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

In this brand-new episode, Nick is joined by comedian, writer, and actor Jon Rudnitsky, who was not only a cast member for one season of "Saturday Night Live," but he was also the very first guest on this podcast!! Nick and Jon catch up, chat about the best SNL bits ever, and talk about what Jon has been up to for the past two years (including stand-up tours, television, and movies), as well as what's happening next for him. Plus, Nick and Jon discuss their mutual obsession with the film "Magnolia," and recap some great SNL stories (like the time Miley Cyrus licked his face, and the nightmare of working on the episode that Donald Trump hosted during the Presidential campaign), and he tells an unbelievably hilarious story about how Matthew McConaughey was molesting him, while Bill Murray was wrestling Jay Pharoah down the hall....you just gotta hear it. [Ep70]

Kristen Wiig is widely considered to be one of the best cast members in the history of "Saturday Night Live," and her contributions to the show are legendary. She was a cast member for seven terrific seasons, came back for eight uproarious cameos, and now, she has hosted SNL five times, officially making her a member of "The 5-Timers' Club." In this episode, Nick looks back at all five of her hosting gigs, gives you background info, dates and episode numbers as well. He plays back all five of her monologues, and selects hilarious highlights from each of her appearances. You will learn about how she got to SNL, the incredible characters she made famous on the show, and her wonderful award-winning work in film, stage, and more. Included are appearances by some of Wiig's most beloved characters like: The Target Lady, Sue (the woman who LOVES surprises), Gilly, Mindy Elise Grayson (from the game show "Secret Word"), and more. The work of greats like Will Forte, Kate McKinnon, Maya Rudolph, Kenan Thompson, Jon Hamm, Paul Rudd, Andrew Dismukes, Paula Pell, Martin Short, and others are showcased in this episode. Kristen Wiig is now a 5-Timer! [Ep69]

Game show parodies/satires have been a huge part of "Saturday Night Live" since the very beginning back in 1975. In fact, it seems that there is a game show sketch in almost every episode of the show (and it's usually the first one of the night), because it's a winning formula that's rich with possibility, they are easy to cast, and they almost write themselves. In this episode, Nick looks back at the history of the game show sketch on SNL (talking about the classics, like the many "Family Feuds" and of course the many "Celebrity Jeopardys"), and he plays back five hilarious and varied sketches that span the 49 years that SNL has existed. You'll hear, and learn all about, "Jeopardy 1999," one of the first SNL game show parodies ever. Nick also plays back and discusses the background and origins of other great game show sketches like: "What's That Name?," "Common Knowledge," "What's Wrong With Tanya?," and the brutally funny "Meet Your Second Wife." Unbelievably amusing stuff from people like Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Kristen Wiig, Dana Carvey, Nora Dunn, Vanessa Bayer, Anna Faris, Kenan Thompson, Bobby Moynihan, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are showcased, as well as the work of some of the best writers in SNL history. It's an old reliable standby for a reason, and here, Nick scratches the surface of the treasure trove that is The SNL Game Shows. [Ep68]

A very important part of every episode of "Saturday Night Live" is the opening monologue performed by the host. It establishes the tone, introduces the audience to the star, and hopefully entices viewers enough to continue watching for at least a few more minutes. In this episode of "That Show...," Nick looks back at four of the most memorable monologues from past SNL episodes, including the very first monologue in SNL history (by George Carlin), and classic openers from Lily Tomlin, Tom Hanks, and, performing one of the best monologues in SNL history: Taylor Swift. You will also hear behind-the-scenes stories about some controversial openers from Richard Pryor, Louis C.K., Shane Gillis, and more. Plus, you will hear an explanation from Seth Meyers about what it takes to create and deliver a great monologue, and why Tay-Tay absolutely killed it. More episodes about classic SNL monologues to follow. [Ep67]

We all know that "Saturday Night Live" has had some pretty incredible and funny surprise celebrity cameos over the years. Since the very beginning, SNL has had a wonderful habit of bringing out celebrities to have some fun, and shock audiences at home and in the studio by simply popping on stage. In this episode, Nick looks back at some of the more recent surprise cameos that delighted audiences everywhere. Included are the out of the blue appearances by Barbra Streisand, Bernie Sanders, Lindsay Buckingham, and the most recent shocker: Scarlett Johansson, whose portrayal Republican Senator Katie Britt was hilarious, brutal, and scarily on-the-money. You'll hear the sketches and cameos, and the stories behind the appearances themselves. Since there have been so many great ones to choose from, this is just Part 1 of "SURPRISE!!! SNL Cameos." [Ep66]

In this episode, Nick focuses on the great musical talent and knowledge of former "Saturday Night Live" cast member Fred Armisen. Before Armisen entered the world of comedy, and became a cast member on SNL, he was a musician in many bands, including the legendary Chicago punk band Trenchmouth. His connection to the world of punk rock snuck into this work on SNL a bunch of times, and in this episode, Nick concentrates on two amazing sketches satirizing that world of punk rock in hilarious fashion. He also looks at a terrific appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, in which Armisen brilliantly takes the audience on a tour of punk music from 1970 to the present day. You will hear hilarious work from cast members Bill Hader, Taran Killam and Bobby Moynihan, and guests like Ashton Kutcher, Dave Grohl and Steve Jones from The Sex Pistols. Terrific music, smart satire, and a history lesson are all combined in this trip through punk rock, as lead by the weird, smart, and hilarious Fred Armisen. [Ep65]

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]

Nick explores the memorable "Saturday Night Live" characters Kaitlin and Rick, played by Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz. These characters, appearing seven times over three years, are celebrated for their quirky humor and endearing dynamics. Kaitlin, a lively 10-year-old, constantly navigates her fears with the help of her patient stepfather, Rick. The episode delves into the creation and evolution of these characters, highlighting Poehler and Sanz's versatile acting. It includes insights into the sketches' writing, Poehler's history on SNL, and features three notable sketches with guests like Kate Winslet, Tom Brady, and Paul Giamatti, offering a comprehensive look at these iconic comic figures. [EP54]

Join Nick as he spotlights six incredibly talented and uproarious performers who, surprisingly, have never taken the reins as hosts on "Saturday Night Live." These comedic geniuses have graced the SNL stage with guest appearances in sketches, monologues, and unexpected cameos, yet the spotlight of hosting has eluded them. Nick delves into why these stars are overdue for hosting duties, revisiting their rich history of comedic triumphs in film and television. You'll get a front-row seat to their memorable SNL moments, featuring clips from episodes spanning 1993 to the unique "At Home" Coronavirus special in 2020. Alongside these stars, you'll enjoy side-splitting contributions from the likes of Andy Samberg, Jeff Goldblum, Jonah Hill, David Spade, Josh Brolin, and others. Discover why these guests, who've never hosted, truly deserve their moment to shine on the SNL stage. [EP53]

The Oscars and "Saturday Night Live," believe it or not those worlds have crossed paths several times. In this episode, Nick tells you about everyone who has worked in the hallowed halls of Studio 8H, that has ever been nominated for, or won, an Academy Award. From some surprising acting nominations (yes, Dan Aykroyd has really been nominated for an acting Oscar), to nominations in categories like Best Score, Best Short Film, Best Screenplay and more. Scenes from the award nominated movies are played, details of the films and performances are given, and you'll hear stories about SNL alums like: Kristen Wiig, Marc Shaiman, Bill Murray, Adam McKay, Joan Cusack, Howard Shore, Eddie Murphy and more. Awards Season is in full swing, and this episode will give you all the trivia and knowledge you need to know when you attend that Oscar party in March. SNL, and The Academy Awards! [EP52]

Nick celebrates 20 years of Kenan Thompson, who holds the record for longest tenured SNL cast member of all time. You will hear about Thompson's early life and career, his time performing on Nickelodeon kid's shows, his own sit-com, movies, and his 20 seasons on "Saturday Night Live." You'll learn about how he almost left the show after his disastrous first season, but stuck to it, thanks to encouragement from a truly great SNL veteran, and his own determination. He has gone from underrated, ignored, underutilized, and often dismissed performer, to respected elder statesman, and consistently brilliant highlight reel...one of the best cast members in the history of the show. You will hear details about Thompson's new memoir, "When I was Your Age," and also in this fun episode, "What's Up With That?", "Black Jeopardy," and "Family Feud" are represented, and you'll get visits from LaVar Ball, Willie the Happy Neighbor, and the one and only Sump'n Claus. Yes...20 Years of Kenan! [EP51]