'Saturday Night Live' remembers late Rob Reiner nearly 50 years after historic debut

Saturday Night Live honored late director Rob Reiner, one of the comedy show's earliest hosts, just days after his shocking murder.

During the December 20 episode, featuring Ariana Grande as host and Cher as the musical guest, the show took a moment to remember Rob, who hosted the third episode of SNL back in October 1975.

To pay honor to the sketch comedy show's one of the earliest hosts, a memorial card appeared on the screen showing Rob's throwback snap from his time on the show before the show's goodnight segment.

The late filmmaker was also the first-ever host in the comedy skits of SNL and his then-wife, Penny Marshall, also featured in sketches at the time.

The tribute came almost a week after Rob and his wife, Michele, were found dead in their Los Angeles home by their daughter, Romy Reiner, on December 14. The late couple's son, Nick Reiner, was arrested the same day and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty, as per the Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, the causes of death for Rob and Michele is due to multiple sharp force injuries.

Moreover, Saturday's episode of the late-night comedy sketch series also marked the end of Bowen Yang’s seven-year run on the show. The comedian said goodbye with an emotional sketch of a Delta One Lounge employee.

While portraying his character working his last shift on Christmas Eve, Yang sang 1960 song Please Come Home for Christmas by Charles Brown, as a duet with Grande.