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SNL Celebrates 50 Years: Notable Absences Mark the Anniversary Special

Saturday Night Live marked its 50th anniversary with a star-studded gathering, but some key figures were conspicuously absent from the festivities.

On February 16, over 180 former cast members and major celebrities convened at 30 Rockefeller Center for SNL50: The Anniversary Special, celebrating the long-standing legacy of the iconic sketch comedy show.

However, as the evening concluded, fans noted the absence of several prominent personalities, including Dan Aykroyd and Bill Hader.

Aykroyd had shared his thoughts about the milestone just days before the reunion on X, but he did not clarify that he would not be in attendance. In his post, he reflected proudly on his role as a co-founder of SNL, remarking on the historical significance of the anniversary show. “This telecast is as historical as the next moon landing,” he expressed.

He further emphasized the momentous gathering of comedy legends under the leadership of Lorne Michaels, calling the event “friggin’ Holy!!”

As reported by Puck News, Hader, who spent eight years with the show, opted out of the event with a courteous yet firm decline.

Nonetheless, Hader made a brief appearance through a commercial he filmed with Kristen Wiig and Fred Armisen for Volkswagen, bringing a sense of connection despite his absence from the live event.

Further complicating matters, Dick Ebersol, the NBC executive instrumental in giving Michaels the green light to launch SNL in 1975, was also missing due to health concerns.

Another notable absence was Dana Carvey, a cast member from 1986 to 1993. Despite his significant history with the show, Carvey remained silent regarding the anniversary on social media or public platforms.

Colin Quinn, who hosted the show’s “Weekend Update” segment from 1998 to 2000, was also not present for the historic occasion.

The event did host numerous stars, many of whom participated in sketches throughout the nearly four-hour broadcast. Celebrated figures included Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Chevy Chase.

In addition to the familiar faces from the original cast, other noteworthy talents like Sabrina Carpenter, Paul McCartney, Ayo Edebiri, Tom Hanks, and Kim Kardashian were part of the anniversary festivities as well.

Garrett Morris, an original cast member now at the age of 88, made a brief onstage appearance to introduce a classic video sketch featuring John Belushi titled “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” Morris humorously remarked, “I had no idea, ya’ll, that I would be required to do so many reunion shows!”

Source
people.com