SNL addressed some of its more controversial skits, and the show also revisited some old material.
well-reviewed SNL 50 special, Garrett Morris introduced a classic sketch by John Belushi, "Don't Look Back In Anger," which originally aired in 1978 and contains some of the more solemn bits the show has had over the years, particularly in retrospect, given the tragic fates that befell several iconic cast .
John Belushi's "Don't Look Back In Anger" SNL Sketch Explained
John Belushi Plays An Older Version Of Himself Visiting His SNL Cast Mates' Graves
"Don't Look Back In Anger" shows a black-and-white film reel of John Belushi portraying an old man who walks through a graveyard eulogizing his SNL cast ' deaths with funny lines but an overly somber tone. Belushi was one of the original SNL cast as well as the star of movie comedy classics like Animal House and The Blues Brothers, making some mention of his legendary work an absolute requirement for SNL 50. "Don't Look Back In Anger" isn't one of the best SNL sketches of all time, but it undoubtedly packs a punch.
He es from tombstone to tombstone, taking jabs at Gilda Radner, Laraine Newman, Jane Curtin, the aforementioned Garrett Morris, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, and Dan Akroyd.
The sketch is almost akin to a modern-day roast, though Belushi takes the opportunity for some jests at each of his famous co-stars from the time. He es from tombstone to tombstone, taking jabs at Gilda Radner, Laraine Newman, Jane Curtin, the aforementioned Garrett Morris, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, and Dan Akroyd. He plays off each name for laughs, but the sketch ends with a fairly somber note, as he says, "The Saturday Night show was the best experience of my life. And now they're all gone. I'll miss every one of them."
Why The SNL Sketch Is So Haunting Today
John Belushi Was The First SNL Cast Member To Away
"Don't Look Back In Anger" is a particularly jarring sketch in retrospect, given that it's about John Belushi mourning for his SNL cast in a world where he's the last one alive. In real life, John Belushi was the first of the cast to in 1982, just four years after this sketch. Belushi was one of many celebrities to tragically away young due to issues with substance abuse problems that persisted throughout his career in the 1970s, leading to his death at the age of 33.
Why Bill Hader Wasn't In The SNL 50th Anniversary Special
Legendary cast member Bill Hader was notably not in attendance at the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special on February 16, 2025.
It makes sense why SNL 50 would play this sketch. It's dark, in a way, but it wasn't displayed in an effort to depress audiences. The somber clip isn't all upsetting; it shows how talented Belushi was, able to carry a joke all on his own, and just how much those early days of SNL meant to him and the other cast , even if it was stated for humor. It's a haunting sketch, in a way, but it's also a beautiful reminder of how much the show has impacted pop culture, the careers of so many legends, and the lives of its audience for half a century.
Too Many SNL Cast Have Died Either Too Young Or Too Soon
Norm Macdonald & Chris Farley Are Part Of A Longer List
Sadly, John Belushi wasn't the only SNL cast member to away too soon. Several of his beloved co-stars, as well as many who came after, also experienced tragic fates. Gilda Radner, who's mentioned in the sketch, died from cancer in 1989. Phil Hartman, who was on the show from 1986 to 1994, was murdered in 1998. Chris Farley ed away in 1997 under similar circumstances to Belushi. More recently, Norm Macdonald died at the age of 61.
Meryl Streep's SNL Appearance Was A Remarkable First In 50 Years (& Had A Great Reference To Her $326M Movie)
Meryl Streep was one of the stars who appeared in Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary episode, but her skit was special for a couple of reasons.
Some of Saturday Night Live's most talented stars and funniest minds ed away too young, and it adds to the morbidity of this sketch. It's almost a meta self-reflection of everything that has befallen the show's cast over the years while also honoring the outstanding work they contributed during their tenures on the show. It's better to honor John Belushi's comedic achievements, introducing his beloved sense of humor to new viewers.
Saturday Night Live
- Release Date
- October 11, 1975
- Network
- NBC
- Showrunner
- Lorne Michaels
WHERE TO WATCH
- Directors
- Dave Wilson, Don Roy King, Liz Patrick, Andy Warhol, Linda Lee Cadwell, Matthew Meshekoff, Paul Miller, Robert Altman, Robert Smigel
- Writers
- Will Forte, Chris Parnell, Asa Taccone, John Lutz, Tom Schiller, Simon Rich, Michael Patrick O'Brien, Nicki Minaj, Herbert Sargent, Matt Piedmont, John Solomon, Chris Kelly, Alan Zweibel, Kent Sublette, Ari Katcher, Marika Sawyer, Sarah Schnedier, Scott Jung, Justin Franks, Jerrod Bettis, Rhiannon Bryan
Your comment has not been saved