The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL Retrospective

My SNL Story: Denny Dillon

To help kick off our look back at Season 6 of Saturday Night Live, we talk to one of the cast members from that season—Denny Dillon. In addition to being the very first "new" cast member to say "Live from New York," Denny is also one of the few performers to work with all three Executive Producers of the show—Lorne Michaels, Jean Doumanian, and Dick Ebersol. But Denny's connection to SNL goes back well before that infamous 1980-81 season. She talks about meeting Gilda Radner before the show even premiered and shares her experiences as a special guest on the third ever episode back in 1975. In addition, we discuss her contribution to Anne Beatts' book "Titters" as well as returning to Studio 8H to be on a children's show prior to starring on SNL. Denny recounts the extensive audition process she went through at Saturday Night Live, being selected as the last female cast member (beating out a future Oscar winner), and discusses the highs (and lows) of that difficult season. She recounts the uphill battle everyone faced with both the fans and the press while experiencing the thrill of live television and forming bonds that would last for decades. Denny recounts many highlights from the season including some favorite hosts, musical guests, and sketches. She discusses her tight relationships with fellow cast members, working alongside hosts such as Elliott Gould, Ellen Burstyn, and acting in her favorite sketch of the season with Bill Murray. She also gives a behind-the-scenes look at what things were like when Jean Doumanian left the show and Dick Ebersol (and Michael O'Donoghue) took over. --------------------------------- Subscribe & Follow today! And follow us on social media:  Twitter: @NR4PTProject  [https://twitter.com/NR4PTProject] Instagram: @nr4ptproject [https://www.instagram.com/nr4ptproject/] Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social [http://@nr4ptproject.bsky.social] Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project [https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Not-Ready-for-Prime-Time-Project-100089010324178/] Contact Us: Website: https://www.nr4project.com [https://www.notready4ptpod.com] Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

Not Ready for Season 6 Preview

Well, the time has arrived!! The Not Ready for Prime Time Project is tackling the infamous Season 6 of Saturday Night Live! For such a big task, the guys have asked Thomas Sena and Deremy Dove from Pop Culture Five Podcast to host this season.  So many changes happen for Season 6, starting with Jean Doumanian replacing Lorne Michaels as the new executive producer. We also have a whole new cast and writing staff as well! This season is one of the most controversial—yet important—in Saturday Night Live history. Thomas and Deremy give their expectations and what they are looking forward to seeing with this upcoming re-watch.  Is Season 6 as bad as everyone says it is? Was Jean Doumanian unjustly fired from the show? And which cast members shine through in Season 6?? Get ready to go on this fun and exciting journey with us as we re-watch Season 6 of Saturday Night Live on The Not Ready for Prime Time Project!! --------------------------------- Subscribe & Follow today! And follow us on social media:  Twitter: @NR4PTProject  [https://twitter.com/NR4PTProject] Instagram: @nr4ptproject [https://www.instagram.com/nr4ptproject/] Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social [http://@nr4ptproject.bsky.social] Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project [https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Not-Ready-for-Prime-Time-Project-100089010324178/] Contact Us: Website: https://www.nr4project.com [https://www.notready4ptpod.com] Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

VINTAGE The Early Years of SNL: S01E19 Madeline Kahn/Carly Simon (May 8, 1976)

One last VINTAGE episode before we leave "The Early Years of SNL" and move into the Jean Doumanian season. Late in Season 1, Madeline Kahn hosted for the very first time. Delayed by a technician's strike, the show seemed to utilize the extra time as this is considered (by us at least) the best episode of Saturday Night Live's first season—even if Carly Simon had to pre-tape her musical performance. This episode includes some of our favorite sketches of the season including an iconic Baba Wawa, an amazing Bride of Frankenstein musical number, the infamous "Final Days" sketch, and the Marilyn Suzanne Miller-written "Slumber Party." This episode of SNL originally aired 50 years ago this week, and the podcast episode was originally released on August 1st, 2023. --------------------------------- Subscribe & Follow today! And follow us on social media:  Twitter: @NR4PTProject  [https://twitter.com/NR4PTProject] Instagram: @nr4ptproject [https://www.instagram.com/nr4ptproject/] Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social [http://@nr4ptproject.bsky.social] Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project [https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Not-Ready-for-Prime-Time-Project-100089010324178/] Contact Us: Website: https://www.nr4project.com [https://www.notready4ptpod.com] Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

Deep Thoughts: Remembering Anne Beatts

Today we remember original SNL writer, Anne Beatts. Coming to Saturday Night Live by way of The National Lampoon, she was both a vital voice and powerful force in the early formative years of the show. Not only did Anne create the iconic "Nerds," she also contributed to such memorable characters and sketches as Irwin Mainway, Uncle Roy, and "Hard Hats." Her voice was also showcased on commercial parodies like "Jewess Jeans," "Angora Bouquet," and "Chanel." Fellow original SNL writer Rosie Shuster returns to the podcast to help us look back to remember not only Anne Beatts the writer, but also the person. As the only two female writers when the show began, Anne and Rosie were paired together from the very beginning—forming a partnership that would last throughout the original era. Rosie recounts her time with Anne from their hilarious first meeting to late night writing sessions and pulling off iconic moments like the very first Roseanne Roseannadanna as well as discussing how Anne's work on the show's pre-tapes helped pave the way for the rest of her career. In addition, she recounts how Anne fought for equality in the writers room, kept control over her characters, and brought a sense of style and humor to everything she did. Anne Beatts was a 5-time Emmy nominee, winning for SNL's first season. She also won a Writer's Guild Award for her work on the Saturday Night Live 25th Anniversary Special. Aside from her work on SNL, Anne created the sitcom, Square Pegs (starring Sarah Jessica Parker) and was a producer on A Different World. --------------------------------- Subscribe & Follow today! And follow us on social media:  Twitter: @NR4PTProject  [https://twitter.com/NR4PTProject] Instagram: @nr4ptproject [https://www.instagram.com/nr4ptproject/] Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social [http://@nr4ptproject.bsky.social] Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project [https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Not-Ready-for-Prime-Time-Project-100089010324178/] Contact Us: Website: https://www.nr4project.com [https://www.notready4ptpod.com] Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

Cut For Time: Andy Kaufman's Bizarre "Funhouse"

Awhile back, during our Season Five look back, we wanted to do a "Deep Thoughts" episode on the Andy Kaufman special, Andy's Funhouse, which aired in the summer of 1979 (though it was filmed back in 1977). We were very excited to get into it with such an iconic performer and one of his biggest showcases. We even had a guest lined up—a proclaimed "expert" on Andy Kaufman. Sadly, the day of recording, our guest ghosted us. We had two choices—postpone the recording and try to reschedule with our unprofessional guest or just push on and record with two guys who have only a surface-level knowledge of Andy Kaufman, skimped on the research (since they were supposed to have an expert on the show), but did spend the time watching the special. We decided to press on, by ourselves, and record our own look back on the special. At the end of the day, we chose not to put the episode out. Not because the episode isn't good (we think it is) but because it wasn't AS GOOD as it could have been. But, in going through the vaults of stuff we have after the end of "The Early Years of SNL," we thought it would be fun to share now. So enjoy our look back on the very first Andy Kaufman television special that is at times very interesting, at other times very befuddling, and at many times very entertaining. Andy brings back many (if not all) of his classic bits and welcomes guest stars like Cindy Williams, Howdy Doody, and Wendy Polland (who?). This was actually a lot of fun. --------------------------------- Subscribe & Follow today! And follow us on social media:  Twitter: @NR4PTProject  [https://twitter.com/NR4PTProject] Instagram: @nr4ptproject [https://www.instagram.com/nr4ptproject/] Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social [http://@nr4ptproject.bsky.social] Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project [https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Not-Ready-for-Prime-Time-Project-100089010324178/] Contact Us: Website: https://www.nr4project.com [https://www.notready4ptpod.com] Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com