The Not Ready for Prime Time Project: An SNL Retrospective

Saturday Night Live's 40th Anniversary Special brings unprecedented star power to Studio 8H, assembling entertainment legends for a marathon celebration of television history the likes of which have never been seen before, or since. An event so long (and it is long) this three-hour plus extravaganza blends classic clips with fresh collaborations between SNL alumni and current cast members to honor four decades of groundbreaking sketches, musical performances, prerecorded films, and more. The show continues to up the ante from previous anniversary celebrations as Lorne Michaels pulls out all the stops in an effort not only to celebrate Saturday Night Live but also, just maybe, use the event to plug a few other projects.  And don’t worry – Paul Simon IS on hand to perform. Again. --------------------------------- Subscribe today! Follow us on social media: X (Twitter): NR4PTProject [https://x.com/NR4PTProject] Bluesky: nr4ptproject.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/nr4ptproject.bsky.social] Instagram: nr4ptproject [https://www.instagram.com/nr4ptproject/] Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089010324178] Contact Us: Website: https://www.nr4project.com [https://www.notready4ptpod.com] Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

Join us for an epic showdown as we celebrate SNL’s upcoming 50th anniversary by taking on a herculean challenge: Hashing out Saturday Night Live's “Best Bits” of all time through a rousing and supersized 24 bracket competition. Thomas Sena steps in for an under-the-weather Bill Swerski, joining forces with an all-star panel of SNL experts featuring hosts from The Saturday Night Network, The SNL Hall of Fame, SNL Nerds, and our very own The Not Ready for Prime Time Project. Together, they dive deep into five decades of comedic brilliance, sharing personal memories and discussing the most memorable, funny, and iconic moments in the show's history. It is a debate so huge, we had to break it up.  In Part One we reveal the full bracket and battle our way through the first round. --------------------------------- Subscribe today! Follow us on social media: X (Twitter): NR4PTProject [https://x.com/NR4PTProject] Bluesky: nr4ptproject.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/nr4ptproject.bsky.social] Instagram: nr4ptproject [https://www.instagram.com/nr4ptproject/] Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089010324178] Contact Us: Website: https://www.nr4project.com [https://www.notready4ptpod.com] Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

The year is 1999. Y2K looms, boy bands dominate the charts, and Saturday Night Live is just a few seasons removed from once again debunking claims of "Saturday Night Dead." This Emmy-winning 25th Anniversary Special brought together the biggest names in entertainment to not only look back on its storied accomplishments, but also remind America that SNL remained must-see viewing. We are joined by Mark Malkoff of Inside Late Night, whose encyclopedic knowledge of this era surpasses even that of the show's cast members and writers. Mark helps break down the cultural context of SNL at this watershed moment as we unpack both the overt celebrations and subtle messaging of this milestone special. Together, we explore how the show honored its storied past, while positioning itself for the future. --------------------------------- Subscribe today! Follow us on social media: X (Twitter): NR4PTProject [https://x.com/NR4PTProject] Bluesky: nr4ptproject.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/nr4ptproject.bsky.social] Instagram: nr4ptproject [https://www.instagram.com/nr4ptproject/] Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089010324178] Contact Us: Website: https://www.nr4project.com [https://www.notready4ptpod.com] Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

We are honored to welcome back Emmy-winning writer Marilyn Suzanne Miller to the podcast. A vital creative force behind Saturday Night Live's original era, she is a three-time Emmy recipient for her work on both SNL and The Tracey Ullman Show (as well as earning the Humanitas Prize for her episode of Murphy Brown). From initially turning down SNL to becoming one of its defining voices, Marilyn shares her extraordinary journey that led to the creation of some of the show's most beloved characters, including The Festrunk Brothers and Judy Miller. She also discusses her significant contributions to the musical sketches of the show's original era and the importance of a character like Rhonda Weiss being showcased on television. Marilyn also delves into her subsequent returns to SNL, including writing for the 25th Anniversary Special that earned her a Writers Guild of America Award, and touches on her impressive work beyond the show. --------------------------------- Subscribe today! Follow us on social media: X (Twitter): NR4PTProject [https://x.com/NR4PTProject] Bluesky: nr4ptproject.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/nr4ptproject.bsky.social] Instagram: nr4ptproject [https://www.instagram.com/nr4ptproject/] Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089010324178] Contact Us: Website: https://www.nr4project.com [https://www.notready4ptpod.com] Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

Take a journey back to fall 1989 as we explore Saturday Night Live's first anniversary celebration. The landmark 15th anniversary special, while primarily a clip show, captures a moment of reflection for the groundbreaking series. Drenched in nostalgia, it celebrates the show's achievements while looking optimistically toward the future. Bill Kenney of The SNL Hall of Fame joins us to dissect SNL's first major celebration of its legacy. Together, we examine the special's hits and misses, discuss its place in the show's history, and explore why – despite some flaws – it remains a fascinating snapshot of television's most influential comedy institution. --------------------------------- Subscribe today! Follow us on social media: X (Twitter): NR4PTProject [https://x.com/NR4PTProject] Bluesky: nr4ptproject.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/nr4ptproject.bsky.social] Instagram: nr4ptproject [https://www.instagram.com/nr4ptproject/] Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089010324178] Contact Us: Website: https://www.nr4project.com [https://www.notready4ptpod.com] Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com