'SNL' Turns 50! All the Details We Know So Far About the Anniversary Special

Lorne Michaels had no idea if Saturday Night Live would last beyond its first season when he began writing the show. While speaking to the audience at the Cannes Lion Festival, Michaels admitted that he felt like he had written everything he ever wanted at the end of season one... but for some reason, he just kept going.

Per Deadline, Michaels said, "At the end of the first season, we got Emmys. I’d written everything I ever wanted to write at this point, and I said now would be a good time to leave. I didn’t."

Luckily for fans of the sketch comedy series, Michaels kept going... and going. Now, the show is getting ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary, just in time for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.

When is the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live?

SNL will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024. The show's creator and producer, Lorne Michaels, announced at the Cannes Lions Festival that NBC will put on a special celebrating a half century of the show.

"It will be emotional, but everyone will show up because it’s important," Michaels said. "The planning for it, which has taken the last six months and it’s not happening for another year and a half—there are a lot of events happening."

Who will host and perform at the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live?

An exact list of hosts, performers and special guests has not been released, but viewers can expect to see a lot of familiar faces from the 50 years the show has been on the air. As Michals put it, "You’ll see bands that have left a mark on the show, and stand-ups that were part of it from the beginning or relatively recent."

Where will the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live take place?

The celebration will take place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Michaels shared the vision for the event as it stands, and noted that it could be quite long.

"Right now, there’s a Friday event at Radio City—a kind of homecoming night," he said. "It will have musical acts and stand-ups. Throughout the show, musical things that the cast have done over 50 years will be live. It will probably be streamed because the language won’t be in control, and it will take as long as it takes."

Will the writer's strike impact the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live?

Ideally, the WGA writer's strike will conclude well before the 50th anniversary celebrations commence. Michaels commented briefly on the ongoing dispute and noted, "I’ve been in the [Writers] Guild since 1968, so I’ve seen a fair amount of this. I’m obviously a supporter, and I hope it gets resolved. But that decision will get made, probably, on the West Coast."

How can I watch the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live?

Streaming plans haven't yet been announced, but it's likely that the celebration will be available through a streaming platform, likely Hulu since SNL is an NBC show.

How do I get tickets to the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live?

Ticket information for the public has not yet been shared.