Innovative. Iconic. Legendary.

These are just a few words to describe the one and only David Bowie. And all could be used to describe any one of his musical performances on his very first appearance on SNL.

Bowie helps ring out the 70s as the musical guest alongside host, Martin Sheen. His three songs are not only the highlight of this episode but all of season five. So much so, it is easy to forget that Saturday Night Live did actual comedy this episode.

And while the comedy is up and down – ranging from the fun to the bizarre to the just long and boring – there are still some nuggets in there worthy of "best bits."

This is a MUST-SEE episode from the original era of SNL.

---------------------------------
Subscribe today!

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: @NR4PTProject

Instagram: @nr4ptproject

Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social

Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project

Contact Us:
Website: https://www.nr4project.com
Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

Saturday Night Live has aired live on Halloween only FOUR times in its 50+ years. As a treat this week, we're releasing a VINTAGE episode of The Early Years of SNL looking back at the memorable Season 2 outing hosted by Buck Henry that came close—airing just one day before Halloween and marking the first time the show leaned into the holiday.

The episode is filled with spooky sketches and scary characters, but it's perhaps better known for two reasons: the infamous moment when John Belushi accidentally hit Buck Henry in the head with his samurai sword, cutting him on live television, and serving as Chevy Chase's final episode as a cast member.

In addition, this historic night also marked the final television appearance for the original lineup of The Band.

We were joined by The Saturday Night Network's Jon Schneider once again to help break down this memorable episode.

This episode was originally released on November 7th, 2023.

---------------------------------
Subscribe today!

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: @NR4PTProject

Instagram: @nr4ptproject

Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social

Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project

Contact Us:
Website: https://www.nr4project.com
Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

Today marks what would have been the 100th birthday of The King of Late Night – Johnny Carson. To celebrate, we're joined by our old friend Mark Malkoff, whose new book Love Johnny Carson offers a captivating look back at the 30 years Johnny Carson spent behind the desk of The Tonight Show.

Mark has an extensive history with Johnny Carson beginning with The Carson Podcast, which ran for over 8 years and featured conversations with more than 300 guests – including writers, crew members, musicians, comedians, and so many of Carson's famous guests. Now, he's compiled those interviews along with four additional years of research (and more interviews) into this heartfelt love letter to one of television's greatest icons.

Over the course of our discussion, Mark shares his process in writing the book, explores what made Johnny Carson so special and unique, and reminds us of just how important Carson was during his three decades in late night. He shares stories about Chevy Chase, Jay Leno, David Letterman, and Joan Rivers, as well as reveals his favorite Johnny Carson guest and his pick for Johnny's "Best Bit."

Love Johnny Carson is out now. Click here to grab your copy.

---------------------------------
Subscribe today!

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: @NR4PTProject

Instagram: @nr4ptproject

Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social

Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project

Contact Us:
Website: https://www.nr4project.com
Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

With Sabrina Carpenter hosting this week's SNL in support of her new album—obviously a direct homage to the early '80s heavy metal classic Smell the Glove—we're looking back at the film that took us backstage with one of England's loudest bands.

This is Spinal Tap is absolutely loaded with Saturday Night Live connections. The film is Rob Reiner's (S1 host) directorial debut, which he co-wrote with stars Christopher Guest (S10 cast), Michael McKean (S9 host, S19-20 cast), and Harry Shearer (S5, S10 cast). It also features appearances by Billy Crystal (S9 host, S10 cast), Dana Carvey (S12-18 cast), Paul Shaffer (S5 cast, S12 host), Fred Willard (S4 host), Howard Hesseman (3x host), Ed Begley Jr. (S10 host), and Anjelica Huston (S11 host).

We're turning things up to 11 as we explore the groundbreaking cult classic that created the mockumentary genre and redefined what comedy could be. We talk tiny Stonehenge, spontaneously combusting drummers, and the very fine line between stupid and clever.

---------------------------------
Subscribe today!

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: @NR4PTProject

Instagram: @nr4ptproject

Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social

Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project

Contact Us:
Website: https://www.nr4project.com
Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

Season 5 of SNL might just be finding its groove as the one and only Bea Arthur takes the stage as host. Just over a year removed from the end of her Emmy-winning run on Maude, the veteran actress feels right at home with the cast and helps them shine.

Cast members new and old take the spotlight as the audience gets their first real glimpse of what this season could be. Everyone gets a chance to contribute as the sketches are varied, the mood is joyous, and new voices start to emerge from the writers. The episode also bestows the title of "Featured Player" for the first time in Saturday Night Live history—a small but significant moment in the show's evolution.

This is an early Season 5 highlight, even if we're still trying to figure out just what exactly The Roches were and how they got on the show.

---------------------------------
Subscribe today!

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: @NR4PTProject

Instagram: @nr4ptproject

Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social

Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project

Contact Us:
Website: https://www.nr4project.com
Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

What's one way to turn things around after a rocky start to Season 5? Bring in one of the greatest SNL hosts of all time to right the ship. That's right—Buck's back! Buck Henry returns for his ninth (and penultimate) hosting appearance, and this time he brings along a little-known rock 'n' roll band on the rise: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

For the first time this season, things seem to be okay. In the capable hands of one of the best hosts to ever do it, the cast and writers feel freed from any specters hanging over them and start to find their new identity. With a mix of old favorites (recurring characters, live commercial parodies, a faux disrespect for Buck) and new elements (very long sketches, actors you've never seen before leading sketches, Buck with a beard), Saturday Night Live finally gives the audience a taste of what they've been looking for all season.

As we like to do every season, we're joined once again by The Saturday Night Network's Jon Schneider. We talk toads, Loopner love, and reveal some very private personal habits while driving. Things are looking up!

---------------------------------
Subscribe today!

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: @NR4PTProject

Instagram: @nr4ptproject

Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social

Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project

Contact Us:
Website: https://www.nr4project.com
Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

The professional athlete well is tapped once again as Hall of Fame NBA player (and coach!) Bill Russell hosts this outing of SNL. Chicago, in all their funky glory, let it all hang out as the musical guest. And yet...

The cast tries their best, but the host - who looks genuinely excited to be there - just doesn't have the range or chops to help lift this one up. We do get a couple of familiar elements (recurring characters, Garrett in drag), some pretty solid impressions (courtesy of Jane), and that new guy doing a commercial pitch. We also learn that there is only ONE ball used in basketball and are witness to the start of a new trend—a VERY long sketch after the monologue. Sadly, no Buck cameo this week. It's no surprise even Mr. Bill wanted to stay home.

To help us dig through this episode of Saturday Night Live, we're joined by noted Chicago historian Thomas Sena. Taking a break from his own podcast (the name of which escapes us), he helps tell the story of the band, defends the stiffness of the host, and joins us on one last trip to the mall.

---------------------------------
Subscribe today!

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: @NR4PTProject

Instagram: @nr4ptproject

Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social

Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project

Contact Us:
Website: https://www.nr4project.com
Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com

SNL continues to roll out the heavy hitters for Season 5, bringing two absolute legends to Studio 8H as Eric Idle returns for his fourth (and sadly final) hosting stint joined by the unequaled Bob Dylan as musical guest. If that wasn’t enough, Andy Kaufman is back on the show as well!

Can a lineup like this help Saturday Night Live get back on track? Well…Idle was very sick (true story), Dylan sings songs from his new Christian album (also true), and Kaufman wrestles a woman on live television. None of these things helped.

Despite a 100+ fever, our host soldiers through with admirable determination, giving everything he's got to salvage the show. But still, the absence of two cast members remains sorely missed (and another still looks annoyed to still be there). And yet, there are a few bright spots as the show gets meta, one of the all-time great hosts cameos again (two weeks in a row!), and there is some wonderfully silly absurdness you can only get when a member of Monty Python hosts the show.

---------------------------------
Subscribe today!

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: @NR4PTProject

Instagram: @nr4ptproject

Bluesky: @nr4ptproject.bsky.social

Facebook: The Not Ready for Prime Time Project

Contact Us:
Website: https://www.nr4project.com
Email: nr4ptproject@gmail.com