The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL Retrospective

VINTAGE The Early Years of SNL: S03E20 Buck Henry/Sun Ra (May 20, 1978)

Five years ago today, we lost one of the original writers of SNL—the amazing Anne Beatts. One of only two female writers on the staff when the show began, Anne's contributions were vital, formative, and iconic. She was nominated for an Emmy all five years she wrote for Saturday Night Live, winning for her work in Season One. She also won a Writer's Guild of America Award for her work on the SNL 25th Anniversary Special. We highlight Anne's work in this VINTAGE episode of "The Early Years of SNL," which features one of the most memorable outings from some of her most beloved characters—The Nerds. In this Season Three finale, "Nerds Prom"—coming unsurprisingly in the prime "post-monologue" slot—not only continues to build on the world of Todd & Lisa but introduces the character of Marshall (Todd's father), played to perfection by host Buck Henry. This classic original era episode has Buck in an excellent Olympia Café sketch, working with a "Stunt Puppy," attending the "Sodom Chamber of Commerce," and (of course) visiting with the Samurai. In addition, we are treated to one of the most eclectic musical guests in SNL history in Sun Ra. Jon Schneider from The Saturday Night Network was our guest for this episode, which was originally released on October 1st, 2024. --------------------------------- 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

The Early Years of SNL: Saturday Night Live's Original Era (Part 2)

Our look back at Saturday Night Live’s original era has come to an end. We wrap up our final episode of The Early Years of SNL, looking back at all five seasons of the original era. We revisit the journey the show took from a trying-it-out-in-real-time “variety” show (S1) to being a truly experimental and edgy platform (S2), exploding into a cultural juggernaut (S3&4), and eventual fall from grace (S5). Looking back, we remember some of our favorite hosts, musical guests, special guests, and pre-tapes. Of course, we also call out what we didn’t like. We discuss what surprised us, disappointed us, and highlight our favorite forgotten and underrated sketches (we did a whole episode on best bits). To bring it all to a close, we select our best and worst episodes of the original era. And, we finally answer the question everyone’s been asking – “What comes next?” Sort of. Thanks to everyone for listening. “Goodnight, and goodbye.” --------------------------------- 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

The Early Years of SNL: Saturday Night Live's Original Era (Part 1)

We made it! Our look back on the original era of Saturday Night Live comes to a close. We’ve revisited every episode, talked about every sketch, discussed every host and musical guest, and explored the behind-the-scenes stories that brought this iconic show to life. In this first part of our retrospective of “The Early Years of SNL,” we look back on why we set out on this journey in the first place and look to answer if we succeeded in our goals. We discuss what we enjoyed the most about the process, what we learned, and what surprised us. We take a moment to celebrate some of the writers that were responsible for some of the most iconic and classic sketches and characters in the show’s history and – finally – look back at the legendary cast. We discuss all the classic characters we loved, the iconic impressions that blew us away, and shine the spotlight one last time on the group that went from “not ready for prime time” to larger than life in just a few short years. We hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as we have. --------------------------------- 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: SNL Without Lorne Michaels

A companion to our discussion about the end of the original era of SNL, we talk with biographer Susan Morrison about Lorne Michaels’ side of things. Susan joins us to discuss Lorne’s mindset going into Season Five, how much he (like everyone else) was looking towards life beyond Saturday Night Live, and where NBC’s decision - made behind his back - to move on without him left him. Susan helps explain the thinking behind Lorne’s need to put the show on an extended break, his (naïve) belief that the show was actually his, and how he eventually learned of NBC’s decision to move on without him – while in a honky-tonk bar in Texas. We discuss Lorne’s attempt at getting into movies and how that unsuccessful foray eventually led him back to where it all started – television. Susan talks both about The New Show (which she had personal experience with) and the reasons behind Lorne’s decision to return to Saturday Night Live when asked by NBC after its 10th season.   --------------------------------- 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: The End of SNL?

Why did Lorne Michaels leave SNL? How hard did NBC try to keep him? Did a future US senator really sabotage everything? Saturday Night Live historians and authors Doug Hill & Jeff Weingrad join us once again to answer these questions (and more) as we look back on the end of SNL’s original era. Beginning with Season Four (which they would argue was the beginning of the end), we connect the dots as to what brought about the eventual end of Lorne Michaels’ original run of the show.  Doug and Jeff take us inside the negotiations between Lorne & the network, try to make sense of NBC’s decision to replace him with Jean Doumanian, and explain the outlook everyone had heading into Season Six. From exhaustion and failed prime time deals, to a bitter (and personal) contract negotiation and an infamous Weekend Update piece that just might have killed the whole deal, we examine all that went into one of the biggest turning points in Saturday Night Live history – one that was made behind the back of its creator, Lorne Michaels. If for some reason you haven't gotten a copy of Doug & Jeff's book, Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live you can get it HERE [https://www.amazon.com/Saturday-Night-Backstage-History-Live/dp/1611877091/ref=sr_1_1?crid=U7IN90N8ZXLT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.bIXonS03xHEwU4pTznJeL0LUi4v-vCk_IOVwj2FU7MT1bn2Y0bKehmb-vsp7PbPd7VqrLJQrSu2QqBN70zoX3Ay48kxDYVBKHI76WHHAVKdJIt1StjrAhD5BZcJw_mAyhpS4iPN7euqrri4IotBcxEmRU6N3AzWxiYL9gck8a2SCU6g2iNMPGfWpL1xyJKaj7TGWzefqj4RlmwvKrDDx5VF3vC9zEK0EE_iZ3I_i3ko.mkT8b_sapGqNCxSbk5GU_srPbJeLNwiV7RX7Z2zz7VY&dib_tag=se&keywords=doug+hill&qid=1773596724&sprefix=doug+hill%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1], or anywhere you buy books. --------------------------------- 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