Not Ready for Primetime SNL Podcast

Back from the dead as if nursed back to health after a near-fatal poison bite from an aquatic snake dragon, we are here to wax semi-poetic about the return of STAR WARS to the big screen. While there will be no more SNL podcasts from us, there's a chance we might come back with one-off specials like this throughout 2026. If that's of interest to you, we highly recommend letting us know on our soci...

This is it: our final podcast! Hope you enjoy it, everyone, and thanks for years of listening. Make sure you also subscribe to Mike's newsletter to ensure you keep up with his latest pop culture thoughts and film reviews: https://www.thehardpass.net

Ryan and Mike are back to talk a little about last night's episode, a lot about SNL UK, and more than either of us expected about C+C Music Factory. Just one more episode to go in this season, and in this podcast, so enjoy! 

Ryan and Mike are back with a look at this week's episode. We talk a little about the state of the show, tease some thoughts about its new UK counterpart, and delve into the future of this particular podcast as well. Be sure to subscribe to Mike's newsletter The Hard Pass as well!

In the first half of this week's episode, we look back at both Harry Styles' episodes but also some really interesting trends in the last three episodes that may portend some shifting tides at Studio 8H. In the second, we dive deep into several storylines from the 2026 Oscars! Make sure to subscribe to our Patron as well! https://www.patreon.com/c/NotReadyForPrimetimeSNLPodcast

Ryan and Mike discuss Ryan Gosling's 4th time hosting Saturday Night Live. He certainly laughed a lot, but did we? Make sure to subscribe to our Patron as well! https://www.patreon.com/c/NotReadyForPrimetimeSNLPodcast

Ryan and Mike are back to cover the strongest episode of 2026 by a long shot. A brief programming note: The show is on hiatus until after the 2026 Winter Olympics, but we will be putting out content on our Patreon throughout that time. That will include some writing by Ryan on the show as well as other pop culture artifacts such as the new MCU show "Wonder Man." Be sure to subscribe via the link b...

This was a previously Patreon-exclusive pod we are now releasing on the free feeds. We were both feeling left out by all the conversations surrounding this show, and wanted to see what we were missing.  As an example of how quickly time can go: between the time we decided to record this and actually recorded it, the idea was far less novel than it seemed. And a week later...who knows? But have a l...

Hey all: Given the state of the last 24 hours, this isn't our usual upbeat episode. We try to make what little sense we can of the events in Minneapolis, and then do our best to cover an episode that seemed equally distracted by real-live events. A brief programming note: We recorded a Patreon-exclusive episode about the hit show show "Heated Rivalry" last Friday, which will be on this feed eventu...

Happy 2026! What did SNL have in store for its first episode back this year? Ryan and Mike will break it all down. We also share our thoughts on the new Matt Damon/Ben Affleck Netflix film "The Rip", and tease the next Patreon-only podcast topic! As a reminder: You can still subscribe to our $5 tier on Patreon, where we do non-SNL content for paid subscribers. All episodic recap pods are also on t...

Ryan and Mike are back, this time talking about SNL's 2025 Christmas episode. When the week started, it was all about the excitement of Ariana Grande returning to host. By the end, it was a bittersweet and unexpected goodbye to Bowen Yang. For this one, we're joined by a special guest: Bill Kuchman. Bill writes about pop culture (including SNL) over at his newsletter The Omnicosm . Be sure to chec...

With the tragic news about the recent deaths of both Rob Reiner and his wife, we wanted to take some time to talk about his career in general and one movie in particular. It's not a movie many mention when talking about his career, and it may not be one many of you have even seen. But it's worth both a watch and a discussion all the same. As a reminder: You can still subscribe to our $5 tier on Pa...

We posted this last Friday over on Patreon, but are now sharing it here for all to enjoy! This is a non-spoiler look at the recent Rian Johnson film. We do get into themes and general character discussions, but nothing about the whodunit is revealed. As a reminder: You can still subscribe to our $5 tier on Patreon, where we will still be doing period non-SNL content for paid subscribers. We will b...

Ryan and Mike are back with some thoughts about this week's episode, including Ashley Padilla's continued ascendence into SNL greatness. As a reminder: You can still subscribe to our $5 tier on Patreon, where we will still be doing period non-SNL content for paid subscribers. We have an exclusive review of the new film "Wake Up Dead Man" available right now for download! These episodes will also e...

Ryan and Mike are back with some thoughts about this week's episode and a lot of thoughts from a recent documentary screening featuring one of the original Not Ready For Primetime Players. As a reminder: can still subscribe to our $5 tier on Patreon, where we will still be doing period non-SNL content for paid subscribers. These episodes will also exist there so you can get both in a single place!...

Mike and Ryan are back with a look at the latest episode, a whole host of "new" and "insider" terms Ryan has learned, and the discuss the art of a good bar trivia team name. While the summer tier is now closed, you can still subscribe to our $5 tier on Patreon, where we will still be doing period non-SNL content for paid subscribers. These episodes will also exist there so you can get both in a si...

Mike and Ryan are back with a look at the latest episode, Mike's favorite new musical artist Sombr, and some brief thoughts on other recent pop culture phenomena. While the summer tier is now closed, you can still subscribe to our $5 tier on Patreon, where we will still be doing period non-SNL content for paid subscribers. These episodes will also exist there so you can get both in a single place!...

Sorry for the delay on this one: Ryan was out of town last week, and he and Mike needed a little logistical help to finally record this one. As a bonus, we spend the second half of the episode looking at the recent Springsteen film "Deliver Me From Nowhere". While the summer tier is now closed, you can still subscribe to our $5 tier on Patreon, where we will still be doing period non-SNL content f...

Ryan and Mike are back. We start talking about the show, and things go off the rails quickly. But this is definitely the only podcast released today that covers both Domingo _and_ Jimmy The Greek. So, you're welcome! While the summer tier is now closed, you can still subscribe to our $5 tier on Patreon, where we will still be doing period non-SNL content for paid subscribers. These episodes will a...

Ryan and Mike are back to discuss a strong Amy Poehler-hosted ep of the show. We also spend a little time at the end discussing the legacy of Diane Keaton, who passed away over the week. While the summer tier is now closed, you can still subscribe to our $5 tier on Patreon, where we will still be doing period non-SNL content for paid subscribers. These episodes will also exist there so you can get...

Ryan and Mike are back covering the latest season of SNL! We didn't have a lot to say, until we had a lot to say. We also talk far more about Spike Jonze than you might reasonable expect. While the summer tier is now closed, you can still subscribe to our $5 tier on Patreon, where we will still be doing period non-SNL content for paid subscribers. These episodes will also exist there so you can ge...

Ryan and Mike are back with their last "Check It Out" episode before the Start of Season 51 of Saturday Night Live this weekend! In this one, they look at the latest Paul Thomas Anderson film. Also, our summer promotion on Patreon is about to close: We are keeping a special $3/month rate through  midnight, October 4th . After that, only the $5/tier will remain. Those that lock in at $3 will remain...

Ryan and Mike are back with a look at....well, gestures at everything . We touch on the recent Jimmy Kimmel news, what it may or may not mean for SNL's upcoming season, and other related topics. Also, our summer promotion on Patreon is about to close: We are keeping a special $3/month rate through the start of the season, so if you'd like to get first listen to episodes like this, we've tried to m...

Ryan and Mike are back to discuss the announced departures of four cast members this past week, and speculate on whether or not there may be more announced ahead of next season. We once again want to highlight our summer promotion over on Patreon! We are keeping a special $3/month rate throughout the summer, so if you'd like to get first listen to episodes like this, we've tried to make it even mo...

"Check It Out" is our catch-all title for non-SNL topics that we discuss periodically. Movies, TV, music...it's all under that umbrella.  In this one, Mike found out Ryan hadn't watched this movie, insisted he did, and then they both talked about it! (If you're like Ryan, and haven't, you should: The last 30 minutes are some of the most bananas stuff you'll see, and isn't that better than films th...