Saturday evening live honored the late director Rob Reiner, one of the comedy show’s first hosts, just days after his shocking murder.
During the December 20 episode, with Ariana Grande as host and Cher as musical guest, it took a while for the show to remember Rob, who hosted the third episode of SNL in October 1975.
To pay tribute to one of the sketch comedy show’s first hosts, a commemorative card appeared on screen showing Rob’s reflection on his time on the show before the show’s goodnight segment.
The late filmmaker was also the very first host on SNL’s comedy sketches and his then-wife, Penny Marshall, also appeared in sketches at the time.
The tribute came almost a week after Rob and his wife Michele were found dead in their Los Angeles home on December 14 by their daughter Romy Reiner. The deceased couple’s son, Nick Reiner, was arrested the same day and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison or death, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Rob and Michele’s causes of death were due to multiple sharp force injuries.
Additionally, Saturday’s episode of the late-night comedy sketch series also marked the end of Bowen Yang’s seven-year run on the show. The comedian said goodbye with an emotional sketch from a Delta One Lounge employee.
Portraying his character while working his last shift on Christmas Eve, Yang sang Charles Brown’s 1960 song Please Come Home for Christmas as a duet with Grande.
