Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live is a late - night sketch comedy series which premiered on NBC on October 11 , 1975 , and introduced a number of new comics and distinctive , recurring characters - - much like " Rowan & Martin ' s Laugh - In " years earlier , but with an edgier , late - night sensibility . The Muppets were regular performers in the first season of " Saturday Night Live " ( 1975 - 76 ) . The Land of Gorch . Jim Henson ' s Muppets were regular performers in the first season of " Saturday Night Live " ( 1975 - 76 ) . The characters , which were specifically created for the show , appeared in The Land of Gorch segments . Fifteen sketches were produced , featuring performances by Muppeteers Jim Henson , Jerry Nelson , Frank Oz , Alice Tweedie , Fran Brill , and Richard Hunt . The series of sketches lasted from SNL ' s first episode to April of 1976 ( and became a recurring joke in the show ' s second season ) . The book " Live From New York " by TV critic Tom Shales details the backstage conflict between the writers of the show , who resisted integrating the Muppets into the show during the first year , and the Muppet performers . Guest Appearances . December 18 , 2004 ( Robert De Niro / Destiny ' s Child ) - Kermit the Frog sings " Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas " with Robert De Niro during the opening monologue . Later in the show , Kermit , Gonzo , Fozzie and Animal sing the annual " SNL " song , " Christmas is Number One , " with Horatio Sanz . All four Muppets ( and their performers ) are also present at the close of the show when De Niro thanked them for being there . The Muppeteers were Steve Whitmire , Eric Jacobson , Dave Goelz , David Rudman , and Matt Vogel . Kermit and Robert ' s duet was later included in the show ' s 2009 Christmas compilation special , " A Very Gilly Christmas , " and the 2012 SNL Christmas Special on NBC . ( Video on Hulu ) December 18 , 2010 ( Jeff Bridges / Eminem ) - Cookie Monster sings " Silver Bells " with Jeff Bridges during the opening monologue . The appearance references Sesame Workshop ' s Cookie Monster should host Saturday Night Live ! campaign . Cookie Monster , his performer David Rudman and assistant puppeteer Matt Vogel were also present at the close of the show when Bridges thanked Cookie Monster for being there . When Rudman arrived at the studios , he ' s wasn ' t sure exactly what Cookie would be doing ; it wasn ' t until 11 pm to 1 am that Bridges and Rudman rehearsed . Lorne Michael commented : " That ' s early for us . " The appearance was liked by the pre - broadcast audience , but the jokes were tweaked and the song shortened . The broken cookie was unintentional , and Rudman / Cookie ' s line about it being " twice as good " improvised . Their scene was later included in the 2013 Christmas compilation special . November 19 , 2011 ( Jason Segel / Florence + the Machine ) - In promotion of the new Muppets movie , Kermit the Frog , Miss Piggy , Fozzie Bear , Rowlf the Dog , Scooter , Gonzo , Camilla the Chicken , Statler and Waldorf appeared in the opening monologue with Segel . Later on , Kermit also did the popular " REALLY ? ! ? ! " segment on Weekend Update with Seth Meyers , and Rowlf and Gonzo were seen dancing in the " Massachusetts Afternoon " sketch . Muppeteers included Steve Whitmire , Eric Jacobson , Dave Goelz , Bill Barretta , David Rudman , Matt Vogel , and Peter Linz . An image of Scred and Gilda Radner from The Land of Gorch appeared when the Muppets explained that they had appeared on SNL since the beginning . The Jason Segel Muppet is seen during one of the bumper stills . Paul Rudd , Jon Huntsman , Jr . and Florence Welch ( from Florence + The Machine ) also made several cameo appearances during the show and closed the show in the goodnights , where some of the puppeteers were exposed . October 6 , 2012 ( Daniel Craig / Muse ) - Big Bird ( Caroll Spinney ) briefly appeared on Weekend Update with Seth Meyers in response to Mitt Romney ' s controversial comment made in the presidential debate . ( Video on Hulu ) April 11 , 2015 ( Taraji P . Henson / Mumford & Sons ) - The " Sesame Street " Muppets ( Count von Count , Elmo , Cookie Monster , Ernie , Bert , a Honker , Big Bird , Snuffy , Murray Monster , the Two - Headed Monster and Abby Cadabby ) appear in a sketch with Henson playing her " Empire " character Cookie Lyon as a guest star on the show . Connections . " Motherlover " , a song by Justin Timberlake performed on " SNL " , was nominated at the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards , versus " I Wish I Could Be Santa Claus " , from " " . Both lost to Hugh Jackman ' s opening number at the 81st Annual Academy Awards .