NBC Extends 'SNL 40th Anniversary Special' by 30 Minutes

The upcoming anniversary special for "Saturday Night Live" just got a little longer.

NBC revealed plans on Thursday to add an extra 30 minutes to its upcoming "SNL 40th Anniversary Special." Now, Sunday's sketch comedy tribute will last three-and-a-half hours, stretching from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

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As TheWrap previously reported, the network will bring at least 49 big names back onto the program for the highly anticipated milestone event, including Eddie Murphy, Jerry Seinfeld, Kerry Washington, Jon Hamm and Robert De Niro.

They will be joined by a flood of former "SNL" cast members, including Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Jimmy Fallon, Adam Sandler, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Will Ferrell, Chris Rock, David Spade and Norm Macdonald.

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If over three hours of "Saturday Night Live" isn't enough for fans, they can tune into NBC at 7 p.m. on Sunday and start the celebration early with "SNL 40th Red Carpet Live," a special event hosted by the network's "Today" personalities Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Carson Daly and Al Roker.

New episodes of "SNL" generally air on Saturday, but this week NBC plans to air the sketch comedy show's Oct. 11, 1975 debut in its place, which featured host George Carlin.

"SNL 40th Anniversary Special" airs live on NBC at 8 p.m. on Sunday.