And…we’re BACK!But, before diving into Season 4, we've got some exciting news: The Not Ready for Prime Time Podcast is becoming The Not Ready for Prime Time Project! Don't panic – there is nothing you need to do (except to Subscribe, Rate, & Review!). Our weekly dose of classic SNL discussions are not going anywhere. We're just adding more ways to celebrate the show. We explain it all here!And then... we get into our preview of SNL’s fourth season. Things are very different at Satur...

John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd were at the forefront of American comedy in the late 1970s and early '80s. Emerging from The Second City, they both joined the original cast of the Not Ready for Prime Time Players as Saturday Night Live was being formed in 1975. On that show, they helped redefine television comedy and ushered in a new era of revolutionary satire. By 1979, they had a #1 hit record with their band, The Blues Brothers, and a year later, they released a motion picture about the chara...

On October 11, 1975, Lorne Michaels and a diverse group of writers and performers—most of whom had little to no television experience—forever altered the landscape of American comedy. The launching of Saturday Night (later to be known as Saturday Night Live) would prove to be a groundbreaking show that would redefine the possibilities of television and evolve into a comedic institution, celebrating 50 seasons and still going strong.Historians Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad return to the podcast ...

Michael O'Donoghue is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of Saturday Night Live, yet his impact on the show’s early success is undeniable. As the original head writer when the show premiered in 1975, O'Donoghue led an inexperienced writers' room that would go on to revolutionize television comedy. While he was instrumental in shaping what SNL would be in those early years, earning an Emmy for his work in the first season, his relationship with the show would quickly become stra...

Well, well, well...the infamous Season Three of SNL has come to end. What a ride it has been. Brad and Gary revisit this landmark season of Saturday Night Live to highlight what they love, what they learned, and what surprised them the most. They pick their favorite hosts, musical guest, episodes, sketches, and the season's overall "Best Bits." They also try to answer the question: Was Season Three really the greatest season in the history of SNL?---------------------------------Subscri...

Saturday Night offers fans a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes efforts of Saturday Night Live's premiere episode. Brad and Gary caught a matinee of the film, which delves into the 90 minutes before the iconic show went on air, live, on October 11th, 1975. While some creative liberties were taken, it's a must-watch for any SNL fan. Stay tuned as we share our insights on the movie, the cast, the hidden Easter eggs, and EVERYTHING in between - with ample warning before we give away any spoilers...

Another season of Saturday Night Live comes to a close and that can only mean one thing....the return of Buck Henry! Buck is back for his 6th time hosting to close out Season Three with what most people agree is one of the most bizarre musical acts in the history of the show...Sun Ra. And if SNL has Buck on the show we, of course, have Jon Schneider on the podcast. Taking a break from The Saturday Night Network's S50 coverage, Jon tries to help figure out what Sun Ra is doing on the sho...

Sometimes you need to make concessions to get what you want. That seems to be the case with this episode of Saturday Night Live. How else does one explain Gary Tigerman as the musical guest? "You'd like Richard Dreyfuss, fresh off becoming the youngest Oscar winner ever, to host? Sure, he'd love to do the show. But, he'd like to bring his friend along." Some call it "The Paul Simon Effect." Regardless, here we are. Dreyfuss gets to play with a couple of recurring...

We're back for Part 2 of this legendary episode of Saturday Night Live. The hits just keep on coming as we get the memorable "Dancing in the Dark" w/ Steve & Gilda, a classic "Nerds" sketch, and The Blues Brothers return for one more number. Oh right, and then of course there is the iconic "King Tut" performance.Original Saturday Night Live writer Marilyn Suzanne Miller joins us to discuss "Dancing in the Dark" as well as he start on SNL, knowing Gilda in college, and one of her oth...

This is it! The episode many people put up as the greatest in Saturday Night Live history. Steve Martin returns for his THIRD time hosting this season. The Blues Brothers are introduced to the world as the musical guest. And, if you didn't know any better, you just might think this was a "Best of" compilation.There is so much great material and so much going on that we couldn't contain it to only one episode. In Part 1 we discuss the cold open & introduction of The Blues Brothers, a...

Michael Sarrazin was a Canadian. He was an actor. And, near the end of the Season Three, he hosted Saturday Night Live. A jazz pianist (Keith Jarrett) and an all-tuba band (Howard Shore's Gravity) are the musical guests. None of this is made up. There is a lot going on and a lot to talk about in this one. To help make sense of it all, we are joined by Mark Malkoff from "Inside Late Night." We even try to get Don Novello on the phone help figure a few things out. ------------...

Saturday Night Live welcomes its second member of Monty Python to the show as Michael Palin covers the hosting duties this week. We can confirm that Palin is, in fact, British and thus we are joined once again by The SNL Hall of Fame's Thomas Sena to break everything down. The musical guest is Eugene Record. He is NOT British, yet Thomas still knows who he is.The result of this pairing is an episode that, while it doesn't flounder, may not live up to the expectations.But...l...

Horror film icon Christopher Lee does "the single most important thing" (his words, not ours) in his career as he hosts this week's episode of Saturday Night Live. The veteran British actor is game for anything and is surprisingly enjoyable taking his comedic swings. With him is a relative newcomer as musical guest; an artist with close ties to the cast of the show who is promoting his debut album. Ladies and gentlemen.... meet Loaf! Comedian Richard Belzer also performs as a spec...

Get excited! Jill Clayburgh returns to Saturday Night Live for her 2nd time hosting. This time, she brings Eddie Money (who in turn brings the hits) to help as the musical guest. Is it enough? Can an episode filled with recurring characters be THAT bad? We're not sure. Well, one of us made up their mind. Listen and decide for yourself.Subscribe today! And follow us on social media on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.

Art Garfunkel makes his third appearance on Saturday Night Live, this time as HOST! That is not to say he does not provide A LOT of musical performances. And yet...there actually is a musical guest as Stephen Bishop is thrown a bone and allowed to sing one number. To be fair....he does get an amazing set!The former Paul Simon BFF does an admirable job fulfilling his host duties and one of our biggest critiques is that we could have used him in MORE sketches.We also get what ...

SNL gets its second athlete-as-host as (soon-to-be-former) Buffalo Bills' running back, O.J. Simpson achieves a dream of his (his words, not ours) by hosting the show. A surprisingly decent episode finds an iconic cold open, a spot on commercial parody, a few recurring characters, and couple of songs from Ashford & Simpson (no relation). Never fear, there are some true OMG moments (even for 1978) as well.For those of you not familiar with O.J. Simpson he was a future NFL-Hall ...

The Prodigal Son returns as Chevy Chase is back at Saturday Night Live...as HOST! An event So BIG...that Billy Joel skipped his high school reunion to be the musical guest. Not surprisingly, this is one of the most infamous episodes in the show's history. Sadly, pretty much all of the legend has to do with what went on behind the scenes and not in front of the camera. That Week in SNL's Andy Dick joins us to separate fact from fiction, dive into the actual episode, and share theor...

Robert Klein returns to SNL to host one of the most unique and memorable episodes in the show's history.There is A LOT going on in this one...recurring characters (a lot of 'em), classic sketches, iconic characters introduced, a runner that has to go down as one of the greatest of all time, and for the second week in a row the host just can't help themselves from joining in with the musical guest.Oh right...Bonnie Raitt is the musical guest this week. She plays two numbers and tries to ...

SNL kicks off 1978 with Steve Martin returning for his second (but not last) episode of Season 3 along with not one but two musical guests.Four musical numbers, and a film by Gary Weis, do not leave much time for sketches but Steve and The Not Ready for Prime Time Players make the most of their time with the return of some classic characters and the (re)introduction of one of the most iconic characters of the era at the Weekend Update desk.And, if all that wasn't enough, the show wraps things...

We take a minute before we jump back into Season Three for a quick note of thanks and to send out our requests for your ratings and reviews. They really do A LOT in helping the show grow and we need YOUR support in making it happen!!Thanks to all of you. We'll catch you next week. Until then....Subscribe today! And follow us on social media on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.

Miskel Spillman, the 80 yr. old winner of the "Anyone Can Host" contest, take the reins of Season 3's Christmas show. Not to worry, friend of show Buck Henry is also on hand to keep things on track.All things must come to end as we get the last Mr. Mike's Least-Loved Bedtime Story as well as the final appearance of a certain Weekend Update correspondent (sort of).But, this episode is most known for the musical guest. Elvis Costello (as a last minute replacement) delivers one of the most...

Fresh off her Emmy win (and Grammy nomination), Mary Kay Place brings the "pep" as she hosts SNL w/ musical guest, Willie Nelson. Does the pedigree and hype live up to the performance? For either?Even Andy Kaufman returns to help the cause - and he brings his bongos!Can some reoccurring characters and a classic Gilda commercial parody help make this episode one to remember?Subscribe today! And follow us on social media on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.

Buck Henry becomes the first member of the yet-to-be-coined Five Timers Club as he returns once again to host this week's Saturday Night Live. Season 1 favorite Leon Redbone is also back as the musical guest. It is a bit of an odd episode as much of it is dedicated to introducing viewers to, and getting them familiar with, the five finalists for the "Anyone Can Host" contest.The Saturday Night Network's Jon Schneider is the first member of OUR Five Timers Club as he continues to accompa...

Music legend Ray Charles pulls double duty this week hosting AND performing (a lot) on this episode of Saturday Night Live. Not only does Charles sing some of his classic hits, but also does an admirable job in the sketches in which he is a part of.Special Guest, Franklyn Ajaye, performs a stand up set and BOTH spend more time on their feet than Broderick Crawford. So there's that. Subscribe today! And follow us on social media on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.