The world tuned in last week to Saturday Night Live’s (SNL) landmark 50th anniversary special and the entire entertainment industry seemed to be in attendance, performing, or both. Much like any SNL episode in the past half-century, viewers from all over the world looked on as the most famous people alive stood shoulder to shoulder to celebrate arguably the most consequential syndicated program in history.

Split between a Friday concert of countless music legends and a Sunday anniversary sketch show making up a total of five and a half hours, SNL alumni, music icons, and Hollywood royalty all made an appearance for the historic day for fans of the sketch comedy show.

SNL has been centerstage of U.S. politics, sports, and pop culture since its first episode on Oct. 11, 1975. Lorne Michaels, creator and producer of SNL as well as the tongue-in-cheek inspiration for Austin Powers villain ‘Dr. Evil’, has been synonymous with the show from its inception, and can be seen referenced in most SNL shows in one way or another. This past week’s anniversary special was no expectation. 

The concert featured a medley from famed music group The Lonely Island who finished a star-studded six-minute performance in front of a massive screen of Michaels’s face, and the subsequent Sunday show celebrated/lampooned the Canadian and American writer throughout most of the show. Michaels however, was far from the only one in the spotlight during the two evenings.

The above-mentioned Lonely Island performed in-between a myriad of the world’s most famous musicians, including Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, T-Pain, and a surprise appearance from Cher. Each performance seemed to stun audiences, and only wowed viewers more as the camera panned across the audience at Radio City Music Hall and revealed nearly everybody in showbusiness.

As extravagant as the evening was, the following Sunday anniversary show would serve as a reminder that SNL has never been a stranger to welcoming on the world’s most famous and influential people, as controversial as some of those appearances have proven to be.

Speaking of controversial, the two and half hour sketch program included an ‘in memoriam’ segment to “pay tribute” to SNL’s most egregious and perhaps embarrassing jokes, some of which are still famous for how poorly they have aged. About two minutes of old and even some recent examples of offensive material from past shows played and the audience playfully cringed at instances of insensitivity the show had made towards race, sexuality, and even child abuse.

Much to the delight of the audience, the rest of the SNL sketch show that Sunday put far more focus on the better moments, welcoming back Rachel Dratch’s ‘Debbie Downer’ character, Keenan Thompson’s ‘Scared Straight’ sketch, and Kate McKinnon’s famous ‘Alien Abduction’

 character. The sheer scope of the show had grown undeniable when these decade old alumni were joined by members of the original cast.

Comedy legends and SNL starting members Garrett Morris and Laraine Newman were both featured, as were SNL veterans Bill Murray and Billy Crystal, who began the SNL tradition of former cast members going on to lead wildly successful film careers. The event capped off with traditional SNL ‘goodnights,’ where the performing cast gathers on the main stage and mingles as the credits roll while the show’s signature saxophone riff plays them off.

With the past few decades witnessing the U.S. entertainment industry turn politicians and sports icons into celebrities, and celebrities and sports icons into politicians, SNL’s oeuvre has been its mirroring of what each generation of Americans is attached to at any given moment. Its own 50th anniversary was a prime example of not just the show’s impact, but its own identity as the single congregating behemoth that can both jumpstart a 20-something’s comedy career, and platform a future president’s campaign.

With the future of SNL and its leadership held under speculation by the public, this past week was a chaotically orchestrated snapshot of what the past 50 years have led to, and a celebration of the countless artists who have shaped pop culture in the U.S. on the way.

*Liv Lyons has been an editor for the Thunderword since 2023. Their short story blog, “Loser Pulp“, is released twice a month.