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

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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.