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
199 episodes
Not Ready for Season 6: A Conversation with Denny Dillon
Denny Dillon returns to the podcast to talk with Thomas and Deremy about her time on Saturday Night Live. She talks about what it was like trying to keep SNL alive during Season 6, the uphill battle that was, and what i...
Not Ready for Season 6: The Season 6 Wrap Up Show
We made it! Season 6 of Saturday Night Live! What a ride.Thomas and Deremy take a final look back at one of the most infamous "eras" in SNL history. They discuss what they liked, what surprised them, and what the learned by watchin...
Not Ready for Season 6: SNL S06E13: No Host/Jr. Walker & The All Stars (4/11/81)
Well, we've made it to the Season 6 finale of Saturday Night Live! An abbreviated end to such a monumental season in SNL history.In the first episode of the Dick Ebersol era, we open with an appearance from a legend of ...
Not Ready for Season 6: SNL S06E12: Bill Murray/Delbert McClinton (3/7/81)
Bill Murray returns to Saturday Night Live to host what ended up being the final episode of the very brief Jean Doumanian era. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to save Season 6—even if he did bring back Delbert McClinton a...
Not Ready for Season 6: SNL S06E11: Charlene Tilton/Todd Rundgren, Prince (2/21/81)
Well...we made it! We've finally arrived at one of the most infamous and important episodes in Saturday Night Live history!This episode of SNL is jam-packed with so much—from the "Who Shot CR" runner to the Rocko Weiner...
Not Ready for Season 6: SNL S06E10: Deborah Harry (2/14/81)
Blondie's Debbie Harry returns to Saturday Night Live - this time as host AND musical guest. She is only the sixth act to perform double duties in SNL history* - and the first to do it in the non-Lorne era.We get...
Deep Thoughts: The Making of Caddyshack
The summer of 1980 delivered some of the most memorable comedies in American film history. One of the most iconic is Caddyshack. Born from the mind of The National Lampoon (hot off the success of Animal House
Not Ready for Season 6: SNL S06E09: Sally Kellerman/Jimmy Cliff (2/7/81)
Season 6 of Saturday Night Live is hosted by actress Sally Kellerman with reggae legend Jimmy Cliff as musical guest. This episode of SNL gives you a bit of everything and keeps you on your toes!Derem...
Not Ready for Season 6: SNL S06E08: Robert Hays/Joe "King" Carrasco & The Crowns, 14 Karat Soul (1/24/81)
Season Six of Saturday Night Live continues with Robert Hays, star of the Homeward Bound and Airplane! films, as host.Does this episode keep the momentum of Karen Black going or does it struggle to maint...
Not Ready for Season 6: SNL S06E07: Karen Black/Cheap Trick; The Stanley Clark Trio (1/17/81)
This episode of SNL Season 6—hosted by Karen Black with musical guests Cheap Trick and The Stanley Clarke Trio—is often regarded as a high point of the season. And to talk about such a revered episode, Deremy and T...
Not Ready for Season 6: SNL S06E06: Ray Sharkey/Jack Bruce & Friends (1/10/81)
For this week of Season 6, Saturday Night Live has the very energetic Ray Sharkey hosting the show. Will Ray's hosting be as infamous and memorable as the previous host?This episode of SNL has so much going for i...
Not Ready for Season 6: SNL S06E05: David Carradine/The Pirates of Penzance (12/20/80)
Well, it's the Christmas episode for Season 6 and this week has David Carradine from the show Kung Fu hosting! And yet, this episode of SNL is better known for the infamous hosting job that David Carradine delivered.This ...
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...
