There were plenty of surprises in store for the live audience and at-home viewers alike during theSNL50th anniversary special, but perhaps the biggest was that it brought one legendary actor out of retirement for his first TV appearance - or any acting appearance - in 15 years. TheSNL50special had a galaxy of celebrity guest stars, from former guest hosts and SNL cast alumni. Joining them and the current cast in theSNL50th anniversary special were various musical guests, too, which only added to the star power of the night.
And there was certainly plenty of star power to go around. Both the star-studded live audience and the viewers at home were delighted to see belovedSaturday Night Liveveterans like Eddie Murphy and Will Ferrell steal the show once again in theSNL50anniversary special. It was incredible to see which A-list actor would pop up next, from Meryl Streep playing Colleen Rafferty’s mother in another “Close Encounter” sketch to Tom Hanks reprising his role of Doug in “Black Jeopardy.” Still, one star eclipsed them all for the few seconds he was on screen.
Jack Nicholson Introduced Adam Sandler During SNL50
The Two Have Been Friends For Decades
Audiences were surprised, even shocked, to seelegendary actor Jack Nicholson pop up during theSNL50special to introduce Adam Sandler’s song segment. In true Jack Nicholson fashion, he kept it short and to the point: “Ladies and gentlemen, Adam Sandler!” he said, who which Sandler gave an enthusiastic reply, “Yeah, baby! Let’s hear it for Jack, baby! Jack made it out tonight! Love you, brother.”
Sandler’s response shows that he also knows it’s incredibly rare to seeJack Nicholson out for anything other than his beloved L.A. Lakersgames. However, Sandler is one of the few people who could get Nicholson out these days. Some may be surprised to learn of it, but Sandler and Nicholson have been close friends for decades. The pair are both dedicated Lakers fans and connected through that, butthey also starred together in 2003’sAnger Management,and their friendship has been rock-solid ever since. They may seem like an odd couple, but their mutual love and respect were clear enough as Nicholson hyped up his buddy forSNL50.
It’s The First Time Nicholson Has “Acted” Since 2010
His Last Project Was The Movie How Do You Know
Nicholson has long said that he doesn’t consider himself to be officially retired, but he doesn’t exactly feel a need to put himself out there anymore. Reading between the lines, it appears that he, like many actors who have achieved great success in their careers, feels no real need to ever appear on a screen again unless it’s for a project he feels is worth his time - such as introducing his friend for a career milestone.The last time Nicholson acted in anything was in 2010’sHow Do You Know, a solid decade and a half ago.
1 Street Nicknamed “Bad Boy Drive” Shaped Hollywood Forever
A street in Hollywood earned the unofficial nickname “Bad Boy Drive”, due to the exploits of its three rebellious residents, including Jack Nicholson.
That’s why it was so thrilling to see him pop up in theSNLanniversary show. His intro of Sandler was only one line, and it wasn’t exactly acting, but hey, it was the first time we’ve seen the legendary Nicholson on a screen delivering a line with a mark in fifteen years. It was enough to provoke another layer of nostalgia on an already nostalgic night, prompting a walk down memory lane ofJack Nicholson’s best movies. Even those five short words were enough to evoke strains of the powerful charisma lurking in Nicholson’s delivery and remind us of why he’s one of the greatest actors of all time.
