SNL Recap: Top 9 Moments From the Star-Studded 50th Celebration

Saturday Night Live marked its 50th anniversary with a star-studded celebration, bringing together a mix of legendary cast members, iconic hosts and beloved musicians to honor the show’s groundbreaking legacy. Highlights included a live concert, a red carpet event and surprise-packed sketches featuring stars like Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus and Tom Hanks joining classic SNL alumni. Emotional tributes to late original cast members Gilda Radner and John Belushi underscored the night, while former cast member Bill Murray toasted the bittersweet nostalgia that filled Studio 8H.

Notable absences, including Dan Aykroyd and Robert Downey Jr., sparked curiosity, but the night remained a testament to five decades of comedic and cultural innovation.

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists from Us Weekly.