The Not Ready for Prime Time Podcast: The Early Years of SNL
An in depth look at the golden era of Saturday Night Live. A weekly chronological deep dive into the first five seasons of SNL; one of the most historic and influential shows in television history.
Episodes
80 episodes
Bonus Episode: The Creation of Saturday Night (w/ Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad)
On October 11, 1975, Lorne Michaels and a diverse group of writers and performers—most of whom had little to no television experience—forever altered the landscape of American comedy. The launching of Saturday Night (later to be known ...
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51:54
Bonus Episode: How Michael O'Donoghue Helped Build SNL (...Then Tried to Burn It Down)
Michael O'Donoghue is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of Saturday Night Live, yet his impact on the show’s early success is undeniable. As the original head writer when the show premiered in 1975, O'Donoghue le...
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1:15:34
Season 3 Recap
Well, well, well...the infamous Season Three of SNL has come to end. What a ride it has been. Brad and Gary revisit this landmark season of Saturday Night Live to highlight what they love, what they learned, and what surprised...
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Season 3
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Episode 22
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39:52
Bonus Episode: Saturday Night (The Movie)
Saturday Night offers fans a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes efforts of Saturday Night Live's premiere episode. Brad and Gary caught a matinee of the film, which delves into the 90 minutes before the iconic show went on air...
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50:59
S03E20 Buck Henry/Sun Ra (May 20, 1978)
Another season of Saturday Night Live comes to a close and that can only mean one thing....the return of Buck Henry! Buck is back for his 6th time hosting to close out Season Three with what most people agree is one of the most ...
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Season 3
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Episode 21
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1:06:36
S03E19 Richard Dreyfuss/Jimmy Buffett, Gary Tigerman (May 13, 1978)
Sometimes you need to make concessions to get what you want. That seems to be the case with this episode of Saturday Night Live. How else does one explain Gary Tigerman as the musical guest? "You'd like Richard Dreyfuss...
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Season 3
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Episode 20
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53:49
S03E18 Steve Martin/The Blues Brothers (April 22, 1978) - Part 2
We're back for Part 2 of this legendary episode of Saturday Night Live. The hits just keep on coming as we get the memorable "Dancing in the Dark" w/ Steve & Gilda, a classic "Nerds" sketch, and The Blues Brothers return for one mo...
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Season 3
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Episode 19
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1:18:47
S03E18 Steve Martin/The Blues Brothers (April 22, 1978) - Part 1
This is it! The episode many people put up as the greatest in Saturday Night Live history. Steve Martin returns for his THIRD time hosting this season. The Blues Brothers are introduced to the world as the musical guest. ...
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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55:44
S03E17 Michael Sarrazin/Keith Jarrett, Gravity (April 15, 1978)
Michael Sarrazin was a Canadian. He was an actor. And, near the end of the Season Three, he hosted Saturday Night Live. A jazz pianist (Keith Jarrett) and an all-tuba band (Howard Shore's Gravity) are the musical g...
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Season 3
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Episode 17
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53:26
S03E16 Michael Palin/Eugene Record (April 8, 1978)
Saturday Night Live welcomes its second member of Monty Python to the show as Michael Palin covers the hosting duties this week. We can confirm that Palin is, in fact, British and thus we are joined once again by The S...
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Season 3
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Episode 16
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1:04:10
S03E15 Christopher Lee/Meat Loaf (March 25, 1978)
Horror film icon Christopher Lee does "the single most important thing" (his words, not ours) in his career as he hosts this week's episode of Saturday Night Live. The veteran British actor is game for anything and is surp...
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Season 3
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Episode 15
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1:03:39
S03E14 Jill Clayburgh/Eddie Money (March 18, 1978)
Get excited! Jill Clayburgh returns to Saturday Night Live for her 2nd time hosting. This time, she brings Eddie Money (who in turn brings the hits) to help as the musical guest. Is it enough? Can ...
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Season 3
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Episode 14
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50:24
S03E13 Art Garfunkel/Stephen Bishop (March 11, 1978)
Art Garfunkel makes his third appearance on Saturday Night Live, this time as HOST! That is not to say he does not provide A LOT of musical performances. And yet...there actually is a musical guest as Stephen Bishop is thrown a bone...
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Season 3
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Episode 13
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1:14:11
S03E12 O.J. Simpson/Ashford & Simpson (February 25, 1978)
SNL gets its second athlete-as-host as (soon-to-be-former) Buffalo Bills' running back, O.J. Simpson achieves a dream of his (his words, not ours) by hosting the show. A surprisingly decent episode finds an iconic cold open, a spot on com...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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1:04:30
S03E11 Chevy Chase/Billy Joel (February 18, 1978)
The Prodigal Son returns as Chevy Chase is back at Saturday Night Live...as HOST! An event So BIG...that Billy Joel skipped his high school reunion to be the musical guest. Not surprisingly, this is one of the most ...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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1:24:41
S03E10 Robert Klein/Bonnie Raitt (January 28, 1978)
Robert Klein returns to SNL to host one of the most unique and memorable episodes in the show's history.There is A LOT going on in this one...recurring characters (a lot of 'em), classic sketches, iconic characters introduced, a runner that...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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1:05:19
S03E09 Steve Martin/The Dirt Band; Randy Newman (January 21, 1978)
SNL kicks off 1978 with Steve Martin returning for his second (but not last) episode of Season 3 along with not one but two musical guests.Four musical numbers, and a film by Gary Weis, do not leave much time for sketches but Steve and The ...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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55:10
S03E08 Miskel Spillman/Elvis Costello (December 17, 1977)
Miskel Spillman, the 80 yr. old winner of the "Anyone Can Host" contest, take the reins of Season 3's Christmas show. Not to worry, friend of show Buck Henry is also on hand to keep things on track.Al...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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1:21:37
S03E07 Mary Kay Place/Willie Nelson (Dec. 10, 1977)
Fresh off her Emmy win (and Grammy nomination), Mary Kay Place brings the "pep" as she hosts SNL w/ musical guest, Willie Nelson. Does the pedigree and hype live up to the performance? For either?Even A...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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54:49
S03E06 Buck Henry/ Leon Redbone (November 19, 1977)
Buck Henry becomes the first member of the yet-to-be-coined Five Timers Club as he returns once again to host this week's Saturday Night Live. Season 1 favorite Leon Redbone is also back as the musical guest. It...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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1:12:57
S03E05 Ray Charles (November 12, 1977)
Music legend Ray Charles pulls double duty this week hosting AND performing (a lot) on this episode of Saturday Night Live. Not only does Charles sing some of his classic hits, but also does an admirable job in the sketche...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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51:20
S03E04 Charles Grodin/Paul Simon & The Persuasions (October 29, 1977)
A classic, perhaps ALL-TIME, episode of Saturday Night Live with host Charles Grodin, who didn't know there would actually be an audience (or...that the show was live)!Grodin brings his own unique humor and sensibilities to ...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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1:10:15
S03E03 Hugh Hefner/Libby Titus (October 15, 1977)
Once again, Saturday Night Live puts the show in the hands of a host not known for their comedic chops. Hugh Hefner (in pajamas and w/ pipe) not only hosts the show this week, but his presence is felt throughout as the show leans VERY heavily i...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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58:44
S03E02 Madeline Kahn/Taj Mahal (October 8, 1977)
Madeline Kahn is BACK!!! The host of one of the best episodes of season 1 returns! Can she make this episode as wonderful as her last? Will she sing? Will she do anything other than sing?In many ways this episode is very hit or miss,...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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55:27
S03E01 Steve Martin/Jackson Browne (September 24, 1977)
Saturday Night Live is back!!! Is there a better way to kick of the new season than having Steve Martin as the host? We think not.Season 3 brings with it a larger budget which in turn means higher production value: better costumes, better s...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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52:45