A listener request from subscriber Pete (thanks, Pete!) inspires this deep dive into the unsung talents of Saturday Night Live — the one-season wonders who never moved beyond Featured Player status. Nick revisits seven cast members whose brief stints left lasting impressions for very different reasons. Some, like Lauren Holt, John Milhiser, and Emil Wakim, never quite found their rhythm within SNL’s unique ecosystem. Others, including Aristotle Athari, Jerry Minor, Rob Riggle, and especially Chloe Troast, shined bright and deserved far more time on the show.

Nick shares background stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and standout sketches that highlight each performer’s unique comedic style — from robot stand-ups and street preachers to awkward orphans and beyond. It’s a funny, nostalgic tribute to the SNL players who came, conquered (sort of), and vanished before they got their full shot at stardom. [Ep 149]

Nick spotlights five of the greatest impressionists in Saturday Night Live history — Dana Carvey, Chloe Fineman, Darrell Hammond, Bill Hader, and Melissa Villaseñor. Each performer brought a unique brilliance to the art of mimicry, shaping decades of the show’s comedy legacy.

From Carvey’s classic takes on George Bush and Johnny Carson to Hammond’s uncanny Bill Clinton and Hader’s pitch-perfect Al Pacino, Nick revisits some of the most unforgettable impressions ever seen on the SNL stage. He also includes revealing interview clips of Fineman, Hammond, and Hader discussing their process and performing live examples of their uncanny vocal transformations.

Finally, Villaseñor brings the episode home with two standout sketches showcasing her incredible range — nailing everyone from Kristen Wiig to Jennifer Lopez to a shockingly accurate Owen Wilson. A fun, fascinating look at the masters who turned imitation into high art on SNL. [Ep 148]

Nick revisits one of the most uneven and troubled years in Saturday Night Live history — Season 23. On paper, it should have been great: a powerhouse cast featuring Will Ferrell, Jim Breuer, Chris Kattan, Molly Shannon, Cheri Oteri, and Tim Meadows, plus the first season with Tina Fey on the writing staff. But instead, the year was marred by misfires, controversy, and heartbreaking loss.

There were dreadful episodes — Sylvester Stallone flopped, Jon Lovitz coasted, Rudy Giuliani was exactly what you’d expect, and audiences were left wondering who Roma Downey was. The deaths of Chris Farley and Phil Hartman cast a long shadow, and Norm Macdonald’s firing over his O.J. Simpson jokes only deepened the chaos.

Still, bright spots broke through the gloom. Nick highlights the funniest sketches of the season, including Helen Hunt’s great monologue with a surprise guest, a classic Mary Katherine Gallagher moment, a hysterical Celebrity Jeopardy featuring David Duchovny’s spot-on Jeff Goldblum, and the debut of Tim Meadows’ The Ladies Man.

A messy, emotional, and unforgettable chapter in SNL’s long history. [Ep 147]

Nick takes a deep dive into one of the most important turning points in Saturday Night Live history — Season 12. After the chaotic collapse of Season 11, Lorne Michaels returned, cleaned house, and rebuilt the show from the ground up. The result was a brilliant reinvention that launched a new era of comedy greatness.

This season introduced future legends like Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Jan Hooks, Kevin Nealon, Jon Lovitz, and Dennis Miller, along with instant classics such as The Church Lady, Tommy Flanagan, The Sweeney Sisters, and Mr. Subliminal. Nick revisits all 20 episodes, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, memorable sketches, and standout moments from hosts including Garry Shandling, Sam Kinison, Sigourney Weaver, John Lithgow, Willie Nelson, and Bill Murray.

A true comeback season that restored SNL’s legacy — funny, fearless, and unforgettable. [Ep 146]

Nick takes a look back at Saturday Night Live Season 37, a strong and steady run marked by some unforgettable first-time hosts who went on to iconic status, including Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, and Mick Jagger. It was also a season of change, as Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg said their goodbyes, and John Mulaney stepped into his first year as head writer and producer.

The episode revisits standout sketches like Alec Baldwin’s spot-on Tony Bennett, a bridal shower derailed by a delightfully creepy Emma Stone, and Zooey Deschanel turning quirky into an art form on a talk show parody. Nick also highlights the final outing of the beloved soap opera spoof The Californians, packed with the full cast and a cameo from Steve Martin.

Along the way, you’ll hear great moments from hosts like Ben Stiller and Channing Tatum, plus some behind-the-scenes stories that make Season 37 a fan favorite worth remembering. [Ep 145]

Nick dives into the long tradition of breaking on Saturday Night Live—those unexpected moments when cast members or hosts crack up mid-sketch and the fourth wall comes tumbling down. While frowned upon in the show’s earliest years, breaking eventually became part of the fun, and no one was guiltier of it than Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz.

This episode revisits some of their most infamous crack-ups, from “The Leather Man” to “Aquarium Repairmen” to the unforgettable “Sadam and Osama.” Nick also plays clips from a Tonight Show interview where Fallon and Sanz laugh about their reputation for breaking and share behind-the-scenes stories from their time at Studio 8H.

To round things out, Nick goes back to the very first major break in SNL history, when Candice Bergen lost it during a 1976 sketch, proving that sometimes the funniest moments are the ones that weren’t planned. [Ep 144]

Nick revisits one of the most notorious episodes in Saturday Night Live history, when Frank Zappa hosted during Season 4. The night has gone down as one of the worst ever, thanks largely to Zappa’s smug, condescending approach and his open disdain for the format. From his monologue, where he flatly admitted to reading cue cards, to his constant mugging and deliberate attempts to derail sketches, it was a train wreck in slow motion.

To try and salvage the episode, the show even shoehorned John Belushi’s Samurai Futaba into one of Zappa’s musical performances, but it wasn’t enough. The result was a bizarre, uncomfortable mix of Conehead antics, a drugged-out Halloween sketch, and one very annoyed cast.

Nick shares behind-the-scenes stories, testimonials from people who endured that rough week, and even Dana Carvey’s later parody of Zappa’s failed hosting gig. While Zappa remains a legendary musical innovator, his time at Studio 8H was such a disaster that he was banned from ever returning. [Ep 143]

Nick takes a closer look at the Season 14 episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by comedy legend Leslie Nielsen. Once known for serious dramatic roles, Nielsen reinvented himself as a master of deadpan comedy in classics like Airplane!, Police Squad!, and The Naked Gun. His hosting stint on SNL proved just how sharp his comedic timing really was.

From his clever opening monologue on the differences between drama and comedy, to the game show spoof Snap Decision, to a biting parody of celebrity-endorsed products, Nielsen delivered one memorable sketch after another. Nick shares behind-the-scenes details about the show and even includes an interview with Nielsen about his unlikely transition into comedy.

This episode of SNL also marked the very first appearance of Wayne’s World, which at the time was just an odd late-night sketch filled with rough edges and questionable material. Nick plays it back in full and lets you decide if the sketch showed early signs of greatness.

It’s a celebration of Leslie Nielsen’s comedy chops and one of SNL’s milestone moments. [Ep 142]

Nick revisits one of Jay Pharoah’s funniest original creations from his Saturday Night Live years: Principal Daniel Frye of Booker T. Washington High School. While Pharoah is best known for his uncanny impressions of Barack Obama, Chris Rock, Denzel Washington, and more, Principal Frye proved he could also deliver side-splitting original characters.

The sketches feature the Principal’s absurd morning announcements, with help from guest hosts like Paul Rudd, Christina Applegate, Kerry Washington, and Anna Kendrick. Nick shares behind-the-scenes details about how the character came to life, and even tells the story of how Justin Bieber nearly derailed one of Frye’s funniest appearances.

It’s a tribute to one of SNL’s most underrated cast members and a reminder of just how funny Jay Pharoah’s tenure really was. [EP 141]

Rachel, a loyal listener and subscriber, asked for it, and Nick delivers: the unforgettable night Betty White hosted Saturday Night Live. On May 8, 2010, following a grassroots Facebook campaign, the comedy legend took the stage for a Mother’s Day episode that pulled in the season’s highest ratings and won her an Emmy.

The show featured a reunion of powerhouse female cast members — Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer, Rachel Dratch, and Molly Shannon — who brought back classic characters while teaming up with White in sketches that were hilariously naughty and delightfully vulgar. At 88 years old, Betty White proved she was game for anything, and the results were comedy gold.

Along with clips from that night, Nick shares behind-the-scenes stories, backstage moments, and why this episode remains one of the most beloved in SNL history. [EP 140]