The fiftieth anniversary particular of “Saturday Night time Stay” does not occur till Sunday night time, stay at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on each NBC and Peacock, however the festivities kicked off early on Friday, simply in time to indicate “SNL” some love on Valentine’s Day.
Together with the not too long ago launched spectacular documentary sequence wanting again on the historical past of “SNL,” Peacock aired a livestream of “SNL 50: The Homecoming Live performance,” a star-studded occasion that unfolded stay in New York Metropolis at Radio Metropolis Music Corridor on February 14. Not solely did the particular occasion carry collectively a few of the largest musical acts from the five-decade historical past of the late night time sketch comedy sequence, from Cher to Woman Gaga to Jack White and extra, however it featured a few of the present’s solid members doing musical bits — to not point out a shocking array of celebrities simply having time watching the eclectic music line-up.
If that is not sufficient to persuade you to activate Peacock proper now for the primary time in months, then listed here are 5 rattling good causes it is best to activate “SNL 50: The Homecoming Live performance” proper now.
The music, in fact!
Sure, it goes with out saying that probably the greatest causes to observe “SNL 50: The Homecoming Live performance” is the music, however you actually do not understand how unimaginable this live performance is. Initially, The Roots served as the home band, enjoying with a wide range of the performers all through the night and reminding you simply how proficient Questlove is (in case anybody forgot). But it surely’s the collaborations between the artists that made the night time superb.
Miley Cyrus teamed up with Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes for a canopy of “Loopy Little Factor Referred to as Love,” Unhealthy Bunny introduced some Puerto Rican aptitude to the festivities together with his new songs “Baile Inolvidable” and “DTMF,” Eddie Vedder carried out a canopy of Tom Petty’s “The Ready,” and Jelly Roll did covers of two Johnny Money classics earlier than teaming up with Snoop Dogg for his rendition of “Final Dance with Mary Jane.” Plus, Arcade Fireplace, David Byrne, and St. Vincent all received along with the Preservation Corridor Jazz Band for rousing performances of David Bowie’s “Heroes” and Arcade Fireplace’s “Wake Up,” which as soon as fueled the “The place the Wild Issues Are” trailer to nice impact.
However that is not all! Not even shut! You get to observe the group lose their thoughts when the Backstreet Boys present as much as carry out “I Need It That Means,” together with a really excited Heidi Gardner. Certain, Brian Littrell’s voice was fairly tough, and he awkwardly will get Jerry Seinfeld to sing a part of the refrain, however the power for that efficiency was by the roof. Plus, legends like Bonnie Raitt and Cher proved that they nonetheless have what it takes to rock an enormous stage like Radio Metropolis Music Corridor. The B-52s and Devo received just a little percussion help from “SNL” solid member Fred Armisen as their drummer, with the previous bringing in Sarah Sherman and Bowen Yang for just a little “bang bang” motion throughout “Love Shack.”
Peacock
There’s even a Nirvana reunion with a twist, as drummer Dave Grohl and bassist and co-founder Krist Novoselic (wanting like your good friend’s dad who gained a contest) got here on stage to play “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” However who was the lead singer? None apart from Submit Malone, who joined the band underneath the ingeniously easy title of Submit Nirvana.
That is not even all of the songs or musical acts that carried out all through the three-hour occasion. Belief me after I say there’s one thing for everybody.
Invoice Murray returns as Nick the Lounge Singer
One in all Invoice Murray’s most well-known characters from his time at “SNL” is Nick the Lounge Singer, a personality who originated at Second Metropolis, recognized for his jazzy renditions of well-known songs such because the theme from “Star Wars.” Murray recurred because the character 9 instances by his run at “SNL,” to not point out appearances throughout the twenty fifth and fortieth anniversary specials for “SNL.” However even when he does not come again for the fiftieth anniversary, he received his time to shine at “SNL 50: The Homecoming Live performance.”
Beginning across the 21:55 mark of the occasion, Murray launched himself by the character’s full title, Nick Valentine, conserving the little bit of the character’s consistently altering final title alive, which allowed for some amusing banter between him and piano accompaniment offered by Paul Shaffer. “We’re right here on Valentine’s Day,” Nick identified. “I promise you, it’s only a coincidence — the day isn’t named after me. February 14th has been Valentine’s Day for a few years now, in all probability earlier than I used to be even born, I feel in all probability longer.”
Then Nick droned on for a bit, as he tends to do, revealing that he has three stunning ladies in his life, which introduced former “SNL” solid members Maya Rudolph, Cecily Robust and Ana Gasteyer to the stage for a efficiency of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “You are All I Have to Get By.” Whereas Murray’s voice is hilarious tacky for this sort of gig, kudos should be given to Rudolph, Robust, and Gasteyer for having some actually stunning harmonies between them. You would not know that they have been higher referred to as comedians than singers. It was humorous and beautiful all of sudden.
Tracy Morgan sings the Astronaut Jones theme track and blasts Lorne Michaels
Each time Tracy Morgan exhibits up, it’ll be a blast. No, the “30 Rock” star isn’t recognized for his musical exploits on the present, however that did not cease him from feeling disrespected for not being invited to dedicate a track to Lorne Michaels. As Morgan has carried out a number of instances on “SNL” earlier than, he had some selection phrases that he pointed instantly on the “SNL” creator and showrunner within the crowd:
“You will have disrespected me, b****! It is a night time of nice music and no one requested me to sing. Properly, I received the mic now, and I’ll sing. I do not care what Lorne Michaels thinks. He will be lifeless in per week.”
It needs to be famous that Michaels was cracking up throughout this entire bit, which begins across the 40:14 mark of the occasion. Morgan, with a drink and cigarette in-hand, went on to elucidate how he tried to sing on the fiftieth anniversary particular so he can present Michaels how a lot he loves him. Morgan recalled, “He stated, ‘I do not even know you! Go park Tina [Fey]’s automotive.’ That is disrespect! He thought I used to be Tina’s driver, which is ridiculous as a result of everybody is aware of Tina likes her drivers younger and Dominican.”
When you may suppose that was the proper alternative for Tracy Morgan’s Dominican Lou, Morgan as a substitute selected to sing “his hit,” at which level he handled everybody to a efficiency of the theme track from the recurring sketch “Astronaut Jones.”
The Culps play some frisky tunes
How do you observe a reunion of Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean? Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer took the stage collectively as Marty and Bobbi-Mohan Culp, the cheerful, posh music lecturers who carried out medleys of well-liked songs that have been the polar reverse of their stage personas. They introduced the bit again across the 1 hour and 14 minute mark for a hilarious efficiency throughout “SNL 50: The Homecoming Live performance,” placing collectively a medley of songs like Britney Spears’ “Work B****,” Doechii’s “Denial Is River,” Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!,” Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy,” and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Physique.”
A quite surprising second got here when masking Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” which prompted Ferrell (as Marty) to name out the feud between the 2025 Tremendous Bowl halftime present performer and hip-hop artist Drake. “By the way in which, perhaps you two can hug it out tonight within the title of affection and fellowship. No? Not in hell. Message obtained.”
Nevertheless, maybe the funniest a part of total bit got here after Marty and Bobbi addressed their waning imaginative and prescient after staring instantly right into a photo voltaic eclipse. Marty famous, “We’ve fairly important floaters proper now, however it does not cease us from seeing so many center fingers peppered in each the higher mezzanine and orchestra part. It is simply unbelievably impolite. We’re speaking about you, Meryl Streep. We see you.”
When the digital camera cuts to Meryl Streep, effectively, let’s simply say you will not be disenchanted.
The Lonely Island will get an enormous medley
There was one massive efficiency that took the cake. Properly, the Magnolia Cupcakes anyway.
The Lonely Island received their very own huge medley, that includes snippets of a number of of essentially the most well-known songs from their SNL Digital Quick reign on the present. The rise of the trio comprised of Andy Samberg, Akiva Shaffer, and Jorma Taccone (who seems as a dancing cupcake holding a Laser Cat) is presently being recounted on the entertaining and insightful “Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast,” and for anybody who’s a fan of their faux raps, this was an actual deal with.
The complete efficiency is offered above, starting with Andy Samberg becoming a member of Woman Gaga for an embarrassing efficiency of “Shallow” from “A Star is Born.” Fortunately, Woman Gaga interrupts him and modifications over to the vacation traditional tune “D*** in a Field,” despite the fact that Justin Timberlake could not be there to affix in. From there, they transfer into “Mom Lover” earlier than Chris Parnell joins Samberg onstage for “Lazy Sunday,” and from there, it solely will get higher.
Taccone brings the Laser Cat into play for a darkish interruption to “Lazy Sunday,” which finds Samberg fatally shot on stage. This can be a callback to “The Taking pictures AKA Pricey Sister” SNL Digital Quick, the place Imogen Heap’s track “Conceal and Search” is performed repeatedly after Andy Samberg, Invoice Hader, Shia LaBeouf, Kristen Wiig, and extra shoot one another in a parody of a dramatic scene from “The OC.”
From there Unhealthy Bunny does an operatic model of “I Simply Had Intercourse,” T-Ache sings a ballad remix of “I am on a Boat,” and Eddie Vedder takes the place of Michael Bolton to sing on a tiny pirate ship for “Jack Sparrow.” All of the songs mix right into a marathon, full with Woman Gaga sporting a particular reward.
When it is all stated and carried out, the track ends with the proper callback to an SNL Digital Quick as a picture of Lorne Michaels fades right into a waving Canadian flag behind everybody.
The truth that this all occurred earlier than the right “SNL 50” particular is an actual deal with for hardcore followers like me, and I hope you’re taking the time to get pleasure from it.
