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
160 episodes
My SNL Story: Matt Neuman
Veteran comedy writer Matt Neuman, whose story starts all the way back in the early 70s, joins us today to share his SNL story. He talks about the creation of his own sketch comedy show, The Chicken Little Show (where Father Gui...
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1:10:03
The Early Years of SNL: S05E15 Richard Benjamin & Paula Prentiss/The Grateful Dead (4/5/80)
SNL makes history as Richard Benjamin returns to host – this time with his wife Paula Prentiss – to be the first husband/wife team to ever host the show. In honor of the occasion, we did the only thing that seemed right –...
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1:00:59
The Early Years of SNL: S05E14 - Saturday Night Live's 100th Episode
Milestones are supposed to shine. SNL’s 100th did something stranger: it skipped a host, stacked cameos, and unintentionally made flogging history when Paul Shaffer became the first person to drop the F bomb during the live broa...
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1:25:43
The Early Years of SNL: S05E13 Rodney Dangerfield/The J. Geils Band (3/8/80)
Throughout the storied history of SNL, one constant move has been booking hot stand-up comedians to host the show. And in early 1980, there were very few hotter than Rodney Dangerfield, who having already cameoed once in Season ...
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1:01:15
The Early Years of SNL: S05E12 Kirk Douglas/Sam & Dave (2/23/80)
Kirk Douglas hosted Saturday Night Live? Yes, yes he did. Along with R&B legends Sam & Dave as the musical guest. This did happen.How did it turn out? Well…the show opens with Douglas doing what looks to be...
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1:04:35
VINTAGE NR4PTP: Tournament Talk: Favorite SNL Holiday Moments
Ho, ho, Hoooo! Our season of celebrating the holidays comes to a close with this VINTAGE re-release of our very first edition of Tournament Talk. Fittingly, for this inaugural outing, we brought a few of our friends in to discuss and deba...
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2:02:29
Deep Thoughts: Scrooged
We continue to celebrate the holiday season by looking back at a movie that is a must watch this time of year – Scrooged!Bill Murray returns to acting after a four-year hiatus to star in this modern retelling of Charles Dic...
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46:05
VINTAGE NR4PTP: The Early Years of SNL: S2E10 Candice Bergen/Frank Zappa (12/11/76)
Christmas is coming early this year to The Not Ready for Prime Time Project. This week we’re re-releasing a VINTAGE episode of The Early Years of SNL as we look back at not only the best holiday episode of the original (or any) era, but ...
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1:06:05
The Early Years of SNL: S05E11 Elliott Gould/Gary Numan (2/16/80)
SNL looks to pick up the pieces as it turns into the back half of Season 5 as old standby Elliott Gould returns to become the third host in show history to do it a fifth time (a feat that wouldn’t be repeated for over six years)...
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1:09:57
The Early Years of SNL: S05E10 Chevy Chase/Marianne Faithfull, Tom Scott (2/9/80)
They say “you can never go home again.” But maybe, what they meant was that you just simply shouldn’t. Original Not Ready for Prime Time Player and first breakout star of SNL, Chevy Chase returns for his second time hosting and ...
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1:02:14
VINTAGE NR4PTP: The Early Years of SNL: S1E6 Lily Tomlin (11/22/75)
In the spirit of giving thanks, we wanted to say thank you to everyone with a VINTAGE re-release of The Early Years of SNL that celebrates an episode of Saturday Night Live that originally aired 50 years ago this week. This episode of ...
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51:34
The Early Years of SNL: S05E09 Teri Garr/The B-52's (1/26/80)
SNL steps into the new decade with film and television actress Teri Garr as the first host of the 80s. But, after closing out the 70s in strong fashion, the show takes a few steps backwards. It seems to have lost any sense of id...
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58:32
My SNL Story: Patrick Weathers
Season Six of Saturday Night Live is one of the most infamous in the show's history. The show attempts the near impossible task of continuing on with a brand new cast, an almost entirely new writing staff, and – most notably – with...
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59:11
The Early Years of SNL: S05E08 Ted Knight/Desmond Child & Rouge (12/22/79)
Veteran actor Ted Knight hosts the S5 Christmas episode as SNL says goodbye to the 70s. As a present (to Gilda, we're guessing), Desmond Child and Rouge are the musical guest.While The Mary Tyler Moore Show
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1:06:52
The Early Years of SNL: S05E07 Martin Sheen/David Bowie (12/15/79)
Innovative. Iconic. Legendary.These are just a few words to describe the one and only David Bowie. And all could be used to describe any one of his musical performances on his very first appearance on SNL.Bowie hel...
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1:20:36
VINTAGE NR4PTP: The Early Years of SNL: S2E6 Buck Henry/The Band (10/30/76)
Saturday Night Live has aired live on Halloween only FOUR times in its 50+ years. As a treat this week, we're releasing a VINTAGE episode of The Early Years of SNL looking back at the memorable Season 2 outing hosted by Buc...
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1:09:42
Deep Thoughts: Love Johnny Carson
Today marks what would have been the 100th birthday of The King of Late Night – Johnny Carson. To celebrate, we're joined by our old friend Mark Malkoff, whose new book Love Johnny Carson offers a captivating look ...
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51:25
The Early Years of SNL: S05E06 Howard Hesseman/Randy Newman (12/8/79)
Johnny Fever himself, Howard Hesseman, takes the reins for his first time hosting SNL, along with the return of future 5-Timer Randy Newman as the musical guest.Hesseman has a long history of improv, and it shows h...
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1:02:51
Deep Thoughts: This is Spinal Tap
With Sabrina Carpenter hosting this week's SNL in support of her new album—obviously a direct homage to the early '80s heavy metal classic Smell the Glove—we're looking back at the film that took us backstage with one of Engla...
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58:42
The Early Years of SNL: S05E05 Bea Arthur/The Roches (11/17/79)
Season 5 of SNL might just be finding its groove as the one and only Bea Arthur takes the stage as host. Just over a year removed from the end of her Emmy-winning run on Maude, the veteran actress feels right at home wi...
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1:15:31
The Early Years of SNL: S05E04 Buck Henry/Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (11/10/79)
What's one way to turn things around after a rocky start to Season 5? Bring in one of the greatest SNL hosts of all time to right the ship. That's right—Buck's back! Buck Henry returns for his ninth (and penultim...
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1:08:08
The Early Years of SNL: S05E03 Bill Russell/Chicago (11/3/79)
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......
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1:10:43
The Early Years of SNL: S05E02 Eric Idle/Bob Dylan (10/20/79)
SNL continues to roll out the heavy hitters for Season 5, bringing two absolute legends to Studio 8H as Eric Idle returns for his fourth (and sadly final) hosting stint joined by the unequaled Bob Dylan as musical guest. ...
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