Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special: Why the Best Way to Watch is Actually Peacock

Fifty years. It is a long time for any show to survive, let alone a sketch comedy series that basically lives or dies by how much it can piss people off or make them laugh on a weekly basis. Lorne Michaels has somehow steered this ship since the Ford administration, and now we’re staring down the barrel of the SNL50: The Anniversary Special, a massive three-hour primetime event that feels more like a national holiday for comedy nerds than just another episode of television.

If you are trying to figure out where to watch Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary, you’ve probably realized that NBC is leaning incredibly hard into its streaming platform, Peacock. Honestly, if you aren't watching it there, you’re kind of doing it wrong.

The Big Night: When and Where to Tune In

The actual special aired on Sunday, February 16, 2025, but because of how TV works now, "watching" it means something different for everyone. For those who still have a cable box or a digital antenna, the show occupied a massive block on NBC from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM ET. It was preceded by a red carpet special at 7:00 PM hosted by Leslie Jones and Willie Geist.

But let’s be real. Most people don't have cable.

If you’re a cord-cutter, your main hub is Peacock. NBCUniversal has turned the app into a literal shrine for the 50th season. While the live broadcast was simulcast there, the platform is where the "extras" live. I’m talking about the stuff that actually makes the anniversary worth it, like the four-part documentary series SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night and Questlove’s deep dive into the show’s musical history.

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Why Peacock Is Basically Mandatory for SNL50

You could try to hunt down clips on YouTube, sure. But if you want the full, unedited experience—including the musical performances that sometimes get scrubbed from international versions for licensing reasons—Peacock is the play.

Think about the sheer scale of this thing. We had Steve Martin and Martin Short opening the show. We had Paul Simon performing. There were appearances by everyone from Eddie Murphy and Adam Sandler to newer icons like Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig. If you missed it live, the full three-hour block is available for streaming on-demand.

Specifically, you need the Peacock Premium plan ($7.99/month) to see it the day after, or Premium Plus ($13.99/month) if you want to watch your local NBC station live through the app.

Other Ways to Catch the Special

Not a Peacock fan? Fine. There are other avenues, though they usually cost more.

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• Hulu + Live TV: This is basically a full cable replacement. You get the local NBC feed, but it’ll set you back about $82.99 a month. It’s overkill if you just want to see the 50th special, but great if you live for live sports.
• YouTube TV & Fubo: Same deal here. They offer the live NBC broadcast. Fubo usually has a seven-day free trial, which is a classic "pro move" for people who want to watch a single event and then cancel before the bill hits.
• Sling TV: You need the Sling Blue package to get NBC, and even then, it’s only available in specific markets. You’ve gotta check your ZIP code first or you’ll end up with a bunch of channels you don't want and no SNL.

What Actually Happened During the Special?

The hype was real. It wasn't just a clip show. Lorne Michaels managed to get Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Chevy Chase in the same building. That’s a miracle in itself.

The special was a mix of live sketches, pre-recorded shorts, and incredibly emotional tributes to the cast members we’ve lost over the decades—Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Chris Farley, Norm Macdonald. It felt heavy but necessary.

One of the highlights that everyone is still talking about was the "Five-Timers Club" segment. Seeing Tom Hanks, Paul Rudd, and Tina Fey welcoming new members while making fun of the exclusive nature of the club was classic SNL. It’s the kind of self-referential humor that only a show with 50 years of baggage can pull off.

The "Homecoming Concert" and Other Gems

If you only watched the Sunday night special, you missed half the party. On the Friday before (February 14, 2025), NBC held the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert at Radio City Music Hall.

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This wasn't just a few songs. It was a massive lineup: Lady Gaga, Jack White, Miley Cyrus, and even DEVO.

Where do you watch that? Again, it’s a Peacock Exclusive. You won’t find the full concert on standard cable. If you want to see Miley Cyrus belt out a tribute or Bad Bunny bring the house down, you have to go through the app.

Practical Steps to Get Your SNL Fix

If you’re still looking to catch up on the 50th anniversary festivities, here is the most efficient way to do it:

1. Check for a Free Trial: If you haven't used Fubo or DirecTV Stream lately, sign up for a trial to watch the main special if you want that "live TV" feel.
2. Bite the Bullet on Peacock: Honestly, for $7.99, it’s the cheapest way to get the special, the documentaries, and the Homecoming Concert. Just get it for a month and binge everything.
3. Watch the "50 Seasons in 50 Days" Clips: If you don't have three hours to spare, SNL’s official YouTube and TikTok accounts have been uploading highlights from every single year of the show’s existence. It’s a great way to see how the show evolved from the gritty, counter-culture 70s to the polished, political powerhouse it is today.
4. NBC.com: If you have a friend's cable login (we all do), you can sign in to NBC.com or the NBC app to watch the special for free.

The SNL 50th anniversary isn't just a retrospective; it’s a reminder that live television still has the power to bring people together, even if we’re all watching it on different screens at different times. Whether you’re there for the "More Cowbell" nostalgia or the cutting political cold opens, the anniversary special is a piece of TV history that is actually worth the search.

Start by downloading the Peacock app or checking your local NBC listings for any encore presentations, as they often re-air these milestones during holiday weekends. Ensure your internet connection is stable if you’re streaming the 4K versions, as the production value on this special was significantly higher than a standard Saturday night broadcast.