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Key Points
Saturday Night Live paid tribute to Rob Reiner after the director's murder.
Reiner hosted the sketch show's third episode on Oct. 25, 1975.
The All in the Family actor was joined by his wife at the time, Penny Marshall.
Saturday Night Liveis saying goodbye to one of the legendary sketch show's earliest hosts.
During itsfinal episode of the yearon Saturday, the show took time to pay tribute to directorRob Reinerless than a week after his brutal murder at age 78. Just before the show's goodnights segment, a tribute card flashed on screen showing an image of the late director from his era on the show.
Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner werefound dead in their homeon Sunday, Dec. 14. Theirofficial cause of deathwas homicide via multiple sharp force injuries, per the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
The couple's youngest son, Nick Reiner, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his parents. The 32-year-oldappeared in courton Dec. 17, where his attorneys declined to enter a plea. He is currently being held without bail while awaiting arraignment on Jan. 7, 2026.
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Starring onAll in the Familyas Michael "Meathead" Stivic at the time, Reiner hostedSNL's third-ever episode on Oct. 25, 1975, following in the footsteps of premiere host George Carlin and episode 2 host Paul Simon. But Reiner was the first host to also appear in sketches with the cast.
Reiner's wife at the time, actress and directorPenny Marshall, joined him in multiple sketches, including a standout bit with the Bees,SNL's first recurring characters, led by John Belushi. The rest of the show's season 1 cast — billed as theNot Ready For Primetime Players— included Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, and Michael O'Donoghue.
It was a rare episode that featured no musical guest. Instead, Belushi performed "With a Little Help From My Friends" while impersonating Joe Cocker.
Nearly two decades later, after his directing career was in full force, Reiner was impersonated onSNLby Chris Farley, who played theA Few Good Menhelmer in the Feb. 20, 1993, cold open alongside Phil Hartman as President Bill Clinton.
Over the years, Reiner made many movies featuring actors who've been on theSNLcast, including his directorial debut, 1984'sThis Is Spinal Tap,starring Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer, and also featuring Paul Shaffer, Billy Crystal, and Dana Carvey. The fictional band even served as musical guests on a season 9 episode.
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Reiner's connection to the sketch show continued when he and Michele Reiner were spotted atSNL50: The Homecoming Concertearlier this year.
Saturday's year-end episode was hosted by Ariana Grande with musical guest Cher. It also marked the final appearance of cast member Bowen Yang.
SNLis expected to return with new episodes sometime in January.
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