Jon Lovitz and Anthony Michael Hall Look Back onSNL's Infamous 'Weird Season' with Robert Downey Jr. (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Jon Lovitz; Robert Downey Jr.; Anthony Michael Hall.Photo:Jamie McCarthy/NBC; FilmMagic; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Jamie McCarthy/NBC; FilmMagic; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Jon LovitzandAnthony Michael Hallare missingRobert Downey Jr.at Studio 8H.On the red carpet ahead of theSNL50: The Anniversary Special, the actors opened up to PEOPLE about the show’sinfamous “weird” 1985-1986 season— which also starred Downey Jr. — while reflecting on their own experiences on the NBC comedy show.“The press slammed it from the beginning,” Lovitz, 67, recalled of the infamous season. “And if you look at it, you had so many talented people and there was a lot of great stuff on the show that year, but they never wrote about it.““It wasn’t that weird. The cast was coming together,” he said before adding Downey Jr. “was 20 but he was brilliant.” He continued, “Anthony Michael Hall was brilliant, andJoan Cusack, brilliant.“Lovitz added he was “honored” and “thrilled” to be part of the 50th celebration. “It’s very emotional seeing everybody. Probably the best weekend of my life,” he added while Hall, 56, called it “exciting” and “surreal.“Nora Dunn, Danitra Vance, Robert Downey Jr., Terry Sweeney, Jon Lovitz, Randy Quaid, Anthony Michael Hall and Joan Cusack.NBCU Photo Bank/gettyHall also wished that theIron Manactor, 59, was able to join in on the festivities. “I wish Downey was here to celebrate with us,” he said. “I think he’s been busy.“Downey Jr. was part of thesketch comedy show’s 11th season in 1985. Though it wasn’t a long-term gig, he appreciated the experience.“I learned so much in that year about what I wasn’t. But there’s not a more exciting 90 minutes you could have, whether you are any good or not,” he said in the four-part docuseries,SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Elsewhere in his conversation, Lovitz also spoke about howSNLchanged his life. “My first year on the show was crazy, totally changed my life, gave me the life beyond what I dreamed of,” he recalled.“I was in the Groundlings Theater improv and I hoped to get work, but I never thought I’d be onSaturday Night Live,” he continued. “I still can’t believe I was on it. It gave me the career, everything.“Dennis Miller, Robert Downey Jr. and Anthony Michael Hall in 1986.Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/GettySNL50: The Anniversary Specialairs on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and streams on Peacock.

Jon LovitzandAnthony Michael Hallare missingRobert Downey Jr.at Studio 8H.

On the red carpet ahead of theSNL50: The Anniversary Special, the actors opened up to PEOPLE about the show’sinfamous “weird” 1985-1986 season— which also starred Downey Jr. — while reflecting on their own experiences on the NBC comedy show.

“The press slammed it from the beginning,” Lovitz, 67, recalled of the infamous season. “And if you look at it, you had so many talented people and there was a lot of great stuff on the show that year, but they never wrote about it.”

“It wasn’t that weird. The cast was coming together,” he said before adding Downey Jr. “was 20 but he was brilliant.” He continued, “Anthony Michael Hall was brilliant, andJoan Cusack, brilliant.”

Lovitz added he was “honored” and “thrilled” to be part of the 50th celebration. “It’s very emotional seeing everybody. Probably the best weekend of my life,” he added while Hall, 56, called it “exciting” and “surreal.”

Nora Dunn, Danitra Vance, Robert Downey Jr., Terry Sweeney, Jon Lovitz, Randy Quaid, Anthony Michael Hall and Joan Cusack.NBCU Photo Bank/getty

NBCU Photo Bank/getty

Hall also wished that theIron Manactor, 59, was able to join in on the festivities. “I wish Downey was here to celebrate with us,” he said. “I think he’s been busy.”

Downey Jr. was part of thesketch comedy show’s 11th season in 1985. Though it wasn’t a long-term gig, he appreciated the experience.

“I learned so much in that year about what I wasn’t. But there’s not a more exciting 90 minutes you could have, whether you are any good or not,” he said in the four-part docuseries,SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Elsewhere in his conversation, Lovitz also spoke about howSNLchanged his life. “My first year on the show was crazy, totally changed my life, gave me the life beyond what I dreamed of,” he recalled.

“I was in the Groundlings Theater improv and I hoped to get work, but I never thought I’d be onSaturday Night Live,” he continued. “I still can’t believe I was on it. It gave me the career, everything.”

Dennis Miller, Robert Downey Jr. and Anthony Michael Hall in 1986.Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

SNL50: The Anniversary Specialairs on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and streams on Peacock.

source: people.com