NBCU/SNL50: The Homecoming Concert

Lonely Island medley at "SNL Homecoming Concert" crushes

By Chris Morgan | Last updated Feb 15, 2025 3:48 PM ET

There will be musical performances during the 50th anniversary special for "Saturday Night Live" on Sunday. However, before all that there was Friday's "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert." This was the "SNL" anniversary event with a Grammy's vibe. That is to say, it was wall-to-wall musical performances and a ton of cuts to shots of famous people in the audience singing and dancing. Among the cavalcade of musical stars on the show we got a brief trip down memory lane from The Lonely Island.

The Lonely Island is, of course, the comedy group comprised of Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer. In addition to their musical offerings and their films like "Hot Rod," the trio made digital shorts for "Saturday Night Live" during the time Samberg was in the cast. It is not hyperbole to say their video "Lazy Sunday" fundamentally changed the trajectory of "SNL" as a show.

Chris Parnell did indeed make an appearance during the Lonely Island medley during the show, but his celebrity was overshadowed by the parade of famous faces who were on the stage, starting with Lady Gaga and going from there. Taccone pops up in the video, but unless we missed him there was no Schaffer to be found.

If you enjoy this trip down memory lane, we also recommend "The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast," which is both funny and one of the best breakdowns of the creative process found in the podcast medium.

Chris Morgan

Chris Morgan is a Detroit-based culture writer who has somehow managed to justify getting his BA in Film Studies. He has written about sports and entertainment across various internet platforms for years and is also the author of three books about '90s television.

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