Saturday Night Live
Bill Hader is one of the many "Saturday Night Live" alumni set to return to the NBC show for its 40th anniversary on Sunday. NBC/ Saturday Night Live

“Saturday Night Live” is airing a very special episode … on Sunday. The long running sketch comedy show is celebrating its 40th anniversary on Feb. 15, and it’s an event that fans of the Lorne Michaels-created series will not want to miss.

A red carpet for the anniversary special will kick off on NBC at 7 p.m. EST., followed by the start of the celebrity-filled show at 8 p.m. EST. Over 100 former stars, hosts and performers will take to the stage in New York City to honor the show's 40 years on air.

To prepare for the big event, we’ve compiled some of the best video clips and facts about “Saturday Night Live”:

BEST CLIPS:

“Wayne’s World” and Aerosmith

Bruno Mars In The 2012 Halloween Skit

“Velvet Jones” Starring Eddie Murphy

"Motherlover" Featuring Justin Timberlake

"D--- In A Box" Featuring Justin Timberlake

"The Exorcist II" Featuring Richard Pryor

"Weekend Update" With Chevy Chase

"Celebrity Jeopardy: Stewart, Reynolds And Connery" featuring Will Ferrell

"King Tut" Featuring Steve Martin

"Kardashian Divorce Special"

"The Killer Bees"

"James Brown's Celebrity Hot Tub Party"

"Chippendales"

"Weekend Update: Stefon And Zoolander"

"Target"

"Thanksgiving Dinner"

"Palin/Hillary Open"

"Nancy Grace"

"More Cowbell"

"Pretty Living"

"Mom Jeans"

"Ed Glosser, Trivial Psychic"

"Down By The River"

"Lunch Lady"

"Saturday Night Live" Facts:

  • “Saturday Night Live” first premiered in 1975. George Carlin was the first male to host the show, while Candice Bergen because the first female to host.
  • “The Five-Timers Club” is a group of guests that have had the honor of hosting “SNL” five or more times. The term first appeared when Tom Hanks hosted the show for his fifth time. Members include: Ben Affleck (5), Alec Baldwin (16), Drew Barrymore (6), Candice Bergen (5), Chevy Chase (8), Danny DeVito (6), John Goodman (13), Elliott Gould (6), Tom Hanks (8), Huck Henry (10), Steve Martin (15), Bill Murray (5), Justin Timberlake (5) and Christopher Walken (7).
  • Sinéad O’Connor surprised producers during her 1992 musical performance. She was supposed to cover Bob Marley’s “War,” but changed the lyrics to protest sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. She held up a photo of Pope John Paul II during the performance and tore up his image.
  • Larry David quit the show as a writer, but then came back the next day and pretended like it never happened.
  • Anthony Michael Hall was the youngest person ever hired. He joined “SNL” in 1985 at 17 years old.
  • Elvis Costello was banned from performing on the show for almost 12 years after cutting off his song “Less Than Zero” and performing “Radio, Radio.”
  • Michael Myers allegedly wrote an apology to the White House after making fun of a 12-year-old Chelsea Clinton during a “Wayne’s World” sketch.
  • Chevy Chase was reportedly in a physical altercation with Bill Murray on set.
  • The “Saturday Night Live” 40th anniversary special will be the first time that Eddie Murphy returns to the show after he left in 1984.
  • A number of comedians and actors were rejected from “Saturday Night Live.” The list includes Louis C.K., Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Kevin Hart, Kel Mitchell and Jack McBrayer.
RELATED STORIES