Only winning jokes in this building.
After Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon kicked off SNL 50: An Anniversary Special with a performance of “Homeward Bound”—which Paul performed on the show with George Harrison back in 1976—Steve Martin took the stage to deliver Saturday Night Live‘s trademark monologue. And during his rousing set, he was joined by BFF Martin Short and John Mulaney.
Steve, who first hosted the show in season two, remarked on the star-studded audience before stressing that the “heart and soul” of SNL is its writing staff—before the show cut to a group of past and present writers standing outside 30 Rockefeller Center in the rain. Cue John, who as a former writer gave his unfiltered thoughts on the very many celebrities to take the stage at the iconic studio 8H for their turn as host.
“We writers really appreciated that tribute, but I believe that the heart and soul of this show is the celebrity hosts, many of whom are in this room tonight,” he told Steve. “You know, as I look around, he continued I see some of the most difficult people in my entire life.”
And then, he shared a jaw-dropping stat.
“Over the course of 50 years, 894 people have hosted Saturday Night Live, and it amazes me that only two of them have committed murder,” the comedian noted, alluding to the murder trial of O.J. Simpson, who hosted the show in 1978, and 1982 host Robert Blake, accused of fatally shooting his Bonny Lee Bakley in 2001. “Each week, a new celebrity host comes in with their own dynamic, and they throw everything off. But not you, Steve, because you have no dynamic.” (O.J. and Robert were both aquitted in their cases.)
But after John’s mic-dropping allusion to O.J. and Robert—as well as and frequent host Alec Baldwin, whose manslaughter charges for the fatal rust shooting were dropped last this year—he swiftly departed. Only for a beleaguered Martin to take the stage and lament that he was under the impression that he and Steve were hosting together.
However, after joking that his bestie is among the only Canadian stars who didn’t get the Schitt’s Creek call, Steve quickly set ICE members (Mikey Day and Devon Walker) on Martin before congratulating himself on a monologue well done. And for those not a fan?
“Maybe you should get up and take a good look at yourself in the mirror and say to yourself, ‘What have I become? This can’t be Steve’s fault,'” he advised. “And ask yourselves, ‘When did I abandon joy? And what can I bring to the monologue as an audience member?'”
Keep reading to see all the stars who stepped out to celebrate the iconic show…
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
Kim Kardashian
Miley Cyrus
Pete Davidson
Dakota Johnson
Lady Gaga and Michael Polansky
Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost
Jackie Sandler and Adam Sandler
Kenan Thompson
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
Sabrina Carpenter
Meryl Streep
Eddie Murphy
Emma Stone and Dave McCary
Alexander Edwards and Cher
Bad Bunny
Amy Poehler
Tina Fey
Maya Rudolph
Miles Teller and Keleigh Sperry Teller
Drew Barrymore
Zahra Rock and Chris Rock
Will Ferrell
Chris Fischer and Amy Schumer
Chris Pine
Kate McKinnon
Sandra Oh
Lauren Miller and Seth Rogen
Nick Jonas
Aidy Bryant
