For half a century, it has been one of the most coveted, sought-after gigs in music. Performing two music numbers on Saturday Night Live is a rite of passage, a gig that has drawn legends (Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, John Prine, Paul Simon), rebels who took the opportunity to make some noise (Elvis Costello, Rage Against the Machine, Sinead O’Connor) and just about every pop star known to man (Eminem, Destiny’s Child/Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson).
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It’s all covered in obsessive detail in the upcoming anniversary doc, Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music, one of a barrage of specials and look-backs celebrating the pioneering sketch show’s storied history. The first trailer for the doc co-directed by Roots drummer Questlove teases behind-the-scenes footage and stories, interviews with famous performers and a dive into some of the show’s headline-making musical moments.
It opens with a montage of guest hosts uttering the iconic “ladies and gentlemen” intro, including Steve Carrell, George Clooney, Madonna, Quentin Tarantino, Sydney Sweeney, Travis Kelce, Ariana Grande, Timothée Chalamet and Chris Rock, among many others.
Over glimpses of performances by the Grateful Dead, Wonder, James Brown, Lauryn Hill and Bruce Springsteen, Rage guitarist Tom Morello says that SNL has served as a “time capsule through the decades for America.” Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl adds, “for me it was the most iconic American show of all time” alongside adorably awkward footage of his younger self with his Nirvana bandmates making nice with host NBA legend Charles Barkley.
Dua Lipa talks about the pressure of not knowing what will happen on the show that notoriously switches things up until the moment cameras click on, with Cyrus hinting at the precarious nature of live TV, calling it “the tightrope walk… they wanna see you dangle, they don’t wanna see you fall.” Jagger chronicles running from a sketch to the stage to perform, “covered in sweat” amid sprints to quick-change between commericals.
Cast members from throughout the years also talk about the landmark early TV slots of hip-hop legends The Funky 4 Plus One More, Run-DMC and Tupac Shakur, as well as moments when acts such as Rage and Costello “went rogue” with envelope-pushing performances. It also promises to unpack one of the most controversial sets in SNL history: O’Connor’s infamous 1992 shocker when she did a cover of Bob Marley’s “War” before holding up a picture of the Pope and tearing it to pieces as she said “fight the real enemy.”
Along the way, there are stops at the legendary studio-trashing tornado unleashed by John Belushi favorites hardcore punk madmen Fear, as well as Ashley Simpson’s 2004 lip synch fiasco.
Among the other talking heads in the film are: Justin Timberlake, Paul Shaffer, Jimmy Fallon, Eddie Murphy, Olivia Rodrigo, Jack White, Kacy Musgraves, Conan O’Brien, Billie Eilish and Finneas, Andy Samberg, Chris Stapleton, Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, Bad Bunny and many former and current cast members.
The three-hour doc co-directed by Oz Rodriguez and Questlove will air on NBC on Jan. 27 and stream on Peacock the next day.
Watch the 50 Years of SNL Music trailer below.
