Jack Nicholson makes rare TV appearance to intro Adam Sandler at ‘SNL50’
Hollywood icon Jack Nicholson made his first public appearance since April 2023 to introduce his Anger Management co-star Adam Sandler’s SNL50: Anniversary Special musical performance.
Sandler, part of the Saturday Night Live cast for five seasons from 1991 to 1995, sang a heartfelt yet hilarious song about the seminal sketch show’s five-decade history. However, to the surprise of everyone watching the special, Nicholson – wearing a New York Yankees beret and customary purple sunglasses – was the man who introduced the performance from the audience.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Adam Sandler!” Nicholson grinned to huge applause. An emotional Sandler responded, “Let’s hear it for Jack, baby! Jack made it out tonight! Love you, brother,” before addressing the reason everyone was packed into Studio 8H on such a special night.
“Everyone in this room has something in common. All of our lives were changed by the show,” the Happy Gilmore star gushed. He then launched into his song, which highlighted the greatest members of SNL’s cast, as well as some of its most famous behind-the-scenes moments.
“50 years of writers seeing Spielberg at Lorne’s monitors, not laughing at one of their sketches that he obviously hated,” Sandler sang. “50 years of those same writers getting wasted at the after-party and loudly telling everybody that Jaws was overrated.” He then joked about how every era of the show’s cast is convinced they’re the best, before quipping that, “We know that the first cast was the best.”
Nicholson’s appearance was a true shock to the audience in attendance and the millions watching at home. He hasn’t been seen since a Los Angeles Lakers game in April 2023 and has never hosted SNL. However, he did appear as a presenter during the 40th-anniversary show in 2015, so perhaps that was a clue that he’d have been keen to make an appearance a decade later.
Sandler was only one of dozens of classic SNL performers who reunited for the anniversary celebration. He was joined by comedy luminaries like Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Will Ferrell, Pete Davidson, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Jason Sudeikis, Tiny Fey, Amy Poehler, Tracy Morgan, Seth Meyers, and original cast members Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, and Garrett Morris.
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