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.

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The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL Retrospective

My SNL Story: Marc Shaiman

February 19, 2026 • Two Pints Productions, Inc.

0:00 | 54:35

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 loss for stories to share.

In honor of his hilarious new memoir, Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories From a Sore Winner, we talked with Marc about a brief, but pivotal, section early in his career – Saturday Night Live. Beginning as a freelance performer during the Dick Ebersol years, he began backing up cast members such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus and went on to form life-long friendships with the likes of Martin Short and Billy Crystal. When Lorne Michaels returned to the show, he was hired as a full-time writer and helped create one of the most iconic recurring characters of SNL’s second Golden Era – The Sweeney Sisters.

Marc talks about working on SNL with Jan Hooks, Phil Hartman, Maya Rudolph, Paul Shaffer, Steve Martin, and Mary Tyler Moore, as well as shares hilarious behind-the-scenes tales about Bill Murray, William Shatner, Paul McCartney, and Prince! He also tells the story of meeting, working, and living with Bette Midler (when he was only a teenager), discusses his decades-long relationship working with Rob Reiner, and reveals the most outrageous story from his book.

We had such a blast talking Saturday Night Live with Marc, we didn’t even get a chance to talk about:

*Being one of the originators of the Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings

*Producing songs with Mariah Carey and Harry Connick, Jr.

*Backing up Bette Midler on Johnny Carson’s final show

*Writing songs for South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut

*Creating Hairspray for Broadway

All of which are in the book – which you can order HERE!

Or the amazing audio book - HERE!

Or...as Marc says (or sings) himself - GET BOTH!

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