SNL50: The Anniversary Special

It is Saturday Night Live at 50. The names don't get much bigger and that's just the audience. This opens with Sabrina Carpenter joining Paul Simon as he reprises his first performance. Paul isn't doing so well. Sabrina's age joke hits hard. Steve Martin's opening monologue also hits when he says that people can be dead by natural causes now. Eddie Murphy playing Tracy Morgan is probably the best. He actually got the others to break. Tom Hanks comes in and brings that skit to a halt. In a way, that is the quintessential SNL experience. Some of it is genius and the next is comedy death. This is better than most episodes by its sheer comedy power.

This has just about everything you could possibly want in an SNL homage. I watched it with my teens who had recently gotten into watching Weekend Updates every week, and it was a blast from the past, blending past and present beautifully. Just watching the crowd, it's fun to look out (and point out) who was there. Right from the get go it was evident everybody channeled real love into this special, and everybody was enjoying their time, well aware of the fact that they were taking part in a historical event. I can't even say exactly what my favorite moment was, but even the nostalgic, emotional beats hit just as hard as the humor.

If you've ever enjoyed SNL, this is well worth your time!

Honestly I know the current cast were backed up by some nostalgia and some superb celebrity cameos but why can't they be this good week, in week out.

They were more ambitious in their ideas and alot more adult orientated in their entertainment. The show has missed the hellraisers of the past and it shows.

You need to have both sides of Americas coin creating content to creating chaos. Left and right divide smashed against itself to create proper comedy.

Standout moments are Adam sandlers 50 years song, the crowd Frequently asked questions and the three time Oscar winner Meryl Streep in the UFO sketch.

How can I be the first human to say something about the 50year anniversary episode of SNL. I'm honored! The cast (and audience) for this is incredible. This is the funnest thing I've seen on TV all year, and don't we all need it! But I'm not gonna get all Debbie Downer now because everyone here is clearly having the time of their lives. Seeing all the familiar faces makes anyone watching feel like they are a part of the family. There's a real feeling of intimacy here, I can only imagine no-one wanted to go home at the end. If there is a place in heaven SNL lovers go to, this is what it looks like! Thanks for 50 years everyone. Keep making America fun, we love you.

Found huge enjoyment... in the 40th Anniversary Special. With the Saturday Night film last year and all the specials running lately, I can't help remembering a show that used to push boundaries. A show willing to be controversial and bizarre. Not always hilarious, but a showcase of comedians being honest and creative.

This "special" felt contrived and safe and not particularly funny. The standouts were Martin's monologue, Sandler's song, Garret Morris introducing a classic Belishi clip, and the scared straight skit.

Everything else was run of the mill, been there done that, tame (ie lame) bits with a few mediocre music performances and lot of celebrities angling for screen time.