The Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special has officially commenced, captivating audiences with a vibrant live red carpet event that set the stage for an extraordinary celebration on NBC and Peacock. Following the star-studded red carpet, featuring an array of guests, hosts, and both veteran and new cast members, the three-hour special kicked off promptly at 8 PM ET, running until 11 PM ET. Since its debut on October 11, 1975, SNL has become a cornerstone of American television. The evening’s festivities began with a heartfelt rendition of “Homeward Bound,” performed by Paul Simon alongside Sabrina Carpenter. This iconic song, originally performed by Simon with George Harrison on SNL back in 1976, has its roots as a single released by Simon & Garfunkel in 1966, showcasing Simon’s enduring musical legacy.
During the performance, Simon humorously acknowledged the generational gap when Carpenter playfully remarked that neither she nor her parents were alive when the song was first performed. Simon swiftly reassured her, emphasizing that the music transcends time and resonates with all generations. The musical segment featured an intimate acoustic collaboration between Carpenter and Simon, creating a nostalgic atmosphere that was followed by an engaging opening monologue from SNL legend Steve Martin. As anticipation builds, the SNL 50th Anniversary special is trending on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Be sure to catch Simon and Carpenter’s memorable performance below, and keep up with Collider for the latest news and updates regarding this historic anniversary celebration.
Celebrate the Legacy of Saturday Night Live
- Release Date
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October 11, 1975
- Network
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NBC
- Showrunner
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Lorne Michaels
- Directors
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Dave Wilson, Don Roy King, Liz Patrick, Andy Warhol, Linda Lee Cadwell, Matthew Meshekoff, Paul Miller, Robert Altman, Robert Smigel
- Writers
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Will Forte, Bill Hader, Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, Chris Parnell, Asa Taccone, John Lutz, Tom Schiller, Simon Rich, Michael Patrick O’Brien, Nicki Minaj, Herbert Sargent, Matt Piedmont, John Solomon, Chris Kelly, Alan Zweibel, Kent Sublette, Ari Katcher, Marika Sawyer, Sarah Schneider, Scott Jung, Justin Franks, Jerrod Bettis, Rhiannon Bryan
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Adam McKay
Self / Various
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Adam Sandler
Self (archive footage)
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Al Roker
Self / Margaret Jo McCullin / Various
