comedy
If you need someone to put the perfect words into song, just call Adam Sandler. The movie star, who got his start as a Saturday Night Live castmember from 1991 to 1995, returned to his 30 Rock stomping grounds on Sunday night (Feb. 16) for SNL50: The Anniversary Special, pulling out his trusty acoustic guitar […]
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Saturday Night Live premiered on Oct. 11, 1975, with host George Carlin, and ever since, the variety show has become a comedy and cultural TV institution over the past 50 years. In fact, the very first episode will re-air on Saturday (Feb. 15) at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and Peacock.
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To celebrate its 50th anniversary, NBC has two events for SNL this weekend. The first is SNL50: The Homecoming Concert, a concert special that features the show’s legacy of musical performances on Friday (Feb. 14). It’s hosted by Jimmy Fallon. The second is SNL50: The Anniversary Special, a TV special that pays tribute to the show and its creator Lorne Michaels on Sunday (Feb. 16).
Old and new cast members, along with a number of celebrities, athletes, politicians, comedians and recording artists, come to Studio 8H in NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City for SNL50: The Anniversary Special.
When Does ‘SNL50: The Homecoming Concert’ Start?
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert airs Friday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. It’s available on NBC and Peacock live.
When Does ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’ Start?
SNL50: The Anniversary Special broadcasts live on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The TV special airs on NBC, while it’s also available to stream on Peacock at the same time.
Who Is Performing During ‘SNL50: The Homecoming Concert’?
The concert special SNL50: The Homecoming Concert features a number of recording artists performing throughout the evening. Here’s a complete of performers, below:
Arcade Fire
Backstreet Boys
Bad Bunny
Bonnie Raitt
Brandi Carlile
Brittany Howard
Cher
Chris Martin
Dave Grohl
David Byrne
DEVO
Eddie Vedder
Jack White
Jelly Roll
Lady Gaga
Lauryn Hill
Miley Cyrus
Mumford & Sons
Post Malone
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Robyn
Snoop Dogg
St. Vincent
The B-52s
The Roots
Wyclef Jean
Who Appears on ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’?
Since SNL has been a pop-culture touchpoint over the last 50 years, and SNL50: The Anniversary Special will be a star-studded event with the biggest stars in attendance. Below, you’ll find a list of just a few of the celebrities who will be in appearance.
Adam Driver
Ayo Edebiri
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
Where to Watch ‘SNL50: The Homecoming Concert’ & ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’ for Free
If you’re a cord-cutter, you have a few ways to watch both SNL50: The Homecoming Concert and SNL50: The Anniversary Special online — especially if you want to watch for free. DirecTV Stream has a five-day free trial, while other streaming services — such as Hulu + Live TV — also offer a free trial so you can watch NBC for free.
Keep reading for more details on how to watch the TV special with Peacock, DirecTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV.
How to Watch ‘SNL50: The Homecoming Concert’ & ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’ With Peacock
Both TV specials broadcast on NBC and livestream on Peacock for Premium or Premium Plus subscribers only. If you don’t subscribe to the streaming service, you can get access with a Peacock monthly subscription, which starts at $7.99 per month for the ad-supported plan, or $13.99 per month for the ad-free plan.
And right now, every episode from every season of Saturday Night Live from that past 50 years is streaming on Peacock.
Along with SNL50: The Homecoming Concert and SNL50: The Anniversary Special, you can also watch the backlog of SNL starting with season 1 and going all the way through season 50 — that’s a whopping 50 seasons of TV with a subscription to Peacock. In addition, you’ll get access to original programming, such as Love Island USA, Laid, Bel-Air, The Traitors, Poker Face and others; hit movies, including The Wild Robot, Monkey Man, Abigail, The Holdovers, Oppenheimer and others; live sports from NBC Sports; live news from NBC News; and more than 50 streaming channels.
How to Watch ‘SNL50: The Homecoming Concert’ & ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’ With DirecTV Stream
A subscription to DirecTV Stream — which comes with NBC for SNL50: The Homecoming Concert and SNL50: The Anniversary Special — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $74.99 per month. The service even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free if you sign up now.
You can watch local networks such as CBS, ABC, Fox, and PBS, while you can also watch many cable networks, including FS1, Lifetime, FX, AMC, A&E, Bravo, BET, MTV, Paramount Network, Cartoon Network, VH1, Fuse, CNN, Food Network, CNBC and many others.
How to Watch ‘SNL50: The Homecoming Concert’ & ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’ with Fubo
To watch SNL50: The Homecoming Concert and SNL50: The Anniversary Special on NBC, Fubo starts at $59.99 for the first month, $84.99 per month afterwards (the streamer’s current deal) with more than 210 channels — including local and cable — that are streamable on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and on web browsers.
The service even gets you live access to local broadcast networks including Fox, CBS and ABC, while it also has dozens of cable networks, such as ESPN, Bravo, CMT, ID, TV Land, VH1, TLC, E!, FS1, MTV, FX, Ion, OWN, Paramount Network and much more.
How to Watch ‘SNL50: The Homecoming Concert’ & ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’ With Hulu + Live TV
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert and SNL50: The Anniversary Special on NBC are available to watch with Hulu + Live TV too. Prices for the cable alternative start at $82.99 per month, while each plan comes with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ at no additional cost.
Hulu + Live TV might be best for those who want all of these streaming services together in one bundle. It also features many other networks, including ABC, Hallmark Channel, BET, CMT, Disney Channel, NBC, Fox Sports and more.
Where to Buy SNL50 Funko Pop! Figures Online
For SNL’s 50th anniversary, Funko has dropped limited-edition SNL Pop! figures of some of the most popular characters from the variety show’s 50 years, including Matt Foley (Chris Farley), Gilly (Kristen Wiig), Direct from Domingo (Marcello Hernandez), Debbie Downer (Rachel Dratch) and much more. Figures start at $12 and can be found at Funko.com.
Funko
SNL Pop! Matt Foley
Funko
SNL Pop! Gilly
Funko
SNL Pop! Direct from Domingo
Funko
SNL Pop! GuapLord
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert and SNL50: The Anniversary Special are both available to watch on NBC via DirecTV Stream or Hulu + Live TV, to stream on Peacock on Friday, Feb. 14 and Sunday, Feb. 16, respectively.
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With the highly anticipated SNL 50: The Homecoming Concert just a day away, NBC has added a string of A-list performers to the lineup. Cher, Dave Grohl, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Snoop Dogg, St. Vincent and Wyclef Jean will all be joining the fun at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on Friday night (Feb. 14).
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The Jimmy Fallon-hosted live homecoming concert will also feature performances by Arcade Fire, Backstreet Boys, Bad Bunny, Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Chris Martin, David Byrne, DEVO, Eddie Vedder, Jack White, Jelly Roll, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Mumford & Sons, Post Malone, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Robyn, The B-52s, and The Roots.
Additionally, the event celebrating 50 years of Saturday Night Live will include special appearances by Ana Gasteyer, Andy Samberg, Maya Rudolph, Paul Shaffer, Tracy Morgan, Will Ferrell and more. SNL 50: The Homecoming Concert is executive produced by Lorne Michaels and Mark Ronson.
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The show will take place at 8 p.m. ET, and will also stream live on Peacock for viewers at home, with fan screening events scheduled for several Regal Cinemas theaters.
Two days later, on Feb. 16, a three-hour telecast will air from Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center. The SNL50: The Anniversary Special will feature appearances by Sabrina Carpenter, Paul McCartney, Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, Bad Bunny, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Kim Kardashian, Martin Short, Miley Cyrus, Paul Simon, Pedro Pascal, Peyton Manning, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks and Woody Harrelson, with additional names to be announced.
The special will air on Sunday (Feb. 16) at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and simulcast on Peacock.
The producers of the 2025 NAACP Image Awards seem to understand that we could all use a laugh these days. Two days after announcing that comedian Dave Chappelle will receive the President’s Award during the awards show on Saturday, Feb. 22, they are coming back with the news that The Wayans family will be inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.
Wayans family members include Keenen Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Kim Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr., Damien Dante Wayans and Chaunté Wayans. Works created by Wayans family members include the Scary Movie film series, The Wayans Bros., In Living Color, Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, White Chicks, My Wife and Kids, and Little Man.
The Hall of Fame Award is presented to individuals or groups who have been pioneers in their respective fields, and whose influence continues to shape their industry. The Wayans Family are the fifth recipients primarily known for comedy, following Richard Pryor (1996), Bill Cosby (2007), Eddie Murphy (2021) and Good Times star Esther Rolle (1987).
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The 56th NAACP Image Awards are set to air live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS. This year, the broadcast will be extended 30 minutes to 2.5 hours.
“For decades, the Wayans family has been at the forefront of comedy, breaking barriers and opening doors for waves of entertainers,” Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO, said in a statement. “Their trailblazing work in television, film and stand-up has transcended pop culture and cemented their legacy. Recognizing their achievements with this induction is a celebration of a multi-generational legacy that continues to advance and uplift communities.”
“The Wayans family revolutionized comedy by blending cultural commentary and fearless humor,” added Connie Orlando, EVP of specials, music programming and music strategy at BET. “From In Living Color to blockbuster films, their influence spans generations, breaking barriers for Black entertainers and redefining mainstream comedy. Their ability to push boundaries while resonating with diverse audiences has left an undeniable mark on the industry.”
Keenen Ivory Wayans created the groundbreaking sketch comedy series In Living Color. That Fox series launched the careers of such Hollywood heavyweights as Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Lopez, while setting new standards for diverse storytelling. Wayans won a Primetime Emmy in 1990 as an executive producer of that series, which was voted outstanding variety music or comedy series. Wayans received six nominations for his work on that show. His brother Damon Wayans received four.
By visiting the NAACP Image Awards’ website, the public can vote to determine the winners in select categories. NAACP will recognize winners in non-televised categories virtually on Tuesday, Feb. 18, and Wednesday, Feb. 19, on its YouTube channel and at the 56th NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors Friday, Feb. 21.
Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart and Shannon Sharpe are competing for entertainer of the year. GloRilla received the most nominations in the music/recording categories, with six, followed by Doechii, Lamar and Usher, with four nods each. RCA Records received 11 nominations, the most among record labels.
Madonna tested out some new material at the Comedy Cellar in New York City this week, surprising the crowd with a stand-up set while in attendance with friend Amy Schumer. One blurry photo from the evening shows the superstar standing up on the famed venue’s tiny stage while reading jokes from a notebook on a […]
Timothée Chalamet is both hosting this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live, in addition to performing as the musical guest. In a new promo clip for the upcoming episode, he appears alongside the show’s cast member Sarah Sherman for a series of hilarious conversations. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, […]
Timothée Chalamet is gearing up to pull double duty on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live as both the host and musical guest, and needs all the help he can get. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In a new one-minute promo for the episode released […]
Score one for Team Coco. Conan O’Brien has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. He’ll receive the award on March 23, less than three weeks after he hosts the Oscars for the first time. The Oscars are set for March 3.
O’Brien, 61, will be the second former host of The Tonight Show to receive the Twain Prize. Jay Leno, who was both O’Brien’s predecessor and successor as host of that legendary late-night comedy franchise, received the honor in 2014. David Letterman, who was passed over for the job in favor of Leno when Johnny Carson retired in 1993, received the honor in 2017. Jon Stewart, whose The Daily Show in its heyday was often buzzier than The Tonight Show, received the honor in 2022. (Carson, who hosted The Tonight Show for 30 years and is widely regarded as the GOAT of late-night talk-show hosts, never received the honor. He died in 2005, seven years after the award originated.)
“For four decades, Conan O’Brien has brought his unique blend of the smart, silly, insightful, and hilarious into our homes,” Deborah F. Rutter, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, said in a statement. “From Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons —including the unbelievably funny monorail episode — to late night, podcasts, and all things Team Coco, Conan is a master of invention and reinvention, consistently pushing the envelope in search of new comedic heights.”
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“I am honored to be the first winner of the Mark Twain Prize recognized not for humor, but for my work as a riverboat pilot,” wisecracked O’Brien.
The presentation will take place in Kennedy Center Concert Hall. The program will stream on Netflix, date to be announced. Last year’s presentation to Kevin Hart marked the beginning of a long-term relationship with the streamer.
The 26th Mark Twain Prize will be produced by David Jammy and the creative team at Done+Dusted, the Kennedy Center’s producing partner for the Mark Twain Prize since 2018.
The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor recognizes individuals who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to novelist and essayist Samuel Clemens, colloquially known as Mark Twain. “As a social commentator, satirist, and creator of characters, Clemens was a fearless observer of society who delighted and informed onlookers with his uncompromising perspective on social injustice and personal folly,” the statement said.
Previous recipients are Richard Pryor (1998), Jonathan Winters (1999), Carl Reiner (2000), Whoopi Goldberg (2001), Bob Newhart (2002), Lily Tomlin (2003), Lorne Michaels (2004), Steve Martin (2005), Neil Simon (2006), Billy Crystal (2007), George Carlin (2008), Bill Cosby (2009; rescinded in 2018), Tina Fey (2010), Will Ferrell (2011), Ellen DeGeneres (2012), Carol Burnett (2013), Jay Leno (2014), Eddie Murphy (2015), Bill Murray (2016), David Letterman (2017), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2018), Dave Chappelle (2019), Jon Stewart (2022), Adam Sandler (2023), and Kevin Hart (2024).
The event was created by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Bob Kaminsky, Peter Kaminsky, Mark Krantz, and John Schreiber.
Less than 48 hours after winning a Golden Globe for best performance in stand-up comedy on television for her Netflix special Ali Wong: Single Lady, Ali Wong got more good news on Tuesday (Feb. 7) – she’s nominated for a Directors Guild of America Award for outstanding directorial achievement in variety/talk/news/sports – specials for directing […]
Saturday Night Live is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the festivities continue with a brand new documentary NBC announced on Thursday (Dec. 19).
Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music will feature interviews with artists, cast members, writers and producers who have contributed to SNL‘s iconic legacy. The three-hour documentary will also “feature untold stories behind the culture-defining, groundbreaking and newsmaking musical performances, sketches and cameos of the past 50 years,” per a press release description.
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The broadcast is directed by Questlove and Oz Rodriguez, and produced by Two One Five Entertainment, RadicalMedia and Broadway Video. Questlove also serves as executive producer alongside Lorne Michaels, Zarah Zohlman, Erin David, Dave Sirulnick, Jon Kamen, Meredith Bennett, Alexander H. Browne, Shawn Gee and Tariq Trotter. Rodriguez serves as producer.
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Bad Bunny, DJ Breakout, Elvis Costello, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish and Finneas, Dave Grohl, Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, Mick Jagger, Dua Lipa, Darryl DMC McDaniels, Tom Morello, Kacey Musgraves, Olivia Rodrigo, MC Sha-Rack, Paul Simon, Chris Stapleton, Justin Timberlake, Lee Ving and Jack White are all the musicians set to appear in the documentary. The show will also feature cast members including Jimmy Fallon, Bowen Yang, Fred Armisen, Conan O’Brien, Bill Hader, Eddie Murphy, Andy Samberg, Kenan Thompson, Maya Rudolph and many more.
“Everyone knows the most famous SNL appearances, whether it’s Elvis Costello, Prince or the Beastie Boys, but they’re the tip of a huge iceberg,” Questlove said in a press statement. “The process of going back through the incredible archival footage was like being in a time machine, DeLorean or other. I’m so happy I went on the trip and now get to share it with everyone.”
Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music will premiere Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and stream the next day on Peacock. The documentary is part of a collection of celebratory programming, including a four-part SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night Peacock docuseries on Jan. 16 and a live primetime special on Feb. 16 on NBC and Peacock.