While was full of celebrity guests and returning cast members, there were a couple of people who couldn’t make it. Created and executive produced by Lorne Michaels, SNL50: The Anniversary Special aired on February 16, 2025.
The special featured appearances from celebrities such as Kenan Thompson, Eddie Murphy, Tom Hanks, Adam Sandler, Pedro Pascal, and many more.
Noticeably missing from the ensemble was Dana Carvey, who was on seven seasons of Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1993. He then made regular appearances on the show during the 2024 presidential election to play Joe Biden and Elon Musk.
According to Variety, Carvey was unable to attend the event because he had a “bad flu.” Also absent from SNL50: The Anniversary Special was Bill Hader, who was a Saturday Night Live cast member from 2006 to 2013.
Hader couldn’t make the event because of a “longstanding scheduling conflict.” Dan Aykroyd, meanwhile, was an original member of the SNL cast, as he was part of the “Not Ready For Prime Time Players” ensemble until he left the show in 1979.