SNL50: The Anniversary Special

SNL 50: The Anniversary Special was a highly anticipated event, bringing together past and present cast members, legendary hosts, and iconic sketches to celebrate five decades of Saturday Night Live. While the nostalgia factor was strong and there were definitely some standout moments, the special ultimately felt like a mixed bag, earning a solid 6 out of 10 from me.

The best parts of the show were the well-executed callbacks to classic sketches and the surprise guest appearances. Seeing former cast members reprise their roles brought back great memories, and there were a few genuinely funny new bits that reminded us why SNL has lasted so long. The tribute segments honoring late cast members and behind-the-scenes legends were also touching and well done.

However, the pacing was inconsistent, and some segments felt like filler rather than a true celebration of SNL's legacy. While nostalgia is great, certain sketches dragged on too long or felt more like a rehash than a fresh take. Additionally, the balance between old and new cast members felt a bit off-while longtime fans may have enjoyed the throwbacks, newer audiences might have felt a little left out.

Overall, SNL 50 was a fun but flawed tribute. It had some great highs but also some lows that kept it from being truly great. A solid watch for longtime fans, but not quite the perfect anniversary special it could have been.

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.

They brought an impressive array of celebrities and past cast members for this much anticipated special. Wondering who might pop up next did hold your attention. The novelty of seeing past and current cast members and the odd celebrity thrown together in skits was entertaining to some degree. There were also skits that mixed characters from different seasons, or were modern versions of old skits - all adding a novelty to the show.

BUT BUT BUT!! But novelty is not enough for a comedy show. Strip away the novelty and the skits simply weren't funny or clever or well fleshed out. The only skit that struck as funny at all was the UFO sketch with Kate McKinnon, Meryl Streep, Jon Hamm, Woody Harrelson, Pedro Pascal, and Aidy Bryant. The humor was mostly due to Kate's dialogue and delivery (and Harrelson and Pascal trying not to crack). Overall there's disappointingly little that sticks out at memorable, which is sad for a 50th anniversary show crammed with celebrities.

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.