Podcast Summary

Podcast: Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade
Episode: RE-RELEASE – Al Franken
Release Date: November 29, 2025
Guest: Al Franken (Comedian, Writer, Former U.S. Senator, SNL Legend)

Episode Overview

In this episode, SNL legends Dana Carvey and David Spade welcome their longtime friend and former colleague Al Franken. Together, they delve into behind-the-scenes stories from SNL’s heyday, discuss the craft and challenges of comedy writing, and share their personal experiences working with comedy greats and famous hosts over the years. With a mix of irreverence, nostalgia, and sharp wit, the trio gives listeners an entertaining, instructive, and heartfelt look into comedy, television, and friendship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Al Franken’s Early Life and Entrance into Comedy

• Al’s Academic Side and Family Dynamics (04:05)

  • Al’s reputation as a math whiz thanks to his mother’s proud boasting.
  • Despite his strong academic foundation, Al discusses how he gravitated toward comedy over a career in math.
  • Memorable Anecdote: As a teenager, Al met Tom Davis (his longtime comedy and SNL partner) at a new school and they quickly bonded over making chapel announcements funny.
  • Quote: “Organizations would send [Tom] up to do announcements...I went up to him, I said, you’re really funny. And then we started doing stuff together.” (12:00)

• Improv and the Value of Comedy Training (06:30)

  • Al speaks to the benefits of improvisational training, referencing his and Tom’s experience at Dudley Riggs’ Brave New Workshop.
  • Advice for Aspiring Comedians: “Anyone who’s interested in comedy, I would do that, because... improv training... really came in handy.” (06:30)

Classic SNL Moments and Sketch Creation

• Julia Child Bleeding to Death Sketch (07:00)

  • Al recounts writing the legendary sketch with Tom Davis and the importance of physical gags (like the blood effects) timing for comedic payoff.
  • Quote: “We timed those spurts and that’s... one of those things where you’re going like, oh, please, get it all on air. And it does, and you go, yay.” (09:00)

• Tapping Into Political Satire

  • Dana and Al discuss the nuanced balance required to create non-partisan, sharp political sketches with Jim Downey.
  • Quote: “[Downey] had this motto, which was, we’re going to reward people for knowing stuff, but not punish them for not knowing stuff.” (37:12)

Working with Legends and Challenging Hosts

• Stories of SNL Greats and Host Dynamics
  • The crew swaps tales about the intimidating yet brilliant John Belushi and the classic era of the show.
  • Al touches on the pressures and rewards of working with high-caliber hosts, including George Steinbrenner and Michael Jordan.
  • Notable is Al’s confession to “stealing” jeans from the Gap Girls set while a guard was distracted by Paul McCartney’s rehearsal of “Hey Jude.”
  • Quote: “I watched during dress. He’s still during air. I took two pair of 36 30s.” (25:24)
  • Paul McCartney’s Influence: “When [Paul] played Hey Jude...I’m like crying...that just meant so much...” (24:00)

Writing Ethics, Edginess, and the SNL “Hot Seat”

• Risky Comedy and Censorship

  • Al discusses pushing boundaries—writing “Limo for a Lame-O” about NBC head Fred Silverman and pitching sketches to tough hosts.
  • Also shares how satire sometimes backfired or was misunderstood by media and censors.
  • Quote: “[Media] have a vested interest in not getting jokes...” (17:20)
  • The team discusses working with NBC censors and how they navigated what was allowable, including tales of Dana “sort of mumbling” risqué words on air and the resulting management proceedings.
  • Quote: “We always play dumb. What are you talking about?” (69:55)

• The Stuart Smalley Phenomenon

  • Discussion of the iconic sketch and how even major stars like Michael Jordan had to “dial it in” for SNL’s comedic timing.
  • Quote: “The Michael Jordan one was probably such a huge home run. Greatest sketches.” (56:46)
  • Notable Bomb: Al shares how a joke at the ESPYs fell flat because audiences took him literally, not as a satirist.

Cast Dynamics, Insider Wisdom, and Comedy “Magic”

• Finding and Developing Impressions

  • Dana and Al detail how their Bush and Perot impressions developed, with Al playing a significant mentoring and collaborative role.
  • Behind the Scenes: They share how “laughter is the oxygen of comedy,” with riffing and mutual encouragement being central to the creative process.
  • Quote: “Laughter is the oxygen of comedy.” (44:05)
  • Perot Impression Genesis: “You said, ‘Oh, there’s a three dimensional fully fledged character in there.’” (48:29)

• Navigating Career Breaks and Failures

  • Both discuss the difficulty of breaking in, timing, confidence, and the unpredictable paths that lead to success (including failing TV gigs before SNL).
  • Dana’s wisdom: “No one should become a comedian unless they have to be a comedian.” (76:34)
  • Spade’s corollary: “Show business in general is an emotionally violent sport.” (76:51)

Iconic Stories and Memorable Guests

• Stories about athlete-hosts (Jordan, Gretzky, Peyton Manning), musicians, and the joys (and challenges) of making non-comedians shine in live sketches.
• The tale of George Harrison showing up at 30 Rock, getting drunk, and playing the piano, leading Franken to “kick out a Beatle” so the show could get written.
  • Quote: “I just slam my door as hard as I can...but he evidently George like jumped three feet off the piano bench...and then left.” (35:08)
• Evocative reflections on late-night SNL writers’ rooms, camaraderie, and the magic (or agony) of finding the joke at 4 a.m.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Al Franken on improv: “Anyone who’s interested in comedy, I would do [improv], because...it really came in handy.” (06:30)
• On writing risky material: “We had the ethic that if it’s funny, we do it.” (29:42)
• On audience laughter: “Laughter is the oxygen of comedy.” (44:05, Carvey quoting Al)
• Perot’s suggestion: “Here’s an idea. You go out and campaign as me and I campaigned as me. So it’d be two of me campaigning all over the place.” (49:42, Al Franken quoting Ross Perot)
• On creative process: “That’s all it is. People ask me...what’s your favorite moment from Saturday Night Live?...three in the morning, rolling on the floor, laughing with the writers, with the cast members...” (52:21)
• On show business: “Show business in general is an emotionally violent sport.” (76:51)
• Dana’s philosophy: “No one should become a comedian unless they have to be a comedian.” (76:34)

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:05 | Al’s academic beginnings and his mom’s pride in his SAT scores | | 06:30 | Improv training and early performance roots | | 07:00 | “Julia Child” bleeding sketch inception, mechanics, and live performance tension | | 14:07 | The reality of John Belushi’s issues and SNL’s party reputation | | 21:40 | The value of masterclass, continued learning, and riffing on podcast ads | | 23:26 | Paul McCartney’s “Hey Jude” rehearsal and its impact on the SNL cast and writers | | 25:22 | Franken “stealing” jeans from the Gap Girl set | | 29:42 | Writing the controversial “Limo for a Lame-O” and its career impact | | 31:03 | George Steinbrenner as an SNL host and writing sketches for reluctant/non-comedic guests | | 35:08 | George Harrison at SNL and Franken’s decision to end the impromptu “George plays piano” session | | 39:15 | Carvey’s Bush impression and the mechanics of live sketch performance | | 48:29 | The birth of the Perot impression and Franken’s pivotal mentoring of Carvey | | 56:46 | Stuart Smalley’s peak with Michael Jordan as guest | | 62:19 | Experiences with athlete-hosts and why some non-comedians can be surprisingly funny | | 66:15 | Dana’s tough early gigs before joining SNL, and the value of confidence and timing | | 69:55 | Navigating censors, risqué jokes, and memorable “mumbling” incidents on air | | 76:34 | Purposes of getting into comedy—“unless you have to be a comedian”—and the emotional toll of showbiz |

Tone, Style, and Chemistry

The episode is loose, candid, and packed with sharp, affectionate jabs. Franken’s intellect and storytelling blend perfectly with Spade and Carvey’s quick wit and comic timing. The episode feels like a warm reunion and a freewheeling oral history, making it as lively and infectious as hanging out in the SNL writers’ room at 4 a.m.

Conclusion

This episode offers a masterclass in comedy creation, the realities behind the laughter, and the enduring bonds formed by the pursuit of a great sketch. Whether you’re an SNL aficionado, a comedy nerd, or just looking for smart, laugh-packed conversation, Spade, Carvey, and Franken deliver with insight, candor, and plenty of legendary anecdotes.