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

On this episode Nick takes a listener request and has put together a salute to one of the most talented (and underrated) cast members in “Saturday Night Live” history, the terrific Ana Gasteyer. Gasteyer spent six seasons on SNL from 1996 to 2002, and in that time, she shined as terrific impressionist (her Martha Stewart, Joan Rivers and Celine Dion were legendary), character creator and, most impressively, as a wonderful vocalist. Nick will talk about her career, the current popularity she has as a singer and cabaret artist, and play back some of her most memorable SNL moments. Included are sketches show...

Nick pays tribute to the late great Tim Curry by looking back at the only time he hosted “Saturday Night Live.” It was a decent show in which Curry showcased his great talent for sketch comedy, impersonation, and fantastic singing, dancing and musical abilities. You will hear some of the great moments from the show including Curry’s hilarious Mick Jagger impression, a bawdy musical number about a big zucchini, and a sketch in which Tim and musical guest Meat Loaf satirize the “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a movie that they both appeared in. The behind-the-scenes stories about this episode ar...

Nick takes a quick look ahead at the first 4 shows of Saturday Night Live Season 52, including the cast changes, new players, hosts, musical guests, and more. The season premiere features first-time host and New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, followed by Dakota Johnson and Shane Gillis, both returning for their 3rd hosting appearances. Then, actress Inde Navarrette from the hit film Obsession makes her hosting debut for the Halloween show.

You’ll hear examples of why Johnson and Gillis have been invited back, along with a look at what Brunson and Navarrette might bring to the sh...

Nick looks back at Chloe Fineman’s 7 seasons on Saturday Night Live as she prepares to say goodbye to the show before Season 52. From her incredible impressions of Jennifer Coolidge, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, and more, to original characters like Ooli the Icelandic talk show host, the Burning Man Girl, and Madison the embarrassed teen, Chloe created some truly unforgettable moments during her time at SNL.

You’ll hear some of her best impressions and funniest sketches, along with behind-the-scenes stories and a short edition of “The Rundown,” featuring Chloe going through the rundown of an SNL show...

Nick looks back at one of the most unmistakably ’90s episodes of Saturday Night Live. On November 11, 1995, writer and director Quentin Tarantino made his only appearance as host in a strange, controversial, and often uneven show that also featured The Smashing Pumpkins as the musical guest. It was a transitional season that introduced new cast members including Molly Shannon, Will Ferrell, and Cheri O’Teri, while Tarantino sang, danced, shouted, played himself in multiple sketches, and threw himself into every moment.

Along the way, Nick shares behind-the-scenes stories and revisits several memorable sketches, including the infamous one feat...

The title may be a little misleading, but this episode celebrates the three times Saturday Night Live was hosted by actors who played James Bond…three episodes featuring only two Bonds. Nick begins with Pierce Brosnan’s hilarious 2001 appearance, complete with behind-the-scenes stories, his memorable monologue featuring a surprise guest, a sharp West Wing parody, and a terrific sketch with Will Ferrell as an absolutely terrifying boss.

Then it’s on to Daniel Craig’s two turns as host in 2012 and 2020, featuring unforgettable sketches about some very questionable Bond Girls, an awkward construction site full of terrible catcalle...

Nick looks back at one of the funniest recurring sketches in Saturday Night Live history, featuring two of the show’s most hilariously obnoxious characters. Jason Sudeikis and Kristen Wiig star as the “Two A-Holes,” a self-absorbed couple who spend their time talking on their phones, chewing gum, ignoring everyone around them, and driving everyone they meet completely crazy.

You’ll hear every appearance the Two A-Holes made on SNL, alongside hosts including Jack Black, Matt Dillon, Annette Bening, Steve Carell, and the cast of Mad Men. Nick also shares behind-the-scenes stories and revisits some of their funniest...

Nick looks back at one of the funniest and strangest recurring sketches in Saturday Night Live history: The Legend of Bill Brasky. Created by Adam McKay and Will Ferrell, these late-night classics feature a table full of loud, drunken businessmen swapping increasingly outrageous stories about the mythical Bill Brasky, whose unbelievable exploits as a lover, salesman, father, inventor, and all-around larger-than-life figure become more absurd with every tale.

You’ll hear several of the best Brasky sketches, featuring Will Ferrell alongside David Koechner, Mark McKinney, Tim Meadows, and hosts Alec Baldwin and John Goodman. Nick also shares be...

In this listener-requested episode, Nick looks back at one of the funniest recurring sketches in Saturday Night Live history, Bronx Beat, created and performed by Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler. The sketch follows two fast-talking, no-nonsense New York housewives who spend their cable access show complaining about their husbands, the weather, the guests, and just about everything else. Debuting in 2007, Bronx Beat became a fan favorite, returning a dozen times over the next 15 years.

You’ll hear some of the funniest installments featuring guests like Jake Gyllenhaal, Brian Williams, Miles Teller, Tina Fey, Justin Timberlake, and Andy Sa...

Nick looks back at the night Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce proved that professional athletes really can make great Saturday Night Live hosts. Thanks in part to cast member and Chiefs superfan Heidi Gardner, who convinced Lorne Michaels to book him, Kelce delivered one of the funniest episodes of the season and one of the strongest hosting performances ever by an athlete.

You’ll hear highlights from some of the night’s best sketches, including a hilarious trip to the American Girl Cafe, an emotional meeting between two exes, and an awkward family musical performance, all...

Nick looks back at the only time Owen Wilson hosted Saturday Night Live, on October 2, 2021, kicking off Season 47. It turned out to be a really strong show, with Wilson proving to be a terrific host from the start. His monologue was sharp, well-delivered, and he was completely game for whatever the writers threw at him.

The episode features some standout sketches, including a chaotic school board meeting packed with bizarre characters, a daytime talk show parody interrupted by COVID test results, and a hilarious bit involving some very questionable dialogue for the next Cars sequel. Nick revisits...

Nick looks back at one of his favorite Saturday Night Live characters of all time, Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy. Created and performed by Vanessa Bayer, Jacob is an awkward 13-year-old Jewish kid and die-hard Yankees fan who delivers painfully corny, carefully rehearsed jokes from a binder on Weekend Update. Inspired by Bayer’s real-life brother Jonah, the character quickly became a fan favorite.

Nick revisits some of Jacob’s funniest appearances, shares the story behind how the character was created, and digs into behind-the-scenes moments from Bayer’s time on the show. The episode also features one of...

Saturday Night Live has a long history of great celebrity impressions, but some of the funniest moments happen when the real people being impersonated show up to confront their TV counterparts. In this first installment, Nick revisits some of the best examples, including Ego Nwodim’s Dionne Warwick standing face-to-face with the real Dionne, Hillary Clinton joining Amy Poehler during a Cold Open, Vanessa Bayer and Jennifer Aniston facing off in a Rachel Green showdown, and Nicolas Cage appearing alongside Andy Samberg’s over-the-top version of himself on Weekend Update.

Along the way, Nick shares behind-the-scenes stories and...

Nick looks back at one of the funniest and strangest characters ever created by Will Forte during his time on Saturday Night Live: Senator Tim Calhoun. Soft-spoken, painfully awkward, intensely nervous, and completely unpredictable, Calhoun became a recurring favorite through a series of memorable appearances, most of them on Weekend Update.

You’ll hear some of Tim Calhoun’s funniest segments, along with behind-the-scenes stories about how the character was developed and why it connected so well with audiences. The episode also includes Forte’s return as Calhoun during the 2016 presidential election on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy...

Nick looks back at the rare occasions when professional wrestlers stepped into one of television’s toughest jobs: hosting Saturday Night Live. Only four wrestlers have ever hosted the show, beginning with Hulk Hogan and Mr. T, who took the stage on the eve of the very first WrestleMania in 1985.

From there, Nick revisits the five appearances by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the only wrestler to host multiple times and one of the show’s most popular guest hosts. He also examines Ronda Rousey’s lone hosting appearance in 2016, and why it never led to a return engagement...

Nick looks back at one of his favorite recurring Saturday Night Live sketches, Morning Latte, featuring Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri as Tom Wilkins and Cass Van Rye, the clueless and endlessly upbeat hosts of a ridiculous morning talk show. The pair are hilariously scatterbrained, overly enthusiastic, and far too willing to share details from their personal lives with the audience.

You’ll hear several of the sketches in their entirety, along with behind-the-scenes stories and background on how the recurring bit became a fan favorite. The episode also features memorable appearances from guest stars including Alec Ba...

Nick looks back at the one and only time comedian and actor Sinbad hosted Saturday Night Live. The 1992 show made great use of the cast, packed with memorable sketches that ranged from clever and absurd to a little risky and questionable by today’s standards. Highlights include the first gay platoon in the Civil War meeting the first African American platoon, Superman’s funeral, a hilarious Blacula parody, and a family that dramatically overreacts to everyday situations.

The episode also marks the debut of Adam Sandler’s now-classic Thanksgiving Song. Along the way, Nick shares behind-the-scenes stories, revisi...

Nick looks back at one of the funniest recurring commercial parody sketches from Saturday Night Live, the Kickspit Under Underground Rock Festival promos that aired between 2009 and 2012. Inspired by the real-life Gathering of the Juggalos festivals, the sketches feature Jason Sudeikis as DJ Supersoak and Nasim Pedrad as Lil’ Blaster, hyping up the most ridiculous music festival imaginable.

You’ll hear the outrageous promos, learn how the sketches came together, including how sleep deprivation helped fuel the writing, and get the full story behind Ass Dan, played by Bobby Moynihan. The episode also includes memorable appearances from Ryan...

Alec Baldwin has hosted Saturday Night Live more than anyone else and has also shown up over the years as a frequent guest and special cast addition. For more than 35 years, he’s been one of the show’s most reliable and funniest presences. Nick looks back at some of his best work, including standout sketches, recurring bits like his take on Donald Trump, and plenty more.

You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories and how some of these moments came together, along with full sketches. Highlights include a Glengarry Glen Ross-style meeting at Santa’s workshop, a visit from Cha...

Nick looks back at the ten former Saturday Night Live cast members who have been nominated for Academy Awards, including one who actually took home an Oscar. Each story has its own twist, and not all of the nominations were for acting. Kristen Wiig earned a nod for Best Screenplay, Michael McKean was nominated for Best Original Song, and George Coe, whose background gets explained here, received a nomination for Best Short Film.

Along the way, you’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories and clips from the films that earned those nominations. The episode features work from Bill Murray, Ed...

Nick looks back at one of Kenan Thompson’s funniest SNL characters, Willie. A regular Weekend Update correspondent and Michael Che’s neighbor, Willie is brought on to lift spirits whenever the news gets too heavy. He’s endlessly upbeat, even though his life is about as rough as it gets.

Created by Che and Thompson, the character quickly became a fan favorite thanks to the way Willie cheerfully shares some truly awful personal stories. You’ll hear several of his best Update appearances, along with the origin of the character and some behind-the-scenes details. It’s hard not t...

Nick welcomes Dr. Jason Barr, Associate Professor of Music at Glenville State University, to talk about the history of music on Saturday Night Live, with a focus on the legendary live band that has been part of the show since it debuted in 1975. They get into the origins of Studio 8H, including the technology and its early days as home to the NBC Symphony Orchestra, along with a look at both the original SNL band and the current lineup.

Nick and Jason also highlight past and present band members you may not know but should, along with...

Nick pays tribute to one of the most underappreciated cast members in Saturday Night Live history, the late Danitra Vance. Raised on the south side of Chicago, Vance came up through improv, earned her Master’s degree, taught for a time, and eventually found her way to Second City before landing on SNL as the show’s first female African American cast member. Unfortunately, she arrived during the troubled Season 11, where the writing often held her back from doing the kind of work she really wanted to showcase.

Even with those limitations, her character work stood out and...

Nick takes a look back at one of Kate McKinnon’s funniest and most memorable Saturday Night Live characters, Olya Povlatsky. As the Russian correspondent on Weekend Update, Olya reports from a bleak, remote village where life is so miserable that everyone, including her, seems to be constantly hoping for the end. Her segments cover everything from the Russian economy and the war with Ukraine to the 2014 Sochi Olympics and computer hacking.

Along the way, Nick shares behind-the-scenes stories about how the character came together and why it worked so well. He also revisits the rare moment Ol...

Nick takes a look back at the notorious Season 26 episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by comedian and talk show host Tom Green. Riding high from his MTV success and his role in Charlie’s Angels, Green was invited by Lorne Michaels to host, and he brought his signature chaos with him. The show opens in fairly traditional fashion with a political Cold Open about the 2000 election recount, but things quickly go off the rails when Green brings his fiancée Drew Barrymore on stage and teases a wedding by the end of the night that never happens.

F...

Nick goes back to October 27, 1990 to revisit the only time Patrick Swayze hosted Saturday Night Live, and it turned out to be a great showcase for him. Fresh off the success of Ghost and in the middle of filming Point Break, Swayze came in ready to do a little bit of everything.

He opens with a memorable monologue dancing with his wife, Lisa Niemi, then jumps into a wide range of sketches, poking fun at his own image, playing a smooth Latin crooner, and even showing up alongside Hans and Franz. Of course, the night is best...

Nick tackles another listener request and spends the show digging into what he calls “SNL adjacent” movies. These aren’t the obvious ones based on sketches like Wayne’s World or The Blues Brothers. Instead, they’re films connected to Saturday Night Live through the people involved, the history of the show, or the overall spirit of it.

Among the movies discussed are Wired, the controversial film about John Belushi, Saturday Night from director Jason Reitman, Mr. Mike’s Mondo Video created by Michael O’Donoghue, and the film version of Gilda Live starring Gilda Radner.

Nick plays c...

Nick heads back to January 10, 2009 to revisit the one and only time Neil Patrick Harris hosted Saturday Night Live. It turned out to be a terrific show, and Nick plays some of the funniest moments while sharing stories about how a few standout sketches from that season came together.

He also talks about Harris’ career arc, from child star on Doogie Howser, M.D. to Emmy-winning actor, singer, and all-around performer. A big turning point came with his scene-stealing role in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, and you’ll hear the classic moment that helped launch the...

Nick revisits one of Kate McKinnon’s strangest and most lovable creations on Saturday Night Live, Barbara DeDrew from Whiskers R We. The fake cat adoption commercials became instant fan favorites between 2014 and 2023, built around Barbara’s oddball delivery, heartfelt devotion to her cats, and the unpredictable chaos of live kittens wandering around the set.

Nick plays several of the sketches and talks about how the character came together and why it worked so well. The bits featured a parade of game guest hosts, including Charlize Theron, Amy Adams, Reese Witherspoon, Kristen Wiig, Tiffany Haddish, and Billie Eili...

A subscriber request! A loyal listener named Rachel left a voicemail with a simple request, so Nick delivers. This one is all about the classic Saturday Night Live recurring sketch, “The Barry Gibb Talk Show.”

The bits feature Jimmy Fallon as Bee Gees frontman Barry Gibb and Justin Timberlake as Robin Gibb, hosting a political panel show that quickly spins out of control. Barry screams in falsetto, Robin grins politely, and serious political topics get treated with wild harmonies and over-the-top physical comedy. Fallon and writer Steve Higgins created the sketch, and it became a fan favorite than...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 Bo...

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...

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...

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...

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 f...

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, in...