TV

Children's choir opens this week's 'SNL'

A child lights a candle at a memorial filled with flowers, stuffed toys and candles outside of Saint Rose of Lima Church near Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut following a shooting the day before at the school that left 27 people dead including 18 children on December 15, 2012. A gunman opened fire inside Sandy Hook Elementary School early Friday morning where his mother worked. The suspect 20-year-old Adam Lanza, reportedly killed himself following the shooting rampage inside the school. UPI/John Angelillo

License photo

Published: Dec. 16, 2012 at 2:27 PM

NEW YORK, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- "Saturday Night Live" began its first show after Friday's Sandy Hook Elementary school massacre in Connecticut with a children's choir singing "Silent Night."

A 20-year-old gunman fatally shot his mother at home, then killed 20 children and six adults at the Newtown school before turning the gun on himself Friday morning.

"SNL" quietly paid its respects to the victims and survivors of the tragedy by having youngsters from the New York City Children's Chorus perform as Saturday night's episode opened, instead of using one of its traditional comedy monologues by the night's guest host.

Guest host Martin Short appeared as planned later in the episode, which also featured a comic sketch about Kate Middleton's obstetrician, as well as surprise guest appearances by former "SNL" cast members Kristen Wiig, Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey, and actors Alec Baldwin and Samuel L. Jackson.

Paul McCartney was the evening's musical guest.

Topics: Martin Short, Kate Middleton, Kristen Wiig, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Samuel L. Jackson, Paul McCartney, Newtown school shooting

Most Popular Collections

'Star Trek Into Darkness' screening	NBC upfronts	Met Ball 2013
'Great Gatsby' premieres in New York	Spire raised on top of One WTC	2013: Celebrity break ups and divorces

Additional TV Stories
Entertainment News Selena Gomez said to have hooked up with singer Ed Sheeran LOS ANGELES, June 19 (UPI) -- U.S. singer and actress Selena Gomez and British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran are now involved in a trans-Atlantic romance, Us Weekly reports. Lourdes flooding: French floods kill 2, close Catholic pilgrimage site 'Sopranos' star James Gandolfini dies in Italy at 51 [VIDEO] Russell Brand mocks MSNBC anchors on their own show Christina Aguilera shows off weight loss on 'The Voice' finale	Top News Man allegedly cuts off his hands after stabbing dad REDDING, Calif., June 19 (UPI) -- A California man stabbed his father and then cut his own hands off with a radial saw, the Shasta County Sheriff's Department says. Rape charges brought against three Navy football players 'Serial Shooter' Dale Hausner found dead in death row cell 2 custodians found dead at Dreyfoos School in Florida Explosions under London sidewalks investigated
Business News Chicago tops in owner-vacated properties in foreclosure IRVINE, Calif., June 20 (UPI) -- Chicago has the highest number of owner-vacated foreclosed properties among major U.S. cities in June, online foreclosure marketplace RealtyTrac said. Iran courts China for drilling rigs Iraqi oil pipeline planned to Turkish border China considers pipeline for shale gas Statoil on pace to meet production goals	Odd News Your Daily Horoscope UPI horoscopes for Thursday, June 20, 2013. The almanac Burglar stumbles into hanging body of suicide Drunken Polish dentist yanks tooth of patient wanting a crown Two U.S. Navy landing craft up for auction; each seats 200, and a tank