Everything You Need to Know About the ‘SNL’ 50th Anniversary Special
“Saturday Night Live” is set to welcome back some beloved celebrity hosts for its upcoming special celebrating 50 years on air.
This year marks a significant milestone for the NBC live sketch comedy program, which first premiered in October 1975. In honor of this historic occasion, NBC is planning to broadcast a live three-hour event, paying tribute to “SNL” and its remarkable ability to entertain audiences for five decades.
As of now, “SNL” creator and producer Lorne Michaels, along with the current cast, have remained somewhat discreet about the specifics of the tribute episode.
However, on February 6, NBC announced several iconic figures who will make appearances in the special.
Included in this lineup are “Five-Timers Club” members—those stars who have hosted the show at least five times—such as Steve Martin and Tom Hanks, along with other former hosts and musical guests like Dave Chappelle, Kim Kardashian, and Sabrina Carpenter.
Continue reading to discover which other stars will join in and learn all the details about the 50th anniversary “SNL” special below.
When is the ‘SNL’ 50th anniversary special?
“SNL” will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a festive weekend culminating in a live three-hour primetime special on Sunday, February 16, 2025, airing from 8 to 11 p.m. ET, as announced by NBC.
Who will host the celebration?
On February 6, “SNL” shared a video across its social media platforms hinting at some of the celebrities who will participate in the anniversary special. The following individuals were highlighted in the clip, with more names expected to be revealed as the live event approaches:
- Adam Driver
- Ayo Edebiri
- Bad Bunny
- Dave Chappelle
- John Mulaney
- Kim Kardashian
- Martin Short
- Miley Cyrus
- Paul McCartney
- Paul Simon
- Pedro Pascal
- Peyton Manning
- Quinta Brunson
- Robert De Niro
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Scarlett Johansson
- Steve Martin
- Tom Hanks
- Woody Harrelson
What has been said about the 50th anniversary show?
In a June 2023 appearance on TODAY, “SNL” comedian Mikey Day shared some insights about what audiences might expect from the long-awaited special.
“Oh my gosh, it’s going to be insane,” Day told TODAY co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager. “I haven’t heard that much. I know Lorne’s slowly putting it together.”
He added, “I believe every famous person in the universe will be there. It’s wild.”
During a red carpet interview at the 2023 Emmys, Entertainment Weekly inquired about who Lorne Michaels envisions as his successor when he eventually retires, to which the “SNL” creator referenced the upcoming 50th anniversary.
“We’re doing the 50th anniversary show in February of ’25, so I will definitely be there for that and certainly until then we’ll determine what we’re going to do,” he stated at the time.
