
The 50th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live was a three-hour celebration of Lorne Michaels, featuring appearances from stars like Meryl Streep and Martin Short. Beyond the nostalgia, the special highlighted which current celebrities were considered significant enough to be included. While Sabrina Carpenter and Bad Bunny both made appearances, Pedro Pascal’s presence felt particularly noteworthy. The special, firmly rooted in 2024 pop culture, served as a launching pad for Pascal, foreshadowing a busy year with leading roles in the films Eddington, Materialists, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, as well as continuing his work on the hit show The Last of Us. Though packed with famous faces, it was Pascal’s appearance that truly signaled the arrival of this increasingly popular star.