Detroit's NBC affiliate WDIV cuts short 'SNL' 50th anniversary show, blames technical issue
The Motor City's NBC affiliate, which didn't broadcast the first episode of the landmark comedy sketch show in 1975 (or the following two seasons), was airing the big "Saturday Night Live" 50th anniversary special when it cut away from the live show after a commercial break at around 11:15 p.m.
The only problem was the special wasn't over. Detroit area viewers tuned in to Local 4 didn't get to see the concluding musical performance by Paul McCartney, who sang the epic medley of "Golden Slumbers," "Carry That Weight" and "The End" from the Beatles' 1969 "Abbey Road" album.
They also missed the onstage goodbye where Martin Short delivered the remarks as a horde of past cast members crowded the stage — and original cast members including Laraine Newman and Jane Curtain held up a photo of metro Detroit's own Gilda Radner, one of the greats from the 1975 cast.
While all of that was happening, Local 4 was delivering its delayed 11 p.m. newscast.
WDIV (Channel 4) delivered an on-air apology citing technical difficulties before the newscast ended citing technical difficulties and also posted one on X (former Twitter). It said, "A note to followers: We sincerely apologize for the technical issue that resulted in cutting off the the end of #SNL 50 tonight. You can watch the full episode on Peacock."
WDIV general manager Bob Ellis told the Free Press via email on Monday morning that that an explanation of what happened would be posted on the station's ClickOnDetroit website.
Laura Varon Brown, executive director and CEO of Gilda's Club of Metro Detroit, told the Free Press via email that Radner would have been able to find the humor in the abrupt cutoff.
"Gilda may have appreciated the irony of the ill-timed cutoff when Laraine Newman and Jane Curtin held up photo when Sir Paul McCartney was beautifully ending the show. I'm certain she'd have a joke about that," said Brown, also a former editor at the Free Press.
Brown said she was "simply blown away by" the "SNL" special. "I have such vivid memories of Gilda Radner when SNL began. Her gift of humor and joy, just so inspiring. And now, to carry on her vision of care and understanding for families facing cancer, is a true privilege."
Radner died in 1989 of ovarian cancer. Gilda's Club, which honors her legacy, provides a community of support to those whose lives are affected by cancer.
The "SNL50" anniversary special was a star-studded night that featured musical performances by McCartney, Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon, Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard and Lil Wayne, numerous former cast members and hosts and new takes on classic skits like Debbie Downer, "Black Jeopardy" and Weekend Update.
Other highlights include Carpenter appearing later, along with Pedro Pascal and Bad Buddy, in a third installment of the recurring "Domingo" sketch and Adam Sandler's sweet tribute to Lorne Michaels, which got a standing ovation.
This isn't the first footnote in Detroit TV's history with "SNL." WDIV declined to air the show when it first premiere on Oct. 11, 1975. With the station's permission, the then-UHF station Channel 50 at some point picked up the first two seasons of "SNL."
On that historic date of Oct. 11, 1975, Channel 4 aired the 1959 rom-com "Pillow Talk" with Doris Day and Rock Hudson in what became known as the "SNL" time slot.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit's Local 4 cuts off the end of 'SNL' special, blames technical issue
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