On Sunday morning, NBC revealed that Alec Baldwin, Cher, Billy Crystal, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Leslie Jones, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mike Myers, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Miles Teller would be joining the illustrious cast for the event.
The special was set to feature two dozen former and current cast members from “Saturday Night Live,” including notable figures such as Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Fred Armisen, Pete Davidson, Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kate McKinnon, Seth Meyers, Tracy Morgan, Eddie Murphy, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock, Maya Rudolph, Andy Samberg, Adam Sandler, Molly Shannon, Jason Sudeikis, Kristen Wiig, and Kenan Thompson, who holds the record as the longest-serving performer on the show.
Paul Simon commenced the performance with his song, while Sabrina Carpenter joined in at the conclusion of the first verse, harmonizing on the line, “My suitcase and guitar in hand/ And every stop is neatly planned/ For a poet and a one-man band.” They continued their duet through the chorus, with Carpenter taking the lead on the second verse, modifying the line “cigarettes and magazines” to “airport lounges and magazines.”
The 50th anniversary special of “Saturday Night Live” commenced with a duet of Simon’s song “Homeward Bound,” performed by Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter.
At 83 years old, Simon has been a fixture on “SNL” since its inception in 1975 and notably performed on the first episode following the 9/11 attacks. He was accompanied by the 25-year-old pop star Carpenter. “I sang this song with George Harrison on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 1976,” Simon recalled.
“I was not born then,” Carpenter quipped, eliciting laughter from the audience. “And neither were my parents,” she added, prompting an even greater response.
The special commemorates fifty seasons of “Saturday Night Live,” celebrating its sketches, musical performances, and special guests for this significant milestone.
This cultural phenomenon has been instrumental in launching the careers of numerous comedians across generations, including Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, and Kristen Wiig.
Prior to the live special, Peacock launched a four-part documentary series focused on SNL and hosted a live concert event on February 14, featuring various musical performances from the show’s history. Furthermore, NBC broadcast a documentary centered on SNL’s music, which can be streamed on Peacock.
