(Saturday, April 24, 1976, 11:30 p.m.-1:00 a.m. EST) — Having been offered millions of dollars to reunite, NBC’s Saturday Night executive producer Lorne Michaels tonight offered $3,000 to the disbanded British rock group to reunite and appear on the late-night comedy show. The sketch featured a close-up shot of a $3,000 certified check from NBC made payable to The Beatles (click here to watch the video).

At one point after the broadcast, ex-Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney (visiting Lennon’s apartment in New York on the eve of the American leg of McCartney’s Wings Over the World tour) reportedly considered but then rejected the idea of going down to the show’s studio together to claim their share of the check as a gag.

Video: 'Paul McCartney On The Beatles Almost Reuniting On ‘Saturday Night Live’: Why Didn’t It Happen?'