Feb. 17, 2025

Adam Sandler - "50 Years" - Saturday NIght Live 50th Anniversary Special

Show Notes
Transcript

This episode explores Adam Sandler's heartfelt performance of "50 Years" at the "Saturday Night Live" 50th anniversary special, a song that encapsulates the show's rich history and emotional impact. We delve into how Sandler, an SNL alum, crafted this acoustic tribute to celebrate five decades of laughter, innovation, and camaraderie. From its nostalgic lyrics to its candid references to beloved cast members, "50 Years" serves as both a personal reflection and a universal homage to the cultural phenomenon that is SNL. We examine the song's significance in Sandler's career and its resonance among fans and former cast members alike.

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Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed!

Subscribe now for exclusive shows like 'Palace Intrigue,' and get bonus content from Deep Crown (our exclusive Palace Insider!) Or get 'Daily Comedy News,' and '5 Good News Stories’ with no commercials! Plans start at $4.99 per month, or save 20% with a yearly plan at $49.99. Join today and help support the show!

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Get more info from Caloroga Shark Media and if you have any comments, suggestions, or just want to get in touch our email is info@caloroga.com

WEBVTT

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Callaroga Shark Media. In the landscape of entertainment, few shows

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have had the cultural impact of Saturday Night Live. Among

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its many alumni, Adam Sandler stands out not just for

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his comedic roles, but also for his poignant contributions to music,

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both on and off the show. On February sixteen, twenty

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twenty five, Sandler returned to the iconic Studio eight h

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to perform fifty Years, an original song that served as

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a tribute to SNL's enduring legacy. But to truly grasp

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the depth of fifty Years, we must delve into Sandler's

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history with the show and the emotional weight this performance carried.

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Sandler joined SNL in nineteen ninety, bringing with him a

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unique brand of humour that included memorable character like Opera

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Man and Canteen Boy. His tenure ended in nineteen ninety five,

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but his connection with SNL never truly ceased. Over the years,

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Sandler has returned for multiple cameos, hostings, and musical performances,

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each time reaffirming his bond with the show that launched

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his career. Fifty Years, performed at the fiftieth anniversary special,

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was more than just a song. It was a narrative

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journey through SNL's history told through Sandler's eyes. The song

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was co written with SNL writer Dan Buller, showcasing a

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collaboration that mirrored the show's spirit of teamwork. The song

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opens with a reflection on the shared experience of those

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connected to SNL, humorously noting the commonality among everyone in

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the room. Everyone in this room has something in common.

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All of our lives were changed by the show. This

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line sets the tone for personal yet collective memory, acknowledging

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how SNL has been a pivotal part of many careers

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and personal lives. The humor continues with everyone in this

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room has something else in common. None of us were

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allowed to use the little bathroom in LRN Michael's office,

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bringing a touch of SNL's insider culture to the forefront,

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reminding everyone of the show's quirks and the authority of

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its creator, Lawn Michaels. The lyrics delve into the behind

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the scenes life at SNL, celebrating the unsung heroes with

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lines like fifty years of drunk Wally holding the que

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cards upside down, paying homage to the crew members often

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unseen by the audience, but crucial to the show's success.

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There's a nod to the comforting rituals and the care

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provided backstage, with fifty years of Tuesday Late Night pizza

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Nurse Teresa who took care of them with pepto bismol,

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celebrating the small comforts during long nights of live television production.

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Sandler all also acknowledges the interns who have been part

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of the SNL experience, often leading to unexpected connections. Fifty

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years of asking an intern to pick up your laundry

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at two thirty am, only to find out the intern

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was Martin Scorsese's kid, or Nora Ephron's kid, or Randy

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Newman's kid. This line humorously highlights the show's role in

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the early careers of many who would become famous or influential.

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The heart of the song is a tribute to the

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cast members, both living and deceased. Sandler lists specific tenures

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of various comedians from the original not ready for prime

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time players to more recent stars, with four years of

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Eddie Murphy, eight years of Will Forte, five years of

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Jan Hooks and Gilda Radner, six of Victoria Jackson, eleven

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of Michael Jay, three years of Melanie Hutzel, Michael McKean

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crushed it. This role call celebrates the diversity and longevity

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of talent that has graced the SNL stage. However, it's

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the emotional tribute to Chris Farley and Norm MacDonald that

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truly resonates six years of our boy Farley and five

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of our buddy Norm. Sandler's voice breaks here, conveying the

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deep personal connection and the profound impact these comedians had

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on him and the SNL community. Musically, fifty years is

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simple yet powerful. Played acoustically with Sandler on guitar, the

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melody is gentle, allowing the lyrics to shine through. The chorus.

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With its mention of live from New York its Saturday

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Night encapsulates the iconic phrase that has become synonymous with

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the show. The song reflects on the physical act of

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ending each episode with fifty years of standing on home base,

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waving good night and goodbye, fifty years of the best

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times of our lives, capturing the bittersweet nature of SNL's episodes,

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where joy come and sometimes sorrow are wrapped into one moment.

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There's humor in the critique of the show's process, with

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fifty years of your sketch, killing it at read through

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and finding out they didn't pick it because the host

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didn't want to take off his shirt, poking fun at

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the sometimes arbitrary or superficial reasons sketches can be cut.

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There's also a playful jab at Spielberg, with fifty years

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of writers seeing Spielberg at Lorne's monitors not laughing at

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one of their sketches that he obviously hated, and the

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jest continues with fifty years of those same writers then

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getting wasted at the after party and loudly telling everybody

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that Jaws was overrated, showcasing the camaraderie and the sometimes brash,

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honest opinions shared in private moments after the show more

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In a moment lastly, Sandler muses on the future of SNL,

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with fifty years of wondering who's going to take over

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when Lorne retires, followed by a humorous suggestion of Speedy Rosenthal,

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a longtime member of the SNL music department, playfully indicating

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potential future leadership. Upon its performance, fifty years struck a

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chord not just with those who've worked on SNL, but

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with fans who've grown up with the show. It wasn't

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just about celebrating fifty years of comedy, but acknowledging the

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personal and collective journey that SNL has been a part

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of for so many. Sandler's return for this performance underscores

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his unique position in the SNL universe, someone who can

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find humour in the darkest moments yet also convey profound emotion.

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Fifty Years adds another layer to his legacy, not just

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as a comedian or actor, but as a storyteller who

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can evoke laughter, tears and everything in between. As we

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look at fifty years, it's clear this song won't be

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just a fleeting moment of the anniversary special. It's a

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contribution that will be remembered as part of SNL's history,

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much like Sandler's own legacy within the show. So take

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a moment to listen to fifty years, let the nostalgia

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wash over you, and appreciate the beautiful chaos that is

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Saturday Night Live. For In the end, fifty years isn't

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just a song. It's a love letter to an institution,

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a nod to friendship, and a testament to the enduring

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power of laughter and music. And with every listen, it

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reaffirms Adam Sandler's place as one of the most cherished

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figures inesnl's storied history. I'm Andrew Irons and this has

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been another engaging episode of The hit Maker Chronicles. Join

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us next week as we continue to uncover the stories

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behind the songs and artists that have left an indelible

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mark on the world. The hit Maker Chronicles is a

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production of Calarogus Shark Media executive producers Mark Francis and

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John McDermott. Portions of this podcast may have been created

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with the assistance of AI