The Anniversary Special’ live for free

Live from New York, it’s… Sunday night?!

Tonight, even though it isn’t a Saturday, stars past and present are coming together in Studio 8H to celebrate 50 years of “Saturday Night Live” with a three-hour anniversary special.

Over 50 stars will be on hand to celebrate the anniversary, from “Not Ready for Primetime Players” Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman, who appeared in Season 1, Episode 1 of “SNL”, to five-timers club members Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and Scarlett Johansson.

The anniversary weekend kicked off on Friday night with a concert streamed live from Radio City Music Hall that featured past musical guests and sketches featuring some of the show’s recurring musical characters (like Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer’s Marty Culp and Bobbi Mohan-Culp, plus Andy Samberg’s mega-mashup tribute to The Lonely Island’s digital shorts).

Then, last night, NBC re-aired the first episode of “Saturday Night Live,” then known as “NBC’s Saturday Night.” Now tonight, it’s time to celebrate this television and New York City institution.

Read on for everything you need to know to tune in to “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” live.

When is ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’?

“SNL50: The Anniversary Special” is tonight, Feb. 16, at 8:00 p.m. ET.

A red carpet special will begin on NBC and Peacock at 7:00 p.m. ET. “Today” host Willie Geist, “Las Culturistas” co-host Matt Rogers, and “SNL” alum Leslie Jones will be live conducting interviews on the red carpet, while “Chicken Shop Date” host Amelia Dimoldenberg will host a livestream.

How to watch ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’ for free:

If you don’t have cable or a way to watch NBC at home, the only way to stream the “SNL” 50th anniversary special for free is to use a live TV streaming service with a free trial.

We recommend DIRECTV Stream, which offers a five-day free trial for new subscribers. When the trial ends, you’ll pay $86.98/month and gain access to over 90 live channels including NBC.

fuboTV also offers a free trial for new users. It runs for seven days, and then you’ll be able to save $5 on your first month ($74.99, $79.99/month after).

Other ways to stream ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’:

There are two more money-saving ways to stream the “SNL” anniversary special without cable, thanks to great promotions and low prices.

You can watch live with a Peacock subscription. Peacock costs $7.99/month, but right now, you can get one full year of Peacock Premium (normally $79.99) for $29.99 — that’s 63% off for a whole year of streaming!

While Sling TV doesn’t offer any free days, you’ll save money on a whole month of streaming rather than just five days free. Sling TV’s Blue plan includes NBC, and right now, you can get your first month for half off. Instead of $50.99, you’ll pay $25.50.

Who is appearing at ‘SNL50: The The Anniversary Special’?

Former “SNL” cast members:

Other famous faces:

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping and New York Post’s streaming property, Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on each streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews