Although Saturday Night Live aired over the weekend, the episode marked a special occasion for the hit show. Marking the 50th anniversary, Lorne Michaels and the production made sure to make the night memorable. Wanting to pull out all the stops, the studio was packed with cast members and numerous celebrities. Among those who came out to celebrate SNL50 were Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler, Bill Murray, and even Chevy Chase. But no episode of SNL would be complete without a musical guest. And there seemed no better way to end the show than with Paul McCartney performing a few hit songs from Abbey Road.
Introduced by Martin Short, McCartney shared his excitement with being on the stage during the historic moment. Over the last 50 years, the show welcomed countless stars to its stage. It even helped launch the careers of many comedians. Knowing how important the moment was, McCartney decided to cover hits like “Carry That Weight” and “The End.”
Online, fans loved the performance from McCartney, with comments reading, “The best part of this is that Paul actually sang it LIVE, without the use of AutoTune or any pitch correction. Sure, his voice is off-key and cracks a few times, but it’s real. Almost no big names are actually singing this genuinely anymore, and seeing an 82 year old man do it is incredible. Long live Macca.” Another fan shared a picture of McCartney with Chris Farley. And one person was just happy to still be alive to watch the singer perform, “What an honor to share time in this world with Paul McCartney. What an honor to still be able to watch him perform.”
Fans Noticed One ‘SNL50’ Great Missing
Although the studio was packed with guests, actors, and celebrities, many noticed that Dan Aykroyd skipped SNL50. While some wondered about his absence, Aykroyd shared on Twitter just days before the show, “Cracking a Head with pride at having been a co-founder of SNL along with everyone we were together with in those four years, five decades ago. This telecast is as historical as the next moon landing. Comedy stars of our age all gathered under the aegis of America’s greatest living impresario, my boss Lorne Michaels. People it’s friggin’ Holy!!”
With 50 years already passed, SNL continues to move forward, embracing the future while sharing more than a few laughs.