How long is SNL50: The Anniversary Special? Details explored

NBC's SNL50: Anniversary Special was a star-studded, nostalgia-filled entertainment event celebrating the 50-year legacy of Saturday Night Live (SNL).

SNL50: Anniversary Special was slated to be a three-hour celebration of SNL's 50th anniversary. It featured comedy sketches, performances, and more. The NBC show first debuted on October 11, 1975. It aired on NBC on February 16, 2025, at 8 PM ET.

The three-hour SNL50: Anniversary Special was broadcast live from Studio H in Rockefeller Center. One could also live stream the episode on Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming service. Since its debut, SNL has had a long-lasting impact on both comedy and television, this anniversary special is a tribute to its 50-year legacy.

The red carpet show of the SNL alumni was hosted by Leslie Jones and NBC News' Willie Geist at 7 PM ET on NBC and Peacock. However, as the show progressed, the three-hour time frame was not enough for the celebratory night, and the celebration exceeded about 30 minutes more than its anticipated time. SNL50: Anniversary Special was a three-and-a-half-hour celebration of SNL's 50th anniversary.

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A star-studded event: NBC's SNL50

The SNL50 Anniversary special featured an impressive line-up of talent, it began with Steve Martin's opening monologue. One of the SNL's legendary alumni, Martin is known for his quick comic timing, in the special episode he spoke about his journey with SNL.

Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon kicked off the celebration with a duet of 'Homeward Bound' adding a hint of nostalgia to the event. Julia Louis Dreyfus entertained the crowd by narrating the event to her dog and sharing anecdotes, including a humorous remark about Adam Driver sitting beside her pup. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted a Q&A with Ryan Reynolds joking about his ongoing headlines with Blake Lively.

In a nostalgic moment, Eddie Murphy portrayed Tracy Morgan on Black Jeopardy, Seth Meyers returned to the Weekend Update desk, while Cecily Strong reprised her role as Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started A Conversation With at a Party. Tom Hanks introduced a memorium segment as a tribute to the SNL characters and sketches.

Musical performances included a heartfelt edition of Nothing Compares 2 U by Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard, while Adam Sandler sang a tribute to 50 years of SNL. Lil Wayne, the Grammy-winning artist performed his Uproar, Lollipop, and A Milli. Sir Paul McCartney closed out the SNL50 night with his memorable performance beginning with Golden Slumbers.