Saturday Night Live is turning 50, and some of its best moments have featured Canadians

Canadians have always been a fixture on Saturday Night Live, the groundbreaking NBC sketch comedy show that is marking its 50th anniversary this weekend.

In an alternate universe, SNL actually could have been a Canadian show.

Its creator and producer, Toronto-born Lorne Michaels, got his start doing sketch comedy on CBC and once pitched an SNL-like show to the Canadian broadcaster.

"I'd done a pilot for the CBC in 1971 and they decided not to put it on," Michaels said in 1992 documentary on CBC's The Journal. "And most of it was in the shape of what was to be Saturday Night Live."

Instead, Michaels created SNL for NBC in 1975, with a small cast that included Ottawa-born Dan Aykroyd.

The show went on to capture generations of late-night TV viewers with its oddball comedy and political satire, and has launched the careers of countless Hollywood stars.

Cast members over the years have included numerous Canadians, like Aykroyd and his brother Peter, Mark McKinney (Ottawa), Martin Short (Hamilton, Ont.), Phil Hartman (Brantford, Ont.), Mike Myers (Toronto) and Norm Macdonald (Quebec City). 

An even longer list of Canadians have hosted the show.

'One of the best things I've ever done'

"It's one of the best things I've ever done, and the most fun I've ever had," B.C. actor Pamela Anderson recently told the Canadian Press in describing her experience hosting SNL in 1997. "I just love Lorne Michaels' tenacity and vision. It was really inspiring."

Vancouver's Jason Priestley, who hosted in 1992, called it one of the greatest weeks of fun he ever had professionally.

"It's quite an undertaking, showing up on Monday morning and having a table read, and by Saturday night you're putting on a live broadcast," he said.

Canadian actors Rick Moranis, Catherine O'Hara, Jim Carrey, Brendan Fraser, Seth Rogen and Ryan Gosling have each hosted SNL more than once. 

Some of Canada's biggest musical stars, like Drake and Justin Bieber, have both done double-duty as host and musical guest, while Arcade Fire, Michael Buble and Avril Lavigne have filled the coveted musical slot on multiple occasions. 

And some Canadians will never forget The Tragically Hip's iconic 1995 performance, in which the late Gord Downie changed the lyrics in the opening words of Grace, Too.

The show's 50th anniversary festivities kicked off Friday night with The Homecoming Concert, featuring Bad Bunny, Cher, Post Malone and more.

On Saturday, NBC and Peacock will re-broadcast the show's first episode at 11:30 p.m. ET. 

Finally on Sunday, SNL50:The Anniversary Special will air at 8 p.m. ET, also on NBC and Peacock. Pre-show "red carpet coverage" will be streamed live on all SNL social and digital platforms, including YouTube.

Here's a look at some SNL skits featuring Canadians.

The French Chef (1978)

Dan Aykroyd does a gory parody of iconic TV chef Julia Child, who was one of the first women to host her own cooking show.

Proud Canadians (1992)

Phil Hartman and Catherine O'Hara team up to boast about Canada in song, after the Toronto Blue Jays won the 1992 MLB World Series.

Celebrity Jeopardy! (1999)

Norm Macdonald portrays Burt Reynolds as a conceited, obnoxious Jeopardy! contestant.

Drake's Beef (2016)

Toronto rapper Drake's self-deprecating skit was a harbinger of things to come, with recent headlines dominated by his real-life beef with rival Kendrick Lamar.

The Engagement (2024)

Ryan Gosling struggles to hold it together as he plays a man who's desperately trying to escape his recent engagement.