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"SNL 50: The Anniversary Special" airs Feb. 16. Here's our homage to the long-running sketch comedy show. Illustration by Sean McCabe Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Lorne Michaels knows your favorite seasons of Saturday Night Live. They were the ones that aired when you were in high school, right before you got a driver’s license, when you were stuck at

home, with no money. Staying up until 1 a.m. was exciting. Seeing adults saying things no one is supposed to say — it blew your mind.

Then you graduated and the SNL cast members did, too, and the new ones somehow weren’t quite as funny. This is why it’s a rite of passage to quote SNL catchphrases to high school friends.

They become a generational secret handshake, each demo laughing at its own nonsensical “cheeseburger, cheeseburger, Pepsi, Pepsi,” “makin’ copies” or “More cowbell!”

Michaels, 80, created the show in three weeks in 1975 (when it first aired; SNL 50:The Anniversary Special" airs Feb. 16) when Johnny Carson pulled weekend repeats of The Tonight Show so he

could use them during the week to take days off. Since then — other than the five seasons Michaels left the show (1980–85) — he’s been in charge every week, leaving a bigger mark on

American comedy than anyone since Mark Twain. SNL has not only won more Emmys (104) than any other show, it has also spun off 12 movies, three late-night TV hosts (Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers

and Conan O’Brien) and many movie stars. Michaels has vowed to stay at SNL until the 50th anniversary, but he has talked about having his protégé, former head writer Tina Fey, take over when

he leaves.

It’s hard to imagine the show without him. But it’s harder to imagine American culture without the show. To celebrate SNL’s big 5-Oh season, we’ve picked some of its best moments and

characters. Feel free to tell us how wrong we were at facebook.com/aarp or in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Live." That work earned him 11 Emmys and 16 nominations. His last show was Dec. 18, 2021. Unforgettable Skits and Characters

We all have favorites. Here are five of ours

Blues Brothers (1978–82)

Before John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd sang on SNL, their soul revue opened shows for Steve Martin. Their first album, Briefcase Full of Blues, was No. 1 on the Billboard chart and went double

platinum.

Ed Grimley (1984–96)

Martin Short’s surreal creation, with his hiked pants, enormous cowlick, inability to play the triangle and love of Wheel of Fortune, was a human cartoon. He was completely mental, we must

say.

Church Lady (1986–2016)

As the finger-wagging, judgy host of a Christian talk show, Dana Carvey displayed moral superiority by literally doing a “superiority dance” strut. Often she asked, “Could it be … Satan?” It

really was special.

Wayne’s World (1989–2015)

The Illinois high school buddies with a public access show partied on in two movies, the first of which made the most money of the 12 films based on SNL sketches. Yes, including The Blues

Brothers. Schwing indeed.

host that night. Will Heath/Getty Images

What’s Up With That? (2009–19)

Kenan Thompson is brilliant as a singing talk show host who cuts off his guests with singsong questions as dancers (most unforgettably the tracksuited Jason Sudeikis) and performers pour

onto the stage.

Honorable Mention: Matt Foley: Motivational Speaker, Mister Robinson’s Neighborhood, Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey, Dooneese, MacGruber