The audience cheers during the SNL’s 50th anniversary special. The special featured musical artists Lauren Hill, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Post Malone and Nirvana. (Photo provided by Taran Killam).

For 50 years, audiences have gathered together inside the studio of 30 Rock in New York City for one show. The lights shine on the cast, and the band takes their seats before the audience applauds at the famous catchphrase: “live from New York, it’s saturday night!” 

SNL‘s 50th anniversary special took place Feb. 16 from 5-8:30 p.m. I usually tune into the Saturday show because of the hilarious sketches and performances from notable artists. However, the format of the anniversary special took me by surprise.

I thought there would be an emphasis on the sketches, but the show put more of an effort into featuring celebrities in the audience. In fact, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler spent 30 minutes making jokes about celebrities in the crowd. While SNL has had a long history of celebrity appearances, I wanted more sketches and the return of old cast members.

Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon began the anniversary show by singing “Homeward Bound” by Simon and Garfunkel. Although country is not usually Carpenter’s genre, the song really brought a feeling of reunion, which held special value because the audience was populated heavily by returning cast members. 

One thing that did not disappoint were the sketches, many of which were sequals to beloved classics, characters and bits. While the sketches were funny for many reasons, the return of multiple cast members like Kate McKinnon and Kristen Wiig, added an element of newness and nostalgia. 

One of my three favorite sketches was “Alien Encounter,” which follows an interview with three humans who each had very different experiences with aliens. While two of the humans were treated with angelic hospitality, one did not receive the same care and consideration. The sketch featured fun characters and celebrity appearances, which added a new twist to a classic sketch. 

“Domingo,” a sketch from this year that went viral on Tik Tok, got a part three during the anniversary special. The incorporation of music to the sketch added a whole new level, as as the viewers witnessed a complicated relationship between a couple and their marriage.

The original sketch used Carpenter’s song “Espresso”, but, in the reunion, she joined the bridesmaids party and sang her own song. Overall, this was such a fun sketch because it showcased the cast of SNL today, as well as adding onto the original story with the couple.

The SNL 50th Musical was by far one of my favorites because it consisted of the most guest appearances and wacky characters. From the Statue of Liberty to singing rats and pigeons from the streets, this sketch truly honored New York. 

By rewriting songs from musicals to represent Broadway and having choreographed dance numbers, the sketch really shone with color and humor, as well as raising awareness for the new threat on the New York streets: E-Bikes which actor Scarlett Johansson sung about in a new version of the song “Suddenly Seymour”, while projected E-Bikes zoomed past her. I would highly recommend the show, especially if you have seen a couple episodes of SNL. The fun characters, crazy plot lines and hilarious bits truly make for a one of a kind Saturday night.