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

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

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.

Episodes

October 22, 2025 70 mins
Nick takes a deep dive into one of the most important turning points in Saturday Night Live history — Season 12. After the chaotic collapse of Season 11, Lorne Michaels returned, cleaned house, and rebuilt the show from the ground up. The result was a brilliant reinvention that launched a new era of comedy greatness. This season introduced future legends like Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Jan Hooks, Kevin Nealon, Jon Lovitz, and Denn...
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Nick takes a look back at Saturday Night Live Season 37, a strong and steady run marked by some unforgettable first-time hosts who went on to iconic status, including Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, and Mick Jagger. It was also a season of change, as Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg said their goodbyes, and John Mulaney stepped into his first year as head writer and producer. The episode revisits standout sketches like Alec Baldwin’s...
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Nick dives into the long tradition of breaking on Saturday Night Live—those unexpected moments when cast members or hosts crack up mid-sketch and the fourth wall comes tumbling down. While frowned upon in the show’s earliest years, breaking eventually became part of the fun, and no one was guiltier of it than Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz. This episode revisits some of their most infamous crack-ups, from “The Leather Man” to “Aqua...
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Nick revisits one of the most notorious episodes in Saturday Night Live history, when Frank Zappa hosted during Season 4. The night has gone down as one of the worst ever, thanks largely to Zappa’s smug, condescending approach and his open disdain for the format. From his monologue, where he flatly admitted to reading cue cards, to his constant mugging and deliberate attempts to derail sketches, it was a train wreck in slow motion....
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September 24, 2025 46 mins
Nick takes a closer look at the Season 14 episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by comedy legend Leslie Nielsen. Once known for serious dramatic roles, Nielsen reinvented himself as a master of deadpan comedy in classics like Airplane!, Police Squad!, and The Naked Gun. His hosting stint on SNL proved just how sharp his comedic timing really was. From his clever opening monologue on the differences between drama and comedy, to the...
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September 17, 2025 45 mins
Nick revisits one of Jay Pharoah’s funniest original creations from his Saturday Night Live years: Principal Daniel Frye of Booker T. Washington High School. While Pharoah is best known for his uncanny impressions of Barack Obama, Chris Rock, Denzel Washington, and more, Principal Frye proved he could also deliver side-splitting original characters. The sketches feature the Principal’s absurd morning announcements, with help from ...
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Rachel, a loyal listener and subscriber, asked for it, and Nick delivers: the unforgettable night Betty White hosted Saturday Night Live. On May 8, 2010, following a grassroots Facebook campaign, the comedy legend took the stage for a Mother’s Day episode that pulled in the season’s highest ratings and won her an Emmy. The show featured a reunion of powerhouse female cast members — Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer...
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September 3, 2025 50 mins
Nick dives into one of Saturday Night Live’s strangest recurring sketches, Jason Sudeikis’ “Maine Justice.” Set in a Bangor courtroom where everyone sounds like they’re straight out of Louisiana, the sketch features Judge Marshall T. Boudreaux (Sudeikis), with appearances alongside Jamie Foxx and Justin Timberlake. Nick plays both performances in full, explores how the idea came to life, and shares an interview with Sudeikis and Se...
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August 27, 2025 65 mins
Nick shines a spotlight on the rare group of underage performers who were tapped to host Saturday Night Live. Christina Ricci, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sara Gilbert, Claire Danes, Miley Cyrus, the Olsen Twins, Fred Savage, and Macaulay Culkin all stepped onto the stage between the ages of 11 and 19, and their youthful energy shaped the sketches in some surprising ways. With behind-the-scenes stories and context, Nick breaks down how ...
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By listener request, Nick dives deep into the bizarre and brilliant world of Colleen Rafferty, one of Kate McKinnon’s most unforgettable Saturday Night Live characters. Whether she’s being abducted by aliens, haunted by ghosts, or hurled through time, Colleen’s wildly unglamorous take on supernatural events is always hilarious—and McKinnon’s commitment to the role has left both the audience and her fellow cast members in stitches. ...
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August 13, 2025 56 mins
Before the monologue, before the music, it all starts with the Cold Open. Nick looks back at the iconic opening sketch format that has kicked off nearly every Saturday Night Live since its debut. From absurd beginnings like “feeding your fingertips to the wolverines,” to sharp political parodies featuring Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, Will Ferrell’s George W. Bush, and Amy Poehler’s Hillary Clinton, the Cold Open has always set the tone...
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August 6, 2025 57 mins
Nick uncorks a deep dive into one of Saturday Night Live’s most chaotic and beloved characters: Drunk Uncle. Created by Colin Jost and Bobby Moynihan, and hilariously portrayed by Moynihan, Drunk Uncle stumbled his way through a series of gloriously incoherent rants on Weekend Update. Whether he was griping about millennials, politics, or why everything used to be better, his politically incorrect tirades somehow remained laugh-out...
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Nick takes a hilarious stroll through one of SNL’s most unforgettable Weekend Update staples: The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With at a Party. Brought to life by Cecily Strong, the character is a perfect storm of chaotic energy, social cluelessness, and half-formed outrage, all filtered through a haze of phone-checking and wildly misguided opinions. The episode dives into how this brilliantly jumbled creation c...
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July 23, 2025 57 mins
Nick returns to the oddball corner of Saturday Night Live with another dive into the infamous 12:50 sketches. These are the sketches that are too strange, too awkward, or too experimental to air any earlier, so they’re tucked away at the end of the show when the audience thins out and the rules seem to loosen. This collection includes appearances by Anna Faris, Alec Baldwin, Catherine O’Hara, and even Oprah Winfrey. Sketches range...
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Nick dives into the legacy of one of SNL’s most gloriously unhinged characters—Herb Welch, the crusty, confused, and wildly inappropriate newsman brought to life by Bill Hader. Inspired by a listener’s email, this episode revisits every appearance Herb ever made, complete with microphone assaults, accidental racism, and the kind of chaotic energy only Hader could channel live on air. Alongside the audio clips, Nick offers behind-th...
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July 9, 2025 56 mins
Nick takes a deep dive into one of Saturday Night Live's most memorable pop culture moments: Billy Crystal’s portrayal of Fernando, the charmingly ridiculous send-up of Fernando Lamas. With his slick hair, oversized sunglasses, and that unforgettable line—“You look marvelous!”—Fernando became an SNL staple and a catchphrase machine that took the mid-80s by storm. The episode revisits classic trips to “Fernando’s Hideaway,” featurin...
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Nick is joined by music and entertainment journalist Jim Ryan from Forbes.com for a lively trip through Saturday Night Live history. A lifelong fan of the show, Jim counts down his five favorite sketches of all time—starting with Tom Hanks' iconic entry into the Five-Timers Club and ending with a brilliantly unhinged Will Ferrell as Neil Diamond in a VH1 Storytellers parody. Along the way, there’s love for Belushi’s “Little Chocola...
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June 25, 2025 51 mins
Nick revisits Joan Rivers' one and only stint as host of Saturday Night Live, a wild ride that aired in April 1983. At the time, Rivers was a comedy powerhouse—known for her sharp tongue, fearless punchlines, and an endless supply of Liz Taylor jokes. While the sketches written for her weren’t exactly Emmy material, she powered through with her trademark grit and timing, turning even the clunkiest bits into something watchable. Hig...
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June 18, 2025 59 mins
Nick dives into a BuzzFeed survey rounding up some of the most beloved Saturday Night Live sketches of all time, as voted on by fans. From outrageous characters to iconic moments, these picks span generations—and the people definitely have good taste. Highlights include Will Ferrell, Jimmy Fallon, and Sean Hayes battling fashion snobbery (and microscopic cell phones) in “Jeffrey’s,” Christopher Walken’s unforgettable turn as the e...
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Nick wraps up the landmark 50th season of Saturday Night Live with a deep dive into the year’s biggest moments—onstage and off. From the premiere to the finale, he revisits the standout sketches, hosts, musical guests, surprise cameos, and the behind-the-scenes specials that marked this milestone season. The 2024 election loomed large, shaping much of the material, and Nick breaks down how the show navigated it all. He also counts...
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