“Saturday Night Live” normally sets up big laughs in its traditional cold opens, but occasionally it faces tragedy head-on.
Amid 50 years of gut-busting comedy, Lorne Michaels’ iconic sketch show has replaced humor with heartache during tear-inducing tributes to 9/11, mass shootings, wars and more, offering somber reflections to stir its Studio 8H audience and home viewers.
Here are some of the most memorable cold open moments when jokes were jettisoned and heartstrings were pulled.
May 20, 1989: Remembering Gilda Radner
When original cast member Gilda Radner died from ovarian cancer on Saturday, May 20, 1989, it shocked many — as well as oft-scene mate Steve Martin, who was set to host that night’s episode when he learned of her passing at age 42.
“You know, I’ve been coming here to do ‘Saturday Night Live’ since 1976, and the thing … that brings me back to the show is the people you get to work with,” said an emotional Martin, fighting back tears, as he kicked off the episode. Tossing aside a standard comedic monologue, he instead introduced a 1978 clip of a popular sketch he and Radner did that lampooned famed dancers Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.
“When I look at that tape, I can’t help but think how great she was and how young I looked,” he quipped before hitting a more serious tone. “Gilda, we miss you.”
Radner was known for such memorable characters as “Weekend Update” busybodies Emily Litella and Roseanne Roseannadanna, high school nerd Lisa Loopner and Baba Wawa, the latter a hilarious take on news anchor Barbara Walters.
Sept. 29, 2001: Coming back from 9/11
Surrounded by first responders, a solemn former Mayor Rudy Giuliani opened Season 27 with a salute to the “heroes” of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.SNL
Surrounded by more than two dozen first responders, then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani kicked off Season 27 with a somber salute to the “heroes” of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that killed more than 2,600 in the Twin Towers alone.
“On our city’s darkest day, our heroes met the worst of humanity with the best of humanity. Their acts of heroism saved more than 25,000 lives. But even as we grieve for our loved ones, it’s up to us to face the future with renewed determination,” Giuliani said after acknowledging former Fire Commissioner Tom Von Essen and then-Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik.
“Our hearts are broken, but they are beating — and they are beating stronger than ever. New Yorkers are unified. We will not yield to terrorism. We will not let our decisions be made out of fear. We choose to live our lives in freedom.”
The segment was met with applause and cheers as it cut to an FDNY ball cap-wearing Paul Simon, who was dwarfed by a large American flag behind him as he sang the 1970 hit “The Boxer,” originally recorded with former singer and partner Art Garfunkel.
A stunning contrast to the shadow of his former self that he is today, Giuliani conveyed a much-welcome show of strength as he saluted the many people who deserved to be, in his words, “remembered as heroes.”
Dec. 15, 2012: Touching tribute to Sandy Hook victims
The New York Children’s Chorus performs a rendition of “Silent Night” during the cold open for the Dec. 15, 2012, episode of “Saturday Night Live.”NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
On Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, 20 children and six staff members were killed by gunman Adam Lanza, who also murdered his mother before bringing further carnage to Sandy Hook Elementary School.
To open the next day’s “SNL” episode, the show brought in the New York Children’s Chorus for a version of the Christmas carol “Silent Night.” It was a haunting performance to remember innocent lives lost in the unspeakable tragedy.
Nov. 14, 2015: Solidarity with Paris
Following a series of ISIS attacks in Paris on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 — which killed 130 people and wounded more than 350 — cast member Cecily Strong opened the show with a short, solemn statement of unity, which she shared in both English and French.
“Paris is the City of Light, and here in New York City, we know that light will never go out,” said Strong. “Our love and support is with everyone there tonight. We stand with you.”
Nov. 12, 2016: ‘Not giving up’ after election
In the wake of Donald Trump’s first White House win earlier in the week, fan-favorite Kate McKinnon dressed all in white as his election rival Hillary Clinton pulled up to a piano and performed a powerful, nearly three-minute version of Leonard Cohen’s melancholy “Hallelujah.”
“I’m not giving up, and neither should you,” she said in a nod to Clinton supporters after finishing the song.
Oct. 8, 2017: American spirit ‘unbreakable’
To mark the deadliest mass shooting in modern history — an attack during an outdoor Las Vegas concert that killed 60 people and injured more than 850 on Oct. 1, 2017 — “SNL” brought in someone close to the horrific event: country singer Jason Aldean, who had performed there that night.
“This week, we witnessed one of the worst tragedies in American history. Like everyone, I’m struggling to understand what happened that night and how to pick up the pieces and start to heal,” Aldean said before launching into a version of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.” (In a sad turn, Petty died of an accidental overdose the day after the shooting.)
“You can be sure that we’re going to walk through these tough times together, every step of the way,” Aldean added, “because when America is at its best, our bond and our spirit — it’s unbreakable.”
Country singer Jason Aldean (center), who had performed the night of the Las Vegas concert shooting, honored the “unbreakable” connection of Americans.NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Feb. 26, 2022: Joined in ‘Prayer’
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York, wearing traditional embroidered outfits, graced Studio 8H to perform “Prayer for Ukraine” before the camera zoomed in on a table flanked by sunflowers and covered in candles, some of which spelled out Kyiv, the Eastern European nation’s capital.
The ongoing struggle will mark its third anniversary in just two weeks.
Oct. 14, 2023: ‘It took me back to a really horrible, horrible place’
“This week we saw the horrible images and stories from Israel and Gaza, and I know what you’re thinking: Who better to comment on it than Pete Davidson?” the funnyman briefly quipped in his two-minute intro.
But then he took on a more somber tone about the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 — and reflected on his own firefighter father’s death on 9/11, when the actor was just 7 years old.
“I know something about what that’s like,” he said of the horrific images that flowed out of the region. “I saw so many terrible pictures this week of children suffering — Israeli children and Palestinian children — and it took me back to a really horrible, horrible place. And no one in this world deserves to suffer like that — especially not kids.”
Pete Davidson faced his own past when recognizing the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images
He recalled that a year later, when he was 8, his mother bought what she thought was a Disney movie to “cheer” him up, but it turned out to be Eddie Murphy’s expletive-filled 1983 stand-up special “Delirious.”
“She tried to take it away. But then she noticed something: For the first time in a long time, I was laughing again. I don’t understand it; I really don’t, and I never will. But sometimes comedy is really the only way forward through tragedy.”
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He then vowed to do what he’d “always done in the face of tragedy — and that’s try to be funny,” he said.
“Remember: I said ‘try,’” he finished, bringing back a hint of humor before adding the show’s trademark greeting, “and live from New York, it’s Saturday night.”
“SNL 50: The Anniversary Special” will air at 8 p.m. EST Sunday, Feb. 16, on NBC and Peacock. It will feature celebs including Tom Hanks, Bad Bunny, Pedro Pascal, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Dave Chappelle, Sabrina Carpenter, Adam Driver, John Mulaney, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock, Kate McKinnon, Maya Rudolph, Eddie Murphy, Paul McCartney, Peyton Manning, Kristen Wiig and many more. The show will be preceded by a one-hour red carpet starting at 7 p.m.
