It's easy to understand the nostalgia former Saturday Night Live cast members feel when they return to the show as its host. If you've ever gone back to your old school or reunited with old friends, you probably know the feeling.
We've seen dozens of star cast members at SNL over the years, but only a few are successful enough after their tenures to come back as the show's celebrity host.
Adam Sandler, like many SNL alumni, owes his career to the weekly sketch comedy show — a sentiment he made clear enough in his opening monologue in which sang a song poking fun at the fact that he was fired from SNL in 1995, along with his dear friend Chris Farley.
Sandler's monologue was the first in a music-filled night for the comedian and filmmaker. Not long after reprising his beloved Opera Man character during "Weekend Update" and referencing "The Chanukah Song" in a sketch, Sandler returned to center stage to pay a moving tribute to one of Saturday Night Live's biggest stars, Farley.
Fans of the Sandman will recognize the "Chris Farley Song" from his Netflix special, 100% Fresh.
The symmetry alone of him paying tribute to Farley at SNL could bring you to tears, not to mention the bittersweet lyrics so tenderly brought to life behind Sandler by the SNL house band.
You can watch Sandler's performance above.
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