The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL Retrospective

We revisit the “Dick Ebersol era” of SNL once again with our guest, Kevin Kelton . He is an Emmy-nominated writer for his work on Saturday Night Live , writing on the show for Seasons 9 & 10, before moving on to a very successful career writing and producing sitcoms. Fun Fact : Kevin is also part of a very exclusive group of only four people who wrote for both SNL AND Friday’s .  Kevin joins u...

SNL continues its late season run of really fun episodes as Margot Kidder , fresh off her star-making role in the blockbuster " Superman , " hosts this memorable outing. Originally airing on St. Patrick’s Day, it leans heavily into all things Irish - including with the musical guests, The Chieftans . This episode is FULL of classic bits that would go on to stand the test of time and appe...

In what could possibly be the most underrated outings of the original era, this episode of Saturday Night Live is a stand out showing! Hosted by the one and only Gary Busey , accompanied by the exceptional talents of Eubie Blake and Gregory Hines as musical guests, this one maintains an "on the edge" quality throughout that is desperately needed at this point in the show’s run. SNL lives...

Tournament Talk reconvenes to debate one of the most hotly contested topics among SNL fans – Best Recurring Characters ! From The Nerds to Wayne & Garth, Mr. Robinson to Stefon, our panel discusses and deliberate some of Saturday Night Live ’s most iconic characters. The Church Lady and Matt Foley battle against the likes of Mary Katherine Gallagher and Colleen Rafferty while some of the show’...

Its sweeps month in 1979, and SNL pulls out all the stops with Charlie’s Angels star Kate Jackson as host and Delbert McClinton as musical guest. Yes, you read that last part correctly. A very memorable episode (though perhaps not for the best reasons), this outing of Saturday Night Live takes a distinctly "meta" approach with Jackson frequently playing herself throughout the night. Thou...

They say comedy is subjective, and this S4 episode of SNL proves the point. While many Saturday Night Live fans praise this outing hosted by former child star Rick(y) Nelson , we have a slightly different take. Sadly, musical guest Judy Collins does not do much to help the cause. Though we do acknowledge some bright spots, we couldn't fully embrace this episode. Listen as we break down what w...

Rosie Shuster is a national treasure – in Canada AND the US. A two-time Emmy winner, she was an integral part in the creation of Saturday Night Live , with contributions to the show that cannot be overlooked. From helping craft the show from the ground up during the summer of '75 to developing Dana Carvey's iconic Church Lady character, Rosie joins us to discuss all three of her stints w...

We are very excited to discuss what is widely considered the VERY BEST of the SNL -related movies. A project filled with artistic precision, coherency, and directorial flourishes that taps directly into the zeitgeist possibly better than anything to ever come out of Saturday Night Live . April Fools!  Our topic is Mr. Mike's Mondo Video - the film promoted as "the television show too dan...

Talking Heads make their US television debut on this week’s episode of SNL ! Also... Cicely Tyson hosts. The show brings out a lot of recurring characters, sketches, and bits to try and help her.  And, of course, Garrett in drag.  Does any of it work? There are a lot of questionable things in this episode and the final product is not only one of the weaker episodes of Saturday Night Live ’s origin...

March Madness is BACK! And so is Tournament Talk! Bill Swerski returns (hopefully) to lead the debate over SNL 's Best Musical Guest Appearances. Our panel goes head-to-head discussing and debating a cornerstone in Saturday Night Live 's storied history – the musical guest.  With passionate arguments and surprising upsets, you'll be shocked at which legendary artists make it to the...

Michael Palin is BACK hosting SNL for his second time as he helps welcome the show into 1979.  And If that wasn’t enough to get you excited, T he Doobie Brothers are the musical guests!  Palin has a lot to live up to after his first appearance and yet the show leans very heavily on recurring sketches and characters. The episode is full of ups and downs - as some things really hit and some sadly mi...

Elliott Gould returns to SNL for the 4th time to handle the hosting duties for S4’s Christmas episode. He brings with him Peter Tosh as musical guest (who, in turn, brings along a very famous friend) as well as comedy legends Bob and Ray as special guests showing everyone just how it is done. Gould keeps the show’s good vibe going heading into the holiday season hiatus. It is a solid outing as we...

My SNL Story is back and we’re talking with Gary Kroeger . Recruited by the show in the fall of 1982, just weeks prior to the start of Season 8, Gary was a cast member on SNL for three seasons, helping close out the Dick Ebersol era.  Gary offers an insider's perspective on one of the most underappreciated and less talked about eras in the show’s history, sharing stories about how Saturday Ni...

Eric Idle returns to SNL for the first time since his two Season 2 hosting gigs! This time, he brings along new British pop sensation Kate Bush for her first - and still ONLY - US television appearance. In a much-needed jolt to the season, Idle delivers his signature brilliance alongside recurring characters, lots of Jane Curtin, not one but TWO classic sketches, and singing dogs. With Saturday Ni...

We’re back to The Early Years of SNL as we return to S4 with acclaimed actor Walter Matthau taking his best swing at hosting. While lacking an official musical guest, the show delivers an unexpected treat with cast member Garrett Morris performing opera at Matthau's special request. Though the episode falls somewhere in the middle range quality-wise, it does showcase several fan-favorite recu...

We conclude our month-long celebration of 50 years of SNL with a look back at the historic, and epic, anniversary weekend. SNLinReview 's Andy Hoglund joins us to recap the Homecoming Concert (which he attended) and the Anniversary Special (which he did not). Together, we discuss what we think worked, what didn't, and a few dream moments we wish we had seen. Luckily, we did talk to someo...

Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live comes out today.  We talk about this fascinating and engaging book with the author, Susan Morrison . This book is not only a MUST READ for all fans of SNL but anyone who wants a glimpse into the mind of one of the comedy’s greatest icons.  Laugh In, Phyllis Diller, Lily Tomlin, Three Amigos, The New Show, The Kids in the Hall, Wayne’s World, Late Nig...

We're back!! The battle continues as we move onto Round Two and continue our way through the bracket. Jon Schneider ( The Saturday Night Network ), Bill Kenney ( The SNL Hall of Fame) , Darin Patterson ( SNL Nerds ), and Brad Robinson ( The Not Ready for Prime Time Project ) continue to whittle down the remaining 16 sketches and moments from Saturday Night Live 's 50 year history. Opinio...

Saturday Night Live 's 40th Anniversary Special brings unprecedented star power to Studio 8H, assembling entertainment legends for a marathon celebration of television history the likes of which have never been seen before, or since. An event so long (and it is long) this three-hour plus extravaganza blends classic clips with fresh collaborations between SNL alumni and current cast members to...

Join us for an epic showdown as we celebrate SNL’ s upcoming 50th anniversary by taking on a herculean challenge: Hashing out Saturday Night Live' s “Best Bits” of all time through a rousing and supersized 24 bracket competition. Thomas Sena steps in for an under-the-weather Bill Swerski, joining forces with an all-star panel of SNL experts featuring hosts from The Saturday Night Network , Th...

The year is 1999. Y2K looms, boy bands dominate the charts, and Saturday Night Live is just a few seasons removed from once again debunking claims of "Saturday Night Dead." This Emmy-winning 25th Anniversary Special brought together the biggest names in entertainment to not only look back on its storied accomplishments, but also remind America that SNL remained must-see viewing. We are j...

We are honored to welcome back Emmy-winning writer Marilyn Suzanne Miller to the podcast. A vital creative force behind Saturday Night Live 's original era, she is a three-time Emmy recipient for her work on both SNL and The Tracey Ullman Show (as well as earning the Humanitas Prize for her episode of Murphy Brown ). From initially turning down SNL to becoming one of its defining voices, Mari...

Take a journey back to fall 1989 as we explore Saturday Night Live 's first anniversary celebration. The landmark 15th anniversary special, while primarily a clip show, captures a moment of reflection for the groundbreaking series. Drenched in nostalgia, it celebrates the show's achievements while looking optimistically toward the future. Bill Kenney of The SNL Hall of Fame joins us to d...

"Coming to you on a dusty road..." The Blues Brothers make their memorable return to Saturday Night Live , with Star Wars icon Carrie Fisher as host. This high-energy episode showcases the full SNL cast firing on all cylinders, with multiple sketches showcasing the full ensemble's talents. We're delighted to welcome back to the podcast Daniel de Vise , author of " The Blue...

We're back – and hopefully Bill Swerski is too - with another edition of "Tournament Talk" as we dive into the world of SNL 's most memorable surprise appearances. Our panel goes head-to-head discussing and debating the greatest cameos in Saturday Night Live 's history, ultimately crowning an all-time champion. Will your favorite unexpected guest star make the cut? Check o...