In photos: Memorable moments from "SNL 50"
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Steve Martin during the opening monologue of the "SNL50: The Anniversary Special" on Sunday, Feb. 16. Photo: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images
"Saturday Night Live" celebrated 50 years with a three-hour anniversary special that saw A-list appearances and the return of "SNL" alums to the iconic show on Sunday night.
The big picture: Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter kicked off the celebrations with a performance of "Homeward Bound," before "SNL" alum Steve Martin delivered an opening monologue that included a joke about President Trump's decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America."
Zoom in: It was only a few days ago that "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels "told me I was doing the monologue, and I was actually vacationing on a friend's boat down in the 'Gulf of Steve Martin,'" joked the comedian and actor.
- Meryl Streep made her "SNL" debut, while Jack Nicholson made a rare public appearance since retiring from acting. The 87-year-old introduced Adam Sandler who paid a musical tribute to the show.
- Eddie Murphy also put in a star turn, with the "SNL" alum perfectly imitating Tracy Morgan in a "Black Jeopardy" sketch that featured cameos from Chris Rock and Tom Hanks wearing a MAGA hat:
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Editor's note: This article has been updated with more photos and further details.
