50 years ago a media metanoia occurred. One that would change the tides of television and set a precedent for comical shows and comedians for the next century. Saturday Night Live was created, and to this day, it proves to be a force of nature whose legacy and history will never be forgotten.
It all started with a Canadian actor and a dream.The legendary Lorne Michaels. He is responsible for not only creating the concept of SNL but also for the urbanization of comedy within the media as the show was the first of its kind. To honor Michaels as well as the members of SNL throughout the last 50 years, NBC premiered a special concert consisting of many celebrities, past guests, and cast members of course.
The SNL50 Homecoming Concert was one of the most diverse musical experiences, with performances from pop sensations, like Chris Martin, Miley Cyrus, and Lady Gaga to Nostalgic renditions from Ms. Lauryn Hill, Robyn, Backstreet Boys, and Cher.
Perhaps the most surprising performance of the night was Post Malone performing with Nirvana. A combination many would have never envisioned but nevertheless was spectacular and groundbreaking.
The concert concluded with an emotion-evoking performance by none other than the famous rock and roll icon, Jack White. White sang hits such as, “Rockin’ in the Free World” and “Seven Nation Army”, encouraging the stacked celebrity audience to get on their feet and head bang like it was 1997.
The next day, Instead of the usual new episode of saturday night live, CBS released the first ever episode with the original cast. This nod to the original members who created SNL was a reminder that even though much has changed over the years, comedy still remains a key tool in bringing generations together.
On Sunday, February 16th, the long-awaited SNL 50 Special aired on CBS. The show opened with a nostalgic performance by Paul Simon of Simon and Garfunkel and Sabrina Carpenter. The duet was a reference to Simon’s initial performance in 1976 with the late George Harrison.
SNL, never lacking in controversy, held many celebrity audience members with their snarky remarks and perfectly timed cameos. One of the most controversial comments was one by Ryan Renolds where he alludes to the ongoing lawsuit involving him, his wife, and Justin Baldoni, making others in the audience cringe in awkwardness, as displayed on the faces of Jenna Ortega and Kevin Cosner.
The sketches within the show were reenactments of beloved past ones. This includes the Domingo song but with new characters played by Sabrina Carpenter, Pedro Pascal, and Bad Bunny.
Besides the hilarious sketches, the show also included a guest appearance the SNL stage had never seen before. Meryl Streep finally graced the Studio 8H stage with a ridiculously laughable sketch with Kate mckinnon and Pedro Pascal
The show wouldn’t be complete without national treasure, Adam Sandler. Sandler added to the emotional aspect of the show with a heartwarming song referencing past, present, and future members of the never ending SNL family.
Throughout the weekend, audiences were encouraged to look beyond the show and see the evolution of not just SNL but the media in general. Those who initially watched SNL as children are now grown adults laughing along with their own children or perhaps grandchildren, yet all generations have something in common, the love of laughter. SNL’s continued success is a testament to the community of joy created by the media, all invoked by one idea for change.
