On April 19, 1980, legendary character actor Strother Martin hosted Saturday Night Live—and delivered a surprisingly strong performance. Best known for his unforgettable roles in films like Cool Hand Luke, True Grit, Slap Shot, The Wild Bunch, Up in Smoke, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Martin brought his unique presence and versatility to Studio 8H for one memorable night.

Nick looks back at this fascinating episode, featuring a clever Cool Hand Luke parody and a mix of strange, sharp, and hilarious sketches. Along the way, he shares behind-the-scenes stories about how some of the show’s most unusual comedy came together. You’ll hear standout moments from cast members Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Harry Shearer, Garrett Morris, Paul Shaffer, and more—plus material that feels just as politically relevant today as it did in 1980.

It’s a fun, deep dive into a night when one of Hollywood’s most underrated talents—often mistaken for Tennessee Williams—stepped into the world of live sketch comedy and left his mark. [Ep 119]

Nick welcomes musician, filmmaker, and podcast host Jim Laczkowski to That Show… to discuss his love for Saturday Night Live and how he became hooked on the show during the early days thanks to Steve Martin. Jim shares his appreciation for the weirder, more offbeat sketches, WTF moments, and—of course—anything involving cats.

As Nick and Jim count down Jim’s five favorite sketches of all time, you’ll hear the hilarious work of Will Ferrell, Andy Samberg, Chris Farley, Dana Carvey, Molly Shannon, Kenan Thompson, and others. And yes, cats make an appearance—whether they’re shooting lasers from their mouths or driving cars. It’s a fun conversation and a cool look back at some of the most bizarre and hilarious moments in SNL history. [Ep 118]

Nick looks back at Season 45 of Saturday Night Live, a season that started off strong with Woody Harrelson hosting and Billie Eilish as the musical guest. Everything felt business as usual—until it wasn’t. No one could have predicted that the season would end early, transformed into a series of prerecorded, at-home episodes due to the onset of a global pandemic.

Nick analyzes the season episode by episode, revisiting standout sketches and memorable moments. Along the way, he reflects on how COVID-19 not only changed the world but also forced SNL to rethink how comedy could be created and delivered under lockdown conditions.

Highlights include appearances by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Will Ferrell, Daniel Craig, Brad Pitt, Kristen Wiig, and Eddie Murphy, whose long-awaited and Emmy-winning return as host was a major high point—just before the world came to a halt. [Ep 117]

Nick welcomes journalist, author, food writer, and Axios Chicago contributor Monica Eng to the podcast to share her memories of watching Saturday Night Live as a kid, what really makes her laugh, and how SNL helped shape her sense of humor.

Monica reflects on her cheerleading days, her love for Jerry Lewis movies, and the influence of her hilarious Puerto Rican aunts—who even inspired a couple of her favorite sketches. She also reveals her Top 5 SNL Sketches of All Time, featuring the comedic brilliance of Gilda Radner, Cheri Oteri, Will Ferrell, Tom Hanks, Andy Samberg, Molly Shannon, and more.

And yes—Monica delivers a spot-on Roseanne Roseannadanna impression, and you’ll hear it. A fun, nostalgic, and laugh-filled conversation with a good friend and a great writer. [Ep 116]

Nick takes a deep dive into one of the best seasons of Saturday Night Live ever: Season 26, which aired from October 2000 to May 2001. Fueled by a memorable election and a powerhouse cast, this season delivered sharp comedy and some of the most iconic sketches in SNL history.

Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon took over the Weekend Update desk, while veteran cast members like Will Ferrell, Chris Kattan, Tracy Morgan, Molly Shannon, Darrell Hammond, and newcomers like Maya Rudolph and Rachel Dratch kept the laughs coming.

You’ll hear some of the most unforgettable sketches from this standout season, including the legendary debate sketch featuring “strategery” and “lockbox,” and the Jeffrey’s Clothing Store sketch with the world’s smallest cell phone. Nick also shares behind-the-scenes stories—including the shocking moment when someone actually broke their neck during an episode—and revisits the work of some fantastic hosts, including Christopher Walken, Calista Flockhart, Tom Green, Julia Stiles, and Sean Hayes.

Season 26 was a high point for SNL, and this episode brings back all the best moments! [Ep 115]

They may have gotten laughs at the table read or killed during rehearsal, but for some reason, these sketches completely tanked on live television. On this episode of That Show…, Nick looks back at five Saturday Night Live sketches that bombed in front of a national audience.

You’ll hear those disastrous moments, the stories behind them, and a breakdown of what went wrong—some of them are actually pretty funny! Talented performers like Christina Applegate, Dakota Johnson, John Goodman, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson, Bobby Moynihan, and Mary Gross all played a part in these infamous misfires.

Also featured are insights from comedy legends like Conan O’Brien, Kristen Wiig, Tom Hanks, and Seth Meyers as they share their own experiences of bombing on SNL. [Ep 114]

In this episode, Nick pays tribute to one of the most iconic characters in Saturday Night Live history: Sally O’Malley, the unforgettable 50-year-old who’s proud to tell the world her age. She can kick… stretch… and kick! She’s 50! Created and portrayed by the brilliant Molly Shannon, Sally O’Malley has become a classic SNL character, delivering big laughs and memorable moments each time she takes the stage.

Nick shares how Molly Shannon brought Sally O’Malley to life, including the real-life inspiration behind the character, straight from Shannon herself. He also revisits some of Sally’s most iconic sketches, starting with her 1999 debut alongside Danny DeVito. Other standout appearances include collaborations with Ben Affleck, the Jonas Brothers, Betty White, Seth Meyers, and more.

To wrap things up, Nick highlights Sally’s triumphant return during the SNL 50: The Anniversary Special, where she once again kicked, stretched, and kicked—this time with Emma Stone. It’s a fun, nostalgic look back at one of SNL’s most beloved characters. [Ep 113]

Nick looks back at the one and only time Jodie Foster hosted Saturday Night Live on November 27, 1976. At just 14 years old, Foster became the youngest host in the show’s history—until Drew Barrymore took the title in 1982 at the age of 7.

Despite her talent, Foster was a nervous wreck, thrown into live television for the first time with material written by people who had no idea how to craft sketches for a teenage host. The result was a bizarre, sometimes uncomfortable episode filled with sketches ranging from mildly insulting to downright creepy.

Nick revisits key moments from the show, breaking down the awkwardness, the behind-the-scenes struggles, and the transitional state of SNL at the time—Chevy Chase had just left, Bill Murray hadn’t yet arrived, and the cast and writers seemed lost. A fascinating deep dive into one of SNL’s strangest episodes. [Ep 112]

Nick welcomes Chicago-based food and entertainment writer Marnie Shure to the podcast for a deep dive into her Saturday Night Live memories. They chat about her experiences growing up with the show, her favorite cast members, hosts, and musical guests.

Marnie also counts down her all-time favorite SNL sketches, featuring unforgettable performances from Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, Will Ferrell, Dana Carvey, Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, Andy Samberg, and more—plus appearances from Natalie Portman, Shannen Doherty, Seann William Scott, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

It’s a fun and nostalgic look back at some of SNL’s most memorable moments! [Ep 111]

Nick celebrates Valentine’s Day with a hilarious look back at some of Saturday Night Live’s best sketches, bits, and songs that poke fun at—and embrace—the holiday.

Highlights include a song about the awkwardness of receiving a Valentine’s Day card from your mom, a last-minute gift guide courtesy of a very honest CVS commercial, and a visit from Garth and Kat with their signature off-the-cuff holiday songs. Plus, Nick revisits the first-ever appearance of Leon Phelps: The Ladies Man, along with an unforgettable Valentine’s-themed visit from Stefon.

Featuring the comedic brilliance of Kate McKinnon, Fred Armisen, Kristen Wiig, Tim Meadows, Halsey, Taran Killam, Jay Pharoah, Bill Hader, and more, this episode is packed with laughs and behind-the-scenes stories.

Happy Valentine’s Day from That Show…! [Ep110]