Saturday Night Live's 50th Anniversary Special

The SNL 50th Anniversary Special aired February 16, 2025, running a massive 3½ hours—more than double the show's standard runtime. You got nearly 150 performers, including four original cast members and dozens of beloved alumni. Steve Martin and Martin Short co-hosted, Paul McCartney closed the night with an unforgettable Beatles medley, and a fan experience at Rockefeller Center drew sold-out crowds. There's plenty more to uncover about this historic night.

Key Takeaways

• The special aired February 16, 2025, running 152 minutes—more than double SNL's standard 90-minute runtime.
• Steve Martin, Martin Short, and John Mulaney co-hosted, with nearly 150 performers appearing throughout the night.
• Paul McCartney closed the show with an Abbey Road medley, his first SNL appearance since 2012.
• Original cast members Garrett Morris, Chevy Chase, Laraine Newman, and Jane Curtin all returned for the celebration.
• A companion Homecoming Concert at Radio City Music Hall featured Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Bad Bunny, and others.

Why the SNL 50th Anniversary Special Ran 3½ Hours

When NBC aired the SNL 50th Anniversary Special on February 16, 2025, it stretched to 3½ hours—more than double the show's standard 90-minute runtime. The expanded format created significant broadcast logistics and scheduling challenges, but the sheer volume of content made it unavoidable.

Seven musical artists performed multiple songs each, including Paul McCartney, Lil Wayne, and Miley Cyrus. Nearly 150 performers appeared throughout the special, including four surviving original cast members and dozens of alumni like Eddie Murphy and Tina Fey.

Producers also revived classic sketches, incorporated commercial parodies, and added Q&A segments. Fitting all of that into a traditional timeslot wasn't possible, so NBC extended the broadcast window and moved the special to Sunday evening. The special followed the format of a typical SNL episode, including a cold open, monologue, Weekend Update, and closing credits and goodnights.

Steve Martin and Martin Short as Co-Hosts of SNL 50th

Steve Martin and Martin Short co-hosted the SNL 50th Anniversary Special on February 16, 2025, joining John Mulaney for the opening monologue. You'd quickly notice how their backstage chemistry dynamics translated seamlessly onto the stage, making their performance feel effortless and natural.

As longtime collaborators, Steve Martin and Martin Short brought comedic writing contributions that sharpened the special's humor throughout the broadcast. Their joint promotional appearances beforehand built significant anticipation among fans keen to see them reunite on television's most iconic stage.

During the show, you could catch their improvisational duet moments, where their natural rapport produced genuine, unscripted laughs. Martin Short as cohost complemented Steve Martin's dry wit perfectly, giving the anniversary special a comedic energy that honored SNL's legendary legacy while feeling fresh and modern.

Every Musical Performance at the SNL 50th Anniversary Special

The SNL 50th Anniversary Special delivered a remarkable collection of musical performances throughout its three-hour broadcast on February 16, 2025, separate from the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert held two days earlier at Radio City Music Hall.

You'll find the special showcased music icons delivering unexpected covers and forgotten collaborations that reminded audiences why SNL remains culturally essential.

The Homecoming Concert featured standout artists, including:

• Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Bad Bunny
• Arcade Fire, Jack White, and Eddie Vedder
• The B-52s, DEVO, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band

While the Anniversary Special's specific musical segments require additional documentation, both events together created an unforgettable celebration. The Homecoming Concert streamed live from Radio City Music Hall on February 14 at 8 p.m. ET on Peacock, giving fans a dedicated music event ahead of the main special.

You won't easily forget how these performances honored SNL's five decades of musical history.

Which Former Cast Members Returned for SNL 50th

Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary special brought back an extraordinary range of former cast members, spanning the show's entire history. From the early cast, you'd have recognized Garrett Morris, Chevy Chase, Laraine Newman, and Jane Curtin representing Season 1's foundation. Comedy legends like Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray, and Will Ferrell also returned, celebrating their lasting impact on the show.

The golden era brought Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan, Maya Rudolph, and Molly Shannon back together. Modern returnees included Kenan Thompson, Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, Ego Nwodim, and Beck Bennett. Notable absences included Dan Aykroyd, Bill Hader, Dana Carvey, and Colin Quinn, each missing for personal or scheduling reasons. Still, the special delivered an impressive cross-generational gathering of SNL talent. Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, John Mulaney, Paula Pell, and Emily Spivey also returned as staff writers for the special, contributing to the writing alongside the current team.

Paul McCartney's Beatles Finale Was the Night's Peak Moment

While the reunion of SNL's former cast members gave the 50th Anniversary Special its heart, Paul McCartney's closing performance gave it its soul.

At 82, McCartney delivered an Abbey Road medley that cemented the Beatles legacy while creating unforgettable emotional resonance with everyone in the room.

His setlist included three iconic tracks:

• "Golden Slumbers"
• "Carry That Weight"
• "The End"

Backed by guitarists Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray, McCartney had the mixed celebrity-and-fan audience swaying and singing along throughout.

The standing ovation that followed wasn't surprising—it was inevitable.

The evening's final lyric, "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make," didn't just close the special. It perfectly summarized everything the night represented. McCartney's appearance marked his first SNL return since his last musical guest spot in 2012.

The SNL Music Documentary Questlove Made for the 50th

Questlove brought his signature musical obsessiveness to SNL 50: The Music Documentary, a 2-hour-and-8-minute deep exploration he co-directed with Oz Rodriguez that premiered on NBC on January 27, 2025, before streaming on Peacock the following day.

The film digs into SNL's music legacy across five decades, reviewing over 900 episodes and conducting band interviews with the show's house musicians.

You'll also discover how Blues Origins shaped comedy through the Blues Brothers' story, while The Lonely Island's rise gets equal attention.

Song clearance proved no small feat — the team tracked down artists like Eminem across the country to secure rights.

Vulture's Jen Chaney called it "thoroughly spectacular," and it earned Questlove and Rodriguez Emmy nominations for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program. The documentary also received widespread critical attention from outlets including Variety, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times, cementing its place as a definitive awards-season entry.

Inside the SNL50 Fan Experience at Rockefeller Center

For four days only — January 30 through February 2, 2025 — NBC transformed 45 Rockefeller Plaza into an SNL50 fan experience that put you center stage as the week's celebrity guest host. Free admission drew massive crowds, with sessions selling out within 10 minutes.

Live actors guided you through the 25-minute immersive journey, hitting all the iconic stops:

• Interactive dressing rooms complete with authentic cue cards
• Host portrait experience recreating the signature celebrity photo tradition
• Weekend Update hot seat, where you sat exactly where the anchors sit

The production didn't cut corners. You entered Studio 8H through working doors as a live band played under hot stage lights — exactly how real hosts experience it every Saturday night. More details about the experience were available on rockefellercenter.com, though some visitors reported their access being blocked by Cloudflare.

Where to Watch the SNL 50th Anniversary Special

Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual viewer, NBC and Peacock have you covered for the SNL 50th Anniversary Special.

The three-hour live event airs on NBC on Sunday, February 16th at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT, broadcasting live from Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center. If you prefer streaming options, Peacock simulcasts the Anniversary Special alongside the NBC broadcast, giving you flexible device compatibility across multiple screens.

Don't miss the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert either, streaming exclusively on Peacock starting February 14th at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

YouTube also offers curated highlights, including the 50th Monologue, musical performances, and the Black Jeopardy sketch, so you can catch memorable moments on demand regardless of your preferred platform. The SNL50 Anniversary Special is listed as Season 50 Episode 13, running an impressive 152 minutes, making it the longest episode of the season by far.