The GOAT Buck Henry returns for his 7th hosting gig & SNL pulls out all the stops! Beloved characters make triumphant returns while new ones debut in this memorable outing. Plus, The Grateful Dead are on hand to deliver one of the best musical performances of the original era. The SNL Hall of Fame's Bill Kenney joins us to talk about it all!

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Steve Martin returns for his 6th appearance hosting Saturday Night Live, bringing Van Morrison along as musical guest. The cast lights up with one of their favorite hosts, dusting off some beloved characters and recurring sketches. Plus, a fresh face in the writers' room knocks it out of the... oh wait, sorry folks - we'll have to finish this description when Steve returns in February!
BONUS: Brad talks with Mr. Bill creator Walter Williams, who answers some questions from last episode about everyone's favorite clay friend becoming an SNL regular. Walter also discusses the "Elvis Presley's Coat" piece and shares some behind-the-scenes stories from The Rolling Stones and Fred Willard episodes from earlier this season.

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Introducing a little something we’re calling "Deep Thoughts," a new series that is replacing our traditional bonus episodes. This series explores SNL-adjacent content and special projects throughout the show's history.

Our debut episode examines NBC's first Season 4 off-week entry, the film "Things We Did Last Summer," (directed by SNL veteran Gary Weis) that aired in October of 1978. This rare behind-the-scenes "documentary" captures the cast during their summer break between seasons Three and Four. Viewers get a look at The Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd & John Belushi) as they open for Steve Martin, follow Bill Murray's adventures in minor league baseball, join Gilda Radner for a personal tour of her New York City apartment, and more.

Join us for a deep dive into this unique piece of SNL history as we look back on the only SNL-movie from the original era.

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We're excited to premiere a new show here on The Not Ready for Prime Time Project! "Bill Swerski's Tournament Talk" takes SNL fandom to the next level by turning beloved Saturday Night Live topics into rousing tournament-style showdowns.
Our premiere episode tackles "Favorite SNL Holiday Moments," where sixteen legendary sketches, bits, and moments from the show's illustrious 50-year history will battle it out for definitive holiday supremacy. Bill Swerski leads our panel of SNL enthusiasts as they duke it out, debate the classics, and ultimately crown our Favorite SNL Holiday Moment of all time. Will your favorite holiday moment make the cut? Listen now to find out where these beloved moments land in our rankings.
Remind yourself how great the holiday season can be and catch all (well, most) of our tournament entries HERE!!
Happy Holidays from everyone at The Not Ready for Prime Time Project. Da tournament is about to begin!

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Of all the memorable mishaps in Saturday Night Live's history, perhaps none are as infamous as Frank Zappa's return to the show as both host AND musical guest. We couldn't tackle this one by ourselves so we welcome back SNLinReview's Andy Hoglund to help explore this controversial moment in SNL history.
Was this episode really that bad? And, if so, who was to blame? Was Zappa really "banned" from the show afterward? The truth behind this notorious broadcast might surprise you – in fact, one of us makes the case that this episode's bad reputation is undeserved. Join us as we dig into the evidence and decide for yourself.

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How does Saturday Night Live follow up The Rolling Stones as host? With Muhammad Ali, of course. And when that doesn't pan out and they go with... Fred Willard! Fresh from his acclaimed run on Fernwood 2 Night and America 2-Night, Willard brings his unique comic energy to an episode that has many recurring characters (including the return of Mr. Bill) as well as a second half that takes some truly unexpected turns.
And speaking of following tough acts, Devo is the musical guest and boldly covers "Satisfaction" - transforming the Stones' classic into something entirely their own (and possibly sounding better than the band last week).
This is easily one of the most interesting SNL episodes of the era and was definitely one of the most fun to talk about. Enjoy! 

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Saturday Night Live is BACK w/ The Rolling Stones pulling double duty on the season four premiere.  An episode that may have been more concerned with the spectacle than the content, we basically get a “best of” collection of characters and sketches with nothing really new or exceptional in terms of comedy.
The Stones don’t do much to help the cause as their first appearance performing on American television in almost a decade may not have lived up to the hype.  As for hosting…all we can say is they had to call on NYC mayor Ed Koch to help them out.  
There is A LOT to discuss as the cast is finally ready for Prime Time and kick off the most watched season of the original era.  

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And…we’re BACK!
But, before diving into Season 4, we've got some exciting news: The Not Ready for Prime Time Podcast is becoming The Not Ready for Prime Time Project! Don't panic – there is nothing you need to do (except to Subscribe, Rate, & Review!). Our weekly dose of classic SNL discussions are not going anywhere. We're just adding more ways to celebrate the show.  We explain it all here!
And then... we get into our preview of SNL’s fourth season. Things are very different at Saturday Night Live post-Animal House; not just for John Belushi but for everyone (including Lorne and the writers). The show is more popular than ever this season, as its ratings jump leaps and bounds. We rundown the list of upcoming hosts and musical guests, crucial production changes behind the scenes, and our predictions for what this season has in store. 
The show is evolving - and so are we (as best we can)!

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John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd were at the forefront of American comedy in the late 1970s and early '80s. Emerging from The Second City, they both joined the original cast of the Not Ready for Prime Time Players as Saturday Night Live was being formed in 1975. On that show, they helped redefine television comedy and ushered in a new era of revolutionary satire. By 1979, they had a #1 hit record with their band, The Blues Brothers, and a year later, they released a motion picture about the characters, which became a major box office success.
Daniel de Vise chronicles the lives and careers of both Aykroyd and Belushi in his recent biography, The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic. Beginning with their childhoods, the book recounts their individual comedic beginnings, explores the friendship they forged, details their joint rise to comic stardom, and culminates in an in-depth look at the making of this comedy classic.
Daniel joins us to discuss not only John and Dan but also to share stories about his research and writing process. We delve into their iconic roles and the legacy of both performers—as well as that of Jake and Elwood—helping to cement what makes these two comedic legends truly unforgettable.
Listen till the very end to hear how you can win an autographed copy of Daniel's book,The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic!
You can also purchase a copy of here!

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On October 11, 1975, Lorne Michaels and a diverse group of writers and performers—most of whom had little to no television experience—forever altered the landscape of American comedy. The launching of Saturday Night (later to be known as Saturday Night Live) would prove to be a groundbreaking show that would redefine the possibilities of television and evolve into a comedic institution, celebrating 50 seasons and still going strong.
Historians Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad return to the podcast to share the fascinating story behind the show’s origin. They discuss why SNL was so desperately needed, how its unique elements came together, and the extraordinary events leading up to the iconic first episode. They also share insights into the journey of the show as it explored its identity and shaped the future of comedy.
Preorder the reissue of Doug & Jeff book (a must-have for SNL fans) Saturday Night: The Backstage History of Saturday Night Live.

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