Steve Martin humorously tied Alec Baldwin’s hosting record with his 17th appearance, joking that it wasn’t a “real” hosting gig, but he’d take it. With help from Martin Short and John Mulaney, he poked fun at his own legacy and the evolution of SNL hosting. Martin also humorously commented on Trump’s presidency, including the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of Steve.” His speech was a perfect mix of nostalgia, sharp humor, and playful satire.
SNL50: Lawrence Welk Show
Kristen Wiig brought back her iconic SNL character Dooneese during the show’s 50th anniversary special. She appeared in the opening sketch, “The Lawrence Welk Show,” alongside Fred Armisen as Lawrence Welk, Will Ferrell as Robert Goulet, and Scarlett Johansson, Kim Kardashian, and Ana Gasteyer as her fellow Maharelle sisters. Ferrell, riding a Vespa with a sidecar, kicked off the performance by scatting and singing, prompting uproarious laughter from the audience.
SNL50: Close Encounters
SNL revived its Close Encounter sketch during the 50th anniversary special, with Colleen Rafferty (Kate McKinnon) recounting her alien abduction experiences to Pentagon officials Aidy Bryant and Jon Hamm, along with Pedro Pascal and Woody Harrelson. Despite being repeatedly abducted, Colleen remains unimpressed, especially as her latest encounter is far less thrilling than the others. To make matters worse, her mother (Meryl Streep) joins the interview, revealing that alien humiliation runs in the family.
Miley Cyrus, Brittany Howard and The Roots Cover ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’
For the SNL50: The Anniversary Special, Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard teamed up with The Roots to honor the late Sinéad O’Connor, delivering a powerful rendition of her iconic hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U.” The performance embodied everything the special’s musical tributes aimed for—an unforgettable moment that reminded viewers why some of the most iconic musical performances happen in Studio 8H.
SNL50: Adam Sandler’s Song, ’50 Years’
Though Adam Sandler, 58, was fired from SNL in 1995 after five years on the cast, there was no animosity when he returned for the SNL50 anniversary special. Introduced by Jack Nicholson, Sandler took the stage with his guitar to perform an original song celebrating the show’s legacy. He kicked things off with humor, referencing SNL showrunner Lorne Michaels and the famous office bathroom restrictions.
But the tone shifted as he honored late cast members like Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, and Norm MacDonald. The tribute became deeply emotional as Sandler struggled to hold back tears, and the audience shared the moment of reflection.
