When Saturday Night Live released its list of headlining cast members returning for the show’s anniversary special earlier this week, two names were conspicuously missing: Dan Aykroyd and Bill Hader.
At the time we assumed that a second list of returning cast members was still forthcoming (and that may still be the case–certainly more will be on hand on Sunday), but we’re learning now that Aykroyd and Hader will, in fact, not be in attendance at the show.
A source close to Aykroyd tells LateNighter he “could not come,” while Matthew Belloni at Puck News reports that Hader was “a polite decline.”
Belloni also reports that Dick Ebersol, the NBC exec who hired Lorne Michaels in 1975 and executive produced the show for five years in the 80s, will not also not be at the show. He’s reportedly suffering from health issues.
Both Aykroyd and Hader will almost certainly be represented in clip form on the show, and as we’ve reported, Hader is set to revive his Californians character Devin in a new Volkswagon commercial that’s airing during the show.
Obliquely referencing his absence at this weekend’s events–and NBC’s rebroadcast of the show’s 1975 premiere this Saturday night–Aykroyd wrote the following in a social media post Friday morning:
“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!!”
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Hader really should have made every effort, to contribute something. He really looks bad.
he appeared in a californians commercial that just came out for volkswagen
I watched the SNL musical guest 50th last night and he was on it. I don’t know what the difference will be between the two shows? Last night’s was taped l. Is tonight live? Id so,maybe that’s the difference? It was a great show. So many memories and amazing musical talent through the decades. Exciting to see what tonight willl bring.
I read somewhere that Hader had an awful lot of anxiety when he was on snl. Maybe it’s just something he doesn’t want to revisit again. It’s disappointing, because he was one of my very favorites. hopefully we’ll still get to see his clips, but it would have been nice to see him there
In the meantime he gave us Barry, one of the most brilliant shows ever on tv.
reading this article makes me feel old. I saw the very first show back in ’75 & let me tell you that those people on the show like Dan & Belushi ect. were clasic. I will never forget how funny these guys were wirhout even trying.Seeing the new cast members that werent even born yet is eirie. I salute all of them from that era.
Dan is at his home on st croix. He and his crew just adopted an adorable puppy and will be enjoying the paradise they live in.
The SNL 1970s shows were the best original cast, Dan Ackroyd (super talent) and Bill Murray,No Coke-Pepsi, Roseanne Roseannadanna, Father Sarduchi, George Carlin Irish Catholic jokes (I”m Catholic) hilarious! Also Jane Curtain, Lorraine Newman and Garret Morris were greats. Guest hosts were superb. Thank you, it still makes me smile! (from Canada)
and I missed typing in John Belushi famously No Coke-Pepsi..!
Coke,no pepsi! No fries,chip,chip,chip! 🤣❤️🥰 Omgosh! Amazing memories! They did a show last night 2/15 dedicated to the musical talents throughout the decades. Of course Belushi & Aykroyd aka The Bluuues Brothers. 😁
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puJePACBoIo
thank you Jeanine. here it is! ;o)
While I understand that Aykroyd might not make it (although it would be cool if he did) I’m completely bummed that Bill Hader won’t be there. He is one of my all time favorites. It honestly won’t be the same without him.
It’s Volkswagen for the car brand. I appreciate the article.
Words can never express how much I love SNL- from its first episode til now the people that hosted, the people that performed the skits, the stars that “popped in”, and the musical guests launched so many careers and caused me to laugh til I cried every Saturday night to this very day!! Thanks to NBC and everyone else responsible for bringing so much joy to my life!!
I loveeeeeeee Dan Ackroyd. He is soooooooooo sexy!
I was hoping for a “JANE, YOU IGNORANT SLUT!”
and a Bass O Matic update!
I really missed not seeing Dan akroyd. The original group was the funniest.
Great gig Adam Sandler. I sing to my dog’s from your tunes!
Dan ackroyd is very arrogant . SNL is what gave him his start and his career and what made him what he is. Let me tell you what. he sucks anyway.. second rate actor…
*yawn*
I found it extremely disappointing that Dan Aykroyd was not present last night. I mean, how was this not possible, especially with the vast majority of the original crew there.
To me , this was totally unacceptable. There had to be another reason for this.
Thank you for your everlasting talent. You still bring smiles to my face.
First and foremost there was Laugh In. A show that was so different from anything ever on TV. it was groundbreaking and set the stage for SNL.
I was eighteen in November of 1975. Had just entered SUNY Binghamton when Saturday Night Live came on at 11:30PM on NBC. ..
Having left New York growing up in Carroll Gardens Brooklyn where I was raised. Born in long Island College Hospital and lived in Cobble Hill until moving to Carroll Gardens in fourth grade.
Attended PS 29 until transferring to St. Agnes Catholic Grammer School
then in 1971 as a freshman at Xavier High School in Manhattan on W. 16th Street.
SNL was coming from New York City. 30 Rockefeller Center.. I remember Gilda Radner portraying a newswoman named Roseann Roseanadana. ABC CH. 7 Eyewitness News had an anchor named Rose Ann Scamardella. Who became Gilda Radner s Roseann Roseanadana.
Rose Ann Scamardella lived in Carroll Gardens with her politician husband Michael Pesce.
So seeing this character on SNL and knowing that Roseann Roseanadana really was Rose Ann Scamardella was mind blowing.
And fifty years later and still growing strong!!! Thank you SNL for bringing ninety minutes of joy and laughter into the world every Saturday night!!!
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this article gave me nothing as of why they didn’t go.