In its 50th season, Saturday Night Live is proving that comedy isn’t just about the punchlines—it’s about the chaos, the cracks, and the pure, unscripted hilarity that happens behind the scenes. The legendary sketch comedy show recently released a three-minute blooper reel packed with unaired outtakes, cast break moments, and live mishaps featuring some of this season’s biggest guest stars and fan-favorite performers. From forgotten lines to on-set laughter that couldn’t be contained, the video is a celebration of everything that makes live television so gloriously unpredictable.
When live TV gets too real
The blooper reel kicks off with a moment that perfectly encapsulates the risk of live comedy. During a “Weekend Update” bit, cast member Ego Nwodim attempted a call-and-response with the audience. “These men ain’t what?” she asked. The crowd replied with an unfiltered expletive, prompting an immediate audio cut to dodge a potential FCC fine. The moment wasn’t just a blip—it was a reminder that when you roll the dice with live humor, you sometimes get more than you bargained for.
Elsewhere, Sarah Sherman completely breaks character in a pre-recorded sketch featuring an astronaut puppet in the surreal “Beppo” segment. Her attempt at a puppet kiss results in an uncontrollable fit of laughter, derailing the scene in the most delightful way. And that’s only the beginning.
Skits, slips, and shenanigans
Stand-up comic Shane Gillis delivered a few unforgettable moments of his own in an outtake from the “CouplaBeers” sketch. His character wrongly accuses Marcello Hernandez’s of farting in what he mistakenly calls the “green room”—though the scene is clearly set in a bland office space. As if that wasn’t enough, Gillis then attempts, and hilariously fails, to yank down Hernandez’s pants. The chaos that follows sees Sherman, Hernandez, and Gillis collapsing into laughter, completely breaking the illusion of the sketch.
Another gem involves John Mulaney—no stranger to SNL—struggling to stay in character while filming promotional material for his episode. Mulaney finds himself repeatedly cracking up at James Austin Johnson’s eerily accurate Bob Dylan impression. Johnson later called the session his “number one season 50 highlight” as a longtime Dylan fan, noting that they had so many giggles it bordered on performance art. “There’s probably a 20-minute cut of this that would be a grueling exercise in patience to enjoy,” he joked on social media, “so an ideal Bob fan experience.”
Mascara meltdowns and musical mayhem
Lady Gaga’s episode gave rise to one of the season’s most visually ridiculous outtakes. In a faux “Mascara Commercial” parody, Heidi Gardner and Nwodim are covered in smeared makeup, their tear-streaked faces practically unrecognizable as they attempt to deliver lines through bursts of laughter. The combination of absurd visuals and genuine cast chemistry makes for one of the reel’s most relatable and entertaining moments.
Bowen Yang, always a source of on-camera surprises, racks up several gaffes of his own throughout the video. In one sketch, he accidentally calls Andy Samberg “Slamblerg.” In another, he fumbles his delivery of “Miss V.P.” during a TikTok parody involving Maya Rudolph’s Kamala Harris. He even knocks over a microphone during a live sketch while donning a floppy blond wig—proof that even polished veterans aren’t immune to mishaps.
Please don’t destroy… your composure
No SNL blooper reel would be complete without the Please Don’t Destroy trio pushing each other to the edge of laughter. Charli XCX, appearing in one of their sketches, hilariously refers to Ben Marshall as a “dead-eyed ginger,” which sends the entire group—Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy—spiraling into barely contained chuckles. Herlihy’s exaggerated delivery of the word “Boom!” completely derails the rest of the group, cementing yet another moment that was too funny to keep under wraps.
These outtakes showcase the magic that unfolds when the cast lets go, embraces the absurd, and shares a real, human moment on camera. While SNL is known for tight comedic timing and sharp satire, its longevity also owes much to its ability to laugh at itself—and let its audience laugh along.
A season worth celebrating
Season 50 of Saturday Night Live is not just a milestone in television history—it’s a tribute to the resilience and evolution of live comedy. The blooper reel isn’t just bonus footage; it’s a reminder of the joy behind the process. In a media landscape increasingly polished and curated, SNL’s commitment to airing its imperfections is refreshingly honest.
By sharing these slip-ups, the cast and crew offer fans a rare look behind the scenes—a peek into the camaraderie, spontaneity, and unpredictability that keeps SNL fresh after five decades. It’s not just the sketches that keep people tuning in—it’s the shared humanity behind the laughter.
