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PODCAST

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL Retrospective

Two Pints Productions, Inc.

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.

tv & film tv reviews

All Episodes

21:46

Bonus Preview: Reviewing Who (A Doctor Who Podcast)

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/04/21

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, beginning in 1963. Reviewing Who is available wherever you get your podcasts. --------------------------------- Subscribe & Follow today! And follow us on social media: Twitter: @NR4PTProject Instagram: @nr4ptproject Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social Face...

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53:33

Deep Thoughts: When Fridays Challenged Saturday Night...

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/04/14

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 season. That show was Fridays. Fridays would repackage almost all of SNL's key components—it would air live, it would have sketch comedy from an unknown troupe, there would be a fake news segment, and there would be musical guests. But to be different, the show would be ...

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70:28

VINTAGE The Early Years of SNL: S03E20 Buck Henry/Sun...

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/04/07

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 for an Emmy all five years she wrote for Saturday Night Live, winning for her work in Season One. She also won a Writer's Guild of America Award for her work on the SNL 25th Anniversary Special. We highlight Anne's work in this VINTAGE episode of "The Early Years of S...

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98:33

The Early Years of SNL: Saturday Night Live's...

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/03/31

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 trying-it-out-in-real-time “variety” show (S1) to being a truly experimental and edgy platform (S2), exploding into a cultural juggernaut (S3&4), and eventual fall from grace (S5). Looking back, we remember some of our favorite hosts, musical guests, special guests, ...

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114:15

The Early Years of SNL: Saturday Night Live's...

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/03/24

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 brought this iconic show to life. In this first part of our retrospective of “The Early Years of SNL,” we look back on why we set out on this journey in the first place and look to answer if we succeeded in our goals. We discuss what we enjoyed the most about the ...

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46:26

Deep Thoughts: SNL Without Lorne

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/03/19

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 (like everyone else) was looking towards life beyond Saturday Night Live, and where NBC’s decision - made behind his back - to move on without him left him. Susan helps explain the thinking behind Lorne’s need to put the show on an extended break, his (naïve) belief tha...

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54:51

Deep Thoughts: The End of SNL?

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/03/17

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 again to answer these questions (and more) as we look back on the end of SNL’s original era. Beginning with Season Four (which they would argue was the beginning of the end), we connect the dots as to what brought about the eventual end of Lorne Michaels’ original run of the show. Dou...

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119:37

Bill Swerski's Tournament Talk: Best Bits of SNL's...

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/03/10

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 Saturday Night Live’s original era. Five years, over one hundred episodes, and a countless number of sketches, performances, and moments get sifted through as we look to pick out the very best. From iconic impressions and classic characters to memorable Weekend Upda...

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56:38

The Early Years of SNL: Season 5 Recap

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/03/03

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 original era. They pick their favorite hosts and musical guests, rank the best (and worst) episodes, and – of course – pick their Best Bits of the season. In addition, they highlight forgotten and underrated moments from the season as well as try to agree on who it was that pic...

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71:57

The Early Years of SNL: S05E20 Buck Henry/Andrew...

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/02/24

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 with The Voice of Unity are the musical guests. The show leans into the “will they or won’t they be back” elephant in the room often throughout the episode – from the monologue right up to the goodnights. In between, Buck gives another solid performance as host, we get to say goodbye...

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54:35

My SNL Story: Marc Shaiman

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/02/19

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 dur...

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58:24

The Early Years of SNL: S05E19 Steve Martin/Paul &...

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/02/17

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 Live gets overshadowed by one of the very few people who could pull off such a feat at the time – Paul McCartney. Hiding out in London after his public drug bust, the ex-Beatle was supposed to open the show. But, due to the time change, a mix-up ensued and the runner about getti...

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90:18

Bill Swerski's Tournament Talk: Favorite SNL Olympic...

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/02/12

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. From John Belushi up to the recent SNL51 Olympic pre-tape, our panel of SNL superfans discuss, dissect, and debate the best Olympic sketches, pre-tapes, and bits from the show’s 51-year history. Will your favorite Olympic moment from SNL history make the list? T...

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57:25

The Early Years of SNL: S05E18 Bob Newhart/The...

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/02/10

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 each bit. This episode of Saturday Night Live is famous for not having a lot of material, with only four live sketches (in addition to the cold open). The show doesn’t stray far from the host’s strong suit, but is that a good thing? We’re not sure. But one thing that is ...

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67:08

The Early Years of SNL: S05E17 Strother Martin/The...

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/02/03

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 – and the veteran character actor delivers in all night long. The writing is smart, the performances are on point, and the laughs are plentiful. You don’t even have to be familiar with what the show is satirizing to get the jokes (as one of us shamefully is calle...

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51:55

My SNL Story: Andy Aaron

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/01/29

While the average SNL fan might not know Andy Aaron by name, they almost certainly know his work—his short films have been showcased on the show several times. His most well-known, "Push Button to Cross Street," was featured in Season 7 and shows an unknowing Tom Davis accidentally push the wrong button and cause a building to collapse. But Andy's connection with Saturday Night Live goes way back. His friendship with Chevy Chase predates the show and his first short film was one of the best p...

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52:42

The Early Years of SNL: S05E16 Burt Reynolds/Anne...

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/01/27

Not all episodes of SNL are created equal. Some of them…well, they just miss the mark. That is a polite way of describing Burt Reynolds’ hosting of Saturday Night Live’s late Season Five entry. This episode is well-known for the difficulties it had finding material for the host and it shows. Much of what was delivered manages to offend early and often. And, Burt pretty much plays Burt this episode regardless of what the name of his character is and doesn’t seem to be having too much fun doing...

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70:03

My SNL Story: Matt Neuman

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/01/22

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 Guido Sarducci made his television debut 6 years before appearing on Saturday Night Live), working with a pre-SNL Al Franken & Tom Davis, and putting together a TV pilot with Rob Reiner. All this led him to work on the Emmy-nominated Lily Tomlin special where he would...

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60:59

The Early Years of SNL: S05E15 Richard Benjamin &...

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/01/20

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 – dragged our wives onto the show to talk about this episode. Unfortunately for them, this is a weird episode of Saturday Night Live to walk into – not bad (not at all), just weird. Especially if you haven’t been following the show up to this point. While bo...

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86:14

The Early Years of SNL: S05E14 - Saturday Night...

The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL... ·

2026/01/13

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 broadcast. For the first time, Saturday Night Live goes without a proper host, relying instead on a slew of cameos. From Michael O’Donoghue and John Belushi (twice!) to Ralph Nader, Michael Palin, and NYS senator Daniel Moynihan - apparently NOT related to Bobby - who pops...

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178 results

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