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Must-See Sketches From SNL's 40th Anniversary Blowout
By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 16, 2015
Modified Feb 16, 2015
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 16, 2015
Modified Feb 16, 2015
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The Best. (Courtesy of SNL)
Last night, departing from their normal timeslot, Saturday Night Live celebrated 40 years on the air. If you don't have TV, they've made most of the show available online—check out some of the best sketches below:
Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake kicked the big show off by rapping the history of SNL:
The monologue was led by Steve Martin, who was joined by Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin, Melissa McCarthy, Chris Rock, Peyton Manning, Miley Cyrus, Billy Crystal, Paul McCartney and Paul Simon:
The best 5 minutes may have been the audition reels—which showed everyone from Gilda Radner to Amy Poehler (check out more here):
Or maybe it was the return of Wayne and Garth to Cable 10:
Will Ferrel returned to host Jeopardy!, with his old pals Sean Connery and Turd Ferguson:
Martin Short and Beyoncé (Maya Rudolph) were joined by some of the show's greatest musical guests, including Opera Man (Adam Sandler) and King Tut:
Adam Sandler teamed up with Andy Samberg for a new Digital Short:
Weekend Update with Tina Fey, Amy Poehler & Jane Curtin (with special appearance from Emma Stone as Gilda Radner's iconic Roseanne Roseannadanna):
But there were men behind the desk, too, here's a look back at anchors Chevy Chase, Seth Meyers, Dan Aykroyd, Jimmy Fallon, Dennis Miller and more.
One of the show's best hosts, Louis C.K. was there to introduce a compilation of SNL's short films, including Mr. Bill, TV Funhouse, The Ambiguously Gay Duo and SNL Digital Shorts:
Here's Chris Rock getting Eddie Murphy back out on the Studio 8H stage:
Jack Nicholson talked politics:
Jerry Seinfeld took questions from a star-studded audience, and even catches up with Larry David, an old SNL scribe:
Robert De Niro introduces a supercut of sketches that pay homage to New York City
The Super Bass-O-Matic is back and better than ever—here's Dan Aykroyd to tell you why:
Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin paid tribute to Tracy Morgan, who was injured last year in a car crash.
Miley Cyrus kind of killed it on "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover":
Here's Kanye's medley:
Repping the old school were Paul Simon and Paul McCartney:
Here's Bill Murray honoring the SNL family members who are no longer with us:
And finally, the long goodbye:
Of course, the best stuff probably happened at the after party... more on that here.
Tagged
saturday night live
snl
snl 40
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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