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The “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert,” held at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, was a star-studded event celebrating five decades of “Saturday Night Live.”. Jimmy Fallon hosted” the musical, which included elements of musical programming and comedic skits, with a large number of celebrities and past cast members in the audience.
A standout moment of the evening occurred when Hollywood couple Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson humorously “stormed out” during Fallon’s opening remarks. Fallon explained to the audience, “Apparently there has been some misunderstanding. This is just a concert. We’re not giving out any awards tonight.” In a playful response, Hanks and Wilson rose from their seats and made their way toward the exit, with Wilson playfully wagging her finger at the camera. Fallon, noticing their departure, quipped, “Tom? Rita? We lost Tom Hanks and Rita. Sorry. It wasn’t their fault.”
This goofy section went over well with the crowd, highlighting Hanks’ vaudevillian ties to “SNL. Having hosted the show ten times and made numerous cameos, Hanks is a prominent member of the “Five-Timers Club,” an elite group of celebrities who have hosted “SNL” five times or more.
The concert was aural spectacle in itself, with performances from the likes of Miley Cyrus, Bad Bunny, and the Backstreet Boys. One memorable highlight included the Backstreet Boys playfully coaxing comedian Jerry Seinfeld into singing parts of their hit “I Want It That Way,” much to the delight of the audience.
Beside the musical acts, the celebration of the event commemorated the “fertile” comedic past of “SNL” (e.g., Black, 2017, filmmaker, New York Times). Notable moments included Tracy Morgan reprising his character “Astronaut Jones” and Andy Samberg delivering a medley of “The Lonely Island” hits. Additionally, concertgoers heard the vocal abilities of former cast members such as Ana Gasteyer and Maya Rudolph, who performed well on stage.
The evening culminated In an exclusive after-party hosted by “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels at the soon-to-open San Vicente West Village club. Lady Gaga, still in her dramatic stage clothes, chatted with fellow guests—from Cher to Eddie Vedder to Kevin Costner and the rest of A-listers, among them—and moved the mood at greater force through the night.
Overall, the “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert” was a fitting tribute to the show’s enduring impact on comedy and music, blending nostalgia with contemporary performances and memorable comedic moments.
