This past Sunday, Saturday Night Live premiered its long-awaited 50th anniversary special, bringing back actors from every era of the show since its debut in 1975. The episode ran an hour and a half longer than usual—totaling three hours—and re-aired its most iconic sketches, even featuring the original cast members who starred in them. Former cast members such as Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey returned, along with previous musical guests including Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny and Miley Cyrus.

Saturday Night Live, or SNL, first aired on Oct. 11, 1975, and helped shape the landscape of comedy and late-night television. It featured live performances by musicians and comedians and overcame early challenges to earn its 90-minute time slot on cable. Over time, the show became a staple of sketch comedy and satirical commentary. It is also known as the launching pad for some of the biggest names in comedy, including Chevy Chase, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Eddie Murphy—all of whom returned for the 50th anniversary special.

The special featured several musical guests, including Paul Simon and Paul McCartney, an opening monologue by Steve Martin, and a special edition of the weekly Weekend Update segment, which welcomed back former cast member Bill Murray. Popular sketches from every decade of the show’s run were revived. Even more celebrities, such as Robert De Niro and Rachel Dratch, returned for the “Debbie Downer” sketch, which became an instant classic when it first aired in 2004.

SNL 50 was a celebration of the show’s 939 episodes and the hundreds of cast members, writers, celebrity hosts and musical guests who have contributed to its legacy.