snl-hal-willner

watch SNL's tribute to Hal Willner w/ cast members singing Lou Reed's "Perfect Day"

Saturday Night Live returned this evening with a special “SNL at Home” episode, taped with the cast at their respective houses and apartments, including host Tom Hanks (fully recovered from coronavirus) and musical guest Chris Martin of Coldplay. The episode featured a tribute to Hal Willner, who had been SNL‘s Sketch Music Producer since 1981 and died this week from complications from COVID-19. The tribute featured the cast members past and present, including Adam Sandler, Fred Armisen, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, Bill Hader, John Mulaney, Pete Davidson, and more. It also had Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Paula Pell, and Molly Shannon singing Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day.” (Hal and Lou were good friends and had worked together on records, too, like 2000’s Ecstacy.) It was a very nice tribute and you can watch that below.

More: Read tributes to Hal and watch episodes of the late-’80s series Night Music that Hal produced.