Dan Aykroydhas finally addressed the reason he skipped out on theSaturday Night Live50th Anniversary Special,SNL50. The commemorative television program brought backa variety of its top-rated talentfor a three-hour extravaganza, celebrating the NBC sketch show’s legacy as it reached another major milestone. However, Aykroyd was noticeably absent from proceedings, leaving fans at home to wonder why he wasn’t included or didn’t show up for the occasion. It turns out, he missed it for a pretty relatable reason.
Saturday Night Live’s 50th Anniversary Special aired on Jun 06, 2025, with past and present cast members taking to the stage to pay homage to the history of the long-running sketch comedy show. It featured a parade of famous faces, from Steve Martin and Martin Short to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, andeven a surprise appearancefrom the legendary Jack Nicholson, but Aykroyd, who was a cast member onSNLfrom its inception in 1975 until his departure in 1979, actively chose to sit it out and watch it at home.
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“I wanted to be at home and I wanted to watch the show beginning to end,” he told Entertainment Weekly at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) this week. “I knew if i was there, I’d be in a dressing room, I’d be working. I wanted to see it live. I’m a fan of the show today, and I watch it all the time. I love these new players; I think they’re just great. I just wanted to see and live nostalgically with my family in my own home, eating my own popcorn.”
The night celebrated the achievements of the last 50 years ofSaturday Night Livehistory (as well assome regrettable moments). Aykroyd is known for many iconic characters and sketches from his time on the show, with one of his most memorable being the musical sketch he performed with John Belushi, introducing their famousBlues Brotherscharacters. That stroke of genius later evolved into a full-length feature film that turned out to be a critical and commercial hit, still enjoying cult status 45 years on from its theatrical release.
‘The Blues Brothers’ Is Getting Another Sequel
The Blues Brothersproved so popular with audiences that it received a sequel, titledBlues Brothers 2000, 18 years after the first film. Director John Landis returned to helm the follow-up from a screenplay that he co-wrote with Aykroyd, who reprised his beloved role as Elwood J. Blues, appearing alongside a new group of characters in a story that presented similar plot points to the original big-screen blues bash. However, the feature underperformed both critically and commercially, ultimately solidifyingits reputation as a disappointment.
NowThe Blues Brothersare getting the band together for another reunion, withthe release of a graphic novelthat will continue the story of the original 1980 Landis film.The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joilet Jakewill chronicle a new adventure centered around a young detective, a runaway orphan, and a mysterious jailbreak. Aykroyd provided editorial oversight on the project and also penned the foreword, which describes the book as a “totally logical third act” for Elwood and one that “keeps the spirit of the Blues Brothers alive.”
The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joilet Jakehits shelves on Aug 21, 2025.
Source:Entertainment Weekly
