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

Nick begins a series of shows devoted to Vanessa Bayer, one of the most consistently funny cast members Saturday Night Live ever had. He talks a bit about her real-life story, including surviving cancer as a kid, and how that strength and optimism seemed to carry into her work on the show.

He spends this hour revisiting Laura Parsons, the relentlessly upbeat child performer who somehow finds pure joy in acting out scenes from Brokeback Mountain and The Wolf of Wall Street. The joke never gets old because Bayer commits completely, smiling her way through material that no kid should be that excited about. Her Weekend Update bits are just as strong, especially when she’s reporting on wildly inappropriate topics with total innocence. Guest appearances from Lady Gaga and Scarlett Johansson add to the chaos, and Michael Che trying to keep things under control on Update makes it even better.

It’s a funny, affectionate look at one great character and a reminder of why Vanessa Bayer’s run on SNL was so special. [Ep 164]

Nick looks back at the two times Catherine O’Hara hosted Saturday Night Live, following her passing on January 30, 2026. It’s a chance to remember just how special she was, from her work in Beetlejuice and Home Alone to her unforgettable TV roles on Schitt’s Creek and the legendary SCTV. Even though she was once hired by SNL and famously walked away before ever appearing, she eventually returned to host twice, in 1991 and 1992.

Nick revisits those two shows, playing back standout sketches and moments that capture her timing, range, and quiet brilliance. Along the way, he shares behind-the-scenes stories that add context to how those episodes came together and why they still hold up.

It’s part tribute and part time capsule, celebrating a performer who could steal a scene without ever forcing a laugh. The result is a warm, funny trip back to the early 90s and a reminder of how much Catherine O’Hara brought to comedy, on SNL and everywhere else. [Ep 163]

Nick revisits what may be the strangest and darkest Christmas episode Saturday Night Live ever put on the air, when Bill Murray returned to host on December 12, 1981. What should have been a holiday show quickly turned unsettling, starting with a deeply odd monologue featuring a silent Santa, followed by sketches that veered from uncomfortable to outright disturbing. There was a fake tampon commercial led by Father Guido Sarducci, played by Don Novello, a tasteless designer jeans bit, and an offbeat musical performance by the Yale Whiffenpoofs.

Things took a sharp turn when Sarducci returned with Murray to share predictions for 1982, including World War III and nuclear annihilation. Almost immediately after, the show was interrupted by a real NBC news bulletin announcing that Russia had invaded Poland. What followed was one of the most surreal moments in the show’s history, a bleak, apocalyptic sketch about global destruction written by Michael O’Donoghue, which ended up being his final contribution before he was fired that same night. [Ep 162]

Nick digs into a crowdsourced list that tried to crown the five most annoying characters in Saturday Night Live history, and as you might expect, he has some thoughts. The list came from an online survey, and while a few of the picks make sense, others spark some serious pushback, especially when genuinely funny characters get lumped in with the truly grating ones.

He walks through each character, playing clips and breaking down where they came from, how they were written, and why audiences reacted so strongly. Performers like Julia Sweeney, Kristen Wiig, Chris Kattan, Rob Schneider, and Dana Carvey all make appearances, with guest turns from John Goodman, Joan Allen, Kirstie Alley, and Sting adding to the mix.

It turns into a fun debate about why some characters wear out their welcome, why others get misunderstood, and how audience taste shifts over time. Annoying or not, these characters clearly left an impression, and Nick isn’t shy about calling out the list when it misses the point. [Ep 161]

Nick takes a close look at one of the funniest recurring bits from Saturday Night Live in the 2000s, the “Scared Straight” sketches built around Kenan Thompson’s unforgettable convict, Lorenzo McIntosh. Loosely inspired by the 1978 TV documentary of the same name, the scenes usually drop a group of clueless teenage punks into a police station, where Officer Sikorsky, played perfectly by Jason Sudeikis, decides the best teaching tool is unleashing Lorenzo.

Nick digs into how the sketches came together, who was involved in writing them, and why the formula worked so well. Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, and Bobby Moynihan rotate through the terrified kids, while Thompson cranks the intensity to ridiculous levels. Along the way, you’ll hear standout moments featuring guest appearances from Shia LaBeouf, Tracy Morgan, Zach Galifianakis, and an especially memorable turn by Betty White.

It’s a deep dive into a run of sketches that still hold up, showing off Thompson’s commitment, Sudeikis’s timing, and a cast that knew exactly how far to push the joke. [Ep 160]

Nick revisits one of the most infamous nights in Saturday Night Live history, when actor Broderick Crawford hosted the show in March of 1977 and earned a reputation that has never really faded. Crawford was a legendary drinker, and while the broadcast somehow stayed on track, the real tension came from keeping tabs on a host who was drinking during the show and repeatedly trying to sneak off to a nearby bar.

The stories behind the scenes are as wild as you’d expect, and the sketches tell their own strange story. Crawford appears in two bits, including a send-up of his own TV series Highway Patrol, while the rest of the episode delivers a snapshot of SNL in transition. You’ll hear Bill Murray pleading with the audience to like him as the new guy after Chevy Chase’s departure, along with Dan Aykroyd’s Nixon impression and John Belushi bringing his samurai character into the mix.

It’s a look back at a night that somehow worked despite everything working against it, fueled by great performers, nervous energy, and a host who may still hold the title for the drunkest in SNL history. [Ep 159]

Nick sits down with podcast host David Stern from Eckhartz Press for a nostalgic, laugh-filled conversation about growing up with Saturday Night Live and how the show shaped his sense of humor and creative path. David shares memories from his teenage years glued to the TV, the cast members who left the biggest impression, and why SNL still holds a special place for him decades later.

The discussion turns into a countdown of his all-time favorite sketches, including the absurd Royal Deluxe II commercial, the classic Superhero Party sketch with Bill Murray as Superman and John Belushi as the Hulk, and an essential stop at Celebrity Jeopardy featuring Darrell Hammond as Sean Connery and Norm Macdonald as Burt Reynolds, also known as Turd Ferguson.

It’s an easy, funny exchange between Radio Misfits cohorts that celebrates SNL history, unforgettable performers, and the sketches that still land years later. [Ep 158]

Nick looks back at Season 44 of Saturday Night Live, a year that found the show in strong form and introduced Ego Nwodim as a standout new cast member. The regular lineup was stacked with reliable heavy hitters, including Heidi Gardner, Kate McKinnon, Alex Moffat, Mikey Day, Pete Davidson, and more, giving the season a solid mix of energy and consistency.

The host list was just as impressive, with turns from John Mulaney, Sandra Oh, Idris Elba, Don Cheadle, and a deep bench of memorable appearances. Highlights from episodes hosted by Emma Stone, Awkwafina, Claire Foy, Paul Rudd, Adam Sandler, Adam Driver, Emma Thompson, and James McAvoy get their due, along with context around the musical guests and what was happening behind the scenes.

It’s a thoughtful, entertaining walkthrough of a season that delivered laughs, strong performances, and plenty of moments worth revisiting. [Ep 157]

Nick revisits one of Saturday Night Live’s most unforgettable creations: Gene, the Anal-Retentive Chef. Phil Hartman brought Gene to life as a painfully tidy, hyper-organized PBS host who could never finish a recipe because he kept disappearing down rabbit holes of wiping, sorting, and perfecting. The obsession didn’t stop at cooking. Gene tried carpentry and even fishing, and each attempt collapsed under the weight of his need for absolute order.

All five Gene sketches are featured, along with the stories behind them. Hartman’s precision is a masterclass, but his scene partners elevate the chaos even further. John Goodman turns up as a gloriously messy Cajun chef, Wayne Gretzky shows surprising comedic timing, and Jan Hooks delivers a standout turn as Gene’s mother in one of the sharpest sketches of the run.

It’s a tribute to impeccable writing, pitch-perfect performances, and a character who still defines what made SNL’s classic era so special. [Ep 156]

Nick revisits the one and only time Jerry Lewis took over as host of Saturday Night Live, a moment that landed in the fall of 1983 just after Lewis recovered from open-heart surgery. The night delivered a mix of wild sketches built around his trademark slapstick and full-volume absurdity, balanced with sharp jabs at his more serious public persona. Joe Piscopo, Tim Kazurinsky, and especially Eddie Murphy openly adored him, and all three have called this show a career highlight.

The look back includes several of the night’s funniest moments, along with stories from behind the curtain, including how Lewis managed to keep going even after getting injured mid-show. There is also a conversation with Loverboy’s Mike Reno, who remembers how the band’s second musical number got cut when the episode ran long. A classic entertainer stepped onto the SNL stage with his own brand of chaos, and the result was as strange as it was unforgettable. [Ep 155]