NBC posts two previously unaired Paul McCartney SNL performances from May 16 finale

NBC posted two previously unaired Paul McCartney performances from the May 16 “Saturday Night Live” season finale, extending the former Beatle’s presence from the televised broadcast into a larger online release. The network’s NBC Insider site said McCartney had already performed three songs during the live finale hosted by Will Ferrell, and additional clips from the night continued to roll out in the days that followed. The finale aired May 16 on NBC and streamed on Peacock the next day, according to the network’s schedule pages. NBC’s Season 51 blooper reel was also published this week as part of the post-finale package. ### Which Paul McCartney performances were added after the finale? NBC Insider reported on May 20 that “Saturday Night Live” had posted full videos of McCartney performing “Help!” and “Drive My Car” after the show’s goodnights. The outlet described those songs as part of the post-show concert atmosphere that followed the May 16 finale, when Ferrell joined McCartney on cowbell in a callback to the “More Cowbell” sketch. Paul McCartney had already performed three songs during the televised finale: “Days We Left Behind,” “Band on the Run” and “Coming Up,” NBC Insider said in a separate May 19 report on the episode. That brought the total number of songs tied to the finale to five across the broadcast and web-exclusive releases. ### What aired on NBC on May 16, and who was involved? (nbc.com) The May 16 finale featured Will Ferrell as host and McCartney as musical guest, NBC said ahead of the broadcast. The network’s preview for the episode said the show aired at 11:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC and Peacock and marked Ferrell’s first time hosting since 2019. Chad Smith, the Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer, played a visible role in the episode. (nbc.com) NBC Insider said Smith first appeared in the monologue impersonating Ferrell and later drummed for McCartney’s three televised songs. ### Were there other McCartney clips from the finale week? NBC Insider published a separate item on May 19 centered on McCartney’s appearance in the “Mechanics” sketch with Ferrell and cast member Marcello Hernández. (nbc.com) The sketch ran during the finale and added to McCartney’s on-camera role beyond the musical segments. NBC’s finale coverage page also listed surprise appearances from Molly Shannon and Aziz Ansari during the episode. (nbc.com) That page said the show released several cut-for-time sketches online on the day after the finale. ### What else did NBC release from Season 51 this week? NBC Insider published the Season 51 blooper reel on May 21. The network said the reel included outtakes and unscripted moments featuring cast members as well as Ariana Grande, Harry Styles and Amy Poehler. (nbc.com) NBC Insider also said “Saturday Night Live” had shared clips and behind-the-scenes photos from the final three episodes in an Instagram post on May 18. (nbc.com) That post included more footage from McCartney’s post-goodnights performance, according to the network. ### Where can viewers find the added footage now? NBC said the May 16 finale is available on Peacock after its NBC broadcast, while the additional McCartney performances and the blooper reel were posted through NBC and NBC Insider online. (nbc.com) The network’s “Saturday Night Live” hub continues to collect episode clips, web exclusives and finale-related posts from Season 51. (nbc.com) NBC’s latest related items as of May 22 include the McCartney web-exclusive coverage, the Season 51 blooper reel and the show’s archive pages for finale sketches and music clips. (nbc.com 1) (nbc.com 2)