That Show Hasn't Been Funny In Years: an SNL podcast on Radio Misfits Nick Digilio / Radio Misfits Podcast Network

"Monty Python's Flying Circus" was a major influence on the early days of "Saturday Night Live." As Monty Python gained huge popularity in America, SNL was also making its mark. In this episode, Nick looks back at the time Michael Palin and John Cleese appeared on SNL in 1997—and absolutely bombed. They not only bombed, but they did so while performing one of Python's most beloved and hilarious sketches: "The Dead Parrot."

Nick provides a complete history of the "Dead Parrot" sketch and details all the appearances Monty Python members have made on SNL, featuring many audio clips. You'll also hear how Chevy Chase essentially owes his SNL career to Monty Python. This episode includes three versions of the classic parrot sketch (including the infamous night it tanked on SNL), a strange appearance by Graham Chapman on a 1982 episode, and the Cold Open that Palin and Cleese performed the same night they bombed with the "Dead Parrot."

The relationship between Python and SNL is both significant and historic, and this episode of "That Show..." offers deeper insight into their influential comic connection. [Ep77]

Season 49 of "Saturday Night Live" has wrapped, and in this episode, Nick takes a comprehensive look back at the entire season. He reviews all 20 episodes, sharing dates, details, behind-the-scenes stories, and more. Nick ranks the episodes from best to worst, discussing the standout hosts and musical guests, both good and bad. He also highlights the top five funniest sketches of the year.

Featured hosts include Timothee Chalamet, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin, Kristen Wiig, Sydney Sweeney, Ryan Gosling, and others. Nick provides a fun rundown of the best performances by cast members like Heidi Gardner, Andrew Dismukes, Kenan Thompson, Michael Longfellow, and Chloe Fineman.

Season 49 was a solid year for SNL, filled with ups and downs, big laughs, groans, and memorable moments. All of this is showcased in this special episode of "That Show..." [Ep76]

Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the most acclaimed writer/directors in the history of film, with such credits as: "Boogie Nights," "Magnolia," "Punch-Drunk Love," There Will Be Blood," "Licorice Pizza," and more. In this episode, Nick looks back at P.T.A.'s connection to "Saturday Night Live," including talking about his early love of watching SNL, some of the sketches he has written for the show in the past, and the fact that his life-partner is legendary former cast member Maya Rudolph. You'll hear about how Rudolph and Anderson met, how Paul was inspired to write "Punch-Drunk Love" after watching a classic Adam Sandler sketch from 1993, and it all leads up to the satire of MTV's "FANatic" series that he wrote and directed for the Ben Affleck-hosted episode from February 2000. You'll hear the sketch itself, learn how it was written, and get details of the behind-the-scenes madness of the week leading up to the show (Fiona Apple, who was dating Anderson at the time, shares some thoughts as well). One of the world's best filmmakers made a weird, disturbing, hilarious little film for SNL, and you'll get all the details in this episode of "That Show..." [Ep75]

On Saturday, December 11, 1982, actor Nick Nolte was supposed to be the host of "Saturday night Live," but (for unexplained, and possibly booze related reasons) he was a no-show. Instead, for the first - and only - time, a current cast member stepped in as host, and it was: Eddie Murphy. In this episode of "THAT SHOW...", Nick looks back at that infamous SNL in which Murphy stepped in for his "48Hrs" co-star to host. He did the Cold Open alone, had a snappy monologue, and killed in sketches, but he caused tension between the rest of the understandably frustrated cast members, and confused many of the viewers. Nick will analyze and take you through the entire episode from top to bottom. It features funny work from Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mary Gross, Joe Piscopo, and, of course, Murphy, but it also features not so funny sketches about Herpes Simplex 2, Rubiks Cube Hand-Grenades, and a wacky dance theater for the blind. Eddie Murphy was only 21 years old, had a hit movie & comedy album, and was on top of the world, but this desperate gimmick ultimately did not sit well with most people, especially since he introduced the episode with the sentence: "Live from New York, it's The Eddie Murphy Show! [Ep74]

Nick looks back at some of the most memorable characters in "Saturday Night Live" history that never took really off and became as legendary as they should have. The outrageous ESPN commentators Pete Twinkle and Greg Stink (played by Jason Sudeikis and Will Forte) are featured here, along with Lilith-Fair standup comedian/singer Cinder Calhoun (portrayed by the great Ana Gasteyer), novelty toy creators the Minkmans (Billy Crystal and Christopher Guest) and finally, the shady lawyer Nathan Thurm (a brilliant Martin Short). You'll hear the background of each funny creation, how they were created, and which episodes each of the characters appeared on. Plus, you'll hear the hilarious origin story of Nathan Thurm as told by Martin Short to Conan O'Brien, and more. These underrated characters may not have the most quoted catch phrases of all time, or most popular merch ever sold, but they are very funny, and very memorable nonetheless. [Ep73]

Breaking character and laughing during a sketch on "Saturday Night Live" used to be frowned upon back in the day, but over the years, performers cracking up and losing it on stage, has become a thing that audiences love, and that Lorne Michaels more than tolerates. In this episode, Nick plays back some classic examples of "breaking" during sketches, and gives you the background of each sketch, and the story behind the comedic disruptions that occurred. From one of the first examples (way back in 1976, featuring Candice Bergen and Gilda Radner), to a now legendary example from just a few weeks ago (involving Heidi Gardner and a couple of characters who look like Beavis and Butthead), people losing it on the stage in Sudio 8H is not uncommon, and you will hear all about 5 classic bits. Featuring hilarious work from Drew Barrymore, Ryan Gosling, Jimmy Fallon (perhaps The King of Breaking), Josh Brolin, Will Ferrell, Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Mike Day, and, Hader visiting Seth Meyers' show and more. The cast may have laughed, but so did the audience with these memorable moments from SNL. [Ep72]