Although he was certainly there in spirit, original cast member Dan Aykroyd missed out on the SNL50 celebrations over the weekend.
Taking to social media about SNL: The Homecoming Concert and The Anniversary Special, the comedian praised Lorne Michaels’ programming as “triumphant” after marking the NBC sketch comedy show’s milestone anniversary.
“All Heads up toasting triumphant SNL 50th,” wrote Aykroyd on X. “Advantage of not attending – got to see every second of concert and show on TV. Quote from my children: ‘Look at daddy’s smile!’ Had it from start to finish. Congratulations Lorne. Well done as usual.”
Aykroyd previously wrote, “Cracking a Head with pride at having been a co-founder of SNL along with everyone we were together with in those four years, five decades ago. This telecast is as historical as the next moon landing. Comedy stars of our age all gathered under the aegis of America’s greatest living impresario, my boss Lorne Michaels. People it’s friggin’ Holy!!”
His post comes after The Homecoming Concert host Jimmy Fallon kicked off the weekend with a musical tribute to Aykroyd and John Belushi’s ‘Blues Brothers’ characters Elwood and Jake Blues.
Aykroyd — who appeared on SNL from 1975 to 1979 and also originated such characters as the Coneheads and the Festrunk Brothers — was referenced several times during the anniversary weekend.
Sans Aykroyd, the OG SNL cast members took a bow with Michaels during Sunday’s special, which saw 14.8 million viewers across Peacock and NBC.
