That Show Hasn't Been Funny In Years: an SNL podcast on Radio Misfits

Nick looks back once again at the work of the best cast member in the history of “Saturday Night Live,” Phil Hartman. While Hartman’s best-known work—like his great impressions of Bill Clinton and Frank Sinatra, and unforgettable characters like Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer and The Anal-Retentive Chef—is always talked about and shared, this time Nick showcases four of his more obscure sketches.

“Robot Repair” features Hartman as a robot obsessed with syntax. “Only in New York” stars Hartman and Nora Dunn as a married pair of gossip reporters. In the hysterical (and controversial) “Don’t Pray So Much,” Hartman plays Jesus. The episode closes with a riotous musical salute to a fictional Broadway musical composer named “Hal Jarome.”

You’ll hear these sketches, learn about who wrote them, and discover the fascinating backstories behind each one. It’s time to enjoy some of Phil Hartman’s best but least well-known work. [Ep84]

It’s an election year, so Nick revisits some of the most iconic political impressions in “Saturday Night Live” history. In Part 1 of this series, Nick focused on impressions performed by guest stars and hosts rather than regular cast members. In Part 2, cast members are showcased, and you’ll hear the background stories about the impressions, who wrote the bits and sketches, and the full sketches themselves.

You’ll hear Dan Aykroyd’s classic Jimmy Carter, Kate McKinnon’s hilariously grotesque parody of Jeff Sessions, Darrell Hammond’s spot-on Bill Clinton, and get two Bushes for the price of one when Dana Carvey and Will Ferrell play H.W. and W. in one sketch. This is the latest in a series of politically themed episodes of “THAT SHOW…” scheduled throughout 2024, leading up to the November election. [Ep83]

In this episode, Nick looks back at the night that consumer advocate, author, attorney, and future presidential candidate Ralph Nader hosted “Saturday Night Live.” It was a notable show, not just for Nader’s appearance, but because it was a night of many firsts.

It marked the debut of cast member Bill Murray, who made an incredible impression right from the start with fresh characters, funny writing, and hilarious performances. This episode also featured the very first “Coneheads” sketch, with Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman portraying the alien family “from France.” Additionally, it was the first episode where the legendary Jim Downey appeared as a writer.

Nick delves into the backstory behind the episode, explaining why Nader was chosen as host, and shares many of the great “first moments,” hilarious sketches, and more—including a phone call from an injured John Belushi, who did not appear elsewhere in the episode. Nader did a fine job (playing himself in almost every sketch he appeared in), the writing was strong, and the Not Ready For Primetime Players were rock stars at that point. The debuts were very successful, making the night that Nader’s Raiders appeared on SNL a truly memorable one. [Ep82]

In this episode, Nick reviews the performance of “The Summer Jobs” tour of stand-up comedy that he recently attended in Chicago. The hilarious show was performed by “Saturday Night Live” cast members James Austin Johnson, Devon Walker, and Andrew Dismukes. Nick not only reviews the comedy show but also provides a bio of each performer, sharing their comedy background and playing back some of their best work on SNL.

You’ll hear highlights from Studio 8H, including terrific Weekend Update appearances by each comedian and some very memorable sketches featuring Johnson, Walker, and Dismukes. Enjoy Johnson’s incredible Trump and Biden impressions, Walker’s hysterical take on NBA star Draymond Green, Dismukes’ wonderful bit about his great grandmother, and the classic sketch where he plays a best man in a wedding party dressed as The Joker.

These three talented SNL cast members are on tour this summer, so don’t miss them live, and don’t miss this look back at their fine contributions to SNL and more. [Ep81]

Dave Attell is one of the best and most influential stand-up comedians of the past three decades. His uproarious nightclub shows, brilliant TV specials, guest appearances on talk shows, regular spots on “The Daily Show,” and his groundbreaking and hilarious show “Insomniac with Dave Attell,” have cemented his reputation as a comedy legend, especially in New York. However, his stint on “Saturday Night Live” was short-lived and rather unmemorable.

Attell was hired as a writer and background performer after Lorne Michaels saw his very first network television appearance on “The Late Show With David Letterman” (which you will hear in this episode). Despite his talent, SNL and Dave Attell never really meshed. In this episode, you’ll hear the background stories of why SNL didn’t work for Attell, how his stand-up was completely different from his work on the show, and you’ll listen to sketches and jokes he wrote during his tenure. Sometimes, even the best comic minds don’t fit into the world of “Saturday Night Live,” and that’s certainly the case here. [Ep80]

On November 22nd, 1980, actor Malcolm McDowell hosted “Saturday Night Live,” and to put it kindly, it was a disaster. The episode started with a lousy Cold Open, followed by an uninspired monologue (which you will hear), a brutal bit involving an S&M “Leather Weather” report, many sight gags that bombed HARD, and a sketch featuring McDowell and Gilbert Gottfried in drag. To top it off, the talent-free Charles Rocket appeared as a stripping/flashing Prince Charles. These elements combined to create what many consider the worst SNL episode of all time—a claim that is arguable but the episode remains a train-wreck of biblical proportions.

It all culminates in one of the most offensive, least funny, and ill-timed sketches ever aired on the show: “Commie Hunting Season.” In this sketch, not only is the “n” word freely used by cast member Rocket, but murder, mayhem, and shock value are emphasized instead of satire. You will hear this jaw-droppingly awful sketch in its entirety, learn how it got on air (and BOMBED to a deadly silent crowd), and how it, along with two other horrible sketches, contributed to this nightmare.

This episode marked the first chink in Executive Producer Jean Doumanian’s armor, eventually leading to her inevitable firing. While many painfully unfunny sketches exist in SNL history, could this be the worst? You be the judge. [Ep79]

Nick takes a hilarious look back at one of the funniest (and dumbest) sketches in SNL history: “Colonel Angus.” Written by Tina Fey and featuring the weird and hilarious Christopher Walken as the Colonel, this crude, one-joke piece revolves around making as many sexual references as possible connected to the main character’s name, filled with nudge-nudge gags for about five minutes straight. The result is a classic, riotous, and often-quoted sketch that has lasted far longer than anyone (especially Fey) ever anticipated.

In this episode, you’ll hear all about the writing and background of the sketch, the immediate response, and how it played that night. It has gone on to receive much acclaim and love, even prompting Conan O’Brien to discuss it with Fey just three days after it aired (you’ll hear that conversation too).

Nick also runs down every “Saturday Night Live” episode that Walken has hosted, complete with dates, episode numbers, and classic moments. Additionally, he delves into Fey’s background and history with SNL. It’s a silly sketch, but also one of the flat-out funniest, and it’s all celebrated on this episode of “That Show…” [Ep78]

“Monty Python’s Flying Circus” was a major influence on the early days of “Saturday Night Live.” As Monty Python gained huge popularity in America, SNL was also making its mark. In this episode, Nick looks back at the time Michael Palin and John Cleese appeared on SNL in 1997—and absolutely bombed. They not only bombed, but they did so while performing one of Python’s most beloved and hilarious sketches: “The Dead Parrot.”

Nick provides a complete history of the “Dead Parrot” sketch and details all the appearances Monty Python members have made on SNL, featuring many audio clips. You’ll also hear how Chevy Chase essentially owes his SNL career to Monty Python. This episode includes three versions of the classic parrot sketch (including the infamous night it tanked on SNL), a strange appearance by Graham Chapman on a 1982 episode, and the Cold Open that Palin and Cleese performed the same night they bombed with the “Dead Parrot.”

The relationship between Python and SNL is both significant and historic, and this episode of “That Show…” offers deeper insight into their influential comic connection. [Ep77]

Season 49 of “Saturday Night Live” has wrapped, and in this episode, Nick takes a comprehensive look back at the entire season. He reviews all 20 episodes, sharing dates, details, behind-the-scenes stories, and more. Nick ranks the episodes from best to worst, discussing the standout hosts and musical guests, both good and bad. He also highlights the top five funniest sketches of the year.

Featured hosts include Timothee Chalamet, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin, Kristen Wiig, Sydney Sweeney, Ryan Gosling, and others. Nick provides a fun rundown of the best performances by cast members like Heidi Gardner, Andrew Dismukes, Kenan Thompson, Michael Longfellow, and Chloe Fineman.

Season 49 was a solid year for SNL, filled with ups and downs, big laughs, groans, and memorable moments. All of this is showcased in this special episode of “That Show…” [Ep76]

Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the most acclaimed writer/directors in the history of film, with such credits as: “Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia,” “Punch-Drunk Love,” There Will Be Blood,” “Licorice Pizza,” and more. In this episode, Nick looks back at P.T.A.’s connection to “Saturday Night Live,” including talking about his early love of watching SNL, some of the sketches he has written for the show in the past, and the fact that his life-partner is legendary former cast member Maya Rudolph. You’ll hear about how Rudolph and Anderson met, how Paul was inspired to write “Punch-Drunk Love” after watching a classic Adam Sandler sketch from 1993, and it all leads up to the satire of MTV’s “FANatic” series that he wrote and directed for the Ben Affleck-hosted episode from February 2000. You’ll hear the sketch itself, learn how it was written, and get details of the behind-the-scenes madness of the week leading up to the show (Fiona Apple, who was dating Anderson at the time, shares some thoughts as well). One of the world’s best filmmakers made a weird, disturbing, hilarious little film for SNL, and you’ll get all the details in this episode of “That Show…” [Ep75]