Jack Nicholson Makes Rare Appearance to Introduce Adam Sandler at ‘SNL 50’
A star-studded extravaganza marking 50 years of “Saturday Night Live” featured a cameo from a renowned Hollywood figure that outshone many unexpected appearances.
Jack Nicholson graced “SNL50,” which aired on February 16, by introducing Adam Sandler, who delivered a performance celebrating the legacy of this iconic late-night show.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Adam Sandler,” the three-time Oscar winner announced, sporting a dark shirt, jacket, and a beret emblazoned with the New York Yankees logo.
“Yeah, baby! Let’s hear it for Jack, baby! Jack made it out tonight! Thank you, brother,” Sandler shouted, gesturing towards the audience before kicking off his performance.
At 87, Nicholson has maintained a low profile lately. He hasn’t been featured in any films or TV shows since the 2010 movie “How Do You Know,” as noted by IMDB. However, he shares a connection with Sandler, having co-starred in the 2003 comedy “Anger Management,” where Nicholson portrayed an unconventional therapist helping Sandler’s character, a man wrongfully sent to anger management.
Dressed in a tuxedo, Sandler, a cast member from 1991 to 1995, proceeded to perform an original song for which he is well-known.
The song was a mix of humor and sentiment, paying tribute to the show and joking about the difficulties of getting a sketch to air and the challenges of working for Lorne Michaels.
“Fifty years of writers watching (Steven) Spielberg at Lorne’s monitors, not laughing at sketches they clearly despised,” Sandler sang. “Fifty years of the same writers getting tipsy at the after party and proclaiming that ‘Jaws’ was overrated.”
After hailing the original cast as “the best,” Sandler moved on to acknowledge a broad array of cast members, including Eddie Murphy, Jan Hooks, Billy Crystal, Victoria Jackson, Gilda Radner, Phil Hartman, and Rachel Dratch, among others who contributed behind the scenes.
Sandler also paid tribute to the legacies of two beloved former “SNL” stars.
“Six years of our beloved (Chris) Farley, five of our dear friend Norm (Macdonald),” he remarked as applause filled the room and their images displayed on a screen behind him.
Continuing his performance, he highlighted how it’s been 50 years of the iconic phrase, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” and 50 years of waving goodbye at the conclusion of the show.
“Fifty years of the best times of our lives,” he concluded his song, earning a standing ovation from the audience.
Many viewers took to social media to praise Sandler for his heartfelt tribute.
“Adam Sandler’s song was the highlight of the SNL 50th anniversary thus far,” one user posted on X.
“I expected Adam Sandler to move us all with his performance. He is truly one of the most iconic figures… #SNL50,” another commented.
