Honestly, it’s hard to wrap your head around the fact that Saturday Night Live has been on the air for fifty years. Five decades. It’s basically the only thing my parents, my weird cousins, and I can actually agree on watching. If you're wondering how can i watch snl 50th anniversary, you aren't alone—the hype is real, and the logistics of catching every single second of this massive weekend are a bit more involved than just turning on your TV on a Saturday night.
The main event is the SNL50: The Anniversary Special, a three-hour behemoth airing on Sunday, February 16, 2025. Yeah, you read that right. Sunday. Not Saturday. It’s a primetime takeover of NBC from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Where to Stream the 50th Anniversary Special Live
If you’ve ditched cable, you’ve still got plenty of ways to jump in. Peacock is basically the mothership for all things SNL50. If you have a Peacock Premium Plus subscription ($13.99/month), you can stream the special live as it airs via your local NBC channel feed. If you're on the cheaper Premium plan ($7.99/month), you’ll usually have to wait until the next day to catch the full replay, though NBC has been known to simulcast these massive events live for both tiers on occasion.
Other live-TV streaming services will carry the NBC broadcast too. You can use:
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- Hulu + Live TV: One of the most reliable options, though it’s pricey at around $82.99.
- Fubo: Great if you want a free trial. They usually offer seven days, which is perfect if you just want to see the 50th and then cancel.
- YouTube TV: Always a solid backup with a clean interface.
- Sling Blue: This is usually the cheapest live-TV route, but make sure NBC is actually available in your specific zip code before you pay up.
It’s Actually a Whole Weekend, Not Just One Night
Lorne Michaels isn't doing things halfway for the big 5-0. Before the Sunday special even starts, there’s a whole "Homecoming" vibe happening. On Friday, February 14, there’s a massive concert at Radio City Music Hall called SNL50: The Homecoming Concert. Jimmy Fallon is hosting, and the guest list is frankly insane—Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and even the Backstreet Boys are slated to show up.
This concert is a Peacock exclusive. You won't find it on the regular NBC broadcast channel on Friday night.
Then on Saturday, February 15, NBC is doing a throwback move by re-airing the very first episode from 1975 with George Carlin. It starts at 11:30 p.m. ET, just like a regular episode. It’s a weird, trippy way to see how much the show has changed (and how much it hasn't).
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Watching from Canada, the UK, or Anywhere Else
If you’re outside the US, things get a little tricky. In Canada, Global TV usually handles Saturday Night Live, but for the 50th anniversary special, Showcase and StackTV (via Amazon Prime) are the places to look. They often air these specials a day later or on a slight delay, so check your local listings for February 17.
For my friends in the UK or Australia, your best bet is often a VPN. Services like NordVPN or ExpressVPN let you set your location to the US, which then allows you to sign up for Peacock or use the NBC app. Just a heads up: you might need a US-based payment method for some of these apps, but sometimes using a PayPal account works as a workaround.
The Documentaries You Shouldn't Skip
Before the big live show, Peacock dropped a four-part docuseries called SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night. It’s directed by Morgan Neville (the guy who did the Mr. Rogers documentary), and it has some truly wild behind-the-scenes footage.
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There’s also Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music, a documentary co-directed by Questlove. If you're a music nerd, this is the one. It tracks how the show went from hosting Paul Simon and David Bowie to becoming the place where artists like Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish have their "arrival" moments.
Who Is Actually Showing Up?
The guest list for the Sunday special looks like a fever dream of Hollywood royalty and comedy legends. We’re talking:
- The OG's: Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, and Garrett Morris.
- The 90s/00s Titans: Adam Sandler, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler.
- The Modern Era: Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, and Pete Davidson.
- The "Five-Timers": Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, and Scarlett Johansson.
Expect lots of "Update" desk cameos and probably a very emotional tribute to the cast members we've lost over the years, like Norm Macdonald and Gilda Radner.
Actionable Next Steps
To make sure you don't miss the 8:00 p.m. kickoff on February 16, here is exactly what you should do right now:
- Check your Peacock login. If you’re planning to stream it, make sure your subscription is active. If you want it live, you likely need the Premium Plus tier.
- Set your DVR. If you still use one, search for "SNL50: The Anniversary Special" on NBC. Give yourself a 30-minute "buffer" at the end, because live specials like this almost always run long.
- Download the NBC App. If you have a cable login from a friend or parent, you can use the NBC app on your Roku, Fire Stick, or Apple TV to watch the live broadcast for free.
- Follow the "SNL50" social tags. NBC is releasing "50 Seasons in 50 Days" clips leading up to the event, which are great for getting in the mood.
The show has been a cultural lightning rod for half a century. Whether you love the current cast or think "it hasn't been good since the 90s," this 50th anniversary is a genuine piece of television history. Pop some popcorn and get ready for a long, funny, and probably very nostalgic night.