
As you probably know, I am an SNL fanatic and have been since the first episode aired in October 1975. I also host a podcast called "That Show Hasn't Been Funny in Years: An SNL Podcast" on the Radio Misfits Podcast Network.
This is a very special year for us "Saturday Night Live" fans because it is the show's 50th anniversary. Several special events and shows are part of the season-long celebration, and I am excited about every one of them.
When you think of "Saturday Night Live," chances are the first thing that comes to mind is comedy: the sketches, the monologues, the iconic Weekend Update desk. But "Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music" proves that music has always been as integral to the show's identity as the laughs.
Co-directed by Questlove ("Summer of Soul") and Oz Rodriguez, this documentary is more than just a retrospective—it's an exhilarating, deeply emotional tribute to the vital role music has played in SNL's five-decade history. Airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock, this special is a rich tapestry of interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and performances that will leave you in awe of just how much this show has contributed to the musical and cultural zeitgeist.
The special's brilliance is evident from its opening sequence. Questlove and Rodriguez start with a breathtaking 10-minute musical montage that flows like a perfectly mixed DJ set. It's not just a collection of clips slapped together; it's a meticulously curated, genre-spanning journey that transitions seamlessly from 1975 to 2024.
Stevie Nicks morphs into Kendrick Lamar, David Bowie blends into Miley Cyrus, and you're left spellbound as the beats, rhythms, and eras all converge into one cohesive piece. This opening isn't just an appetizer—it's an entire course of artistry that had me grinning ear to ear and set the tone for everything that followed.
The documentary then dives into SNL's first foray into music with Billy Preston, the very first musical guest, in 1975. From there, it explores how the chaotic, funky, risk-taking energy of 1970s New York shaped the show's early identity.
Cast members like Jane Curtin and Bill Hader and current stars like Ego Nwodim offer insights into how SNL became a stage where emerging artists could take bold creative risks. And it wasn't just the guest musicians pushing boundaries—the cast members were doing it, too. The show dedicates time to the musical sketches that became iconic in their own right.
Eddie Murphy's hilarious and pitch-perfect impressions of Stevie Wonder and James Brown are revisited, and we even hear Murphy himself reflect on how he initially resisted the now-classic "Celebrity Hot Tub" sketch before he fully embraced it.
Of course, no SNL music special would be complete without a deep dive into the Blues Brothers. Questlove and Rodriguez peel back the layers on how John Belushi's frustration with the Killer Bees sketch unexpectedly birthed a music phenomenon. You hear band members, writers, and even Belushi's friends explain how this parody act didn't just become popular—it revived an entire music genre.
The Blues Brothers brought blues back into the mainstream, highlighting overlooked African-American artists and injecting new life into a struggling genre. Watching how a comedy show managed to do that is both fascinating and inspiring.
The special also gives us some unexpected delights, like Fred Armisen's punk rock wedding sketch, which Sarah Sherman calls one of her all-time favorites. Armisen's love for music bleeds through every frame of his work, and the special celebrates his unique ability to blend hardcore punk with absurdist comedy.
Then there's Adam Sandler, who reflects on how goofy songs like "The Chanukah Song" became comedy staples and helped define his career.
One of the documentary's most compelling segments is its focus on The Lonely Island. For those of us who lived through the mid-2000s, you'll remember how Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer revolutionized SNL and how we consumed comedy with their digital shorts.
From "Lazy Sunday" to "Dick in a Box," the special explores how The Lonely Island didn't just make us laugh—they created genuinely good music. Hearing Justin Timberlake and The Lonely Island crew talk about their creative process adds a new layer of appreciation for how much these sketches changed the game.
The documentary's emotional depth truly shines in its tribute to Hal Willner, the longtime SNL music producer who brought an avant-garde sensibility to the show. Willner wasn't afraid to take risks, booking artists like David Bowie and Captain Beefheart when others might have played it safe.
Questlove and Rodriguez pay heartfelt tribute to his legacy, and seeing his work celebrated so lovingly is a reminder of the unsung heroes behind the scenes who made SNL what it is today.
The special doesn't shy away from controversy, either. Kanye West's many headline-grabbing moments on the show are given their due, from his boundary-pushing performances to his infamous 2018 MAGA-hat meltdown.
Questlove and Rodriguez don't sugarcoat anything. They show the chaos and the fallout while also acknowledging Kanye's role as an innovator who changed how musical performances were staged on the show.
The same goes for other controversial moments, like Sinéad O'Connor tearing up the Pope's photo or the punk band Fear causing mayhem during their 1981 Halloween performance. These moments underline how SNL has always been a live, unpredictable platform where anything can happen.
Another highlight is the segment on musical guests who pulled double duty as hosts, a notoriously difficult challenge. Watching Bad Bunny navigate an entire week of pre-filming, blocking, rehearsing, and performing is both exhausting and inspiring.
The same goes for Billie Eilish, Mick Jagger, and others who've managed to pull off the near-impossible feat of being both host and musical guest. Questlove's camera takes us behind the scenes to reveal the sheer effort and dedication it takes to make those performances look effortless.
The documentary also captures SNL's resilience during pivotal moments in history. From Paul Simon's emotional post-9/11 performance of "The Boxer" to Jack White's electrifying last-minute fill-in during the pandemic, these moments showcase the show's ability to adapt and remain relevant, even in the face of global challenges.
Jack White's story of performing on a five-day fast is both funny and awe-inspiring. It encapsulates the "show must go on" spirit of SNL.
The final montage is as breathtaking as the opening one. It features hundreds of clips from SNL's musical history, culminating in Paul McCartney's 1993 performance of "Let It Be." It's a perfect, bittersweet note to end on, a reminder of the transcendent power of music and its ability to connect us across generations.
Ultimately, "Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music" isn't just a celebration of SNL's musical legacy—it's a celebration of music itself. Questlove and Oz Rodriguez have crafted a documentary that's as entertaining as enlightening.
Whether you're a die-hard SNL fan or just someone who loves great music, this special will leave you inspired, nostalgic, and maybe even a little teary-eyed.
It's streaming on Peacock now, and trust me—you don't want to miss this one. It's not just a documentary; it's an experience and one of the best tributes to SNL I've ever seen. - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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