To help launch the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live (officially next October), the feature-length documentary Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music from Oscar- and Grammy-winning director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson (Summer of Soul) and produced by Oz Rodriguez will premiere Jan. 27, 2025, on NBC.
Thompson is also among the doc’s bevy of executive producers along with SNL creator Lorne Michaels.
The three-hour special promises to feature the untold stories behind the musical performances, sketches, and cameos of the past half-century. Fifty musical artists, cast members, writers, and producers from throughout SNL’s colorful history dating back to the mid-1970s were interviewed for the film — including Bad Bunny, DJ Breakout, Elvis Costello, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish & Finneas, Dave Grohl, Debbie Harry & Chris Stein, Mick Jagger, Dua Lipa, Darryl DMC McDaniels, Tom Morello, Kacey Musgraves, Olivia Rodrigo, MC Sha-Rock, Paul Simon, Chris Stapleton, Justin Timberlake, Lee Ving, and Jack White.
Other talking heads include Michaels, Fred Armisen, Conan O’Brien, Jane Curtin, Jimmy Fallon, Al Franken, Bill Hader, Eddie Murphy, Ego Nwodim, Joe Piscopo, Andy Samberg, Paul Shaffer, Robert Smigel, Kenan Thompson, Maya Rudolph, and Bowen Yang, among others.
“Everyone knows the most famous SNL appearances,” Questlove said, “whether it’s Elvis Costello, Prince or the Beastie Boys, but they’re the tip of a huge iceberg. The process of going back through the incredible archival footage was like being in a time machine, DeLorean or other. I’m so happy I went on the trip and now get to share it with everyone.”
Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music is part of a collection of original programming celebrating the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live. A four-part docuseries, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night will stream exclusively on Peacock beginning Jan. 16. The anniversary celebrations will culminate in a live primetime special on Feb. 16 on NBC and Peacock.
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