Saturday Night Live turned 50, and to mark this milestone, the show pulled out all the stops for a star-studded, laugh-filled celebration. The three-hour special took fans on a nostalgic ride through decades of legendary sketches, iconic musical performances, and surprise guest appearances. It was a perfect tribute to the show’s rich history, blending heartfelt moments with the kind of unpredictable, offbeat humor that has kept SNL a television staple for half a century.
From A-list cameos to musical surprises, here are the most talked-about moments from the SNL 50 anniversary special:
1. Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter’s Generational Duet
The night kicked off with a touching performance of Homeward Bound by music legend Paul Simon, joined by pop star Sabrina Carpenter. Simon, who originally performed the song on SNL back in 1976 with George Harrison, reminisced about the show’s legacy. Carpenter, ever the comedian, lightened the mood by joking, “I wasn’t born then, and neither were my parents,” setting the tone for an evening full of old-meets-new moments.
2. Kristen Wiig Playfully Spanks Kim Kardashian in a Classic Sketch
One of the most outrageous moments came from a revival of The Lawrence Welk Show sketch, where Kristen Wiig returned as Dooneese, the hilariously bizarre Maharelle sister with tiny doll-like hands and an oversized forehead. Joining her were Scarlett Johansson, Ana Gasteyer, and Kim Kardashian. But it was Wiig’s unexpected drumming on Kim K’s backside that had the audience howling with laughter. It was classic SNL—absurd, unpredictable, and absolutely hilarious.
3. Ryan Reynolds Throws Shade in the Middle of a Lawsuit Drama
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively made an appearance that was both charming and cheekily controversial. During a Q&A session with comedy queens Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Reynolds was asked how he was doing. His response? A casually delivered, “Great! Why, what have you heard?”—a clear nod to the ongoing legal battle between Lively and It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni. Lively shot him a knowing look, making the whole moment even funnier. It was the kind of subtle real-life drama-meets-comedy moment that SNL thrives on.
4. Aubrey Plaza Honors Late Husband Jeff Baena in a Heartfelt Tribute
Not all moments of the night were comedic—Aubrey Plaza took a heartfelt pause to honor her late husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, who recently passed away. She hosted musical guests Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard while wearing a black blazer over a tie-dye shirt, a meaningful nod to their wedding, where they wore tie-dye pajamas they had made together. It was a rare emotional moment in a night otherwise filled with humor, proving that SNL can balance comedy with real, touching tributes.