Podcast
That Show Hasn't Been Funny In Years: an SNL podcast on Radio Misfits
Hosted by Nick Digilio / Radio Misfits Podcast Network · EN
Award-winning radio personality, podcaster, and SNL fanatic/historian NICK DIGILIO hosts this weekly deep dive into the world of the granddaddy of all sketch-comedy shows. Nick, a Second City grad and veteran of Chicago comedy and theater, has watched every single episode of SNL since George Carlin hosted the premiere on October 11th, 1975. Consisting of new and old episode analysis; SNL-relates guests; historical impact; and even entire episodes dedicated completely to just one sketch…this is every SNL fan’s dream podcast, and proof that that tired, cliched statement: “That show hasn’t been funny in years,” is simply NOT true.
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
That Show – Che’s Happy Neighbor Willie!
2w ago00:38:49Tap to summarizeNick looks back at one of Kenan Thompson’s funniest SNL characters, Willie. A regular Weekend Update correspondent and Michael Che’s neighbor, Willie is brought on to lift spirits whenever the news gets too heavy. He’s endlessly upbeat, even though his life is about as rough as it gets. Created by Che and Thompson, the character quickly became a fan favorite thanks to the way Willie cheerfully shares some truly awful personal stories. You’ll hear several of his best Update appearances, along with the origin of the character and some behind-the-scenes details. It’s hard not to feel a little better about your own life after spending time with Willie. [Ep 174]
Transcribe →That Show – Dr. Jason Barr & The Music of SNL
3w ago01:05:07Tap to summarizeNick 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]
Transcribe →That Show – Underappreciated cast members, Danitra Vance
4w ago00:55:17Tap to summarizeNick pays tribute to one of the most underappreciated cast members in Saturday Night Live history, the late Danitra Vance. Raised on the south side of Chicago, Vance came up through improv, earned her Master’s degree, taught for a time, and eventually found her way to Second City before landing on SNL as the show’s first female African American cast member. Unfortunately, she arrived during the troubled Season 11, where the writing often held her back from doing the kind of work she really wanted to showcase. Even with those limitations, her character work stood out and her writing was sharp, topical, and honest. She brought attention to the experiences of young Black women in the inner city and delivered smart satire that pushed back on stereotypes and tropes. You’ll hear some of her best sketches, including multiple appearances by her unforgettable character Cabrini Green Jackson, along with stories about her life, her career, and her passing in 1994 after a battle with breast cancer. It’s a well-earned spotlight on a performer who never got the recognition she deserved. [Ep 172]
Transcribe →That Show – Olya Povlatsky
Apr 1500:36:02Tap to summarizeNick 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]
Transcribe →That Show – It’s The Tom Green Show!
Apr 800:49:36Tap to summarizeNick takes a look back at the notorious Season 26 episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by comedian and talk show host Tom Green. Riding high from his MTV success and his role in Charlie’s Angels, Green was invited by Lorne Michaels to host, and he brought his signature chaos with him. The show opens in fairly traditional fashion with a political Cold Open about the 2000 election recount, but things quickly go off the rails when Green brings his fiancée Drew Barrymore on stage and teases a wedding by the end of the night that never happens. From there, it only gets stranger. Green climbs onto audience members’ heads and licks them, while sketches featuring live pigs, surreal rappers, and terrible storytellers push the episode into full-on absurdity. There’s also a bizarre segment with Green and Lorne Michaels in a bubble bath, along with a strange Dr. Phil parody that adds to the overall madness. Along the way, Nick shares behind-the-scenes stories, including interviews with Green himself, and looks back on his career and this unforgettable SNL time capsule. [Ep 170]
Transcribe →That Show – Patrick Swayze Hosts
Apr 100:56:04Tap to summarizeNick 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]
Transcribe →That Show – SNL Adjacent Movies
Mar 2500:53:51Tap to summarizeNick tackles another listener request and spends the show digging into what he calls “SNL adjacent” movies. These aren’t the obvious ones based on sketches like Wayne’s World or The Blues Brothers. Instead, they’re films connected to Saturday Night Live through the people involved, the history of the show, or the overall spirit of it. Among the movies discussed are Wired, the controversial film about John Belushi, Saturday Night from director Jason Reitman, Mr. Mike’s Mondo Video created by Michael O’Donoghue, and the film version of Gilda Live starring Gilda Radner. Nick plays clips, shares behind-the-scenes stories, and offers some very strong opinions about which of these movies work and which absolutely do not. You’ll even hear thoughts from Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert along the way. It’s a fun trip through a strange corner of SNL history filled with forgotten, fascinating, and sometimes very questionable movies. [Ep 168]
Transcribe →That Show – Neil Patrick Harris Hosts
Mar 1800:54:04Tap to summarizeNick 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]
Transcribe →That Show – Whiskers R We with Barbara DeDrew
Mar 1100:48:20Tap to summarizeNick revisits one of Kate McKinnon’s strangest and most lovable creations on Saturday Night Live, Barbara DeDrew from Whiskers R We. The fake cat adoption commercials became instant fan favorites between 2014 and 2023, built around Barbara’s oddball delivery, heartfelt devotion to her cats, and the unpredictable chaos of live kittens wandering around the set. Nick plays several of the sketches and talks about how the character came together and why it worked so well. The bits featured a parade of game guest hosts, including Charlize Theron, Amy Adams, Reese Witherspoon, Kristen Wiig, Tiffany Haddish, and Billie Eilish, all trying to keep a straight face while McKinnon committed completely to the madness. It’s a funny look back at a character that was weird in the best way and a reminder of just how fearless McKinnon was during her run on SNL. [Ep 166]
Transcribe →That Show – The Barry Gibb Talk Show
Mar 400:56:28Tap to summarizeA 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]
Transcribe →