Saturday Night Live Is Celebrating 50 Years with a Three-Hour Prime Time Special
SNL50: The Anniversary Special will feature Adam Driver, Dave Chappelle, Pedro Pascal, Quinta Brunson, and SO many more.
Live from New York it's... Sunday night!
NBC will celebrate 50 years of Saturday Night Live in 2025 on Sunday, February 16, live on NBC and Peacock. SNL50: The Anniversary Special is the crown jewel of a big weekend of events highlighting the trailblazing sketch series' rich history.
Be sure to tune in one hour early for a live red carpet airing across NBC, E!, and Peacock, hosted by Willie Geist and Leslie Jones with correspondent Matt Rogers.
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So which celebrities will be attending SNL's 50th anniversary, and where can you watch it? Check out everything to know below.
Who's the Host for SNL50: The Anniversary Special?
Expect SNL's Five-Timers Club members, beloved past Hosts, current and former cast, and a few surprises on February 16. Here are the names confirmed to appear so far:
- Adam Driver
- Ayo Edibiri
- Bad Bunny
- Dave Chappelle
- John Mulaney
- Kim Kardashian
- Martin Short
- Miley Cyrus
- Paul McCartney
- Paul Simon
- Pedro Pascal
- Peyton Manning
- Quinta Brunson
- Robert De Niro
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Scarlett Johansson
- Steve Martin
- Tom Hanks
- Woody Harrelson
The star-studded SNL 40th Anniversary Special, which aired back in February 2015, featured dozens of current and past cast members, a celebrity-filled audience, and musical performances by legends such as Paul McCartney and Paul Simon alongside talent like Miley Cyrus, who's returning for the 50th.
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What time is SNL50: The Anniversary Special? How to watch
The program is set to air live across time zones on NBC and Peacock on Sunday, February 16, starting at 8ET/5pm PT. And don’t miss the live one-hour red carpet event ahead of the special starting at 7ET/4pm PT!
How to watch the red carpet for SNL50: The Anniversary Special
The one-hour red carpet event will air live Sunday, February 16, starting at 7/6c, 4pm PT. It will precede SNL50: The Anniversary Special, premiering at 8/7c, 5pm PT. The red carpet and SNL50: The Anniversary Special will air live on NBC, E!, and stream live on Peacock.
Who is hosting the red carpet for the SNL50: The Anniversary Special?
Willie Geist and Leslie Jones, with correspondent Matt Rogers. Their broadcast will air live on NBC, E!, and Peacock at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
Willie Geist is a familiar face to NBC viewers: He has hosted Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist since April 2016. He is also a co-host on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, as well as a regular host of TODAY, and a contributor to various programs across NBC News."
Leslie Jones is a stand-up comedian, author, and an SNL cast member from 2014-2019, for which she earned three Emmy nominations.
She’s also appeared in movies including Sing, Coming 2 America, and Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters.
Matt Rogers is an actor, comedian, presenter, and co-host of the long-running Las Culturistas podcast with SNL cast member Bowen Yang. His film and TV credits include No Good Deed, Fire Island, and I Love That For You.
Chicken Shop Date's Amelia Dimoldenberg will host the SNL50 Red Carpet livestream
Amelia Dimoldenberg will host SNL's livestream of the red carpet, which you can watch on the show's YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok accounts.
The English presenter is creator and host of the popular web series Chicken Shop Date, where she's interviewed a wide range of celebrities including Cynthia Erivo, Paul Mescal, SZA, Sabrina Carpenter, and Cher.
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Relive SNL history with 50 Seasons in 50 Days
In the weeks leading up to February 16's three-hour 50th anniversary celebration on NBC, the team behind Saturday Night Live has selected one sketch from every single season — 50 seasons in 50 days — to represent the show's rich legacy across five decades.
Watch every sketch that the show has selected as the best of the best here.
Watch Peacock's Beyond Saturday Night docuseries
An all-access four-part docuseries, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, debuted January 16, only on Peacock.
Executive-produced by Morgan Neville, the Academy and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker behind documentaries Piece by Piece and 20 Feet From Stardom, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night featured rare behind-the-scenes footage of the iconic late night series, celebrity interviews, and more than 60 contributors — including former cast members and writers — reflecting on working on the show.
Each episode took a deep dive into a different aspect of SNL. All four episodes are streaming on Peacock.
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Questlove's documentary explores 50 Years of SNL Music
On January 27, NBC premiered the documentary Ladies & Gentleman ... 50 Years of SNL Music, co-directed by Oz Rodriguez and The Roots drummer, Tonight Show bandleader, and Oscar-winning filmmaker Questlove.
The documentary explores "untold stories behind the culture-defining, groundbreaking and news-making musical performances, sketches and cameos of the past 50 years," not shying away from controversial moments involving Elvis Costello, Sinéad O'Connor, and Kanye West.
Stream Ladies & Gentleman ... 50 Years of SNL Music on Peacock now.
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Originally published May 13, 2024.
