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Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake Bring More Cowbell to SNL 40th Anniversary Opening Number: Watch!

Live from New York, it's Sunday night! Saturday Night Live started its 40th anniversary special with a big bang, courtesy of former cast member Jimmy Fallon and five-time host Justin Timberlake. The longtime friends opened the three-and-a-half-hour show with a funny musical number paying tribute to past sketches and characters, complete with cameos from a couple of fan favorite alums.

Related: PHOTOS: The most memorable SNL hosts

Among the highlights were brief references to Timberlake's "Dick in a Box" digital short with Andy Samberg, the "Schweddy Balls" sketch from 1998, the recurring Jeopardy parody, the Blues Brothers, and the "Lazy Sunday" digital short from Samberg and Chris Parnell.

Related: PHOTOS: Stars' funniest SNL moments

There was also an allusion to the famed "More Cowbell" sketch from April 2000, which featured Christopher Walken, Will Ferrell, Parnell, Fallon, Chris Kattan, and Horatio Sanz. (You can never have enough cowbell!) 

Related: PHOTOS: SNL's most successful cast members

Rachel Dratch joined in on the fun, too, reprising her popular "Debbie Downer" persona. And Molly Shannon made a cameo as Catholic schoolgirl Mary Katherine Gallagher, one of the biggest breakout characters in SNL history. (She even got her own spin-off movie, 1999's Superstar.)


No doubt that's just a taste of things to come, too. Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary special has an all-star guest list including Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Melissa McCarthy, Kanye West, Paul McCartney, and dozens and dozens of other big names.

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