NBC / Today showThe Today show had a totally excellent party on Halloween 2014! Schwing!
Stars of the NBC's morning program celebrated a Halloween "Boo-Nanza," on Friday, donning stupendous costumes yet again, this time as popular, throwback characters from Saturday Night Live. They reenacted classic skits from the network's late-night sketch series, which is on its 40th season.
The show also featured co-host Savannah Guthrie, who is on maternity leave after giving birth to her first child in August, and surprise cameos by both a current and former SNL star and a Saved by the Bell alum.
Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, co-hosts of the Today show's fourth hour, channeled Wayne and Garth from Wayne's World. Party on! The lovable teens, originally played by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey, made their debut on SNL in 1989, three years before the hit comedy film was released.
"Wayne" and "Garth" introduced a musical group that hails from Calumet City, Illinois (a line that drew an explosion of laughter from an unidentified man near them—Al Roker, is that you?)...the Blues Brothers!
The group, made up Elwood Blues and "Jolient" Jake Blues, played by Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi, made their debut on SNL in the late '70s. Roker played and sang the latter star's part in a New York street performance of "Soul Man," while Today show Weekend Anchor Lester Holt took over Aykroyd's role.
Putting the soul in Soul Man with my fellow Blues Brother Al Roker @TODAYshow #halloweentoday pic.twitter.com/HKkl68c0ns
? Lester Holt (@LesterHoltNBC) October 31, 2014Willie Geist and Tamron Hall were Craig and Arianna, SNL's (wannabe) Spartan cheerleaders, also known as the Spartans, from the '90s. They danced to a classic Jock Jam, recreating the first of what would become one of Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri's many peppy skits. Dennis Haskins, who played principal Mr. Belding on Saved by the Bell, made a cameo.
Such a good time surprising everyone on this morning's Today Show! @nbc @TODAYshow #HalloweenPepRally #SNL @nbcsnl pic.twitter.com/1SKbSnImo4
? Dennis Haskins (@mrbelding) October 31, 2014?@MikeMcKeever: ?@TODAYshow: Action shot! @WillieGeist & Mr. Belding! #HalloweenTODAY pic.twitter.com/JQuS3ItJgi? @mrbelding? getting air! :-)
? Dennis Haskins (@mrbelding) October 31, 2014Natalie Morales was awkward Catholic schoolgirl Mary Katherine Gallagher (Superstar!), originally played by Molly Shannon, reenacting SNL's 1995 "St. Monica's Talent Auditions" skit. Peter Alexander played Irish actor Gabriel Byrne's character.
Meanwhile, Matt Lauer, who was a serious contender for celebrity winner of Halloween 2013, dressed up as Julia Sweeney's androgynous SNL character Pat, seen on several episodes in the '90s. While browsing for Halloween costumes on the street, he comes face-to-face with his "mirror image," played by the actress herself!
.@MLauer was him in 2012, her in 2013 and in 2014... errrr... #HalloweenTODAY #snlTODAY http://t.co/bDTsx8w3Lt pic.twitter.com/7u9X2eefs4
? TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 31, 2014In a taped segment, Guthrie, who is set to return officially to the Today show on Nov. 3, former regular co-host-turned-talk-show-host Meredith Vieira) and Today show special correspondent Jenna Bush Hager reenacted the 2003 SNL skit "Mom Jeans" ("She'll love the 9'-inch zipper and casual front pleats!"), which originally starred Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch and Maya Rudolph.
"You're not a woman, you're a mom" #momjeans cc @JennaBushHager @meredithvieira pic.twitter.com/cv2vishDOH
? Savannah Guthrie (@SavannahGuthrie) October 31, 2014Check out a video of the Today show's 2014 Halloween "Boo-Nanza," featuring current SNL cast member Kenan Thompson parodying one of the morning show's stars (quid pro quo...), the skit reenactments, as well as a behind-the-scenes video below.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
We're not worthy!
Thanks @nbcsnl for letting us raid your closet! Here's to 40 more seasons! #snlTODAY #SNL40 pic.twitter.com/4Nyj4DmB6A
? TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 31, 2014(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)