Can you believe the American Comedy Institution has been on the air for 50 years? It’s one of the longest-running television series of all time! Events, television specials, documentaries, and a host of other things will be rolled out to celebrate 50 Years of Saturday Night Live. Originally titled NBC’s Saturday Night, the sketch show premiered on October 11, 1975.
The official 50th season premiered at the end of 2024 with a film about the show’s creator Lorne Michaels, called Saturday Night. 2025 marks 50 years and it’s starting off with a bang!
A four-part docuseries on Peacock titled SNL: BEYOND SATURDAY NIGHT, begins streaming on January 16, 2025.
Some of the names featured will include: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kenan Thompson, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Stephen Colbert, Robert Smigel, Sarah Silverman, Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, Billy Crystal, Nora Dunn, and Tom Hanks
- Episode One: The first five minutes feature unseen audition clips from the ones who made the cast as well as a few who didn’t. The clips include Jim Carrey, Kevin Hart, Jordan Peele, Donald Glover, Stephen Colbert, and more.
- Episode Two: A WEEK INSIDE THE SNL WRITER’S ROOM, gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how sketches are created.
- Episode Three: A year 2000 sketch, MORE COWBELL, gets its own episode. Guest Christopher Walker is joined by the band, led by Will Ferrell’s enthusiastic cowbell playing.
- Episode Four: The final installment, SEASON 11: THE WEIRD YEAR, dives into The Return of Lorne Michaels. (He departed in 1980 and created another sketch series The New Show. It aired on NBC for one season.) You’ll also see the departure of Eddie Murphy and a cast that featured Anthony Michael Hall, Dennis Miller, Jon Lovitz, Robert Downey Jr., and Damon Wayans.
And who can forget the musical guest? Another NBC special titled LADIES & GENTLEMAN … 50 YEARS OF SNL MUSIC, will premiere on January 27th at 8PM. The show is produced by Roots and The Tonight Show drummer Questlove. Artists such as Darryl “DMC” Daniel of Run-DMC, Justin Timberlake, Rolling Stone’s lead singer Mick Jagger, Paul Simon, Bad Buddy, Elvis Costello, and Miley Cyrus are some of the names you’ll see. MC Sha-Rock of Funky 4 + 1, will talk about being the first Hip-Hop artist to appear on SNL and national television. Furthermore, you will hear from Kenan Thompson, Jimmy Fallon, Maya Rudolph, Conan O’Brien, and Eddie Murphy.
LIVE FROM NEW YORK: THE SNL EXPERIENCE – located at NYC’s Rockefeller Center, runs January 30th through Feb 2nd. The immersive attraction lets you host your own SNL episode and it’s Free. My favorite four-letter word, but you do need to reserve your spot.
SNL 50 THE ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL will air a three-hour event on February 16th at 8PM on NBC. Stars past and present will be featured. The big special will air on Sunday Night … yes Sunday Night Live.
Lorne Michaels, will also be the subject of a new book LORNE: THE MAN WHO INVENTED SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE by Susan Morrison. The book will be available next month.
So … Live From New York get ready to celebrate SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE!
Every season and episode of SNL is available on NBC’s streaming partner Peacock
