After Saturday Night Live’s season finale ended, Paul McCartney stayed on for a post-credits bonus performance. He joined Chad Smith and a Ferrell cowbell callback for “Help!” and later returned with his band for “Drive My Car,” after appearing across the epis
Paul McCartney didn’t leave when the Saturday Night Live season finale wrapped. Instead, he lingered through the credits, turning what was supposed to be the end of the night into a bonus encore that hit straight for the Beatles catalog.
After the season finale, McCartney stuck around to perform “Help!” with Will Ferrell on cowbell and “Drive My Car.” The performance has since been uploaded by the now-vacationing show.
On the broadcast, McCartney and his band—featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer and Will Ferrell doppelganger Chad Smith—performed The Boys of Dungeon Lane’s “Days We Left Behind” and Wings’ “Band on the Run,” plus McCartney II’s “Coming Up” during the end credits.
Then came the post-credits pair of classics. First was “Help!” and it wasn’t just an ordinary trip back to the Beatles era. McCartney was joined by Smith and by his celebrity lookalike (and SNL host) Ferrell. who called back to his “More Cowbell” sketch by applying the handheld instrument to “Help!” The actor/host got McCartney himself to crack up mid-song.
After that, McCartney and his band busted out “Drive My Car,” sans cowbell.
The bonus moment fit a larger pattern across the night: McCartney played a big role in the season finale episode of SNL. He served as musical guest and also made an appearance during the opening monologue, where he confused Ferrell for Smith, as well as a nonsensical British mechanic in a sketch.
McCartney’s The Boys of Dungeon Lane arrives May 29.
Paul McCartney Saturday Night Live SNL finale Help! Drive My Car Will Ferrell Chad Smith More Cowbell Beatles Wings McCartney II The Boys of Dungeon Lane