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.
Episodes
187 episodes
Deep Thoughts: The Blues Brothers (The Movie)
It's 133 minutes of screen time, we've got a full glass of Orange Whip, two podcasters, an author, and we're recording. Hit it!That's right, we're celebrating the anniversary of the release of the 1980s classic comedy The Blues Brothe...
Not Ready for Season 6: SNL S06E04: Jamie Lee Curtis/James Brown, Ellen Shipley (12/13/80)
The Scream Queen herself Jamie Lee Curtis hosts this week's episode of Saturday Night Live—and she brings it!This very entertaining episode of SNL features standout performances from the cast including Gail Matth...
Not Ready for Season 6: SNL S06E03: Ellen Burstyn/Aretha Franklin, Keith Sykes (12/06/80)
Not Ready for Season 6 is back and we're looking at how the cast and writers of SNL bounce back after last week's infamous outing.This episode of Saturday Night Live was hosted by Ellen Burstyn from the legendary...
Not Ready for Season 6: SNL S06E02: Malcolm McDowell/Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band (11/22/80)
The second episode of SNL Season 6 is one of the most infamous in the show's history, considered by many as one of the worst Saturday Night Live episodes of all time! Deremy and Thomas go over all the sketches to find out if a...
Not Ready for Season 6: SNL S06E01: Elliott Gould/Kid Creole & The Coconuts (11/15/80)
A new era has arrived for Saturday Night Live! A brand new cast, new writers, and Jean Doumanian is the new Executive Producer. For the Season 6 premiere, they have an all-time host coming back—Mr. Elliott Gould! Fin...
My SNL Story: Denny Dillon
To help kick off our look back at Season 6 of Saturday Night Live, we talk to one of the cast members from that season—Denny Dillon. In addition to being the very first "new" cast member to say "Live from New York," Denny is als...
Not Ready for Season 6 Preview
Well, the time has arrived!! The Not Ready for Prime Time Project is tackling the infamous Season 6 of Saturday Night Live! For such a big task, the guys have asked Thomas Sena and Deremy Dove from Pop Culture Five Podcast to host this...
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VINTAGE The Early Years of SNL: S01E19 Madeline Kahn/Carly Simon (May 8, 1976)
One last VINTAGE episode before we leave "The Early Years of SNL" and move into the Jean Doumanian season.Late in Season 1, Madeline Kahn hosted for the very first time. Delayed by a technician's strike, the show seemed t...
Deep Thoughts: Remembering Anne Beatts
Today we remember original SNL writer, Anne Beatts. Coming to Saturday Night Live by way of The National Lampoon, she was both a vital voice and powerful force in the early formative years of the show.No...
Cut For Time: Andy Kaufman's Bizarre "Funhouse"
Awhile back, during our Season Five look back, we wanted to do a "Deep Thoughts" episode on the Andy Kaufman special, Andy's Funhouse, which aired in the summer of 1979 (though it was filmed back in 1977). We were very ex...
Bonus Preview: Reviewing Who (A Doctor Who Podcast)
This week, we wanted to showcase a different podcast. From our editor, Will, comes his own podcast - Reviewing Who.Brothers Will, Pat, and Tom journey across time and space as they deep-dive into each episode of Doctor Who
Deep Thoughts: When Fridays Challenged Saturday Night Live
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 ...
VINTAGE The Early Years of SNL: S03E20 Buck Henry/Sun Ra (May 20, 1978)
Five years ago today, we lost one of the original writers of SNL—the amazing Anne Beatts. One of only two female writers on the staff when the show began, Anne's contributions were vital, formative, and iconic. She was nominated...
The Early Years of SNL: Saturday Night Live's Original Era (Part 2)
Our look back at Saturday Night Live’s original era has come to an end. We wrap up our final episode of The Early Years of SNL, looking back at all five seasons of the original era. We revisit the journey the show took from a ...
The Early Years of SNL: Saturday Night Live's Original Era (Part 1)
We made it! Our look back on the original era of Saturday Night Live comes to a close. We’ve revisited every episode, talked about every sketch, discussed every host and musical guest, and explored the behind-the-scenes stories that br...
Deep Thoughts: SNL Without Lorne Michaels
A companion to our discussion about the end of the original era of SNL, we talk with biographer Susan Morrison about Lorne Michaels’ side of things. Susan joins us to discuss Lorne’s mindset going into Season Five, how much he (...
Deep Thoughts: The End of SNL?
Why did Lorne Michaels leave SNL? How hard did NBC try to keep him? Did a future US senator really sabotage everything?Saturday Night Live historians and authors Doug Hill & Jeff Weingrad join us once ...
Bill Swerski's Tournament Talk: Best Bits of SNL's Original Era
As we bring our look back on the first five years of SNL to a close, we rounded up some of our favorite and most knowledgeable guests for a very special Tournament Talk. Together, they help us discuss and debate the “Best Bits” of ...
The Early Years of SNL: Season 5 Recap
Well, we made it! Season Five of Saturday Night Live has come to an end.Brad and Gary look back and discuss what they liked (and didn’t), what they learned, and what surprised them from the final season of SNL’s origina...
The Early Years of SNL: S05E20 Buck Henry/Andrew Gold; Andrae Crouch, The Voices of Unity (5/24/80)
It’s the end of an era. Saturday Night Live brings the original era to a close as Buck Henry (naturally) hosts the season finale of Season Five. Andrew Gold (it’s okay, you can ask “Who?”) and Andrae Crouch w...
My SNL Story: Marc Shaiman
Marc Shaiman has won a Tony award, two Grammy awards, two Emmy awards, and has been nominated for seven Oscars. Unsurprisingly, after a career spanning over 50 years rubbing shoulders with the "who's who" of entertainment he is not at a ...
The Early Years of SNL: S05E19 Steve Martin/Paul & Linda McCartney, 3D (5/17/80)
Steve Martin returns to host SNL for his 8th time. He won’t return to the show (aside from a memorable cameo) for over 6 years. Perhaps it was because of the deer outfit they had him wear?Steve hosting Saturday Night ...
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Bill Swerski's Tournament Talk: Favorite SNL Olympic Moments
With Saturday Night Live off for a few weeks due to the Olympics, we thought it would be fun to get some friends together to debate our “Favorite SNL Olympic Moments.” That’s right, Tournament Talk is BACK. Sadly, Bill Swerski is not.<...
The Early Years of SNL: S05E18 Bob Newhart/The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Bruce Cockburn (5/10/80)
SNL finally gets comedy legend Bob Newhart to host the show, and we finally get back together for a “live” episode. In honor of being in the same room, we try something a little different and record immediately after watching ea...
The Early Years of SNL: S05E17 Strother Martin/The Specials (4/19/80)
Just when you thought Season 5 of SNL might have thrown in the towel, it delivers one of THE BEST episodes of the season! Host Strother Martin knocks it out of the park – whether carrying a sketch or simply in a supporting role ...
