SNL Celebrates 50 Years with Poehler, Fey, and Political Satire

Saturday Night Live marked its 50th anniversary yesterday with a star-studded show hosted by Amy Poehler, featuring sharp political commentary and appearances from Tina Fey and Aubrey Plaza.

Poehler, a former cast member, delivered a monologue reflecting on the show’s history and the evolving landscape of comedy, joking about the potential for AI to replace human performers. She later portrayed former Attorney General Pam Bondi in a sketch revisiting her contentious Senate hearing with Democrats, responding to a hypothetical question about the deployment of National Guard troops with, “Before I don’t answer, I’d like to insult you personally.” Fey made a surprise appearance as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, pitching potential recruits to Immigration and Customs Enforcement with pointed questions like, “Do you need a job now?” and “Do you take supplements that you bought at a gas station?”

The episode also included a parody of the Netflix series “The Hunting Wives,” featuring Aubrey Plaza, and a “Weekend Update” segment with a reunion of past and present anchors – Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Colin Jost, and Michael Che. Musical guest Role Model performed “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out” with a special appearance by Charli XCX. The anniversary celebration comes as SNL continues to be a significant cultural touchstone, influencing comedy and political discourse.

The show concluded with a tribute to Diane Keaton, who passed away earlier Saturday at the age of 79, as announced by her daughter. Sabrina Carpenter is scheduled to host and perform on next week’s episode of Saturday Night Live.