In the spring of 1980, Saturday Night Live finally met its first competitor. Desperate to steal a piece of the late night comedy pie, ABC premiered its own late night sketch comedy show as SNL was nearing the end of its fifth season. That show was Fridays.

Fridays would repackage almost all of SNL's key components—it would air live, it would have sketch comedy from an unknown troupe, there would be a fake news segment, and there would be musical guests. But to be different, the show would be shot on the west coast and—in the beginning—would not have a host. Some might say it would also not be as funny.

Lasting only three seasons, and (for a while) hard to find after that, the show would live on primarily as a footnote in the history of its inspiration. But, as is often the case, looking back on something after 40+ years gives new perspective.

We're joined by die-hard Fridays fan (and friend) Dennis Perrin to talk about the highs and the lows, the good and the bad, what worked and what didn't, and try to make sense of everything that happened in the show’s too-short run.

Live from the Los Angeles basin, it's Fridays!

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