Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary special earlier this year brought together countless former cast members and some of the biggest names in entertainment. But one of the show's most influential stars was noticeably absent, and it turns out he had a pretty good excuse.
Dan Aykroyd was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live when it debuted in 1975. As one of the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players," Aykroyd also wrote for the show, and in many ways, created a blueprint for future SNL stars. He was an extremely versatile performer, wrote his own material, and parlayed SNL into a successful movie career.
So people noticed when he wasn't at February's 50th anniversary special alongside other cast members from 1975 like Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Chevy Chase. But Aykroyd revealed his massive SNL fandom kept him home that night.
"I wanted to be at home and I wanted to watch the show beginning to end," he told Entertainment Weekly. "I knew if i was there, I'd be in a dressing room, I’d be working. I wanted to see it live. I’m a fan of the show today, and I watch it all the time. I love these new players; I think they’re just great. I just wanted to see and live nostalgically with my family in my own home, eating my own popcorn."
The comedian previously hinted he'd skip the anniversary show. In August 2024, Aykroyd said he told Lorne Michaels not to invite him. At that time, the Ghostbusters star said there would be too many people asking him for tickets or to get invited to the show.
Aykroyd did exactly what he wanted, staying home and watching SNL50 from the comfort of his own home without the headaches of a crowd. He told EW the most emotional moment was watching his former castmate Lorraine Newman star in the "Chad" sketch with Pete Davidson, calling it "beautiful" and "wonderful."
Aykroyd is correct in thinking he'd be on camera during the anniversary show considering his place in Saturday Night Live history. The all-star team of writers behind the production would have gladly used the SNL icon, and it's safe to assume he'd be eager to perform alongside performers from other eras.
Saturday Night Live returns on NBC for its 51st season this fall. Stay tuned for more news about the hit sketch comedy series.