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

Nick looks back at the ten former Saturday Night Live cast members who have been nominated for Academy Awards, including one who actually took home an Oscar. Each story has its own twist, and not all of the nominations were for acting. Kristen Wiig earned a nod for Best Screenplay, Michael McKean was nominated for Best Original Song, and George Coe, whose background gets explained here, received a nomination for Best Short Film. Along the way, you’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories and clips from the films that earned those nominations. The episode features work from Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Joan Cusack, Dan Aykroyd, and Robert Downey Jr., the only former cast member to win an Oscar. It’s a fun and informative look at the connection between SNL and the Academy Awards. [Ep 175]

Nick welcomes Dr. Jason Barr, Associate Professor of Music at Glenville State University, to talk about the history of music on Saturday Night Live, with a focus on the legendary live band that has been part of the show since it debuted in 1975. They get into the origins of Studio 8H, including the technology and its early days as home to the NBC Symphony Orchestra, along with a look at both the original SNL band and the current lineup. Nick and Jason also highlight past and present band members you may not know but should, along with musicians who have played with SNL over the years. It’s a deep and fascinating conversation about one of the most important elements of the show, the music that has helped define it for decades. [Ep 173]

Nick takes a look back at one of Kate McKinnon’s funniest and most memorable Saturday Night Live characters, Olya Povlatsky. As the Russian correspondent on Weekend Update, Olya reports from a bleak, remote village where life is so miserable that everyone, including her, seems to be constantly hoping for the end. Her segments cover everything from the Russian economy and the war with Ukraine to the 2014 Sochi Olympics and computer hacking. Along the way, Nick shares behind-the-scenes stories about how the character came together and why it worked so well. He also revisits the rare moment Olya appeared outside of Weekend Update, showing up in a Cold Open alongside Beck Bennett as a shirtless Vladimir Putin. It’s a deep dive into a standout character created by one of SNL’s best. [Ep 171]

Nick goes back to October 27, 1990 to revisit the only time Patrick Swayze hosted Saturday Night Live, and it turned out to be a great showcase for him. Fresh off the success of Ghost and in the middle of filming Point Break, Swayze came in ready to do a little bit of everything. He opens with a memorable monologue dancing with his wife, Lisa Niemi, then jumps into a wide range of sketches, poking fun at his own image, playing a smooth Latin crooner, and even showing up alongside Hans and Franz. Of course, the night is best remembered for the now-legendary Chippendales sketch with Chris Farley, which still holds up as one of the funniest bits the show ever did. Nick plays the key moments and shares stories from behind the scenes of a show that was a little weird, very funny, and a perfect example of how committed Swayze was to whatever he was asked to do. [Ep 169]

Nick heads back to January 10, 2009 to revisit the one and only time Neil Patrick Harris hosted Saturday Night Live. It turned out to be a terrific show, and Nick plays some of the funniest moments while sharing stories about how a few standout sketches from that season came together. He also talks about Harris’ career arc, from child star on Doogie Howser, M.D. to Emmy-winning actor, singer, and all-around performer. A big turning point came with his scene-stealing role in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, and you’ll hear the classic moment that helped launch the second half of his career. The episode showcases strong work from Kristen Wiig, Bobby Moynihan, Fred Armisen, Jason Sudeikis, Abby Elliott and more. It also features one of the funniest sketches of that era, a gathering of Broadway stars debating the future of the Great White Way. It’s a strong reminder of how well that episode worked and why Harris was such a natural fit for the show. [Ep 167]

A subscriber request! A loyal listener named Rachel left a voicemail with a simple request, so Nick delivers. This one is all about the classic Saturday Night Live recurring sketch, “The Barry Gibb Talk Show.” The bits feature Jimmy Fallon as Bee Gees frontman Barry Gibb and Justin Timberlake as Robin Gibb, hosting a political panel show that quickly spins out of control. Barry screams in falsetto, Robin grins politely, and serious political topics get treated with wild harmonies and over-the-top physical comedy. Fallon and writer Steve Higgins created the sketch, and it became a fan favorite thanks to the chaos, the singing, and the sheer commitment to the joke. Nick plays several of the full sketches and shares behind-the-scenes stories about how they came together. Guest appearances from Cameron Diaz, Dakota Johnson, Madonna, and even Barry Gibb himself add to the fun. It’s a full-on celebration of one of the most ridiculous and beloved recurring sketches the show ever produced. [Ep 165]

Nick looks back at the two times Catherine O’Hara hosted Saturday Night Live, following her passing on January 30, 2026. It’s a chance to remember just how special she was, from her work in Beetlejuice and Home Alone to her unforgettable TV roles on Schitt’s Creek and the legendary SCTV. Even though she was once hired by SNL and famously walked away before ever appearing, she eventually returned to host twice, in 1991 and 1992. Nick revisits those two shows, playing back standout sketches and moments that capture her timing, range, and quiet brilliance. Along the way, he shares behind-the-scenes stories that add context to how those episodes came together and why they still hold up. It’s part tribute and part time capsule, celebrating a performer who could steal a scene without ever forcing a laugh. The result is a warm, funny trip back to the early 90s and a reminder of how much Catherine O’Hara brought to comedy, on SNL and everywhere else. [Ep 163]

Nick digs into a crowdsourced list that tried to crown the five most annoying characters in Saturday Night Live history, and as you might expect, he has some thoughts. The list came from an online survey, and while a few of the picks make sense, others spark some serious pushback, especially when genuinely funny characters get lumped in with the truly grating ones. He walks through each character, playing clips and breaking down where they came from, how they were written, and why audiences reacted so strongly. Performers like Julia Sweeney, Kristen Wiig, Chris Kattan, Rob Schneider, and Dana Carvey all make appearances, with guest turns from John Goodman, Joan Allen, Kirstie Alley, and Sting adding to the mix. It turns into a fun debate about why some characters wear out their welcome, why others get misunderstood, and how audience taste shifts over time. Annoying or not, these characters clearly left an impression, and Nick isn’t shy about calling out the list when it misses the point. [Ep 161]

Nick revisits one of the most infamous nights in Saturday Night Live history, when actor Broderick Crawford hosted the show in March of 1977 and earned a reputation that has never really faded. Crawford was a legendary drinker, and while the broadcast somehow stayed on track, the real tension came from keeping tabs on a host who was drinking during the show and repeatedly trying to sneak off to a nearby bar. The stories behind the scenes are as wild as you’d expect, and the sketches tell their own strange story. Crawford appears in two bits, including a send-up of his own TV series Highway Patrol, while the rest of the episode delivers a snapshot of SNL in transition. You’ll hear Bill Murray pleading with the audience to like him as the new guy after Chevy Chase’s departure, along with Dan Aykroyd’s Nixon impression and John Belushi bringing his samurai character into the mix. It’s a look back at a night that somehow worked despite everything working against it, fueled by great performers, nervous energy, and a host who may still hold the title for the drunkest in SNL history. [Ep 159]

Nick looks back at Season 44 of Saturday Night Live, a year that found the show in strong form and introduced Ego Nwodim as a standout new cast member. The regular lineup was stacked with reliable heavy hitters, including Heidi Gardner, Kate McKinnon, Alex Moffat, Mikey Day, Pete Davidson, and more, giving the season a solid mix of energy and consistency. The host list was just as impressive, with turns from John Mulaney, Sandra Oh, Idris Elba, Don Cheadle, and a deep bench of memorable appearances. Highlights from episodes hosted by Emma Stone, Awkwafina, Claire Foy, Paul Rudd, Adam Sandler, Adam Driver, Emma Thompson, and James McAvoy get their due, along with context around the musical guests and what was happening behind the scenes. It’s a thoughtful, entertaining walkthrough of a season that delivered laughs, strong performances, and plenty of moments worth revisiting. [Ep 157]

Nick revisits the one and only time Jerry Lewis took over as host of Saturday Night Live, a moment that landed in the fall of 1983 just after Lewis recovered from open-heart surgery. The night delivered a mix of wild sketches built around his trademark slapstick and full-volume absurdity, balanced with sharp jabs at his more serious public persona. Joe Piscopo, Tim Kazurinsky, and especially Eddie Murphy openly adored him, and all three have called this show a career highlight. The look back includes several of the night’s funniest moments, along with stories from behind the curtain, including how Lewis managed to keep going even after getting injured mid-show. There is also a conversation with Loverboy’s Mike Reno, who remembers how the band’s second musical number got cut when the episode ran long. A classic entertainer stepped onto the SNL stage with his own brand of chaos, and the result was as strange as it was unforgettable. [Ep 155]

Nick takes a deep dive into one of the most chaotic stretches in Saturday Night Live history as he revisits the odd, uneven, and often baffling ninth season. The show spent that year juggling strange host selections, shaky writing, and a rotating cast of Weekend Update anchors while drama swirled behind the scenes. Eddie Murphy was technically still part of the cast, yet he appeared live in fewer than half the shows, with the rest of his material coming from pre-taped sketches recorded before he left to make movies. With Eddie mostly absent, the show scrambled to fill the gaps and made some truly head-scratching choices. Hosts ranged from NBC President Brandon Tartikoff to newsman Edwin Newman and even former senator George McGovern. The season also brought in old-school television favorites like Jerry Lewis, The Smothers Brothers, Flip Wilson, and the legendary Don Rickles, mixed in with performers who were popular at the time. The result was a season packed with misfires, surprises, and unforgettable production chaos. Nick walks through the wild highlights and the stories behind them, capturing what made Season 9 such a strange and fascinating chapter in SNL’s legacy. [Ep 153]

Nick celebrates one of the most delightfully chaotic recurring sketches in Saturday Night Live history — the fully improvised musical mayhem of Garth and Kat. Played by Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig, the offbeat duo would appear on Weekend Update wearing mismatched vests and identical blonde wigs, pretending to have rehearsed their songs, only to make them up live on the spot. Every appearance was completely unscripted, and the result was a mix of awkward harmonies, accidental rhymes, and uncontrollable laughter — even from the usually composed Seth Meyers. Nick explores how the sketches came together, why they became Wiig’s personal favorite moments on the show, and plays several of their funniest performances. You’ll also hear about a few surprise celebrity drop-ins who joined the improvised madness. A celebration of spontaneity, chemistry, and pure silliness, “Garth and Kat” remains one of SNL’s most joyfully unpredictable acts. [Ep 151]