Inside SNL’s Most Challenging Episode Ever: Director Liz Patrick on the 50th Anniversary Special
On a night filled with laughter, legacy, and magic, Saturday Night Live marked its 50th anniversary with an unforgettable celebration. The milestone episode infused nostalgia that paid tribute to its past with new memorable moments. But what audiences saw on screen is only a fraction of the story. Behind the scenes in the iconic Studio 8H, an enormous production effort had been unfolding for months. From production design, hair, makeup, editing, and everything in between, SNL50: The Anniversary Special became the iconic show’s biggest collaborative effort ever, capturing an episode worthy of five decades of history.
Helmed by Liz Patrick, the technical challenge for the crew was planning a three-hour special without a traditional dress rehearsal that the weekly show receives. Special sets were constructed, hair and makeup faced the daunting task of transforming performers into characters spanning eras, archival material was reimagined, and returning alumni were blended with current cast members in a tribute to the show’s evolution.
Below, Patrick discusses how the team prepared for the historic night and the sketch that the director looked forward to the most.
In terms of prep, how did this special compare to others in the past?
The 50th anniversary special presented several challenges, including limited set storage, set transitions, camera traffic, and reduced shooting areas. These issues stemmed from the need to accommodate additional tiered seating for former cast members and celebrities in Studio 8H, as well as an extra music performance stage. When preparing to direct the 50th special, I went back and did some research and watched the 25th and 40th anniversary specials that were done before I arrived at SNL in the fall of 2021. While watching again from a director’s point of view rather than as a fan, I started to think this show might actually be easier than a regular show for us.
Really?
I quickly realized I was wrong; the 50th was going to be one of the most challenging shows. We doubled the number of live sketches, most of which were in large three-wall sets. This made all the transitions for sets and cameras more difficult, especially with the obstacle of our seating bleacher.
How did you approach it technically?
Our typical camera complement for our show is four pedestal cameras and a Chapman crane. Sometimes we bring in a handheld camera, a steadicam, or a robotic camera for a specialty shot if the creative in a sketch lends itself to needing such a shot. Due to the limited depth in certain shooting areas of the special, we employed handheld cameras on wheels with a wide lens. This allowed us to capture the entire set within our frame, without the need for a pedestal camera to impede the set and take away space from the cast and guest actors.
How did rehearsal help to put all the puzzle pieces together?
On our first rehearsal day without actors, I had limited sketch ideas and scripts, but we set up and looked at each set, figuring out which camera complement would work in each setup for each sketch. Our staging crew, camera operators, utilities, and stage managers worked so hard and were instrumental in helping me figure out this puzzle.
We also had to take into consideration where we were in the show before the sketch and where we were going next in the show. All in hopes the running order of the show would t change too much. Having this day was so crucial for us to have to get the ball rolling before bringing in cast and guest stars for rehearsals.
Did you sketch a scene you were looking forward to directing?
There were so many great moments of the 50th. From Meryl Streep in Close Encounter, Robert DeNiro in Debbie Downer, to Will Ferrell in his short shorts for Scared Straight. Some of the most special for me were working with the former cast members, guest stars, and former writers whom I’ve admired for years.
When Bronx Beat got combined with Coffee Talk, I jumped with excitement. Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler are two of my all-time favorites, and then to add Mike Meyers to the mix as Linda Richmond was surreal. Growing up, one of my favorite sketches was the Coffee Talk sketch that included Mike as Linda Richmond, Madonna as Linda Rosenberg, and Roseanne Barr as Liz’s mom. At the end of the sketch, Barbara Streisand makes a surprise cameo behind Mike and Madonna. This moment is priceless, and I feel like we paid homage to it in the 50th when Mike popped up as Linda Richmond behind Amy and Maya in Bronx Beat. It felt like we were creating another SNL moment.
What did it mean for your career to be picked to direct this episode?
I’m extremely grateful and honored to be given the opportunity to direct this series and now the 50th anniversary special. I’ve worked on so many cool pop culture shows in my career, and this one will go down in history as one of my favorite accomplishments. I’m a lifelong fan of SNL. I grew up watching this show. I started my TV career in NYC before heading off to LA, and to get to return to NYC to work on this iconic show and the 50th special means everything to me. It’s a real pinch-me moment.
You can watch clips of SNL50 online.
