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

It’s always a gamble when a professional athlete hosts “Saturday Night Live,” simply because many of these jocks are just not cut out to perform comedy, or even be on a stage. Sometimes the gamble pays off, oftentimes, it does not. In this episode, Nick looks back at 5 SNL episodes that were hosted by jocks, and analyzes what worked and what didn’t, what was funny and what wasn’t, and more. The five athletes profiled on this episode are: Lance Armstrong, Michael Phelps, Ronda Rousey, Michael Jordan and Peyton Manning, and the results range from awful (Phelps, Rousey), to funny (Jordan) to absolutely hilarious (Manning). You’ll hear sketches and bits from the shows, the stories behind some of the comedy, the weird cameos by much funnier people in order to help the jocks out, and also a rundown of other non-performers and politicians who hosted in the past as part of SNL’s stunt casting.  This is the first in a series of episodes dedicated to the fun (and sometimes disastrous) topic of jocks hosting SNL. [Ep64]

Sometimes sketches bomb so badly that they never make it to air. In this episode of “That Show…”, we look back at a supremely weird sketch called: “A Song For Daddy,” that is widely considered to be one of the biggest trainwrecks in the history of SNL. The components were all there: a completely absurd premise; an inexperienced, unfunny host who was a total pain in the ass to deal with (Justin Bieber); the wrong props that didn’t work; lighting and sound cues that were missed; a piece of the set that fell and almost killed the host; the audience being filled with loud prepubescent girls with ‘Bieber Fever’ (who definitely didn’t care about the jokes); and a final moment in which one of the cast members almost saves the sketch by commenting on how awful it was. “A Song for Daddy” never made it to air, but here, you will hear the entire sketch as it was performed in Dress Rehearsal, and you will hear from the writers of the sketch (John Soloman, Bill Hader and Rob Klein) and the cast (Hader, Fred Armisen, Bobby Moynihan, Kenan Thompson) who had the unenviable task of performing this nightmare. How did this happen? You will get the back story on the creation, the aftermath and the legacy of one of the most notorious unaired sketches ever.  [Ep63]

Nick welcomes his special guest Steve Cochran to the podcast. Steve is a legendary broadcaster, stand-up comedian, writer, actor and host of the outstanding WLS-AM morning drive show “The Steve Cochran Show.” Nick and Steve worked together for years, and they talk a bit about that, the comedy work they’ve done, and their shared love of all things SNL. They talk about Steve’s favorite cast members, sketches, memories and more. You’ll hear hilarious work from Will Farrell, Chris Farley, Eddie Murphy, Norm MacDonald, Alec Baldwin, Daryl Hammond, Molly Shannon and more. Steve also talks about the one time he was in Lorne’s office for the weekly Monday pitch meeting (very tense, very uncomfortable), and what happened when he opened for former SNL cast member Norm MacDonald, who showed up almost two hours late. This is a really terrific conversation between two colleagues and friends sharing their knowledge and love of “Saturday Night Live.” [Ep62]

Nick focuses on one of the best, and most underappreciated cast members in “Saturday Night Live” history: Bobby Moynihan. This remarkably talented comedic actor spent 9 seasons of SNL, creating some of the funniest characters and hilarious moments to ever happen on the stages at Studio 8H. Nick will play back some of the most memorable stuff, including visits from the Food Network’s Guy Fieri, 2nd Hand News Correspondent: Anthony Crispino, and of course, Drunk Uncle makes an appearance. Bobby’s history and background are discussed, as is his impressive voiceover work, movie roles, and terrific sit-com performances. You will also hear an example of how amazing he was when working with a full ensemble of cast members including Jay Pharoah, Vanessa Bayer, Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, Kenan Thompson, Taran Killam, Nasim Pedrad and more. From his first audition, to his final episode, it’s all here on a FULL THROTTLE look back at the career of Bobby Moynihan. [Ep61]

Nick looks back at the only time that Ron Howard hosted “Saturday Night Live,” it was on October 9, 1982, and it featured some purposely edgy material, including Ron’s monologue in which he downs a beer on stage, and a controversial sketch called “Opie’s Back!” In the sketch, Howard returns to his classic role of Opie Taylor, only this time Opie is a tough cop who comes back to find that his dad is dead, and that Maberry has turned into a dark, corrupt cesspool of sex, drugs and violence. You will hear the sketch, learn about the background and who wrote it, and how it was received. You will also hear about Howard’s career up until that night, and what followed, plus stories about Season 8 (in which the sketch appeared), Eddie Murphy, and some behind-the-scenes tales. Coincidentally, Mayberry would turn violent and dark 16 years later on the SNL rival comedy show “Mad TV,” the results were not nearly as funny….and you will hear that as well. Opie is a badass, and here’s the proof. [Ep60]

Nick welcomes Esmeralda Leon to the podcast, who is his buddy and the co-host of the final segment of every episode of “The Nick D Podcast.” Esma has worked in the radio and broadcast business for years as a host, news anchor, traffic reporter, voiceover artist, contributor to comedy shows, and more. She has been a fan “Saturday Night Live” for years, and in this episode, she talks about watching the show as a kid, her fun memories of SNL, the cast members she loves the most, and she chooses her 5 favorite sketches of all time. You will hear portions of those hilarious sketches, which include the work of Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, Norm MacDonald, Pete Davidson, Adam Driver, and many more. This is a fun walk down memory lane with a great broadcaster, and an old friend who loves SNL. [Ep59]

Nick delves into “Dr. Beaman’s Office: Test Results,” one of the most bizarre sketches in “Saturday Night Live” history. Written by Adam McKay and Will Ferrell, and starring Ferrell alongside Molly Shannon, Chris Parnell, Rachel Dratch, and Tim Meadows as “Dr. Poop,” this sketch is analyzed in depth. Nick plays the entire sketch for listeners, provides insight into its creation, and shares the history of McKay and Ferrell’s partnership, including how they met. This collaboration between McKay and Ferrell has resulted in classic comedy films like the “Anchorman” series, “Step Brothers,” “The Other Guys,” and “Talladega Nights,” as well as the sketch comedy website “Funny Or Die” and some of the most memorable SNL sketches (such as Celebrity Jeopardy and Get Off The Shed). The episode reveals the behind-the-scenes story of why the actors, including Ferrell, broke character and laughed uncontrollably, contributing to the audience’s enjoyment. Highlighting one of the weirdest bits in SNL’s repertoire, this episode promises a fascinating look at a truly unique sketch. [Ep58]

Nick looks back, talks about, and plays some very funny “Saturday Night Live” sketches that satirize the films and culture of the Disney empire. From hilarious takedowns of “Frozen 2” and “Mary Poppins,” to great sight gags involving the flying carpet rides in “Aladdin,” and the underwater antics in “The Little Mermaid,” nothing is off limits here. Cliches are parodied, underlying sexual themes are exposed, and real news from the real world creep into the fantasies (like Osama Bin Laden’s dead body, sexually transmitted diseases, physical biases, and more). Even Bravo’s “Real Housewives” show up. This episode features hysterical work from people like Tina Fey, Kate McKinnon, Anne Hathaway, Bill Hader, Gerard Butler, Lindsay Lohan, and Adam Driver. Disney has been a target many, many times on SNL over the years, and these are some of the best examples of that. [Ep57]

Nick reminisces about one of the most iconic “Saturday Night Live” characters, motivational speaker Matt Foley, created by Bob Odenkirk and famously portrayed by Chris Farley. The episode traces the character’s origins back to 1990, inspired by Odenkirk’s childhood in Naperville, Illinois, and highlights how Farley made the role his own. It features Foley’s debut at The Second City in Chicago, a hilarious appearance on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” and the legendary original SNL sketch from 1993 with Christina Applegate, Phil Hartman, Julia Sweeney, and David Spade. Alongside these, the episode offers behind-the-scenes stories about Farley and Odenkirk, personal anecdotes, and the character’s enduring impact on pop culture, giving listeners an entertaining glimpse into the world of Matt Foley. [EP56]

Nick revisits some of the most iconic political impressions on “Saturday Night Live” performed by guest stars rather than cast members. This episode showcases five outstanding impersonations of real-life politicians. Highlights include Tina Fey’s acclaimed portrayal of Sarah Palin, Melissa McCarthy’s uproarious take on former Trump Press Secretary Sean Spicer, and Larry David’s spot-on Bernie Sanders. Additionally, Maya Rudolph’s masterful Kamala Harris impression and Matt Damon’s unforgettable, comedic rendition of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh are also featured. This episode marks the beginning of a series of politically themed episodes of “THAT SHOW…” scheduled throughout 2024, leading up to the November election, focusing on the impactful role of guest stars in shaping political satire on SNL [EP55]