Watch The SNL 40th Anniversary Special

On February 15, 2015, NBC aired a special program celebrating the 40th anniversary of one of its most legendary shows, Saturday Night Live. The SNL 40th Anniversary Special was a 3.5-hour-long live broadcast that brought together a star-studded cast of comedians, musicians, and actors who had been part of the show at some point during its forty years of existence.

The special was hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler, three of the most beloved alumni of SNL. The show was divided into several segments that honored different decades of the show's history. Each segment included a mix of classic sketches, musical performances, and interviews with former cast members, writers, and special guests who had contributed to the show's success over the years.

The first segment of the show paid tribute to the show's pioneering years in the 1970s, with sketches featuring the original cast members such as Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, and Jane Curtin. One of the highlights of this segment was a musical performance by Paul McCartney, who played "Maybe I'm Amazed" in honor of his late wife, Linda McCartney, who had been a huge fan of SNL.

The second segment celebrated the show's rise to fame in the 1980s, with sketches featuring such icons as Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, and Martin Short. One of the most memorable moments in this segment was the return of one of the show's most beloved characters, Wayne Campbell, played by Mike Myers. Wayne Campbell, along with his sidekick Garth Algar (played by Dana Carvey), hosted a special edition of their cable-access show from the basement of Wayne's house, with special appearances by Kanye West, Tom Hanks, and Bill Murray.

The third segment paid tribute to the show's domination of the pop culture landscape in the 1990s, with sketches featuring memorable characters such as Matt Foley, the motivational speaker played by Chris Farley, and Mary Katherine Gallagher, the awkward Catholic schoolgirl played by Molly Shannon. This segment also included a touching tribute to the late Phil Hartman, who had been one of the show's most talented cast members until his tragic death in 1998.

The fourth segment was dedicated to the show's more recent years, with sketches featuring newer cast members such as Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, and Jimmy Fallon. One of the highlights of this segment was a musical performance by the legendary Paul Simon, who was joined on stage by a group of SNL favorites such as Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Andy Samberg.

Throughout the show, there were also several segments that featured special guests who had never been part of the show but who had been influenced by it in some way. One of these segments featured Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey, and Larry David, who talked about how SNL had inspired them to pursue careers in comedy. Another segment featured guest appearances by Steven Spielberg, Robert De Niro, and Tom Hanks, who shared some of their favorite memories of the show.

The SNL 40th Anniversary Special was a true celebration of a cultural phenomenon that had defined American comedy for four decades. It was a nostalgic trip down memory lane that reminded viewers of the show's most iconic moments, but it was also a testament to its continued relevance in the modern era. The show's legacy is felt not only in the careers of its famous alumni but also in the countless comedians, writers, and actors who have been inspired by its groundbreaking approach to comedy.

The SNL 40th Anniversary Special is a series that ran for 1 seasons (1 episodes) between February 15, 2015 and on