Ghosts of ‘SNL’ Past Celebrated Martin Short’s Induction Into the Five-Timers Club Last Night

Top that, SNL 50th Anniversary Party.

Martin Short was inducted into Saturday Night Live’s Five-Timers Club last night, welcomed by a dazzling array of members of the SNL royal family. The fact that the party replaced the tiresome political cold open just made it all the sweeter. Call the sketch a victory lap for Lorne Michaels. Is there any other TV show, comedy or not, that could gather a group like this?

First up, Tom Hanks, lounging in a leather chair like he was going to narrate another World War II documentary.

Hanks shared a piece of SNL history — he was the one who invented the idea of a “Five-Timers Club,” mainly as an “ingeniously lazy” way to avoid writing a host monologue that week. True story!

Paul Rudd joined Hank to welcome in Short, who previously played the Five-Timers Club cabana boy when Justin Timberlake was inducted. It’s quite a promotion. The fellas shared the Five-Timers Secret Handshake (“One, two, three, four, five — you’re great!”) before they moved on. After all, they had a lot of cameos to get to.

Next was Tina Fey, who Short called a Hollywood rarity — a writer who’s good-looking enough to be on camera. “And you are one of the least rare things in Hollywood,” she shot back. “A loud man.”

That’s when Alec Baldwin popped in, lampooning himself (or maybe it’s just Alec Baldwin) in his show-off-y Five-Timers jacket that’s replaced the 5 with a 17, the record number of times he's hosted SNL. “I happen to be a very useful type for the show,” he explained. “They call me when they need someone to play a Republican.”

The parade picked up pace from there. Scarlett Johansson and her husband Colin Jost arrived, though Johansson slammed the door in Jost’s face before he could enter. Kristin Wiig, who may or may not be secretly living in the Five-Timers Club lounge, had a frosty reunion with Short. “I hope you’re not expecting a repeat of what happened last year when we saw each other,” she warned. “I’m not that girl anymore.”

“And I’m not that flexible anymore,” admitted Short.

It felt like an Only Murders in the Building reunion since Fey and Rudd have both guest-starred. “Isn’t it embarrassing,” asked Short, “when shows throw in big-name cameos just for a cheap ratings boost?” 

Cue Melissa McCarthy and Emma Stone, who also hoped Wiig wasn’t expecting a repeat of what happened last year. McCarthy got a few moments to channel her inner Chris Farley, getting drenched by a water spigot before falling through a wall.

The gaping hole gave John Mulaney a way in, and he and Short reminisced about the sitcom they made together 10 years ago. Mulaney assured Short they could never do that show now. “Because everyone’s so woke?” asked Short.

“No,” said Mulaney. “Because it wasn’t good, and no one liked it.”

The final cameo of the night? Inexplicably, it was three-timer Jimmy Fallon as Jacket Boy. He brought out a smoking jacket in a custom size for Short — a woman’s small. True to form, Short did shtick struggling to get into his new wardrobe, and Fallon couldn’t stop cracking up.

Hats off to SNL for pulling off the crazy logistics — ten celebrities crowded the stage with Short. That didn’t even include Dana Carvey, who showed up in a later sketch and who, unlike Wiig, does appear to be secretly living in Studio 8H. All of the stars made one other famous SNL alum conspicuous by his absence: Short’s attached-at-the-hip comedy partner Steve Martin. While the wild-and-crazy guy failed to make an appearance, Hanks explained that SNL was letting Short have the spotlight for a night. In fact, he offered Short the club’s signature drink, the Marty-tini. “It’s often paired with our Steve Martini,” Hanks explained. “But tonight we’re serving it solo.”

Short took a sip. “And I bet it’s even better on its own.”