Saturday Night Lives’s 40th anniversary pretty much had everyone who’s famous on the red carpet. SNL’s famous skits were performed and all the original casts or hosts were back for this major event.
In the words of Bill Hader’s Stefon, this anniversary had everything: veterans (Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David), current pop-culture fixtures (Taylor Swift, Kerry Washington, Miley Cyrus), former hosts (Tom Hanks, Derek Jeter, Alec Baldwin), willing butts of the joke (Sarah Palin)
Music played a big part of the festivities anniversary. Starting with Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake’s opening song and dance number, which channeled years of famous catchphrases and characters. Kanye West also performed a medley of tunes — “Jesus Walks,” “Only One” and “Wolves,” — while Martin Short and Maya Rudolph, acting as Beyoncé, helmed a tribute to SNL’s best musical-comedy moments— including Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer as Marty and Bobby Culp, and Bill Murray as lounge singer, Nick Ocean.
The night was three and a half hours prime-time special celebrating Saturday Night Live ’s fortieth year on the air.
A total of 109 guests have been announced as appearing on the special, as promoted in a series of three teaser trailers.
