The Early Years of SNL: S05E03 Bill Russell/Chicago (11/3/79) Artwork

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL Retrospective

An in-depth journey into the legacy of one of television's most iconic and influential shows - Saturday Night Live. Through deep dives into its most memorable eras, behind-the-scenes stories, and analysis of its evolution, we celebrate and debate all things SNL - the show that has become an institution, defining comedy for over 50 years.

All Episodes

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL Retrospective

The Early Years of SNL: S05E03 Bill Russell/Chicago (11/3/79)

September 30, 2025 • Two Pints Productions, Inc.

The professional athlete well is tapped once again as Hall of Fame NBA player (and coach!) Bill Russell hosts this outing of SNL. Chicago, in all their funky glory, let it all hang out as the musical guest. And yet...

The cast tries their best, but the host - who looks genuinely excited to be there - just doesn't have the range or chops to help lift this one up. We do get a couple of familiar elements (recurring characters, Garrett in drag), some pretty solid impressions (courtesy of Jane), and that new guy doing a commercial pitch. We also learn that there is only ONE ball used in basketball and are witness to the start of a new trend—a VERY long sketch after the monologue. Sadly, no Buck cameo this week. It's no surprise even Mr. Bill wanted to stay home.

To help us dig through this episode of Saturday Night Live, we're joined by noted Chicago historian Thomas Sena. Taking a break from his own podcast (the name of which escapes us), he helps tell the story of the band, defends the stiffness of the host, and joins us on one last trip to the mall.

---------------------------------
Subscribe today!

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: @NR4PTProject

Instagram: @nr4ptproject

Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social

Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project