‘SNL50: Homecoming Concert' Kicks Off With Tom Hanks, James Franco, Donna Langley and Many More Stars in Attendance
Among the celebrities spotted at Radio City Music Hall on Friday night, the invitees included Tom Hanks, Jason Momoa, Peyton Manning, Josh Gad, Ray Romano, Seth Rogen, Edward Norton, Judd Apatow, Jack McBrayer, Willie Geist, Al Roker, Phil Rosenthal, Savannah Guthrie, Jerry Seinfeld, Lester Holt, Keegan-Michael Key, Billy Crystal, Jim Gaffigan, Woody Harrelson, Natasha Lyonne, James Franco and Jon Hamm. 'SNL' alum were in attendance too, including Adam Sandler, John Mulaney, Molly Shannon, Kevin Nealon, Fred Armisen, Seth Meyers and Punkie Johnson. 'SNL' head Lorne Michaels could be seen rushing through the lobby before the show as well.
More from Variety
'SNL' 50th Anniversary Concert to Feature Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus, Backstreet Boys and More
National Comedy Center Preserves 'Saturday Night Live' Early Writing Materials (EXCLUSIVE)
'SNL 50' Sets Adam Sandler, Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell and More Returning Cast Members
On the concert stream, Martin Short and Meryl Streep could be seen seated alongside one another. Paul Rudd, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick were also on camera. Donna Langley, the exec who recently expanded her role to chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios, was also among the crowd.
Jimmy Fallon opened the show with a 'Blues Brothers'-inspired number. Miley Cyrus, Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga and the Backstreet Boys are among the expected performers. The 'Homecoming Concert' is streaming live on Peacock. It's produced by Broadway Video. Erin David and Caroline Maroney are also producers, Ken Aymong and Rob Paine serve as supervising producers and Beth McCarthy-Miller is the director.
Best of Variety
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Grammy Predictions, From Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar: Who Will Win? Who Should Win?
What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Boston Globe
6 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for local homeless people, invites them to lunch at summer villa
In his homily, Leo celebrated the 'fire of charity' that had brought them together. Advertisement 'And I encourage you not to distinguish between those who assist and those who are assisted, between those who seem to give and those who seem to receive, between those who appear poor and those who feel they have something to offer in terms of time, skills, and help,' he said. In the church, he said, everyone is poor and precious, and all share the same dignity. Leo, the former Robert Prevost, spent most of his adult life working with Advertisement The luncheon was held at the Local caterers provided a menu of lasagna, eggplant parmesan, and roast veal. For dessert, the menu called for fruit salad and sweets named for the pope, 'Dolce Leone.' Guests at Leo's table included Rosabal Leon, a Peruvian refugee who has been in Italy for a few months, along with her husband and two children. One of his other luncheon companions was an 85-year-old Roman, Gabriella Oliveiro, who lives on her own, organizers said. Leo is expected to wrap up his vacation Tuesday and return to the Vatican, but there are indications he plans to use the Castel Gandolfo retreat regularly as an escape from Rome, resuming the tradition that Pope Francis had eschewed in favor of staycations at the Vatican. Leo's older brother, John Prevost, told NBC's Chicago affiliate that the pope found the getaway relaxing and had actually hoped to read a book during his vacation — the pope likes legal thrillers — but hadn't found the time. He did, however, make use of the estate's tennis court and swimming pool, he said. Prevost, who speaks daily with the pope to compare notes on the New York Times daily Wordle puzzle, said he understood the thing Leo missed most about being pope was not being able to drive. Advertisement 'Driving to him is totally relaxing,' Prevost said, adding that when they were together, his little brother would always insist on driving himself. 'Absolutely, because otherwise then he would criticize my driving,' Prevost said, chuckling. In the interview, Prevost revealed the pope's favorite pizza — pepperoni — and candy: Peeps.


Forbes
10 hours ago
- Forbes
Michael Sloan, Co-Creator Of ‘The Equalizer,' Dies At 78
Michael Sloan, a television writer, producer, and novelist best known as the co-creator of The Equalizer, died in New York City on August 13. He was 78. Born on October 14, 1946, in New York City, Sloan built an impressive resume with early assignments as a writer and producer on a wide range of TV dramas. His credits included Switch, Quincy, M.E., The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Battlestar Galactica, and three series under NBC's "Mystery Movie" umbrella: Columbo, McCloud, and McCoy. In 1978, he shared an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series for his work on Quincy, M.E., starring Jack Klugman. But it was The Equalizer, which Sloan created alongside Richard Lindheim in 1985, that became his signature achievement. The original CBS series, starring Edward Woodward as a former intelligence operative who helps people in danger, aired for four seasons. Sloan later returned to the franchise as an executive producer of the Equalizer film trilogy (2014, 2018, 2023) starring Denzel Washington. He also helped shepherd the 2021 reboot of The Equalizer TV series, starring Queen Latifah. In addition to his work in television and film, Sloan authored a series of Equalizer novels that expanded the universe of the franchise. His other TV credits included B.J. and the Bear, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, Baywatch, and multiple entries in the Mystery Woman TV movie franchise. Sloan is survived by his wife, Melissa Sue Anderson, best known for her role as Mary Ingalls on family drama Little House on the Prairie; their children, Piper and Griffin; and his sister, Judy.


New York Post
11 hours ago
- New York Post
Pete Davidson didn't know 'SNL' was still on before he auditioned
Pete Davidson didn't realize 'Saturday Night Live' was still airing when he auditioned for the popular sketch show more than 10 years ago. During an appearance on 'The Breakfast Club' radio show earlier this week, the 31-year-old comedian opened up about his experience joining 'SNL' back in 2014. 'I was so lucky,' he said Wednesday. 'I was so young. I was super naive. So I just was like, I'm just going to smoke weed and talk about, you know, what's going on in my life.' 8 Pete Davidson stopped by 'The Breakfast Club' radio show on Wednesday, Aug. 11. Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM/Youtube 8 Pete Davidson on 'The Breakfast Club' on Wednesday, Aug. 11. The Breakfast Club/YouTube However, the 'King of Staten Island' star did not regularly watch the Lorne Michaels-created show, which made it difficult for him to answer questions about his favorite sketches and cast members. 'I was like, 'I like the Californians or whatever,'' Davidson, who rushed to the bathroom to look at older 'SNL' clips on YouTube at the time, said. 'But I had no idea what I was talking about.' The 'Bodies Bodies Bodies' actor also admitted that it was hard for him to connect with his fellow cast members, particularly because of the significant age gap between him and 'SNL' stalwarts like Colin Jost, 43, Michael Che, 42, and Kate McKinnon, 41. 8 Pete Davidson and Colin Jost on 'Saturday Night Live' in November 2017. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images 8 Pete Davidson during the Weekend Update segment of 'SNL' after joining the show in 2014. 'Not saying I didn't work hard, but I was only doing comedy, like, three, four years,' Davidson, who revealed in July that he's expecting his first child with girlfriend Elsie Hewitt, explained. 'And a lot of what people liked about me was like, 'Oh, this is, like, a kid from Staten Island that's just talking s–t.'' 'So you got to remember all of these people are 10, 15 years older than me working so hard,' he added. Although Davidson ultimately departed 'SNL' in 2022 after eight seasons, he returned for the show's 50th anniversary special back in February. 8 Pete Davidson on 'SNL' in November 208. 8 Pete Davidson, Norman Reedus, Colin Jost and Michael Che on 'SNL' in April 2015. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images He opened up about the 'terrible' event during an appearance on 'Late Night With Seth Meyers' earlier this week. 'It's a terrible audience,' Davidson said. 'It's just famous people, and famous people only like themselves.' But not all of the star-studded guests at the 50th anniversary special were that bad, according to the 'Meet Cute' comedian, because Meryl Streep was also in the audience. 8 Pete Davidson and Colin Jost at the Empire Hotel Rooftop in New York City on May 19, 2015. Getty Images 8 The 'SNL' alum on 'The Breakfast Club' radio show on Wednesday, Aug. 11. Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM/Youtube 'Meryl rules,' Davidson said of the 76-year-old Oscar winner. 'I get to my seat and I just look and I'm like, 'This can't be right.' And it was Meryl Streep and I just sat down and I was like, 'I'm so sorry that I'm sitting next to you. You're the best.' And she was very nice.' But despite Davidson's remark that the crowd at the anniversary special was 'terrible,' he admitted that it provided him with some newfound respect for the comedy 'institution' that 'SNL' is. 'This is like, you know, the Harvard of comedy,' he concluded.