Comedian Adam Sandler had an audience packed with entertainment legends hanging on every word and erupting in applause after his return to 30 Rock for Saturday Night Live's 50th Anniversary Special to deliver a heartfelt and hilarious tribute.

Sandler, who was part of the SNL cast from 1991 to 1995 before launching his film career, took the stage and, in classic fashion, played sentimentality off against some good-natured digs at producers and cast members.

The song, titled 50 Years, walked back through the decades, nodding to the eternal debate over SNL's best era: "50 years of cast members saying 'I think our cast is the greatest of all time,' but we all know the first cast is the best."

"Everyone in this room has something in common; all of our lives were changed by this show," Sandler sang before adding, "Everyone in this room has something else in common: we weren't allowed to use the little bathroom in Lorne's office."

Sandler closed out his performance with a verse paying tribute to SNL's late greats, invoking the names of Chris Farley, Phil Hartman, Norm MacDonald and Jan Hooks -- just a few of the many stars the show has lost over the decades.

The moment hit right as the audience erupted in applause and gave Sandler a standing ovation.