Adam Sandler says he had 'loads of fear' when he was an 'SNL' cast member
It may not seem like actor Adam Sandler would have any fear about anything related to comedy.
But during his five seasons as a cast member on "SNL," beginning in 1990, the he had plenty, he said.
"I’d always go ‘don’t choke, don’t stumble,'" he told red carpet host and fellow "SNL" alum Leslie Jones. "I would choke sometimes. ... I hated that feeling."
Tina Fey says it's 'thrilling' to be back at Studio 8H
Tina Fey echoed other "SNL" alums in describing tonight's special as a "homecoming."
"It feels like a bunch of siblings and cousins," she told Leslie Jones and Willie Geist, who are hosting the NBC red carpet stream.
Fey also reflected on her first day at "SNL," recalling the surreal moment she told security, “I’m here to see Lorne Michaels,” only to sit across from him moments later, staring at the iconic nameplate on his desk.
Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Jon Lovitz and more walk carpet
More "SNL" alums have arrived at 30 Rock ahead of tonight's special.
Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon, Jon Lovitz, Kate McKinnon and other celebs graced the red carpet already.
The red carpet show has begun
The red (black tonight) carpet is here and "SNL" royalty is walking the carpet and stopping for interviews.
Past and present cast members reveal what really goes on behind the scenes
Shortly before “NBC’s Saturday Night” lit up American TV sets on Oct. 11, 1975, producer Lorne Michaels and seven unknown actors and comedians appeared on “The Tomorrow Show,” a late-night talk show with Tom Snyder, to promote their new 90-minute variety series.
Now, 50 years later, the sketch comedy show has gone on to become the most Emmy-decorated television show in history, receiving countless nominations, awards and accolades. And, in 2017, those original cast members were inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
In honor of “SNL’s” golden anniversary, TODAY.com sat down with past and present cast members to learn what really goes on behind the scenes of the late night show — from the anxiety to the exhilaration — what viewers at home might be surprised to find out, along with their takes on the best character breaks and sketches that didn’t go quite as planned.
‘The Californians’ sketch brought back for VW commercial
Next on "The Californians" ... Karina, Devin and Stuart reunite to navigate the streets of L.A. once more with their SoCal accents.
Kristin Wiig, Fred Armisen and Bill Hader reprised their roles from the famous "SNL" sketch for a Volkswagen commercial that aired ahead of tonight's special.
Volkswagen is an official sponsor of SNL50.
While Wiig and Armisen are confirmed guests as guests tonight, Hader gave a "polite decline" to the invitation, according to Puck.
Jimmy Fallon shares his 1998 audition
"SNL" alum Jimmy Fallon appears to be feeling extra nostalgic as the anniversary special approaches.
The “Late Night” host, who helmed Friday's "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert," reflected on his career on the show by posting his audition video to social media.
The roughly 4:30 clip, dated July 13, 1998, shows a young Fallon doing celebrity impressions of stars including Adam Sandler and Jerry Seinfeld.
"I was so nervous. I want to thank Lorne Michaels for everything (And @adamsandler)," Fallon wrote in the post.
How long has Lorne Michaels run 'SNL' ?
Lorne Michaels has presided over the “SNL” empire since the start, with the exception of a brief stretch in the 1980s.
But in recent years, he has been trailed by questions about when he might abdicate the throne. He told The Hollywood Reporter last year he has no immediate intentions to step down.
“Every year there are more and more people that I rely on for other things, but, in the end, you really need someone to say, ‘This is what we’re doing.’ So, I don’t really have an answer; I just know that this is kind of what I do and as long as I can keep doing it, I’ll keep doing it,” said Michaels, who turned 80 in November. “There’s no immediate plan.”
Studio 8H will be a packed house for 'SNL50'
Studio 8H started as the home of the NBC Symphony Orchestra in the 1930s. Now, it has served as the legendary space for “SNL” for the last 50 years.
Tonight, it will be a packed house. “SNL” production designer Keith Raywood, who has worked on the show since 1985, told the New York Post that there will be 450 people in the studio tonight, "which is essentially about 200 people more than we would normally have.”
Many of those in the audience will be friends and family of tonight's special guests. “Imagine all the people who have been on the show — those cast members and hosts," Raywood told the publication. "It’s a lot of people [there to see them]. And, those seats don’t normally exist."
Watch Jenna Bush Hager react to Amy Poehler’s ‘SNL’ impression of her
During a conversation about the upcoming 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live,” “TODAY’s” Jenna Bush Hager and "SNL" alum Amy Poehler rewatched Poehler’s impression of her in a sketch on the show.
“I’m totally sweating,” Poehler said.