was a mix of live sketches, musical acts, and tributes to the show’s long and vivid history. SNL alums like Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Amy Poehler, Will Ferrell, Andy Samberg, and Kristen Wiig were all there, of course, along with former hosts like Tom Hanks, Emma Stone, Robert De Niro, and Scarlett Johansson.
Below are some of the best sketches from the special event, including a few surprise guests who popped up on screen.
Emma Stone was tasked with introducing the concept of “physical comedy,” a pretty important component of many famous SNL characters over the years. She was interrupted by Molly Shannon playing her famous character Sally O’Malley, a 50-year-old woman who can still move, “just like Saturday Night Live.”
Fred Armisen returned for his recurring bit, The Lawrence Welk Show, a playful spoof of a 1960s variety show, with Armisen as the titular host. He was joined by the Maharelle Sisters, played by Kim Kardashian, Scarlett Johansson, Ana Gasteyer, and Kristen Wiig as Dooneese, then Will Ferrell joined as Robert Goulet.
Domingo was back with Sabrina Carpenter and the #KelSquad, Sarah Sherman, Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner. Their song about monogamy, sang to Wicked’s “Defying Gravity,” was inevitably interrupted by Marcello Hernandez’s Domingo. But then Domingo’s brothers arrived, played by actor Pedro Pascal and rapper Bad Bunny.
Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard sang a stunning rendition of of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” in honor of the late Sinéad O’Connor. The Irish singer tore up a picture of the Pope on SNL in 1992, inciting controversy. The pair were introduced by actress Aubrey Plaza in her first public appearance since the death of husband Jeff Baena in January. The actress was wearing a tie-dyed shirt in a subtle nod to her husband’s fondness for the art.
In a reprisal of Kate McKinnon’s “Close Encounter” sketches, about a woman having recurring, humiliating experiences of being abducted onto UFOs, she was joined by Pedro Pascal and Woody Harrelson, fellow abductees. The trio had to explain the situation to investigators played by Jon Hamm and Aidy Bryant. As a surprise, Meryl Streep appeared as McKinnon’s mother. Shockingly, the actress has never hosted Saturday Night Live.
But one of the most star-studded sketches of the night may have been John Mulaney’s “New York Musical,” which featured Alex Moffat, Ana Gasteyer, Beck Bennett, Cecily Strong, Jason Sudeikis, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, Kyle Mooney, Maya Rudolph, Taran Killam, Will Forte, Chloe Fineman, Devon Walker, James Austin Johnson and Sarah Sherman; former band leader G.E. Smith, Paul Shaffer, Adam Driver, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nathan Lane, Nick Jonas, Paul Rudd, and Scarlett Johansson.
Phew!