Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer 'Went Back and Forth' Before Deciding to Perform Kendrick Lamar Hit atSNL50Concert (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Ana Gasteyeris revealing how she andWill Ferrelldecided on what song to perform at theSNL50: Homecoming Concert.

The actress, 57, chatted with PEOPLE about the performance on the red carpet ofSNL50: The Anniversary Specialon Sunday, Feb. 16. Two days prior, she and Ferrell sangKendrick Lamar’scontroversial diss track to Drake, “Not Like Us," as their beloved husband and wife music teacher characters Marty and Bobbi Mohan-Culp.

“We went back and forth,” she says of the song choice. “We were like… it’ssong of the year, obviously. The thing about the Culps is they’re just trying to stay current and they want to reach their students where they are. So, song of the year.”

She adds: “And we always kind of start with the premise, which is Valentine’s Day and love, and then naturally, because of the feuding, it was sort of like, you have to have the contrast. So, it was just fun to write and ridiculous.”

“Obviously,Doechii, first female hip-hop artist, so I also thought that the breathing exercise — she’s very funny, she’s got a great sense of humor in her writing — so I don’t know, it just seemed like she would enjoy it and think it was funny,” Gasteyer explains. “I hope she did!”

“The transitions make [the skit],” she says. “You’re literally going from ‘Do That To Me One More Time,’ literally intoBritney Spears, into Doechii.”

Gasteyer went on to gush over being back on stage with Ferrell. The two debuted the Culps in 1997 and the characters quickly became a fan-favorite.

“It is like just the most comfortable, familiar — I wish I had better words to describe it,” she says, proceeding to detail the writing process. “Because we wrote that sketch with Paula Pell, the national treasure who was the star writer during our time and really had my back in particular, wrote so many amazing collaborations, and then has just burst out of her little caterpillar cocoon into a butterfly acting career that is very deserved. And so she called me up and she said, ‘Hey, I think they want to have a little Bobbi and Marty thing for the music concert.’”

“First of all, it just made me laugh because I have to describe Bobbi and Marty backstage with [rock band] Arcade Fire,” she jokes. “It was just funny.”

Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer.Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

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Ferrell and Gasteyer’s reprisal of the dorky duo at the Feb. 14 concert brought otherhilarious moments, as well. During the sketch,Meryl Streepmade a gesture that led the crowd to break out in laughter.

As Ferrell said, “We have pretty significant floaters right now, but it doesn’t stop us from seeing so many middle fingers peppered in both the upper mezzanine and orchestra section. It’s just unbelievably rude," Gasteyer, replied, “We’re talking about you, Meryl Streep. We see you."

The camera then panned over to the Oscar winner in the audience, and Streep raised her hand and flashed her middle finger whileMartin Short, who was sitting next to her, chuckled.

SNL50: Homecoming ConcertandSNL50: The Anniversary Specialare now available to stream on Peacock.

source: people.com