SNL 50: The Homecoming Concert’s Untold Moments

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On Friday evening, the “SNL 50: Homecoming Concert” held at Radio City Music Hall was undeniably one of the most star-studded and musically diverse concerts in recent times.

The concert that occurred prior to the three-hour anniversary special of the show on Sunday, featured performances by artists such as Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus, Cher, Lady Gaga (who was part of a musical sketch with Lonely Island and later performed “Shallow”), Nirvana under the leadership of Post Malone, Backstreet Boys, Snoop Dog, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef, David Byrne, Arcade Fire and St. Vincent, Eddie Vedder, Devo, The White Stripes, and many others.

As a dedicated SNL enthusiast, I found myself among fellow fans and insiders during the performance. Many of the artists on stage had some link to Saturday Night Live, as did the exclusive audience, which consisted of people who had worked behind the scenes at the late-night sketch show or were connected in some way to its talented cast members.

Jimmy Fallon presided over the evening’s festivities, launching with a lively tribute to the Blues Brothers. However, before he made his entrance, Michael Che stepped up and warmed up the crowd for our live telecast on Peacock, taking note of some big-name celebrities seated in the audience.

“Hello Adam Sandler, how are you? This is crazy,” he said. 

Below are a few behind-the-scenes moments you have may missed on camera.

The Performances Continued Into the Lobby

Among the memorable partnerships that took place, a notable one involved Arcade Fire, St. Vincent, David Byrne, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band joining forces.

Following their stage performance, Arcade Fire and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band carried on playing, strolling through the orchestra and into the foyer. Spectators applauded and encouraged them, with Jon Hamm joining in the celebration as he passed by.

During the commercial intervals inside the theater, spectators enjoyed viewing old musical performances from Saturday Night Live (SNL) on screen. Meanwhile, figures like Jim Gaffigan and Pete Davidson stepped out for a brief conversation in the foyer at one point.

Starry Seating Arrangement

The orchestra was teeming with high-profile personalities such as Steven Spielberg, Kevin Costner, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, Meryl Streep and Martin Short, Pedro Pascal, Billy Crystal, numerous ex- and current SNL cast members like Bowen Yang, Andy Samberg, Kristin Wiig, Keegan-Michael Key, and more, with Paul Rudd sitting front row and being acknowledged frequently by the presenters.

In the center orchestra area, the spotlight was on Lorne Michaels, and right in front of him were Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. As Jimmy Fallon humorously commented at the beginning of the show, “It’s cute. The seating arrangement seems to reflect how much Lorne cherishes each person.

Poehler was often seen grooving to the tunes, whereas Michaels remained stationary for several songs alongside the audience; otherwise, he didn’t join in the dancing.

In the seats slightly farther back were Alec Baldwin, Hilaria Baldwin, and Jerry Seinfeld. Later on, during a break in the action, it seemed like Seinfeld took a selfie with Ice Spice.

Jason Momoa strolled down the aisle, carrying two beers and energetically dancing as he moved towards the stage, all while Snoop Dogg was performing and smoking cannabis, filling the auditorium with the aroma.

Biggest Cheers and Standing Ovations

Throats filled with gasps and shrieks echoed through the theater as Fred Armisen, dressed as Prince, declared Cher as the upcoming musical act. This was just one instance where the crowd rose to their feet in an instant. The announcement of performances by The Backstreet Boys and Bad Bunny similarly caused immediate standing ovations.

As Lady Gaga switched to a higher pitch during her “Shallow” performance, it seemed like the audience spontaneously gathered, forming collectively, as if they had been instinctively drawn there.

During the night, the energy escalated significantly as Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer reappeared as their strict music teacher characters Marty and Bobbi Mohan-Culp. This duo had many spectators in stitches. They played some current hits, such as Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” causing the whole audience to join in on the line “a minor.” Their performance also included Britney Spears’ “Work Bitch,” Sam Smith and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Body.” This act was the only one during the evening that received a standing ovation from the crowd.

At the beginning of the event, Miley Cyrus, an early performer, encouraged the audience to participate actively right from the start.

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: “Hey everyone, you know how some stars don’t join in on the singing during performances? Well, not tonight! Let’s all belt out ‘Flowers’ together!

Chevy Chase

Towards the closing stages of the broadcast, there was an unexpected instance when the initial Saturday Night Live actor, Chevy Chase, made an appearance. He stood off-camera while Fallon was delivering his remarks.

Fallon noticed Chase, seizing the opportunity to give him a firm handshake and express gratitude for his contributions to the program. “We wouldn’t exist without your efforts,” he acknowledged.

The reaction from the audience towards Chase, known for his challenging demeanor and harsh remarks, was noticeably subdued. There were hardly any enthusiastic cheers when he made an appearance.

Chase is also expected to appear as part of the show’s reunion special Sunday. 

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2025-02-15 20:55