Dan Aykroyd finally explained why he missed February’s epic Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary special.
The OG SNL cast member, 73, was one of several notable stars absent from the NBC special, even though he frequently expressed excitement about the event beforehand. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly in an interview published Friday, July 25, Aykroyd confirmed that there was a very practical explanation for why he didn’t take part in SNL 50.
“I wanted to be at home and I wanted to watch the show [from] beginning to end,” he acknowledged. “I knew if I was there, I’d be in a dressing room, I’d be working.”
Although he helped build Saturday Night Live’s indelible legacy, Aykroyd said it was important for him to witness the event like any other viewer.
Bill Murray has revealed that he “wept three times” during Saturday Night Live‘s 50th anniversary special in February. “It was surprisingly emotional,” Murray, 74, told SiriusXM’s Sway in the Morning on Friday, February 28. Murray appeared during the SNL 50 celebration to rank his favorite “Weekend Update” anchors in a sendup of the comedic Best […]
“I wanted to see it live. I’m a fan of the show today, and I watch it all the time,” he said. “I love these new players; I think they’re just great. I just wanted to see and live nostalgically with my family in my own home, eating my own popcorn.”
Aykroyd previously attended the first-ever SNL anniversary special for its 15th season in September 1989, in addition to appearing on the 25th celebration in 1999 and the 40th anniversary spectacular in 2015.
Prior to his most recent comments, Aykroyd had only obliquely explained why he’d decided to skip SNL’s latest milestone event.
“Advantage of not attending – got to see every second of concert and show on TV,” Aykroyd wrote via X in February, before adding: “Quote from my children: ‘Look at daddy’s smile!’ Had it from start to finish. Congratulations Lorne [Michaels]. Well done as usual.”
Dan Aykroyd and wife Donna Dixon at ‘SNL40’ in February 2015. D Dipasupil/FilmMagic
Aykroyd’s absence from SNL 50 was nevertheless surprising since he’d shared his excitement via social media in the days leading up to the February 16 show.
“Cracking a Head with pride at having been a co-founder of SNL along with everyone we were together with in those four years, five decades ago,” he wrote two days before the show. “This telecast is as historical as the next moon landing. Comedy stars of our age all gathered under the aegis of America’s greatest living impresario, my boss Lorne Michaels. People it’s friggin’ Holy!!”
Aykroyd was the only living member of SNL’s original Not Ready For Prime Time Players to miss the NBC special, as Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman were all in attendance. (Fellow original cast members John Belushi and Gilda Radner died in March 1982 and May 1989, respectively.)
The Blues Brothers star had a four-year stint on SNL from 1975 to 1979. He has made numerous SNL cameo appearances since quitting the cast and even hosted an episode in May 2003.
Live from New York … it’s 50 years of celebrity outbursts and musical meltdowns on Saturday Night Live. The hugely influential NBC sketch comedy show is celebrating its 50th anniversary on Sunday, February 16, with a live three-hour NBC special featuring cast reunions and highlights of SNL’s greatest moments. Just keep in mind that it […]
While his absence was notable, Aykroyd wasn’t the only memorable SNL alum to miss the 50th spectacular, as Bill Hader, Dana Carvey and Robert Downey Jr. also skipped the event. (Carvey later confirmed that he’d planned to take part in SNL 50 but had to back out at the last minute after contracting the flu.)
The Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special and SNL50: The Homecoming Concert are available to stream via Peacock. SNL season 51 premieres on NBC this fall.
