During SNL50: The Anniversary Special, comedian John Mulaney took the stage alongside legendary Saturday Night Live alum Steve Martin to open the show.
While celebrating the iconic NBC sketch comedy’s 50-year history, Mulaney made a remark that quickly caught the attention of viewers.
Reflecting on the sheer number of hosts the show has had over the decades, Mulaney quipped, “And it amazes me that only two of them have committed murder.”
His comment sparked immediate laughter from Martin and the star-studded audience, but it also ignited a flurry of speculation online.
Who Was John Mulaney Referring To?
Following Mulaney’s remark, social media users quickly began debating which two former SNL hosts he might have been referencing.
The conversation centered around four names: O.J. Simpson, Robert Blake, Alec Baldwin, and Robert Wagner.
While Mulaney didn’t clarify his statement, many assumed he was pointing to Simpson and Blake—two men who were both accused of murder, later acquitted in criminal court, but found liable in civil trials.
O.J. Simpson: From Football Legend to Infamous Trial
O.J. Simpson, who hosted SNL in February 1978, was once a beloved football star and actor. However, in 1994, he became the center of one of the most sensational murder trials in U.S. history.
Simpson was accused of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, outside Brown’s Brentwood, California, home. After a highly publicized trial that captivated the nation, Simpson was acquitted in 1995. However, a civil court later found him liable for their deaths, ordering him to pay $33.5 million in damages to the victims’ families.
Years later, Simpson found himself back behind bars for an unrelated incident. In 2008, he was convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas and sentenced to 33 years in prison, though he was released on parole after nine years. He passed away in 2024 at the age of 76.
Robert Blake: Hollywood Actor with a Troubled Past
Robert Blake, another former SNL host, also became embroiled in a murder case. The actor, best known for his roles in Baretta and Lost Highway, hosted SNL in November 1982. Nearly two decades later, he was accused of murdering his second wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, in 2001.
Bakley was shot and killed while sitting in Blake’s car outside a restaurant in Studio City, California. Blake maintained his innocence throughout the investigation and subsequent trial. In 2005, he was acquitted of her murder, but, like Simpson, he was found liable in a civil trial and ordered to pay damages.
Blake lived a reclusive life following the trial and passed away in March 2023 at age 89.
Alec Baldwin’s Legal Battle
While Alec Baldwin was not charged with murder, his name was brought into the discussion due to the tragic Rust shooting incident. The 30 Rock star, who holds the record for the most times hosting SNL (17 appearances), was involved in the 2021 on-set shooting that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Baldwin was holding a prop gun that was mistakenly loaded with a live round when it discharged, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Initially, Baldwin faced involuntary manslaughter charges, which carried a potential sentence of up to 18 months in prison. However, the case was dismissed in July 2024 due to prosecutorial misconduct.
Despite the controversy, Baldwin attended SNL50 alongside his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, and was seen mingling with other former cast members and hosts.
Robert Wagner and the Mystery Surrounding Natalie Wood’s Death
Robert Wagner, who hosted SNL in December 1989, has long faced public scrutiny over the death of his wife, actress Natalie Wood. Wood drowned in 1981 while the couple was boating off Catalina Island with actor Christopher Walken and the boat’s captain, Dennis Davern.
While Wagner has consistently denied any involvement in her death, speculation has persisted for decades. In 2018, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators named him a “person of interest,” but no charges were ever filed.
The Internet Reacts to Mulaney’s Joke
Mulaney’s comment quickly went viral, with social media users debating whether his joke was a lighthearted jab or a deliberate reference to Simpson and Blake. Some viewers praised the quip, calling it a sharp and bold moment for the SNL50 special, while others found it to be in poor taste.
A few users noted that Baldwin’s presence at the event added an extra layer of intrigue to the moment. “Mulaney made a joke about two SNL hosts committing murder… and Alec Baldwin was sitting right there,” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Another person joked, “Chevy Chase must be relieved he’s only hated, not implicated.”
SNL50: A Star-Studded Celebration
Aside from Mulaney’s viral joke, SNL50 was a night filled with nostalgia and celebration. The special featured appearances from a long list of SNL legends, including Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Kristen Wiig, Bill Murray, and Eddie Murphy.
Throughout its five decades, Saturday Night Live has built a legacy of comedy, controversy, and cultural impact. While the show has had its fair share of headline-making moments, Mulaney’s joke ensured that SNL50 would go down as one of the most talked-about anniversary specials in its history.
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