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For half a century, it has been one of the most coveted, sought-after gigs in music. Performing two music numbers on Saturday Night Live is a rite of passage, a gig that has drawn legends (Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, John Prine, Paul Simon), rebels who took the opportunity to make some noise (Elvis Costello, Rage Against the Machine, Sinead O’Connor) and just about every pop star known to man (Eminem, Destiny’s Child/Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson).
It’s all covered in obsessive detail in the upcoming anniversary doc, Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music, one of a barrage of specials and look-backs celebrating the pioneering sketch show’s storied history. The first trailer for the doc co-directed by Roots drummer Questlove teases behind-the-scenes footage and stories, interviews with famous performers and a dive into some of the show’s headline-making musical moments.
It opens with a montage of guest hosts uttering the iconic “ladies and gentlemen” intro, including Steve Carrell, George Clooney, Madonna, Quentin Tarantino, Sydney Sweeney, Travis Kelce, Ariana Grande, Timothée Chalamet and Chris Rock, among many others.
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Over glimpses of performances by the Grateful Dead, Wonder, James Brown, Lauryn Hill and Bruce Springsteen, Rage guitarist Tom Morello says that SNL has served as a “time capsule through the decades for America.” Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl adds, “for me it was the most iconic American show of all time” alongside adorably awkward footage of his younger self with his Nirvana bandmates making nice with host NBA legend Charles Barkley.
Dua Lipa talks about the pressure of not knowing what will happen on the show that notoriously switches things up until the moment cameras click on, with Cyrus hinting at the precarious nature of live TV, calling it “the tightrope walk… they wanna see you dangle, they don’t wanna see you fall.” Jagger chronicles running from a sketch to the stage to perform, “covered in sweat” amid sprints to quick-change between commericals.
Cast members from throughout the years also talk about the landmark early TV slots of hip-hop legends The Funky 4 Plus One More, Run-DMC and Tupac Shakur, as well as moments when acts such as Rage and Costello “went rogue” with envelope-pushing performances. It also promises to unpack one of the most controversial sets in SNL history: O’Connor’s infamous 1992 shocker when she did a cover of Bob Marley’s “War” before holding up a picture of the Pope and tearing it to pieces as she said “fight the real enemy.”
Along the way, there are stops at the legendary studio-trashing tornado unleashed by John Belushi favorites hardcore punk madmen Fear, as well as Ashley Simpson’s 2004 lip synch fiasco.
Among the other talking heads in the film are: Justin Timberlake, Paul Shaffer, Jimmy Fallon, Eddie Murphy, Olivia Rodrigo, Jack White, Kacy Musgraves, Conan O’Brien, Billie Eilish and Finneas, Andy Samberg, Chris Stapleton, Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, Bad Bunny and many former and current cast members.
The three-hour doc co-directed by Oz Rodriguez and Questlove will air on NBC on Jan. 27 and stream on Peacock the next day.
Watch the 50 Years of SNL Music trailer below.
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 […]
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Another election, that didn’t go the way of progressives, means another Dave Chappelle appearance on Saturday Night Live. During the comedian’s latest appearance, he used his monologue to not only make jokes about Diddy and the California wildfires, but to send a message to Donald Trump before his inauguration, too.
With a lit cigarettes in his hand, Chappelle hit the stage to a round of applause and quickly got down to his business of cracking, sometimes painfully too soon, but still funny. That meant jokes about the wildfire (poor people don’t like rich people) and not being invited to Diddy parties due to his “snitch energy.”
Oh, and we have to mention that Glorilla was the musical guest.
Near the end of his set, Chappelle shared a story about President Jimmy Carter, who recently passed away, which inevitably led to some advice for the next president.
“Here’s the thing, on Monday, Donald Trump is coming back. He’ll be the 47th president. He’s done it again,” Chappelle said, before going into a story about being in the Middle East shortly after he infamously, abruptly quit Chappelle’s Show, while Carter visited Israel.
“While he [Carter] was in Israel, a book of his was released whose title was very controversial in Israel. The title of the book was, ‘Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid,’” he said.
Chappelle detailed Carter visiting Palestine, despite protest that it wouldn’t be safe and with little security, and receiving immense praise from the Palestinian people. “It brought tears to my eyes,” recalled Chappelle. “I said, ‘I don’t know if that was a good president, but that right there is a great man.’ It made me feel very proud.”
He then added, “The presidency is no place for petty people. So, Donald Trump, I know you watch the show… Man, remember, people, whether they voted for you or not, they are all counting on you. Whether they like you or not, they are all counting on you. The whole world is counting on you.”
Good luck with that, sincerely.
Chappelle then added, “I mean this when I say this, good luck. Please, do better next time. Please, all of us, do better next time. Do not forget your humanity, and please have empathy for displaced people, whether they are in the Palisades or Palestine.”
It was Dave Chappelle’s fourth time hosting Saturday Night Live. Watch his full monologue below.
Dave Chappelle took aim at Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ alleged freak-off parties during Saturday Night Live‘s first episode of 2025.
The veteran comedian, returning to SNL for his fourth time as host on Jan. 18, opened his 17-minute monologue with a mix of humor and sharp commentary. He touched on topics like the Los Angeles wildfires and Donald Trump’s bizarre comments about eating cats and dogs in Ohio, before turning his attention to the embattled hip-hop mogul, who is currently facing multiple charges, including sex trafficking.
“I’ve been in a lot of trouble in my day but this guy Puffy, oh buddy, this guy is in an enormous amount of trouble; I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this,” Chappelle said, sitting on a stool and smoking a cigarette.
Chappelle, who was joined by musical guest GloRilla, continued to riff on Diddy’s alleged behavior, sharing that friends had asked him why he wasn’t involved in Diddy’s so-called “freak-off” parties.
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“They’d be like, ‘Well how were all these people you know at the freak-off and you were the only one who wasn’t at the freak-off?’ And I thought about it for a minute and I said, ‘Oh my God — I’m ugly,’” he joked. “That was a tough way to find that out. Can you imagine if you were me reading the newspaper and found out everyone in Hollywood had an orgy behind your back? None of y’all called me?”
The comedian also touched on the federal raid of Diddy’s homes in Miami and Los Angeles in March 2024, where agents reportedly seized more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant as evidence.
“I’m 51 and I don’t think I’ve ever finished a bottle of baby oil in my life,” Chappelle remarked. “Clearly, Puff is committed to the lifestyle. A thousand bottles? Thank God they caught him before those fires — can you imagine the mushroom cloud over his house?” he added, referring to the L.A. wildfires.
Chappelle shared the stage with SNL‘s musical guest, GloRilla, who made her musical guest debut with a performance of “Yeah Glo!” from her 2024 mixtape Ehhthang Ehhthang. She also performed a medley of “Whatchu Kno About Me” and “Let Her Cook” from her solo debut, Glorious.
SNL is currently in its 50th season, with a special anniversary episode scheduled for Feb. 16. This season has featured high-profile hosts like Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, John Mulaney and Chris Rock, while musical guests have included Hozier, Gracie Abrams and Stevie Nicks.
SNL returns on Jan. 25 with Timothée Chalamet pulling double duty as both host and musical guest. Chalamet recently portrayed Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, the biopic directed by James Mangold, and performed all of his own vocals in the film.
Watch Chappelle’s full SNL monologue below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.
GloRilla officially stepped into Studio 8H on Jan. 18, marking her highly anticipated Saturday Night Live debut as the musical guest alongside host Dave Chappelle.
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The 25-year-old Memphis rapper opened her performance in dramatic fashion, donning an orange jumpsuit and standing behind bars on a jail-themed set that later transitioned into a front porch scene. She performed “Yeah Glo!” from her 2024 mixtape, Ehhthang Ehhthang. The anthemic track has earned GloRilla two Grammy nominations for best rap song and best rap performance at the upcoming 2025 ceremony, set to air Feb. 2.
Later in the show, GloRilla returned for a dynamic medley of tracks from her 2024 debut album, Glorious, which hit No. 5 on the Billboard 200. The performance featured a vibrant pink and purple backdrop, with GloRilla and her dancers delivering energetic choreography. She mashed up “Whatchu Kno About Me” and “Let Her Cook,” wearing a shiny pink ensemble.
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GloRilla’s SNL debut comes three months after the release of Glorious, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The project spawned the single “TGIF,” which peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, Glo’s highest-reaching unaccompanied entry on the chart.
SNL is currently in its 50th season, with a special anniversary episode planned for Feb. 16. This season has seen appearances from high-profile hosts like Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, John Mulaney and Chris Rock, while musical guests have included Hozier, Gracie Abrams and Stevie Nicks, among others.
SNL returns on Jan. 25 with Timothée Chalamet pulling double duty as both host and musical guest. Chalamet recently portrayed Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, the biopic directed by James Mangold. The Dune actor performed all of his own vocals in the film.
Watch GloRilla’s SNL performances below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.
Dave Chappelle is set to host Saturday Night Live for the fourth time this weekend (Jan. 18), with GloRilla making her musical guest debut.
In a promotional clip for the upcoming episode posted on Thursday (Jan. 16), SNL fan-favorite cast member Marcello Hernández says, “Man, what a chaotic time in the world. I’m so glad that you’re here to bring us together and remind us of what makes us human.”
When Chappelle goes to thank him, Hernández hilariously clarifies, “I was actually talking to GloRilla.” An immediately flattered Glo then tells the comedian, “Thanks, BB!”
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Elsewhere in the promo, Hernández tells GloRilla how much he loves her 2024 hit, “Yeah, Glo!,” explaining to the rapper that “if it was in Spanish, it would be like ‘Si, Glo!’”
“Oh, I like that. You gonna keep going?” Glo asks, wondering if he’ll deliver the expletive-filled hook in Spanish as well. “I don’t know, I gotta translate,” a flustered Hernández replies with a laugh.
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GloRilla’s SNL debut comes three months after the release of the Memphis rapper’s debut solo album, Glorious, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200. The project spawned the single “TGIF,” which peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, Glo’s highest-reaching unaccompanied entry on the chart.
Watch the promo below, and catch the full episode of Saturday Night Live on Jan. 18 at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC, before it begins streaming on Peacock.
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Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson of The Roots is one of the foremost minds in music knowledge and history today, using his platforms and connections to the industry to great effect. Questlove, an Academy Award-winning director, is set to hit the chair once more to helm the 50 Years of SNL Music documentary.
Questlove, 53, was tapped to direct the 50 Years of SNL Music documentary, looking back at the sketch comedy series’ special segment for its musical guests over the past five decades.
Joining in on the directing duties will be SNL director Oz Rodriguez and will feature more than 50 interviews from some of the past guests such as Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Run-DMC fame, Miley Cyrus, Paul Simon, and more. The doc will also feature former and current SNL writers and crew members including onscreen albums Maya Rudolph and Bill Hader, and former writer Conan O’Brien.
“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 shared in a 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.”
Questlove’s Summer of Soul documentary, which examines the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2022.
Eddie Murphy, Al Franken, Justin Timberlake, Kenan Thompson, and a host of other significant SNL contributors and guests will also appear in 50 Years of SNL Music.
The documentary airs on Monday, January 27, on NBC at 8 p.m. ET/PT, streaming next day on Peacock.
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A local community theater director, accurately portrayed by Martin Short, comes in to critique a performance of A Charlie Brown Christmas in SNL‘s Peanuts Christmas sketch that aired Saturday night (Dec. 21).
The SNL ensemble is full of spot-on spoofs of Peanuts characters in the sketch (hats off to the wardrobe and props departments), and they’re bopping away to the classic theme song “Linus and Lucy.”
Drake Tuttle (Short, who hosted Saturday’s holiday episode of SNL) is joined by a self-proclaimed “genius” choreographer named Lestat (Bowen Yang). In full transparency, Tuttle discloses that they’ve been romantically involved. (They “used to date,” he says, “and our relationship is very weird.”)
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“Your principal hired me to direct your pageant,” he tells the Peanuts crew, to protests that Charlie Brown is their director.
“And I’m sorry to say he’s dead,” Tuttle announces, pausing for dramatic effect before adding, “to me.”
Tuttle tries to give notes. Lestat tries to incorporate modern hip-hip into the production. Nothing quite goes their way, until they discover their star: Snoopy (Kenan Thompson).
The sketch arrives while the soundtrack for A Charlie Brown Christmas from the Vince Guaraldi Trio, originally released in 1965, currently sits at No. 1 on the Billboard Kid Albums chart, thanks to the Christmastime popularity of the special.
Watch SNL‘s Peanuts Christmas below. For those watching with kids, be warned there’s some innuendo here, particularly when it comes to the jokes Short and Yang direct toward Schroeder — and unlike the actual animated Peanuts specials, what the grownups say can be heard on SNL‘s special.
For more holiday laughs, check out Saturday night’s Sábado Gigante Christmas Special sketch, and for a musical fix, don’t miss Hozier’s performance.
Sábado Gigante ended in 2015, but SNL brought the long-running variety show back to TV, at least via short-form comedy, this season.
Cast member Marcello Hernández plays Don Francisco in the Dec. 21 episode’s Sábado Gigante Christmas Special sketch, also starring guest Paul Rudd as a clueless audience member who doesn’t speak Spanish yet finds himself on the Sábado Gigante stage. It’s a reprisal of the role for Hernández, who first appeared as the Chilean TV star in an SNL sketch in October, when Nate Bargatze was the one who had no idea what was happening on Sábado Gigante.
Rudd, playing a man named Greg, is called to the stage as a contestant in Saturday night’s skit.
“Dónde está Greg?” Hernández announces, then waves “mi gringo favorito” over to the spotlight.
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“I’m not supposed to be here,” says Rudd, who looks lost. “I missed my flight out of Miami, and instead of a voucher, they gave me a ticket to this show.”Hernández, in a silly Santa hat, ignores him completely and instructs him to choose a number.
Rudd picks “uno.” This turns out to be an unfortunate choice: “Miami Frosty,” or Frosty the Snowman melting in the sun and crying, “Yo soy agua,” is unveiled, to Rudd’s discomfort. “Oh, Greg. Como se dice, ‘You killed him’?” Hernández asks with feigned horror.
Later in the segment, he realizes he’s being asked a question with a prize of $1 million and needs to give Hernández an answer — rápido. Unfortunately, this question proves to puzzle poor Greg.
Watch SNL‘s Sábado Gigante Christmas Special below. Elsewhere during Saturday’s holiday episode of SNL, which was hosted by Martin Short, Hozier performed his hit “Too Sweet” and a cover of The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York.”