‘Saturday Night Live’ 50th Anniversary Special: Performers List & Everything to Know

It’s been nearly half a century since Saturday Night Live premiered and changed the course of television history, and NBC is planning a very big birthday party for the beloved sketch comedy series indeed.

When will the SNL 50th anniversary special air?

The special will air on February 16 from 8 to 11 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The live, three-hour show will be telecast from Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center.

Who will perform at the 50th anniversary SNL special?

On February 16, just hours before the special, NBC added to the star-studded lineup: Alec Baldwin, Ana Gasteyer, Billy Crystal, Cher, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Leslie Jones, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mike Myers, Miles Teller, Rachel Dratch, and Reverend Al Sharpton, with more surprises expected.

They join the previously announced Adam Driver, Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Ayo Edebiri, Bad Bunny, Chevy Chase, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Eddie Murphy, Fred Armisen, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, John Mulaney, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, Kim Kardashian, Kristen Wiig, Laraine Newman, Lil Wayne, Martin Short, Maya Rudolph, Miley Cyrus, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Pedro Pascal, Peyton Manning, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro, Sabrina Carpenter, Scarlett Johansson, Seth Meyers, Steve Martin, The Roots, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Tom Hanks, Will Ferrell, Will Forte, and Woody Harrelson.

Related

Who’s Performing at the ‘Saturday Night Live’ Homecoming Concert?

Who will host the celebration?

A host has not been announced for the special. However, prior anniversary specials did not feature a designated host. In 1989, for the 15th anniversary special, there were many tributes and performances from some of the show’s original stars — including Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, and more. Then, for the 25th in 1999, the cold open featured Bill Murray addressing an audience full of A-listers, with Chris Rock delivering the opening monologue and additional performances from the likes of Adam Sandler, Christopher Walken, and Tom Hanks, to name a few. Then, the 40th anniversary special in 2015 featured a cold open with Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake, a monologue from Steve Martin with a bevy of celebrity cameos, and sketches with more of the show’s all-timers. So there’s certainly a chance there could be no specific host for the 50th either, with it instead featuring a parade of other individual and group performances.

What is the SNL50: Homecoming special about?

Prior to the NBC special, Peacock will livestream the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert on Friday, February 14 at 8 p.m. ET. It’s hosted by Jimmy Fallon and executive produced by Lorne Michaels and Mark Ronson. Performers for the special include Arcade Fire, Backstreet Boys, Bad Bunny, Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Chris Martin, David Byrne, DEVO, Eddie Vedder, Jack White, Jelly Roll, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Mumford & Sons, Post Malone, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Robyn, The B-52s, The Roots, and more.

What else is there to know about SNL50: The Anniversary Special?

The special is expected to celebrate all 50 years of the show, with NBC promising in a press release it will “welcome stars of the past and present to Studio 8H.”

If the special brings back the show’s original cast members, only Aykroyd, Chase, Curtin, Garrett Morris, and Laraine Newman are still alive. And if the show decides to pay homage to some of the show legends who have since passed away, that might include Norm MacDonald, Chris Farley, Gilda Radner, Phil Hartman, Andy Kaufman, Jan Hooks, Gilbert Gottfried, and John Belushi, among others.

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