âSaturday Night Liveâ alum Fred Armisen made headlines not just for his performance at the âSNL: Ladies & Gentlemen⦠50 Years of Musicâ exhibit openingâbut also for disappearing briefly before the show. According to Page Six, the comedian slipped away from the green room unnoticed, prompting a moment of panic among event staff. He was later spotted outside chatting with fans in line, before making his way to the stage.
Once onstage, Armisen delivered a 40-minute musical comedy set that included routines like âhow musicians walk,â punk drumming demonstrations, and fan-favorite tracks such as âFist Fight in the Parking Lotâ and âCatalina Breeze.â His performance was part of the launch of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fameâs largest 2025 exhibit, honoring 50 years of musical guests on âSaturday Night Liveâ.
The exhibit also includes a companion documentary, âLadies & Gentlemen⦠50 Years of SNL Musicâ, directed by Ahmir âQuestloveâ Thompson, featuring interviews with artists like Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus, and Mick Jagger.
Fred Armisen Gets Emotional at SNL Exhibit Unveiling
The event was deeply personal for Armisen, who appeared on âSaturday Night Live” from 2002 to 2013. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he shared that seeing Debbie Harryâs outfit from her 1979 SNL performance struck a chord with him. âIt was emotional for me,â Armisen said, reflecting on how her appearance introduced him to the show and inspired his own career path.
Armisen was also surprised to discover artifacts from his own time on the show, including a guitar strap and cue card from his 2013 finale as punk rocker Ian Rubbish. The experience underscored the showâs longstanding relationship with music and comedyâa balance Armisen praised. He noted that âSNLâ creator Lorne Michaels valued musicality in the cast, even recalling the moment he learned Michaels knew George Harrison.
Among the musical acts he called out, Armisen singled out ska-punk band the Specialsâ performance of âGangstersâ as one of the best he had ever seen.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Celebrates 50 Years of SNL Music
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame officially opened the âSNL: Ladies & Gentlemen⦠50 Years of Musicâ exhibit on June 14. In addition to Armisenâs performance, fans were treated to behind-the-scenes footage, SNL-themed trivia, and a jam session in the Garage with the Rock Hallâs house band, according to CBS4 Indy.
The exhibit features more than 1,900 musical guest performances from SNLâs five-decade history, including rarely seen dress rehearsal clips and memorabilia from iconic sketches. With over 150 Rock Hall inductees having appeared on the show, the collaboration between SNL and the Hall underscores the programâs influence on music culture.
Fred Armisenâs contributions are included in the exhibit, honoring his musical characters and 11-season run on the show. Fans can also watch an exclusive cut of the Questlove-directed documentary in the Rock Hallâs Foster Theater.
The exhibit is now open to the public in Cleveland, with free admission offered to local residents through the CLE VIP program sponsored by Key Bank.
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