Episodes
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Will Forte made it into the Hall of Fame Class of Season Six with 78.89% of his second ballot. Now let's rewind to his nominees episode featuring special guest. Jon Schneider.
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🎉 Class of Season Six Revealed! 🎉
It’s the Season Six Showcase Spectacular of the SNL Hall of Fame Podcast, and we’re closing out this season with a bang! Your host jDis joined by the one and only Jon Schneider of the Saturday Night Network to unveil the latest inductees into the SNL Hall of Fame.
We take a nostalgic trip through the Hall, share hot takes, and explore the surprising, the deserving, and the downright snubbed members of the ballot. From cast members to writers, to the hosts who shaped the show, this episode is jam-packed with SNL goodness.
Who made it in? 🤔 Who just missed the cut? And what’s the future of the Hall of Fame as we gear up for Season Seven? Tune in and find out!
✨ Inductees of the Class of Season Six ✨
• 🏆 Buck Henry – Legendary 70s host finally gets his due!
• 🏆 Jack Handey – The mind behind Deep Thoughts takes his place!
• 🏆 Kate McKinnon – A fan favorite and one of SNL’s brightest stars!
• 🏆 Adam Sandler – Comedy icon and 90s powerhouse makes it in!
• 🏆 Will Forte – The king of the 10-to-1 sketch joins the elite!
Highlights & Timestamps
• [4:45] – A deep dive into the composition of the Hall of Fame so far. Who’s in? Who’s out?
• [18:24] – The moment you’ve been waiting for the unveiling of the Class of Season Six!
• [33:56] – Closing thoughts and a look ahead to Season Seven, returning on January 20th!
Connect with Us!
Join the conversation and keep up with all things SNL Hall of Fame:
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And don’t forget to check out Jon Schneider and the team at the Saturday Night Network for all your SNL insights, breakdowns, and season 50 coverage! 🎤📺
🕺💡 “As you pass the Weekend Update exhibit on your way out, please turn off the lights… because the SNL Hall of Fame is now closed!” 🕺💡
See you for Season Seven on January 20th!
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Missing episodes?
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Episode 18: Season Six Round Table
Welcome to Episode 18 of The SNL Hall of Fame! Host Thomas Sena sits down with Billy Kenney and Shari Fesko for an engaging roundtable discussion on Saturday Night Live and their ballots for this Season's Hall of Fame! This episode dives into the show’s cultural impact, the magic of live television, and the moments that make SNL a comedy institution.
What’s Inside This Episode?
• A reflection on SNL’s evolution and its role as a “time capsule” of cultural moments.
• Highlights of memorable sketches and performers who defined eras.
• Honest conversations about the challenges and unpredictability of live TV.
Get Involved: Cast Your Vote!
Be part of the legacy by voting for the Class of Season 6! Voting opens Monday, December 2nd, and the deadline is Friday, March 13th, at midnight. Who will make the Hall of Fame this year? It’s up to you!
Looking Ahead
Season Seven of The SNL Hall of Fame premieres on Monday, January 20th, 2025. Don’t miss a single episode—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform!
Join the Conversation
We want to hear from you! Share your favorite SNL moments or let us know who deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame. Connect with us:
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Your Support Matters
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it helps other SNL fans discover the show. Follow us on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive discussions.
🎙️ The SNL Hall of Fame: Celebrating the best of Saturday Night Live, one legend at a time.
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Episode 17: Honoring Dick Ebersol with the Don Pardo Award
Welcome back, SNL diehards! In this special episode of The SNL Hall of Fame, host jD is joined by Matt Ardill and Joe Gannon as they celebrate the legacy of Dick Ebersol, this year’s recipient of the prestigious Don Pardo Award. Ebersol’s contributions to Saturday Night Live helped shape the show into the cultural powerhouse we know and love today. Tune in as we dive into his incredible impact and share why he deserves this iconic recognition.
🏆 The Don Pardo Award: A Legacy of Excellence
With three honorees now, this award continues to spotlight giants of SNL history. Following Don Pardo and The Saturday Night Live Band, we’re proud to welcome Dick Ebersol into the Hall of Fame.
🗳️ Vote Now for the Class of Season 6!
The ballots are open starting Monday, March 2nd. Don’t miss your chance to decide who joins the Hall of Fame this year! Voting ends Friday, March 13th, at midnight. Be part of SNL history by casting your vote today.
📢 We Want to Hear From You!
Let’s keep the conversation going! Share your favorite Dick Ebersol moments or tell us who you’re voting for in the Class of Season 6:
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🎧 Subscribe & Stay Tuned!
Never miss an episode of The SNL Hall of Fame! Hit that subscribe button, leave a review, and share this podcast with your fellow SNL enthusiasts. Let’s celebrate the legends who’ve made Saturday nights unforgettable.
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Aidy Bryant
Get ready to laugh! In this episode, host jD is joined by our fantastic panelists Joe and Shari to celebrate the comedic genius of Aidy Bryant. From her unforgettable sketches to her iconic characters on Saturday Night Live, we dive deep into the moments that made her a standout on SNL.
We’ll discuss some of Aidy Bryant’s best SNL highlights, her incredible journey through comedy, and what made her one of the most beloved cast members. Whether you’re a die-hard SNL fan or just discovering the magic of Aidy Bryant, this episode is for you!
🎉 Class of Season 6 Voting Alert! 🎉
Mark your calendars! Voting begins Monday, December 2nd, and runs until Friday, March 13th at midnight. Make your voice heard—vote for your favorite SNL legends to join the Hall of Fame!
Join the Fun:
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🎙️ Love what you hear? Subscribe to The SNL Hall of Fame Water Cooler Podcast and leave us a review! Join the conversation and share your favorite Aidy Bryant sketches with us.
Let’s keep the SNL fandom alive—one laugh at a time!
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Aidy Bryant
Welcome back, SNL Hall of Fame fans! In this exciting episode, hosts jD, Thomas Sena, and Matt Ardill dive deep into the illustrious career of Aidy Bryant. From her hilarious characters to her unforgettable moments on Saturday Night Live, we’ll unpack what made Aidy a standout in SNL’s comedic history.
Joining us this week is special guest Rebecca North, who brings her unique insights and favorite Aidy Bryant sketches to the discussion. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to her work, this episode is packed with laughter, behind-the-scenes trivia, and engaging debates about the evolution of SNL comedy.
📢 Don’t miss out! The Class of Season 6 voting opens on Monday, December 2nd, and we need your voice! Make sure to cast your votes before the deadline on Friday, March 13th at midnight.
Join the Conversation:
💬 Share your favorite Aidy Bryant sketches or SNL moments with us!
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🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review—it helps more fans discover the show!
Tune in, laugh along, and let’s celebrate all things Saturday Night Live!
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Bobby Moynihan
This week on The SNL Hall of Fame Water Cooler, Shari and Joe take over hosting duties while jD, is on assignment in Guam (we’ll miss you, jD!). Get ready for a lively discussion about the comedic brilliance of Bobby Moynihan, one of SNL’s most beloved cast members. From his hilarious characters like “Drunk Uncle” and "Ass Dan" to his standout moments in classic SNL episodes, we explore the legacy he’s left on Saturday Night Live.
🗳️ Don’t Forget to Vote!
The Class of Season 6 voting opens on Monday, March 2nd! Cast your votes and help determine the next inductees into The SNL Hall of Fame. But hurry—voting closes Friday, March 13th, at midnight! This year, several fan favorites are in jeopardy of falling off the ballot, so make your voice heard.
📢 We Want to Hear From You!
What’s your favorite Bobby Moynihan sketch? Share your thoughts in our Facebook group or tag us on Instagram! Your input could be featured in a future episode.
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🎙️ The SNL Hall of Fame Water Cooler is a show for diehard Saturday Night Live fans. If you love SNL as much as we do, subscribe and join the fun!
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🎉 Bobby Moynihan 🎉
In this episode of the SNL Hall of Fame podcast, your favorite hosts, jD, Matt Ardill, and Thomas Sena, are joined by the insightful Sammy Kay to nominate none other than Bobby Moynihan for the SNL Hall of Fame! 🎭 From Weekend Update magic to unforgettable characters, Bobby’s decade-long tenure on Saturday Night Live is nothing short of legendary.
✨ Join us as we dive into:
• Bobby’s journey from lifeguard to SNL superstar 🏊♂️
• His impact as a comedic powerhouse and team player 💪
• Why Bobby deserves a spot in the SNL Hall of Fame 🏆
💬 Got thoughts about Bobby’s nomination? We’d love to hear them! Join the conversation in our Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/snlhof.
Don’t miss an episode—hit that subscribe button NOW! 🔔 Love what you’re hearing? Leave us a glowing review and help us spread the word about SNL’s greatest. 🌟 Your support fuels the Hall of Fame journey!
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Let’s celebrate the legends of sketch comedy together! 🎤
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Jon Lovitz
Welcome to Episode 13 of The SNL Hall of Fame Water Cooler, where jD, Joe, and Shari gather for a lively conversation celebrating the one and only Jon Lovitz. This episode explores Lovitz’s legendary characters and classic Saturday Night Live sketches, showcasing why he’s an essential figure in the SNL Hall of Fame.
This episode also features Matt’s Trivia Corner, where Matt dazzles with knowledge and challenging questions about Jon Lovitz’s career. It’s a fun dive into the finer details that only true SNL aficionados will appreciate.
In addition, Thomas sits down with our special guest Brad Robinson from The Not Ready for Prime Time Podcast (notready4ptpod.com) for an insightful discussion. Brad shares his expertise and love for SNL, diving into what makes Lovitz a unique and unforgettable cast member and offering his take on the impact of the show on modern comedy.
Are you a die-hard SNL fan? Subscribe today to catch every episode of The SNL Hall of Fame Water Cooler. Join us weekly for exclusive insights, trivia, and behind-the-scenes stories celebrating the best of Saturday Night Live!
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Tune in, share your thoughts, and help us celebrate the legacy of SNL legends together!
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Saturday Night Live Hall of Fame Podcast – Episode 14: Jon Lovitz
In this episode, jD and the crew dive into the SNL career of Saturday Night Live legend Jon Lovitz, a cast member known for his distinct comedic style and unforgettable characters. Join us as we revisit Lovitz’s classic SNL sketches, iconic moments, and enduring influence on both 1980s SNL cast highlights and beyond.
[5:00 - 10:00]: We kick things off by exploring some of Jon Lovitz’s most memorable SNL personas, including his roles as The Pathological Liar and Master Thespian. Lovitz’s comedic timing and unique character choices continue to resonate with fans today.
[15:00 - 20:00]: Discover what made Lovitz stand out among other SNL cast members and why his performances are remembered as some of the best of his era.
[25:00 - 30:00]: We delve into Lovitz’s top sketches, unpacking the reasons his characters, from the theatrical to the absurd, left an indelible mark on Saturday Night Live.
[35:00 - 40:00]: Thomas and Brad analyze how Lovitz’s influence spread beyond his SNL years, shaping future SNL generations and setting a bar for comedy within and outside of the show.
[45:00 - 50:00]: Reflecting on the late 80s and early 90s, we consider how Jon Lovitz’s work contributed to what many consider a “golden era” for SNL. Lovitz’s bold character choices made him a fan favorite, and his legacy is still celebrated in today’s comedy circles.
[55:00 - 1:00:00]: We wrap up the Jon Lovitz’s episiode with his post-SNL career and his impact on comedy’s evolution.
If you love reliving iconic SNL moments and exploring the legacies of SNL Hall of Fame legends like Jon Lovitz, subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite platform. Join our community on social media @snlhof, become part of the discussion in our Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/snlhof, and visit dewvre.com/snlhof for more insights and updates. Don’t miss future episodes as we continue to celebrate the legends who defined Saturday Night Live!
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SNL Hall of Fame Water Cooler: Jack White and Musical Guests on SNL
Welcome to this week’s SNL Hall of Fame Water Cooler! Host jD and co-hosts Joe and Shari dive into the world of Saturday Night Live musical guests, discussing Jack White’s impressive five-time appearances and his unique contributions to SNL’s musical legacy. They break down Jack’s performances, his versatility, and why he should be considered for the Hall of Fame. Plus, hear their thoughts on this week’s SNL episode hosted by John Mulaney, including favorite sketches and Hall of Shame moments.
Episode Highlights:
• Jack White’s Path on SNL – From The White Stripes to his solo work, we discuss Jack White’s evolution and impact on SNL, including his role as a last-minute replacement and his distinct live performances.
• Musical Guests and Hall of Fame Potential – Joe and Shari debate whether musical guests should be held to the same Hall of Fame standards as other SNL contributors.
• SNL Hall of Shame Picks – The team highlights sketches and moments that didn’t quite hit the mark this week.
• John Mulaney’s Hosting Return – The best and worst sketches from the latest Mulaney-hosted episode, and why the classic recurring sketches keep fans coming back.
Connect with Us
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Thanks for tuning in to SNL Hall of Fame Water Cooler. Don’t miss next week’s episode as we discuss Bobby Moynihan’s potential for the Hall of Fame with special guest Sammy Kay!
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Jack White
Welcome to another episode of The SNL Hall of Fame with your host, jD! This week, we explore Jack White’s journey as a recurring Saturday Night Live musical guest, examining his unforgettable performances and their impact on SNL’s musical landscape. Join jD as he discusses White’s iconic appearances, the role of musical guests in SNL’s history, and the debate over whether these guests deserve a place in the SNL Hall of Fame.
Episode Highlights
• [4:50] Introduction to Jack White’s Legacy on SNL
jD introduces the episode and dives into Jack White’s history with Saturday Night Live, from his early days with The White Stripes to his solo performances.
• [24:05] White Stripes to Solo Career: Jack White’s Evolution
Explore how Jack White’s performances evolved on SNL, including his transition from The White Stripes to his solo career and unique collaborations on stage.
• [43:17] Lorne Michaels and the Role of SNL’s Musical Guests
jD examines Lorne Michaels’ influence in shaping SNL’s musical guest lineup and how Jack White exemplifies the qualities of an SNL Hall of Fame candidate.
• [1:07:09] The Debate: Should Musical Guests Be Inducted?
A thoughtful discussion on whether musical guests, including Jack White, should be recognized in the SNL Hall of Fame and the significance of their contributions to the show.
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In this episode of The SNL Hall of Fame, we explore SNL musical guests, best SNL sketches, and the history of Saturday Night Live with a focus on Jack White’s impact. Join jD for discussions about SNL cast interviews, SNL guest hosts, and the iconic moments that continue to shape SNL’s legacy. Who will be elected into the hall this season? Stay tuned!
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In this episode of the SNL Hall of Fame Water Cooler, jD, Joe, and Shari dive into the nomination of comedy icon Julia Louis-Dreyfus as an SNL host. Julia’s illustrious career, from her early days as an SNL cast member to her legendary roles on Seinfeld and Veep, makes her a standout nominee. They explore her versatility in comedy sketches, her ability to play both straight and zany characters, and how her hosting episodes got better over time.
The team also ranks the latest nominees for the SNL Hall of Fame, comparing them to previous candidates and debating who might secure a spot. Special mention goes to John Mulaney, whose upcoming appearance as host could further solidify his Hall of Fame status, especially with his signature musical sketches.
Looking ahead, they also discuss what could make a strong pop culture podcast and reflect on past SNL episodes, including highlights from the first four episodes of the season. Tune in to see if your favorites are on their way to enshrinement!
Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review. Stay connected with us on socials:
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Join the conversation, cast your votes, and help decide who will be enshrined in the SNL Hall of Fame!
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus - SNL Hall of Fame
Welcome back to another exciting episode of the SNL Hall of Fame podcast! Host jD is here to guide you through another deep dive into the career of a legendary Saturday Night Live alum. This week, we’re taking a closer look at Julia Louis-Dreyfus, a former cast member and celebrated SNL host. Known for her unforgettable roles on Seinfeld and Veep, Julia has a storied career that spans decades in the world of comedy.
Episode Highlights:
In this episode, jD and guest Kallena Steckle explore Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s journey from her time as an SNL cast member in the 1980s, where she worked alongside iconic names like Eddie Murphy, to her standout moments as an SNL host in later years. You’ll hear about her return to Studio 8H and her incredible versatility, whether playing quirky characters or delivering laugh-out-loud performances.
Key moments:
• Insightful discussion on Julia’s Seinfeld days and how it shaped her career
• Memories from Julia’s iconic Chad sketch with Pete Davidson
• How her success on Veep influenced her return to Saturday Night Live as a host
• What made Julia stand out as an SNL host and why she deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame
Do you think Julia Louis-Dreyfus deserves a place in the SNL Hall of Fame? Listen to the episode, and then let us know your thoughts! Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your quality podcasts, and cast your vote to help determine who will be enshrined for perpetuity in the Hall.
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Thanks for tuning in! Remember to subscribe, and don’t forget to rate and review to help spread the word. See you next week as we continue our journey through the SNL Hall of Fame!
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Joe Piscopo
In this episode of the SNL Hall of Fame podcast, hosts jD, Joe, and Shari gather around the virtual water cooler to chat about all things Saturday Night Live. This week, the spotlight is on former cast member Joe Piscopo, nominated by none other than Robin Duke, another SNL alum. The hosts dive deep into Piscopo’s career, his unforgettable impersonations, and his important role in shaping the show during his tenure.
Tune in as jD, Joe, and Shari reminisce about the golden era of SNL, discuss behind-the-scenes moments from Robin Duke’s improv career, and touch on memorable sketches featuring Michael Keaton. Whether you’re an SNL superfan or just discovering these classic episodes, there’s plenty to enjoy in this trip down memory lane.
Episode Highlights:
• [3:29] – Robin Duke’s nomination of Joe Piscopo and her reflections on their time together at SNL.
• [4:04] – Behind-the-scenes insight into how sketches are created at Saturday Night Live, featuring Duke’s work with Piscopo.
• [7:22] – The impact of Piscopo’s impersonations of icons like Frank Sinatra, and how his performances helped transition SNL through a critical period.
• [16:52] – A heartfelt discussion about Piscopo’s versatility as a comedian and his quick wit.
• [25:56] – Shari’s Hall of Shame moment: Why the writing this week fell a little short despite Michael Keaton’s hosting potential.
Join the conversation! We want to hear from you—what are your favorite Joe Piscopo sketches? Do you think he deserves a spot in the SNL Hall of Fame? Connect with us on social media and share your thoughts!
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Joe Piscopo
In this episode of the SNL Hall of Fame Podcast, we dive into the illustrious career of Joe Piscopo, a key player in the 1980s SNL cast and a close collaborator with Eddie Murphy. From his iconic Frank Sinatra impression to the unforgettable Whiners sketch, Joe’s contributions to Saturday Night Live during the Ebersol era left a lasting impact on the show’s history. Our special guest, Robin Duke, another SNL alum and SCTV star, shares behind-the-scenes stories, offers insights into Joe’s SNL impersonations, and reminisces about their time together on the legendary show.
Timestamps for Key Moments:
• [0:00] - Introduction to Joe Piscopo’s role in the SNL Hall of Fame discussion
• [2:25] - The importance of Joe Piscopo and his early SNL career
• [4:48] - Piscopo’s close relationship with Eddie Murphy: The “Robin to his Batman”
• [7:21] - The origins of the famous Whiners sketch and its success on SNL
• [9:43] - Robin Duke recalls working with Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy during the Ebersol era
• [17:11] - A deep dive into Piscopo’s iconic Frank Sinatra impression
• [24:04] - Joe’s commitment to his craft: mastering SNL impersonations
• [31:23] - Piscopo’s impact on SNL: Behind-the-scenes details from the cast
• [41:25] - Robin Duke on the challenges and thrills of performing live on Saturday Night Live
• [49:50] - Final thoughts: Why Joe Piscopo deserves a spot in the SNL Hall of Fame
Why Joe Piscopo Deserves Your Vote:
Joe Piscopo’s versatility, from his unforgettable impersonations like Frank Sinatra to the creation of timeless SNL recurring characters like the Whiners, made him a standout in the 1980s SNL cast. His collaborations with Eddie Murphy helped solidify that era as one of the most important in Saturday Night Live history. Join us as we advocate for Joe Piscopo’s well-deserved place in the SNL Hall of Fame.
Don’t miss your chance to have a say! Vote now and help Joe Piscopo, a cornerstone of the Ebersol era, secure his place in the SNL Hall of Fame. Visit https://www.dewvre.com/snlhof to cast your vote and join the conversation!
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Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to help more SNL fans discover the show! Together, we can celebrate the legends of Saturday Night Live and honor the performers who shaped its legacy.
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SNL Hall of Fame Water Cooler Podcast – Alan Zweibel
In this episode, hosts Joe, Shari, and jD take us on a nostalgic journey into Saturday Night Live (SNL) history, focusing on legendary comedy writer Alan Zweibel and his contributions to SNL’s early seasons. From the behind-the-scenes dynamics of writers like Zweibel to iconic characters like Gilda Radner’s creations, the hosts delve deep into the essential pop culture moments of SNL.
Tune in as the hosts share their insights, sprinkle in celebrity encounters in podcasts, and rank some of the most memorable moments in SNL history.
[00:00] - Intro to the Show
jD, Joe, and Shari kick things off by introducing the premise of the SNL Hall of Fame podcast. They discuss how their rankings and segments will break down this episode’s focus.
[02:15] - Alan Zweibel’s Career & Contributions
A deep dive into Alan Zweibel’s role as one of the original SNL writers. The hosts discuss his relationship with Gilda Radner, his work on classic sketches like the Weekend Update jokes, and his extensive influence on early SNL.
[04:38] - Classic SNL Sketches Featuring Alan Zweibel
jD highlights how Zweibel worked on some of the classic SNL sketches, including the Samurai and Emily Litella sketches. Shari reflects on Zweibel’s ability to collaborate across the writer’s room with people like Gilda Radner and Robert Smigel.
[07:52] - Ranking SNL Hall of Famers: Beck Bennett vs. Sherry O’Terry
The hosts engage in a lively debate over the rankings of various SNL Hall of Fame contenders, including Beck Bennett, Sherry O’Terry, and Bob Odenkirk. They also discuss the trajectory of SNL cast members and who deserves Hall of Fame status.
[15:02] - Celebrity Encounters in Podcasts
A fun discussion about podcast co-host Jeremy Dove’s story of meeting Pharrell, sparking a conversation about celebrity encounters in podcasts and how they add flavor to episodes.
[18:40] - SNL Hall of Shame Moments
The hosts critique some of the weaker sketches from a recent SNL episode featuring Ariana Grande and Stevie Nicks. They call out the misuse of cameos and how it limits airtime for regular cast members.
[23:02] - SNL Cast Dynamics & Cameos
Shari points out the challenges of balancing SNL cast dynamics with the regular appearance of cameos. They discuss how Heidi Gardner and Eggo Nwodim deserve more screen time.
[30:48] - Closing Thoughts on the Episode
The hosts wrap up by previewing next week’s episode, featuring a discussion with Robin Duke about Joe Piscopo and his impact on SNL.
Listen and subscribe to the SNL Hall of Fame podcast for weekly discussions on the essential moments and key players in SNL history. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual listener, our breakdowns of essential pop culture moments will keep you entertained.
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Alan Zweibel
In this episode, we dive into the illustrious career of Alan Zweibel, one of the original writers for Saturday Night Live (SNL). Join us as we explore his pivotal role in shaping some of the show’s most iconic sketches, his close partnership with Gilda Radner, and his later collaborations with comedic legends like Larry David and Gary Shandling. Discover why Alan Zweibel deserves a spot in the SNL Hall of Fame. Listen now!
Show Notes:
• [0:41] Introduction to the episode by JD, kicking off at the SNL Hall of Fame podcast. Shoutout to Gary Seith from the Not Ready for Primetime Podcast, which covers early SNL seasons.
Listen to Gary Seith’s podcast here.
• [2:17] Matt’s Minutia Minute: Trivia on Alan Zweibel—one of the original SNL writers, his comedy roots in Brooklyn, and his friendship with Gilda Radner.
• [3:51] Overview of Zweibel’s impressive writing credits on Saturday Night Live—from Weekend Update sketches to iconic characters like Roseanne Rosannadanna and Emily Litella.
• [6:53] Discussion on Zweibel’s collaboration with Gilda Radner on Emily Litella and Roseanne Rosannadanna—key figures in early SNL seasons.
• [10:32] Analyzing the impact of SNL’s Samurai sketches and how Zweibel took the concept and turned it into a classic series for John Belushi.
• [13:34] Zweibel’s post-SNL career: It’s Gary Shandling’s Show and his work with Gary Shandling, including writing and producing for the show.
• [19:02] Zweibel’s close friendship with Larry David and his contributions to Curb Your Enthusiasm, including one of his memorable appearances on the show.
• [21:25] The deep connection between Zweibel and Gilda Radner, which led to some of SNL’s most beloved characters and a lifelong friendship.
• [28:38] Discussing the SNL Weekend Update format and Zweibel’s contributions alongside Herb Sargent—crafting some of the earliest jokes for the segment, including the iconic “prostitution stamp” joke.
• [36:12] Special moments from the SNL Mardi Gras special where Zweibel’s quick thinking saved the show, as he hand-wrote jokes under the Weekend Update desk.
• [44:02] Zweibel’s impact beyond SNL, including his role in co-creating It’s Gary Shandling’s Show and working on the adaptation of Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother.
Key Takeaways:
• Alan Zweibel was a crucial part of SNL’s formative years, contributing to the success of the first five seasons.
• His collaboration with Gilda Radner on Weekend Update characters like Emily Litella and Roseanne Rosannadanna helped cement SNL’s reputation for groundbreaking comedy.
• Zweibel’s post-SNL career includes working on legendary shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and co-creating It’s Gary Shandling’s Show.
Listen in as we celebrate Alan Zweibel’s lasting influence on comedy, from SNL to Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Connect with Us:
• Twitter & Instagram: @SNLHOF
• Facebook: SNL Hall of Fame Facebook Group
• YouTube: Dewvre1974 YouTube Channel
• Gary Seith’s Podcast: Not Ready for Primetime Podcast
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🎙 The SNL Hall of Fame Water Cooler – Danny DeVito
Hey there, SNL fans! 👋 In this episode of The SNL Hall of Fame Water Cooler, Joe and Shari take a deep dive into the legendary career of none other than Danny DeVito. 🌟 From his first SNL appearance in 1982 to his iconic spot in the SNL five-timers club, we’re here to discuss it all—because who doesn’t love Danny?
Versatility is the name of the game with Danny. Whether he’s making us laugh in the Boston Teens sketch alongside Jimmy Fallon and Rachel Dratch, or playing a Goodfellas-esque gangster in a pre-Sopranos parody, Danny brings his A-game every time. Plus, we’ll chat about his other classic appearances in sketches like Simon and Delicious Dish—yes, the “sweaty balls” sketch, but not this time! 😆
We also get into his multigenerational appeal, from his early days on Taxi and his roles in Batman Returns and Matilda, to keeping things fresh on Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Can we just agree that Danny DeVito is forever relevant? 🔥
Join us for this fun-filled episode as we chat everything from the SNL five-timers club to Danny’s most memorable SNL sketches, including fan-favorites like Gap Girls and Stress Test. And don’t miss out on our takes for the latest SNL season—who’s making Hall of Fame-worthy moves, and who might be in the Hall of Shame? 👀
Stay tuned for next week’s episode, where we break down the career of legendary SNL writer Alan Zweibel. See you at the water cooler, SNL geeks! 💦💬
Listen and subscribe to “The SNL Hall of Fame Water Cooler” wherever you get your podcasts!
Transcript:
Track 2:
[0:00] Hello, everybody.
Track 3:
[0:02] Hi, I'm Thomas Senna, co-host of the SNL Hall of Fame podcast. And I'm Deremy Dove.
Track 2:
[0:07] Co-host of the Lady in the Game podcast.
Track 3:
[0:09] Deremy and I have joined forces to create a new podcast called Pop Culture 5.
Track 1:
[0:14] To ask the question, what are the five essential things about any given pop culture topic?
Track 3:
[0:19] It could be five essential movies by an actor of our choice, or five essential songs by a musician of our choice. We're not making a list of our personal favorites. It's the essentials.
Track 2:
[0:28] And we better do a good job of justifying our essentials because one of us all right all right all right we're having fun all right all right actually why don't we give everyone an out of context peek at what we've been up for a couple episodes right next to me um and we looked at each other and we were kind of like bobbing our heads he wasn't wearing his hat nobody really kind of wearing he was kind of incognito but i had to do a double take that's for real They pumped us up as they have said 20 years ago.
Track 3:
[0:59] I was next to my man Pharrell. Oh, I never heard this, everyone.
Track 2:
[1:03] And today, we're going to be discussing a candidate for the SNL Hall of Fame.
Track 3:
[1:08] Listen and subscribe to Pop Culture 5 wherever you get your podcasts.
Track 2:
[1:12] Someone who has been very important to modern entertainment for the last 40 years, if not 45. He's a very versatile actor, and it's Danny DeVito. And just to give you a recap of who it is hey it's time to gather around the water cooler to talk the SNL show of fame relevant to every generation popping up, every 5 to 10 years and every generation has a specific memory of, This person, just like Catherine O'Hara. So you either have a memory of him from Taxi or Jewel Denial or Batman Returns, Matilda, Death to Smoochie or Sunny in Philadelphia. He's a very versatile actor and they discussed him in the other podcast. And Shari, would you mind recapping that for us?
Track 1:
[2:12] Not at all. It was an awesome episode with Thomas, of course, our fabulous SNL Hall of Fame conversationalist. And he was conversing with one of my favorite Saturday Night Network correspondents, the fabulous Bill Kenney, the fabulous Bill Kenney, who is super knowledgeable about every season of SNL and is a big fan of Danny DeVito. Though, and he and Thomas break down Danny's six SNL appearances. Bill gets a little annoyed because Danny says he's only hosted five when it was six, and that is a peeve of Bill's. He had it with Martin Short, who was one of his last nominee, because Martin never says the number of ups he's actually done. So Bill ranted about that a little, but he and Thomas really beautifully touched on Danny's six episodes, as well as a little about Danny's career. Joe broke that down quite well, and Danny's still relevant now, as Bill and Thomas discussed in depth. They discussed.
Track 1:
[3:28] Danny's time in the 80s and 90s, his last appearance being in 99, his first being in 82, the fact that he brought new material to the game, as well as being on reoccurring sketches such as Delicious Dish, which is one I didn't get to watch, but I'm going to try and look up. And of course, one of my personal favorites, Simon. So Danny really has a breadth and depth of material, don't you agree, Joe?
Track 2:
[4:00] Yeah. I mean, I agree. He's worked with multiple casts. He's been in multiple reoccurring sketches. Everything from the Winers to the Boston teens with Jimmy Fallon and Rachel Dratch.
Track 2:
[4:25] And And he's, like I said, he is kind of like John Goodman or Alec Baldwin in the sense that both in movies and on Saturday Night Live, he could do whatever he wants. He could be sympathetic. He could be threatening.
Track 2:
[4:41] He could be, you know, childish. He could be, you know, he played a gangster. There so he like i think in the same episode he played a child in your favorite sketch simon and then uh he also yes yes it's very it's a very charming sketch uh but it really is so he played like a child in that and then uh then he played a very good fellas um it's like a pre-sopranos sketch and it's something that's stuck in my memory even before internet or youtube where uh he's playing a guy who obviously is a gangster and he gets a call to do a hit and bury the body and um he doesn't want to say that to his wife and he keeps telling her you know you mind your business i mind my business my business is my business and he keeps asking her for advice and you know she's like your guns in the sock drawer and he's like mind your business and he leaves the room and she's like your bullets are in there you know mind your and then he would ask for advice like or directions to like where to bury the body and one of my favorite moments of the whole this is uh she tells her mind your business and she's like well i need to know so i could give you directions i need to know and then he just kind of gives her a look like.
Track 2:
[6:06] All right, fine. You know, you just kind of think, and to me, it's almost like a, like they did the sketch, uh, like I would say early nineties and that's like eight, 10 years before Sopranos. And it's almost a parody of like Sopranos, um, you know, like Tony asking Carmela for advice and telling her at the same time, mind your business, you know? Um, but yeah, he was very versatile where he's able to play a child. He's able to like gangster he's able um there's a couple a bunch in the 80s uh where he um in the early 80s where he's the straight man you know and then uh both two other characters and just to the gimmick of the you know the plot or the sketch um and like for instance uh there's one that they mentioned in the podcast where, he's getting promoted and all these bad things are happening to him where he thinks his wife's having an affair or drug dealer.
Track 1:
[7:05] The stress test.
Track 2:
[7:05] Yeah, the stress test. And it's that where he's just an innocent man to all of this. And then he's also a victim to the whiners. Yeah, being a great actor just helps him be a great host and very versatile. That's just the keyword I'm going to keep coming back to is versatile. Just able to adapt.
Track 1:
[7:28] I, I totally, totally agree. He is totally an adaptable presence. And you already mentioned working with Lovitz. Thomas and Bill mentioned all the work he did with Hartman and Carvey. And you talked about that wonderful sketch with Julia Sweeney. And, of course, the great Jan Hooks. I mean, he really, and you talked about that, Joe, He really touched on so many eras just in that 80s and 90s span that he did. I know that Thomas and Bill talked about Danny hopefully returning. Do you think there's any chance that he might return in season?
Track 2:
[8:14] I'm going to say actually, yes, based on the hosts they've announced so far. It looks like they're kind of going all over the place. They're not just going for hosts to attract millennials. They're going for hosts that attract older viewers as well. And to me, Danny goes right in the middle of that, where older people might know him from older stuff. And then there's people a little bit younger, but still older, people my age, you know, in the 40s, who might know him from Matilda and Batman Returns. And then younger people who might know him from Sunny in Philadelphia. So, you know, the fact that they're going with all these different, you know, hosts like Michael Keaton and Ariana Grande, you know, who there is no rhythm, you know, and Danny fits right in the middle of that. You know, he worked with Michael Keaton twice.
Track 1:
[9:12] He's multiple. Right. He's he's multigenerational in his appeal. That is so true. And speaking of comparisons that there may be, and you talked about that. Is there anybody I know you sort of mentioned it. Is there anybody who's made it into the Hall of Fame that kind of had a similar path to Danny, do you think? I know you mentioned it already, but did you want to expand a little on that?
Track 2:
[9:39] Well, I want to see what you think. I want you to go first because I have a name in mind, but I want to see what you think first. I want to see if we agree.
Track 1:
[9:50] Well, I think we do because you kind of already mentioned John Goodman. And that's the host. And it took him, I believe, two or three ballots to get in. That's the host that I see Danny comparing to the most. but I think he has a little edge on John because John really didn't work with a vast array of eras the way that Danny did but John had a few more appearances so it's kind of he loses points in one area but he gains points in the other. What were you thinking?
Track 2:
[10:23] He comes back he could you know it doesn't and he worked with multiple cast before, so there's no reason why he shouldn't come back and so you know the same way that Tom Hanks, John Goodman, and, you know, anyone else could come back. You know, I mean, Michael Keaton's coming back. Why not, you know, Danny DeVito?
Track 1:
[10:42] Why not Danny DeVito? I completely, completely agree. So I know that we had started a new segment where we respond to the final plea of the guest, who was Bill Kenney.
Track 3:
[10:58] So Bill, now's the time. You're talking to voters, fans, the folks at the water cooler. Why should they appreciate Danny's work as an SNL host? Well, there's so many good reasons, much of which we've talked about over the last 90 minutes. He covers multiple eras. We've seen him work with people all the way back to 1982. He always elevates his game. There's something about a Danny DeVito episode that is special. And he's only the eighth person to join the five-timers club that today it's almost again going back to the sports metaphor things that get watered down over the course of time and they're handing out five-timers jackets to everyone these days i'm looking at you woody and jonah but um yeah i mean this is he got his five-timers jacket before baldwin before goodman before bill murray before walking so he was established in the show before most of these people were and the fact that we haven't had him back should not be held against him because his six episodes still hold up to this day. Some of them over 40 years ago were made and they're still very funny. There's still something to see about Danny DeVito at every turn. Just to see him again would be fantastic. If you see him on Always Sunny on a weekly basis, you'd know that he could still do something like this. He elevates that show. He elevated SNL.
Track 1:
[12:24] He was on six times. He got the five timers. Well, he didn't get the jacket. He got Mr. Peepers. But he was in the five timers club before Alec Baldwin, before John Goodman. And I think that's a really excellent point. So that's that's my reaction is I totally agree with Bill. It's like, yeah, the guy is he's been around. He's done it all. He's still relevant. Like you said, Joe, he appeals to so many generations. So, you know, I guess I guess it's in the hands of the voters. How do you feel about Bill's final thoughts?
Track 2:
[13:07] I mean, I agree. I mean, it's yeah, it's just. Up to the vote, I mean, and they know who, and I feel like multiple people, generations, know who he is, and I'm sure they each have a memory of his connection to Saturday Night Live. You know, so, you know, he was in Gap Girls, he was in the Boston Teens. He wasn't in anything current. He hasn't hosted. He literally hosted, the last time he hosted was at the end of 99. So it's been almost 25 years since he's hosted. So that might hurt him a bit, I feel, you know, considering the competition. But I feel like they have memories of him.
Track 1:
[13:58] I agree. And I need to apologize to Mr. DeVito. Because when we were talking about Charles Barkley a couple episodes ago, I talked about Charles', competition, and I mentioned Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and I mentioned Adam Driver, and I forgot about Danny, and I think he falls right in between those two. I definitely think he's going to edge out Charles, which brings me to the next question, Joe.
Track 2:
[14:30] Mm-hmm.
Track 1:
[14:31] Where are you putting Mr. DeVito in? In that lineup of Charles Barkley, U2, Sherry O'Terry, Garrett Morris, Adam Driver, Bob Odenkirk, and Beck Bennett. Where is Danny falling in there?
Track 2:
[14:49] Okay, so I'm going to do what I did last week. Bottom up from eight to one.
Track 1:
[14:54] Okay, Joe, so go ahead. Tell us your list.
Track 2:
[14:59] List but number eight at the bottom is you two who one of the best bands ever but never really interacted with the cast or the show you know like the way arrow smith or sting has um so you know they're number eight above them charles barkley great cast member uh however snl isn't really his forte he's a better basketball player you know tv personality than he is okay it's more fun seeing him as someone as a non-actor being a host you know than it is him actually being a good host above him is danny devito who is a great host but hasn't any hasn't really done anything in the past 25 years. If he kept it going, he would have been just as good as.
Track 2:
[15:54] Uh hanks or goodman or baldwin or walk-in he you know he just kind of did his whatever five six, questionable times you know five with an asterisk five six with an asterisk times and then you know yeah um uh and then you know stop i mean sammy sosa and mark reguire are gonna have asterisks you know so is danny devito uh and i always and and to be honest if they're gonna do this whole thing with Rhea Perlman, let's do the same thing with Martin short and Steve Martin. Cause, uh, Martin short hosted it twice by himself. And then two other times with Steve and or Chevy chase. Uh, so, you know, let's, if we're going to be fair, let's be fair. You know, same thing with Al Claude one, one time with Ken Basinger, same thing with Roseanne. So, you know, if we're going to do this whole thing with Danny DeVito, Let's go across the board and put Asterix next to all the other all-time great names. Just saying.
Track 2:
[16:58] So then above him is Adam Driver, who is in the middle of a good run. And it's just kind of cool to have this anticipation to see if it'll keep going. I think it really will. still uh he because uh let's say because they announced who's hosting all the way to november uh he you know so like the earliest he could host would be in november december anyway the point i'm getting at is he just had a movie that infamously bopped you know it was directed by francis ford coppola i almost said francis ford's per se which.
Track 2:
[17:37] You know, it's the same. I mean, you know, the one that hosted, you know, the one that directed gangster movies with Robert De Niro, you know, that one. But no, he just had a movie that it would be so cool to have him reference that, you know, have a sense of humor about that. So anyway, so you two, Barkley, DeVito, Driver, and then above that, Sherry O'Terry, great cast member. But like you pointed out came and went above her Beck Bennett who had a longer run you know both being a great fall guy cast member game show host he did all the you know filled all the roles and then above him is my personal fave Bob Odenkirk legit great solid writer from a great age I mean he just it's, You know, like, yeah, I don't know. Just listen to that episode. And I just want to point out, I had a lot to say and I had even more to say. Let's just put it that way.
Track 2:
[18:43] So that's a little inside baseball on the podcast where we talk about the inside of a show. So it's inside, inside, you know, kind of an inception of trivia. Just so and then above him is Garrett Morris and that's because, you know he's done he deserves so much more than what he got I'm just going to keep saying that over and over again he's a you know he was there at the beginning which taking it from nothing to something and then he contributed what he could, and you know and you know they have great memorable sketches from the little that he did says a lot, And, yeah, so that's my topic. That's who I would pick. Now, Shari, so who do you think is going to get the vote?
Track 1:
[19:37] All right, yes. I talk about it from the voters' perspective, the patterns I've been watching over the years that I've been listening. And I agree, Joe, and my predictions of the voters kind of line up at the bottom there. You two, if they get over 10% and can hang around for another season, I'll be amazed. Above them, Barkley, and I think he's going to just eke out maybe 15% to 20%. Morris, I know you love him, Joe, but I just think the typical voter, the casual voter, not going to be familiar. And Oteri, same reason. She's just going to be a bit above him. I think Danny is going to be right with Sherry, but he does have that little bit of a push because he's still in the zeitgeist where she's really not.
Track 1:
[20:32] Above DeVito, I have Driver because, as you said, Joe, he's happening right now. And for all we know, he's going to come back, a la Nate Bergazzi, and do a back-to-back.
Track 1:
[20:48] We just saw it. So it could happen again. and he is very beloved. Right above Driver, I have Beck Bennett, and I think he's just going to be a bit ahead of Driver. Again, people remember him. He's very current. And finally, because of his huge contributions as a writer and the fact that he's so much still in the zeitgeist, I have Bob Odenkirk in the top slot, but this is going to start moving around as we are getting more and more into our nominee list. We're over halfway now, about halfway.
Track 1:
[21:30] So, yeah, it's going to be interesting to see how it all shakes out. But now we're going to switch gears and we're going to go from the past to the present. We just had episode number two of season 50 with, as I mentioned, Nate Bregazzi. And we're going to talk about our Hall of Fame and Hall of Shame moments. Joe, do you want to kick us off? What do you think was a Hall of Fame moment on this past Nate Bregazzi episode? What moment do you think, like, could get this person, whether it's a cast member, host, writer of one of the sketches, where do you see some Hall of Fame potential?
Track 2:
[22:19] I think... I'm going to say the golf sketch where Nate played an unlucky golfer. Now, here's why.
Track 2:
[22:29] It seems like it was written by a new writer. It seemed like a new voice. Now, what I personally really liked about it, now, it was a pre-tape sketch, and they went the extra mile to make it look like a real, like this was really happening, like a real golf tournament, and a guy, I don't want to give it away, uh oh how about this spoilers i mean if you're listening to an snl podcast you probably watched saturday night live you're probably caught up um if not pause come back and then hit like and then listen to the other episodes and then listen to this again and then hit subscribe and then listen again anyway so but no in the golf sketch this is an uh unlucky golfer who accidentally hits a bird and then he accidentally hits a bird and he just it keeps going and it doesn't overstay its welcome and you know and because it doesn't overstay its welcome it feels like something that happened a couple times you know like it he was like this real unfortunate thing that happened and it was filmed like not from close-ups not from like as if it was a movie it was like filmed like almost like how you would film a real golf tournament from the distance. And, you know, the camera guy is just lucky to get these events, you know, on camera and such.
Track 2:
[23:54] And they're going back and forth between him and another golfer. It just felt so real. And I'm like, this felt new and different. And I'm like, OK, you know, hopefully we get more of this, more of this, you know, type of filming and, you know, subtle. And yeah, so that really stood out to me as something that could be Hall of Fame worthy. Shari?
Track 1:
[24:20] Yes. Okay. I got to give it to, I know she's a Bill Kenny favorite and she's a Shari Fesco favorite. She, she's eked her way into my heart little by little. This episode, I just, Heidi Gardner. I mean eating that hamburger in that mile high sketch, mayonnaise all over her face and she's delivering the lines I'm not saying this was the best written sketch I personally just thought it was an okay sketch but Heidi is a hall of famer I do think that she's going to get in if we're still on the air and she's been gone a couple seasons I mean I don't know how long she's going to stay but, The woman is amazing. I can't believe how she got through the sketch. Everybody's cracking up around her. She's delivering lines with sandwich in her mouth. I mean, a total pro, a total pro. So definitely Hall of Fame bound to me. Now, we're going to talk about the Hall of Shame. What moment do you think just makes you shake your head and go, oh my goodness, SNL.
Track 2:
[25:37] Okay, but the shame. Now, I feel bad for saying this, but I just want to say it at this point in time so that in the future, hopefully, I look stupid. It anyway jane wickline uh this was her first episode that she was really featured on she was in a um sketch about a water slide where she was just playing a character kind of like a straight person character then she was featured on weekend update now here's what breaks my heart is she's seeing in both where she's playing a character and playing and then when she's on update playing herself either way she's felt very stiff and nervous you know when she was singing her song she wasn't looking at the camera she was looking at her hands you know she it's just very rookie stuff now i'm not saying that you know rubber stamp rejects back to the minors uh because conor o'brien when he first hosted late night had the same exact problems so i'm just saying If I had to pick a weak moment from last night's show, it's that. Now, she could change. I mean, you know, that could be her charm. That could be part of her brand. You know, and Sandler also had that very unassuming guy who is hilarious.
Track 2:
[26:59] So I just want to mention it, you know, because that's the answer to the question. And hopefully, you know, she'll change and get comfortable. So how about you.
Track 1:
[27:11] Sherry? I see where you're coming from, Joe. She was a big, I tuned into the, I stayed up like a wacky person till like three in the morning and did the live chat on the hot take show with John Schneider over at the Saturday Night Network. And they were talking a lot about Jane. And it was very much what you're saying, Joe, that the jury was still out. She's brand new. So very good point. I know I'm going to get backlash here because this is the new golden boy and I like him I do like him but, I don't know that that Spanish game show sketch. I just Thomas was on last night, too. And he said, well, Shari, you kind of got to watch the show. It is like that. I kind of felt I love Nate in there. Nate did a great job, but I just felt like.
Track 1:
[28:11] I don't know, Marcelo was just a little bit too much, but I still adore him. I think he's great. But yeah, not my favorite of his outings so I guess again, time will tell Marcello's had some really strong.
Track 1:
[28:30] Material since he started that sketch just didn't hip for me, I know it hip for a lot of people, but it just didn't hip for me so that would be my Hall of Shame moment, so I'm very excited for next week's episode 3, which will have Ariana Rihanna Grande and Stevie Nicks, who I love. So looking forward to that. Also looking forward to next week's Hall of Fame episode. Thomas will be joined by Gary Seeth. They'll be talking about classic writer Ellen Zweibel. And we'll be right back here at the water cooler to break it all down for you. I know Thomas is going to do a great job. Looking forward to being introduced to Gary. Really looking forward to that. Looking forward to talking to you as always, Joe. And as J.D. always says, stay thirsty.
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This week on the pod we welcome back our friend Bill Kenney to discuss the CV of Mr. Danny DeVito.
Transcript:
Track 2:
[0:41] Thank you, Doug DeNance. My name falls off a cliff. And now, J.D. Welcome to the SNL Hall of Fame podcast. My name is J.D., and it is great to be here with you all. I am just fumbling with my keys to get into the Hall of Fame. While I'm doing that, I will wipe my feet. Do the same would you come on in as we prepare to go to a conversation with our friend thomas senna and our equally good friend bill kenny is back to join us and they are here to discuss danny devito now before we go any further i want to just make sure everyone is aware of our new you email address. It is the SNL hall of fame at gmail.com. That's correct. I chose the maximum number of letters I could choose for the prefix, the SNL hall of fame at gmail.com.
Track 2:
[1:44] It might seem trivial to you, but, uh, we love to hear from you. So send us those emails, review the pod and for heaven's sake listen to the snl water cooler it's our brand new show on the snl hall of fame and uh we have sherry fesco and joe gannon joining me once a week to discuss the week that was in the snl hall of fame and we touch upon the current episode of snl as well where we identify the Hall of Shame and the Hall of Fame moments of that particular episode. I am out of breath because I have been racing down the hall to catch up with our friend Matt Ardill, and we should probably do that.
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[2:33] So I'm going to make a confession here. Even though the show has been on for coming up to 20 seasons, and this gentleman has been on most of those seasons, I haven't seen a single flippin' episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. And this week we're talking about one of its actors and somebody who's got a long resume dating back to Taxi, at least. I'm sure there's more before that. But let's go to our friend Matt Ardill and learn some more about this week's nominee, Denny DeVito. Hey, Denny. Thanks. I am shocked. i genuinely you can't jump in with the nightmare nightmare episode that would just be too much of a system shock but if you ever have the chance it's it's it is dark but it is funny so i highly recommend always sunny um but yeah so i'm looking forward danny is a great a great actor um, 4'10", born November 17th, 1944, who shares the birthday with Lorne Michaels. So same birthday.
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[3:49] So he's born in Neptune, New Jersey, grew up in a family of five, and was raised in Ashbury Park, New Jersey. He would frequently eat at Jersey Mike's, which he grew up just down the street from the first location, which is why in 2022, he became the spokesperson for the subway chain, Jersey Mike's. He just loved it. And Danny is a person who follows his passions.
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[4:17] He was sent to boarding school to keep him out of trouble. He graduated in 1962 and then took a job at his older sister's beautician salon. She paid for him to get his beautician certification, which led to him getting a certificate in makeup at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. But to get that, the teacher said he had to sign up because she couldn't just teach him on the side. He had to be a student of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, so he signed up and found his passion for acting after only a single semester at the school. Cool. Wildly enough, one of his sister's partners at the hair salon was a relative of a future colleague of his, Jack Nicholson, with whom he performed on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. That's right.
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[5:23] This eventually became a prolific career, including 154 acting credits, 49 producer credits, 23 director credits, 16 soundtrack credits and four writing credits. I mean, how can we forget his performance of Troll Toll in the Dayman musical on Always Sunny? I mean, it's the weirdest one of his ever, his experience, his performances.
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[5:52] But I do have to say, I was shocked to also see that he performed Put Down the Ducky on the Sesame Street Put Down the Ducky TV movie. His range is truly epic in scope um now after starting as an actor he actually shared a small apartment with michael douglas and they remain friends to this day um during his time uh in new york he actually met his now estranged wife rhea perlman well in the off-broadway play the shrinking bride uh they then went on to get a grant from the american film institute together and write the and produce minestrone a short film in 1975 which screened at con and has.
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[6:42] Since been translated into five languages um he was the original casting choice for mario in the 1993 super mario's movie uh dropping out i'm guessing after seeing the script uh condemning bob hoskins to infamy um now he this is another one of those like i i'm kind of glad they didn't cast make this choice uh because i don't think it would have worked but he was almost george costanza what he almost he was in consideration for the role of george costanza it wouldn't have worked it would it's it's the wrong energy but it would have been wild to see Now he has been nominated for Best Picture for Aaron Brockovich.
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[7:30] Along with NOMS for Batman Returns, American Comedy Writing Awards, Berlin International Film Festival Awards, Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, BAFTAs, Cable A's, Emmys.
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[7:43] And more. He is so award-nominated, it's hard to keep track. But one of his earliest big wins was a 1981 Emmy for Taxi, which revolved around buying a pair of pants. About how he was so short and so round, he had to go to the Husky Boys section to get pants as an adult. And that was the plot in a Taxi episode that won him his first Emmy. Um, he commits, uh, like during his time as the penguin in those scenes where you see him like noshing on raw fish, that is actual raw fish that he is just tearing into, uh, not fake fish. Um, he is very famous, uh, on social media for his troll foot pictures where he will travel around the world and just take pictures of his great old big troll feet. Um, and in fact own, he is such a fan of Lemoncello. He has actually opened his own Lemoncello, uh, manufacturing plant simply named Lemoncello by Danny DeVito. Well, short and sweet, I suppose you might say.
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[9:03] Of course you might not say as well. There's both options on the table. So let's get right to thomas and our friend bill kenny as they continue to talk about danny devito take it away thomas.
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[9:48] Alright, JD and Matt, thank you so much for that. Hello and welcome to the conversation portion of this episode of the SNL Hall of Fame. Season 6 and we are rolling in this season. It's been a really good one. Talking about lots of great hosts, cast members, musical guests, etc.
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[10:07] Today we're dipping into the host category. A six-timer? If you, well, it depends. I'll ask Bill about this. But yeah, so there's maybe a little caveat to this, but he's at least a five-timer. We consider him a six-timer. It's Danny DeVito today on the SNL Hall of Fame. And with that, of course, Bill Kenney, just amazing SNL knowledge with the Saturday Night Network, a man who mingles with the stars, with Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi. So he, yeah, he's he. But he kind of stepped down in weight class a little bit, and he's appearing with me here on the SNL Hall of Fame. Bill, thanks for joining me. Thomas, thank you for having me back. This is always such a good time. Listen, I mean, you're a celebrity in your own right, so let's not bury the lead here.
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[11:01] Dan Aykroyd is fine, but the conversation is going to be great with this. Always a good time to talk to you. I appreciate that, man. So you've done a host before, Martin Short. We had such a blast with that Marty Short episode. And I know you're a Danny DeVito fan, so I had to ask you. He's one of the names that I threw out, and you jumped on Danny right away. So before we get started in that, I'm curious, what's going on over at the Saturday Night Network? We just started celebrating Season 50 of Saturday Night Live, a couple episodes into it. What's going on there as far as continuing the celebration here? Yeah, if you haven't checked us out in a while, please do so.
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[11:44] During show weeks, we have a lot of great content from our Hot Take show, which is right after SNL on Saturday night at 1.10 a.m. We also have our roundtables, which dive deeper into the sketches. And then By the Numbers is every Wednesday, and we talk about the statistics, which is where we made our bones at the beginning of our podcast so and then of course there's lots of other content we do in off weeks uh during the summer we just uh did the greatest host countdown of all time thomas you joined us for one of the last episodes of that we had a lot of fun uh breaking that down and uh i think that's where the danny devito uh stuff started right because he was on the very first episode of the host countdown that we did and uh we all agreed, that it was way too low, and I can't wait to talk about that as well.
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[12:36] Yeah, 100%. And I heard how much love you had for Danny and his hosting gigs and stuff. So I had to kind of like throw his name out there for you in the off season. So I love the stuff that you do in the off weeks in the off season. That's where all of us like dorks can roll up our sleeves and get get into like brass tacks about SNL. So I love that you guys do different drafts. There's different like neat concept shows. That's when the dorks thrive, Bill.
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[13:03] Oh, without a doubt. That's when we have, we've had a lot of great stuff like SNL stories, which we talked to alumni, you kind of referenced Dan Aykroyd. We did a Blues Brothers, we went to a Blues Brothers convention, James Stevens and I, another podcaster, and we got to talk to Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd there. So that was a lot of fun. But we've talked to Mary Gross and Gary Kroger, a whole host of people who have had some association with SNL through the years. So that's always a lot of fun, too. So check that out as well. And then, of course, everything you need to know about SNL. And this will be the final plug, Thomas. We don't want to bog it down too much. But John and James have been doing that every week. And it's kind of these 15-minute mini episodes of kind of a starter's guide to SNL. Starting with season one going through. So if you don't have the time, like Thomas and I do, to sit through 30 episodes of SNL in a week, you can go watch this for 15 minutes and kind of satiate your thirst for it.
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[14:09] Now, recently, John was a guest of mine and Deremy's on our other podcast, Pop Culture 5. We did six essential SNL sketches. And I was telling John, like, the everything you need to know about SNL. Those videos are some of my favorite content on YouTube. Just in general. Like, the editing's immaculate. The content is great. It looks great. It sounds great. It's just, like, that's one of my favorite things on YouTube that I look forward to. Yeah, without a doubt. And even people like us who know so much about SNL, it's still good to go back and be able to watch these and remember, what season was that in? Oh, yeah, that's right. So it kind of gives you, you know, jumpstart your brain as far as SNL. If you're not doing it already, make sure to check out all the great content they have over at the Saturday Night Network. Today, we're going to get into Danny DeVito as a host. So a little brief background, Danny did a lot of acting throughout the 70s, mostly playing bit parts. He was in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, a decent amount of screen time. He basically said nothing in that movie, but he was just kind of there smiling and grinning while Jack Nicholson did his thing. He got his big break, though, starring in Taxi from 1978 to 1983. Bill, how did you become acquainted with the peculiar and unique person that is Danny DeVito?
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[15:37] Definitely Taxi. And there was a different time back then where we would watch more mature shows like Taxi as kids because we only had three channels. But it was on this killer Tuesday night ABC lineup with Happy Days and Laverna Shirley and shows like that. And it was, you know, if you've liked Cheers, it's kind of the Cheers that people have forgotten about. It was set in this cab company in New York. And Danny played this very kind of volatile role, you know, scoundrel with a heart of gold as the years went on and you got to see. But that was where I met him. And it's still a great show. It's something I like to go back and watch every now and then. And it still holds up after all these years. It's a stellar ensemble. Yeah, it's one that I keep meaning to go back and try to rewatch. I used to catch episodes every now and then on Nick at Night.
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[16:32] And then maybe MASH would come on or something. I'd hear the music and then that was time for me to go to sleep. But I would catch Taxi sometimes on Nick at Night. Probably for me, watching Twins, Throw Mama from the Train, kind of things of that nature. I really started appreciating Danny and his quirks. And he had this presence about him that far exceeded his stature, you know what I'm saying? So the way he was able to command the screen, it was almost like a Joe Pesci in a way, even though Danny maybe was less menacing, but he was still that kind of intense guy who would just take over the screen, I think, Bill. Yeah, I wonder how people view him, younger people view him today, because, I mean, he was a legitimate movie star. You mentioned some of them. I mean, from starting around 84, 85, he's in a hit almost every year for the next 10 years. You know, Romancing the Stone, War of the Roses, gets into the 90s and he's in Hoffa and Batman Returns, gets shorty. So there's always something going on with Danny. He compensates his short stature with just a commanding performance, no matter what he's in.
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[17:45] Well, I'm really happy. I think a lot of the younger folks still watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Philadelphia so they really like enjoy Danny DeVito from that so it's funny to talk to like my niece is a big uh it's always sunny fan and so it's funny I tell her like have you seen Danny in this have you watched this have you seen his SNL hosting gigs like you need to go check out Danny like pre it's always sunny but I'm glad that the younger generation is getting a little taste uh of DeVito on it's always sunny is that something that you've checked out Bill oh my One of my favorite shows outside of SNL. Yeah, still. I mean, that's something that if I just need to have something on in the background, I'm going to Always Sunny and throwing on an episode. Because it's been on for 18 years at this point, almost 19 years. Yeah. And it still holds up. I mean, it really, it's the dirtier friends or Seinfeld or however you want to look at it. people with no soul who just kind of found each other in this crazy world and don't give a shit what they do to anybody else. And Danny is a huge part of that. He probably saved that show because he wasn't in the first season of that and was able to kind of boost it up.
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[18:57] Make it what it is. Yeah, absolutely. It definitely wouldn't be around without Danny. I think the other core guys like Rob and Glenn and Charlie and them, Caitlin, would tell you that Danny probably saved the show. So I'm really just happy that the younger folks, some of whom probably shouldn't be watching It's Always Sunny, but be that as it may, that they get to appreciate Danny. We talked about, obviously, some of his trademarks, like his stature, his offbeat personality. One thing, especially watching these episodes, and it relates back to something that I've noticed or talked about with other hosts who I consider great, is that Danny's a really good actor.
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[19:41] And that serves him well in committing to these sketches. We just talked about on the S&N host countdown and on the SNL Hall of Fame, Adam Driver, who's a good actor and that serves him well. Danny, you know, I think, like I said, his stature, his kind of weird personality sometimes, I think that kind of overshadows that he's a good actor, Bill, and it serves him well in these sketches.
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[20:07] Matches. Yeah, and it's very interesting to see when he came into SNL. You know, you can say a lot about the Ebersole years that didn't work. I think one of the things that definitely did work is that he found hosts that were kind of outside the box. There was no reason in 1982 to bring a Danny DeVito into the show. Now, this predates most of his movies. He is on Taxi, of course, but he's the the third or fourth or fifth lead on that show but ebersole saw something in him and decided to bring him in uh i mean it's one of those seasons in season seven where we get so many unique we get the smothers brothers we get olivia newton john right after this which is kind of outside of uh normal thinking as well uh and so he just kind of fits into this one of the wackiest seasons of snl we've ever had. And he just, he meshes immediately with the people he's working with. They feel comfortable putting him in recurring sketches immediately and some original pieces as well. So right out of the gate, we get to see what Dan does.
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[21:14] Yeah, so he first appeared season seven toward the end, episode 19. That was in May of 1982.
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[21:21] Interesting timing. And I think it's kind of funny. I almost wonder if Ebersole and NBC brought him on as like maybe to brag on ABC. A little bit, a little bit of a friendly competition there because Taxi had just been canceled, Bill. And that was what his monologue was all about, Taxi having been canceled by ABC. This afternoon, my little immigrant Italian mother, she gave me this letter. She said to me, Danny, I want you to read this on the national TV.
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[22:03] Son, you have been besmirched by men so shallow that they do not know the depths to which their deeds have taken them.
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[22:16] And funny enough, about a month after this aired, NBC picked up Taxi for one final season. So that's the funny side of it. But I find this monologue fascinating because you know i can't think of another monologue in the history of the show that's like this it's very very unique so he as you say you know they're kind of giving a swan song to to taxi and he brings out the entire cast now we've we've seen cameos when when tv stars have hosted before uh the most recent i can think of is like steve carell bringing in and Jenna Fisher, and a couple other people from the office, but to have the entire cast of a show from another network.
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[23:01] Come on to the stage to kind of take their final bow. And it's the only time in the history of the show that we see Judd Hirsch, Mary Lou Henner, Christopher Lloyd. These are big names. These are people who go on to do a lot of different things, and they never appear on SNL at any other point. So that is very, very intriguing to me, that they gave Danny the freedom to do this and find a way to make this one of the most unique monologues in the history of the show. Yeah, it totally is. And just seeing who they would become. People still know Judd Hirsch. He just recently appeared in The Fablemans not too long ago. Christopher Lloyd, obviously, who would go on to do Back to the Future. Who framed Roger Rabbit after that? Tony Danza. So Tony Danza did host SNL. Tony Danza does come back and host, yeah. A couple times.
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[23:52] Yeah yeah but he's really the only one he's the only one andy kaufman comes out uh in his neck brace he's still in the middle of the whole wrestling jerry lawler thing so he has to come out sporting the neck brace kind of keep kayfabe alive uh there but this was neat i love danny's calling out like abc the american broadcasting corporation is the one who canceled us and i'm sure nbc had i if they didn't already had signed the contracts they had ideas probably of like, we're bringing in Taxi into the family, so let's do this. No, I agree. It was just so cool to see all those people on stage. Mary Lou Henner. Yeah. Yeah, it was just so cool to see all those people on stage. I enjoyed it. It was simple, but I enjoyed getting to know Danny and seeing the rest of the cast of Taxi. Yeah, exactly. And it was such a great segue into the next piece where you get to see this pre-tape.
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[24:45] With the opening credits to Taxi, basically, until it cuts to danny getting out of the taxi looking at the building at the abc building and kind of mulling in his mind now this is not something after 9-11 we would ever see again i'm sure right but at the time it was very very humorous and still very funny if you if you can look at it in the frame of where it's at and uh he's mulling what he should do and then decides to blow up abc and drives away like are you serious we're we're on a network television show granted at 11 30 at night and we have the star of another network show blowing up that network like absolutely bananas yeah yeah yeah i doubt that would happen today for for a few reasons i mean of course you mentioned the obvious one but yeah network on network crime doesn't seem to be happening much more they seem to be more buddies you had the uh the late night hosts on cbs nbc and abc doing a whole podcast together during during exactly yeah that wouldn't happen yeah yeah that's when there was competition and rivalry no that was great and we gave he they gave the people what they wanted he's coming from taxi he's familiar with taxi so right away let's do a test so let's do something taxi related that's what we saw with adam driver and first thing, in his first episode, he was Kylo Ren, doing a sketch as Kylo Ren. So we're kind of giving the people what we want, Bill. You like that as a viewer?
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[26:15] Sure, absolutely. And to put yourself in the mindset of a 1982 viewer, you know, the.
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[26:22] Network shows where you were attached to them in a way, I think that is not quite the same today. There are shows like that, obviously, that people still attach themselves to and things like that. But when popular shows that weren't quite getting the ratings that the networks wanted were canceled, people would petition, would not riot in the streets, but they would get to a point where they would do whatever they could to try to bring the show back. And I think this is a perfect example of that. And to have this kind of moment in time encapsulated on SNL is really, really interesting. Yeah, 100%. Just like a bygone era of network TV. It's like a really neat time capsule to see. I think he was kind of light, though, on sketches. I think he did really well this episode. Just a little light on sketches. Were there any highlights that you wanted to talk about from his first hosting gig here? Yeah. One of the interesting things, and this has come up on the host countdown on the SNN.
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[27:22] It's hard to explain to people who haven't gone back and watched pre-2000 that SNL didn't lean on its host as much as they do today. Today you'll get them in 10, 11 sketches sometimes or segments. They didn't always do that back then. And you're right. There isn't as much here. In fact, I think the last 20 minutes of the show we don't even see him. Right. He just kind of disappeared. Like, that's just crazy to think about. I don't know if his makeup from Pudge and Solomon was, like, hard to get off, so they just kind of, like, said, take the rest of the night off or something. Yeah, exactly. Like, how did that come to be? But, yeah, he just kind of completely disappears. But, yeah, Solomon and Pudge is a great one to talk about. That's one of my favorite recurring sketches from that era. I think it's just one of those quieter recurring things that we got. It really showcases Eddie and Joe. And when they bring somebody in like Danny to play off of them, I found that very interesting.
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[28:20] I disappeared last December when we had that big snowstorm I'm home I'm home in my room my cold I try to keep warm I drinking some wine get down I looked out at the bottom and it says on the label visit our visions in Sonoma Valley valley. Next thing you know, I'm walking around some valley.
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[28:50] I'm walking in the valley. It's all over.
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[28:54] I look up, I look up. The executive stress test, I think, is probably the best original sketch that we see. He's working for this company, and he's been promoted, but they kind of want to make sure that he's got the bones for it. So he calls his wife, and his wife is clearly having some kind of intimate affair with a gardener. And you know he's he's perplexed on what's happening eddie comes in as a drug dealer who's saying that he owes all this money for the drugs that he's been taking christine ebersol comes in and talks about uh the herpes that that he gave her so and then it just kind of wraps up with ah well we just wanted to make sure you were okay with uh with this job so um it's all an act and as we find out towards the end so i think that's one of the better acting moments that we get to see from danny in this episode yeah he played really aggravated confused like really well in that sketch that's where his acting ability really shines i completely agree with that that executive stress test sketch again light episode he was in a whiner sketch he played kind of like a somebody who was kind of annoyed but showed extra try to exercise some patience with the whiners.
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[30:21] Well, you have to plug them in here. Well, don't kick the china. All right, I won't kick the china. Just let me put... Here. Give me this. Plug it in. Oh, thank you. Let's be honest. That's good acting in and of itself because those whiners are a little hard to take. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I imagine... In the sketch and out of the sketch. On an airplane, I imagine, for sure. So, yeah, that was awesome acting by Danny. But I think even though he was only in a handful of sketches that night, his screen presence was really felt. And it's not a surprise that the show brought him back just barely under two years later, two seasons later. But you could really feel Danny's screen presence in this first episode, even given the light work. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. It's rare to see somebody come back that quickly at this point in the show. After we get out of the original era, Ebersole doesn't seem to like to have a lot of recurring hosts.
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[31:24] So, yeah, to have him come back, as you said, quickly in season nine, pretty much, I think, is it the second episode of that season? It's episode two, yeah. Yeah, and talk of another strange thing, you know, talked about Danny not really fitting the mold of what you would think an SNL host would be at that point because he didn't have any movies coming out and things like that. Well, now he's hosting with his wife, Rhea Permit. And you say, oh, well, she's on Cheers.
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[31:53] Cheers was 77th in the rankings, Nielsen rankings, the year before. It was not a hit. It was almost canceled. So here it is. They're just starting their second season. Danny's not on any show, but they're hosting the show together. So that's really funny to me to see how that matched up. And the episodes where we get married couples, I mean, take it with a grain of salt. Your mileage may vary with Kim Basinger's and Alec Baldwin's of the world but I think this one works pretty good we get them together a lot which is something that is great to see they're not kind of separated, so I enjoyed this episode a lot yeah I thought it was good the monologue was a little flat it seemed like neither of them they were kind of like we're not sure what to do we have some sort of kernel of a thing.
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[32:49] Yeah but it was It sort of fell flat a little bit. I'll give them a pass, though, because Vicky said this is a fun episode. It really shined a light on a reason why I love Danny DeVito. He plays weird. He has such weird energy that he can convey. The two sketches from this episode that I was drawn most toward had that weird quality about Danny. That's what stood out to me for this episode. Which sketches stood out for you? So the Autograph Hounds one, I kind of got a kick out of. And they reminded me of, you've seen The King of Comedy?
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[33:30] So they totally reminded me of, like, Sandra Bernhardt and Robert De Niro's characters from The King of Comedy. Hey, Denise! You screwball! I said you were going to miss it, and you missed it! Yes, you did! You missed it! I struck gold! No, you didn't! You couldn't! I did, I could, and I would even if I couldn't! You know, as Cole Porter said, it's delightful, it's delicious, it's DeWitt! No! Yeah, yeah, yeah, Joyce DeWitt. I saw her coming out of the Burger King, and I nailed her. Look at this. It says, to Herbie, with love, Joyce DeWitt. I don't believe it. Yeah, yeah, what a woman. They're out there waiting. Dick Cavett comes out, and it was really funny. I think there was an ad lib that Dick Cavett made that kind of caught Danny off guard a little bit. He referenced his hat or something.
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[34:21] Yes, yeah. And Danny was like, ah, so he kind of tried to play it off. Danny's obsessed with Ed McMahon. man that's like his white whale of autographs so but the way they they talk about it there's just like he and uh and uh rio perlman's in that sketch as well and tim kazarensky and the way they're playing that is something of the king of comedy it just like he plays weird so well yeah and i wonder if i i think this is about the time that movie was coming out so it might be a kind of an homage to that yeah that's great i had not thought of that yeah i think because i've recently seen the king of comedy so i'm like oh yeah they exactly remind me of he reminds me of rupert pubkin for me uh one of my favorite and i think we get to see uh as you said the wacky side of danny is uh the small world sketch which just really cracks me up and i know you'll get this reference uh you know it's about 12 years later that we get to wake up and smile with david allen Alan Greer and Will Ferrell and, you know, one of the all-time greats. This gets forgotten. I think this is along that lines and is almost like the ancestor to what that would be, where they get stuck on the small world ride in Disney and they're playing that infectious and annoying song over and over and over again. And, you know, cut to three hours later and now Kazerinsky's dead.
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[35:45] And they're trying to figure out how they're going to get him off this, you know, this ride that anybody could easily just jump off of and, you know, jump on the stairs and get out of there. But I love the wackiness of this and the darkness that's kind of under the cover of, of it's a small world after all. So we get to see Danny really shine here with real.
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[36:19] Try and get us out of here you're gonna have to swim for hell don't be crazy Doris the boat's gonna start up any second come on there's no need to panic it is that darkness and I love when uh and wake up and smile is like a great example and I think uh Andrew Dismukes is somebody current who kind of like does things that are similar is when something just like some little thing that happens in life or some little inconvenience that just seems so innocuous and so small at the time just like freaks people out and and it gets built up and like you like you said like tim kazarensky like dies in the sketch and will and wake up and smile will ferrell kills david allen career and the because the teleprompter's been off the weatherman is dead the teleprompter's been off for like 30 seconds and they start freaking out so i love when something's so simple that hat that just like a minor inconvenience or gets escalated to 11 so quickly. Those are some of my favorite sketches, Bill. A hundred percent. Yeah. This is one of those great moments that, again, I think is just forgotten because it's so long ago and it's in this kind of wishy-washy season of SNL.
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[37:31] Yeah, that was a good one. Small World from, yeah, season nine, episode two. Danny also played a weirdo, a stalker in a book beat. He wrote books about stalking a woman named Deborah Rapoport. And he's just like so right at home with these types of weird characters as we've seen for a long time and it's always sunny but kids danny was doing this in the 80s 70s and 80s yes exactly and i love the way that one ends where he ends up getting shot by the woman he was talking to begin with uh yeah he you know it would be very easy to kind of put him in this uh box of of the character that he played on taxi but he finds a different angle to the smarmyness and the and the real like weirdness of all the different ways he can play that he doesn't just do a caricature of another character that he's.
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[38:28] So I think, again, this is just a perfect example of what we get to see from Danny. Yeah, 100%. It's also cool that he was able to do a sketch with Eddie, with the Dion Dion. It's neat, as comedy nerds, to be able to look it back. That's what's so darn cool about SNL, is we have these pieces where you could go back and say, oh, Danny DeVito did something with Eddie Murphy. They're just doing a scene together. and we're out what other show does that happen where we have this treasure trove of material with these two famous actors and this this might be i don't i can't remember honestly unless i'm blanking of the danny devito and eddie murphy doing any movies together but i think i can think of no but but we have this on snl like that's a part of why i love this show see if you can answer this one look at the screen all right frank is talking on the phone to his good friend Then Ronald Reagan, the president of the United States. Suddenly, the president puts him on hold. What would Frank do?
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[39:28] Well, let me see. Back in the 60s, the candidates lightened him and he switched to Republican party. Now, he's a different Frank now, so I think he let it slide, but he let them know not to let it happen again. Maybe so, Dion. All right, for 50 points and a lot of prizes, let's see what Frank would do. Even though it's a less than great game show concept uh danny really ratchets it up again as the game show host you know they don't just go with the obvious person uh in the host role and uh the the whole point is that they're cutting to scenes of piscopo as sinatra and apparently i i don't know if you knew this um i had not heard this before.
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[40:12] But the entire concept of this sketch was that Piscopo would shoot down ideas about Sinatra for sketches because he'd say Frank wouldn't do that. So he was so embodied in what Frank Sinatra would be okay with that they decided to make an entire sketch about what would Frank do. So that's how the entire point of this sketch is to kind of stick it to Piscopo. Yeah kind of like that yeah that's it that's a that's a fun little nugget for snl fans just kind of them ribbing piscopo for his like adoration of frank and not wanting to like go certain places with uh right right i love it so i think yeah especially as far when you said like as far as uh two people hosting together married couple hosting together uh i think this came off really well. Danny came off great. He's looking like a mainstay on SNL. And the next one, we get to see him play with an entirely different cast. So this is awesome. We see what he can do with another era of the show. So it was season 13, episode 6, December of 87. He's promoting Throw Mama from the Train. Bill, SNL nerd here.
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[41:30] I love it when the host is in a cold open. I'm a sucker for that. Oh, yes, absolutely. I do have a trivia question for you. I'm going to put you on the spot. Oh, boy. I know you like trivia as much as I do. So I went back and kind of culled through the archives of it all. Do you know there's only 10 hosts from the Ebersole era that came into the next Lorne era? Now, we're not counting people like Lily or who were on the original era and then went into Ebersole. I'm talking Ebersole to Lorne, only 10 times in the history of the show in the 35 years since that's happened. And Danny is one of those people. How many do you think you could name? Oh, three? I completely... Did Robin Williams? Robin Williams, yep. He was one of them. A couple of obvious ones with former cast. Oh, like Bill Murray. Yeah. Bill and Chetty. Yep.
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[42:26] I think, I swear like Michael Keaton, but I don't know if he hosted under Lorne. Very good. Okay. That's one of the ones I had forgotten. Really? Yeah, I remember Michael hosting during the Ebersole era. Okay, so he did come back for Lorne. I guess I named four. Yeah, that's... So there's also Drew Barrymore, Eddie, Rick Moranis, another one I had forgotten about because he had hosted with Dave Thomas in the Ebersole era, Jeff Bridges, and Kathleen Lane Turner. Okay. Jeff Bridges is one that, that would have somewhat. Yeah. It took, it took a long time for him to come back. I think it was 2010, but yeah, I mean, it's just kind of because Lauren kind of, it felt like he had decided that that era didn't exist in a lot of ways. He obviously couldn't ignore the Eddie of it all. He must have thought an awful lot of Danny DeVito and what he had done the two times he had hosted previous to Lorne coming back to have him come into this new golden era in season 13. So I found it very, very interesting to see this is one of the few people that Lorne was like, okay, we'll give him a pass. He's too good not to bring back. No kidding. Yeah, that's a really cool stat. I love it. Thanks. Thanks for putting me on the spot. Love to do that. You've done that to me. So, you know, I'm just paying it forward.
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[43:47] Yeah, like to my earlier point in excitement, like they must have really, like Lorne must have really seen something and trusted him and the writers must have trusted him. Again, he's in this cold open and you don't often see that with hosts. And I love, like, that's one of those little SNL things that like I love seeing. Well and again to not to keep going back to the host countdown but that's something that we've seen with the people who are really really good being hosts that they trust him so much that they could put them in a cold open and uh you know often i think the reason that we don't see it a lot is because cold open is one of the last things they do most weeks because it's often topical so there's usually a political slant especially these days um so it's not like the game show that they can write on a tuesday night so the host if they're not comfortable or they're having a hard time adjusting to all the stress of doing the show they don't want to add to that stress by putting the code open and as you said like having somebody like danny who you know you can trust and putting him in there with somebody like phil hartman uh in a topical sketch at the time you know, Reagan versus Gorbachev, was really a tip of the cap to what they were able to.
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[45:01] I think it's also too, I mean, obviously the quick turnaround between the live from New York and the monologue and the host has to be ready for the monologue. And usually, I mean, the host is required to be in the monologue. Cast members may or may not be in the monologue. So they have time to dress and stuff, but the host has to change and then go do the monologue. So unless it's a pre-tape, unless it's something like that, I can see logistically why that might not happen. But Danny was so good here. like it's Gorbachev, like getting annoyed at Reagan's little Hollywood anecdotes and babbling, all of that. So just a really fun characterization by Danny. Really inspired casting. But he could have gotten Lovitz or something to play Gorbachev here. It is important that we do not expect too much from this summit, but it is first step. And from first step, many.
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[45:57] Please, Ron, stop staring at my forehead. Oh, I'm sorry I did it again, didn't I? I'm trying so hard not to, but I've got kind of a mental thing about it. Please continue. Never mind. It wasn't important. Anyway, here we are in Washington, D.C. Please give me the grand tour. And Phil's Reagan is so fantastic, probably the best that we've gotten on the show. And to see the two of them play off of each other, and reagan just keeps getting distracted as he's showing them the washington dc monuments and instead of talking about you know the historical value it's you know where jimmy stewart made a movie or where so-and-so stood on the steps and gave this monologue in a movie back in 1940 and gorbachev wants nothing to do with it and i think danny really plays off of phil so well, So cool to see Danny in the cold open. A light little monologue. He's saying that he went to school with Bruce Springsteen from Asbury Park. So he's showing probably doctored yearbook photos of them. But just a fun, just a quirky little Danny thing.
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[47:10] It highlights Bill from this, his third hosting gig. Gig yeah well i mean we have to talk about church chat right because this is uh you know one of those few instances in the church chat history where the host has done it twice now technically he was not the host the first time he did church chat he was a special guest with uh willie nelson's episode in the season before uh kind of like a crutch because they weren't sure how much willie could do uh so they you know they they picked up the bat phone literally and said you know danny can you do and he came in and did two or three sketches is willie's not an actor and how high is he gonna be well yeah exactly yeah i mean it is the 80s and it is willie so so uh so they do the first church chat in this one but this is the one that's more remembered because this was in christmas specials probably until the early 2010s when you'd see these best of christmas snls um where he's you know ends up singing i think santa claus is coming to town correct yeah here here comes santa claus i think yeah so yeah but yeah this was something that everybody even if they hadn't watched this era of the show was really familiar with because you get to see daddy singing with the church lady, church ladies playing the drums. I'm sure that if you have a kid who was watching this in the early 2000s, you'd have to explain who Jessica Hahn was.
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[48:39] But other than that, you've got this great chemistry, again, with another cast member and Danny, with Dana and Danny. I think they were really good together. So church chat has always been one of those things. It's one of the first recurring sketches that really spoke to me.
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[48:55] So I love going back and watching any church chat I can. and this is one of the best ones that they do. All righty. Now, Daniel, you've been very, very busy. I understand you have a new motion picture out, Throw Mama from the Train. That's right. Wow, that's a charming little title, Daniel. And what is our little film about? Well, in the movie, I want Billy Crystal to do away with my mother, knock her off, because she's a pain in the... Oh so it's a family picture we've done a little film about murdering our mother just in time for christmas how convenient.
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[49:34] Come on loosen up church lady i mean it's a comedy yeah i always remember loving this one even when i was a kid like if you're a child of the 80s you were bombarded with jim baker Baker and Tammy Faye Baker, Jessica Hahn, like, uh, all, all those, like all those people, all this, like, so, so if you're an SNL fan as a kid watching the news as a kid, you knew who these people were. I have vivid memories of like Jan hooks is Jessica Hahn. Uh, so, so this was like, yeah, this is like a, something that's etched in my SNL brain and Danny just like playing himself um it's a good vehicle of course for for uh the church lady to shame him and then show obviously she has like sexual repression deep down in there scolding danny about the title of his movie he's promoting throw mama from the train uh so this yeah this is one of the uh very like memorable i think this one and like the sean penn one the rob lowe one those are like the handful of church lady ones that I'll always remember.
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[50:36] Absolutely. Yes. Yeah, that stands out. Another one that I really like from this episode is Mona Lisa. And it's Danny and our girl Jan are this redneck couple living in this trailer. And they've somehow decided to call in this appraiser who's played by Phil Hartman because they're not sure that their Mona Lisa is the real thing. And of course, it's not. But, you know, it's an easy mistake to make for something like that. It's a reprint, you know, it's a blah, blah, blah. And it just escalates. And it gets into, there's Stradivarius, but it actually turns out to be a little kid's plastic ukulele. Right. And Phil just keeps, you know, dashing their dreams, the amount of money. They spent 50 bucks on this. Gold doubloon, which turns out to be, of course, a chocolate candy. Yeah. The gold wrapper on it, until they get to the Orlov diamond, and it is the actual diamond. And Phil sees an opportunity to fool these supposedly dumb people. No, this is just glass. You are a liar. You get out of here. You're a liar, man. That is the Orlov diamond, mister. We had it appraised at the American Gemological Society. It's a certified stone. Serious. Perhaps I can take another look. No, no, no. Get out of here. Get out of here, mister. We don't need those city folks around here. Go on, get out. Get out. Bam. Woo, woo. Out.
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[52:00] You scared me for a minute there. That phony had me thinking we'd been ripped off right and left. I know it. You know what? We shouldn't have let him eat that gold doubloon, though. That's all right. We've got plenty more where that came from. It's just such a great, great work with Jan again. It's never not good to see somebody with Jan, but I think Danny plays really well with that. That Phil playing the smarmy role is kind of a strange kind of turn of the head because he's always not really in that role a lot, but I think he plays it really well. And getting to see the way that they all play off each other is really, really great. Yeah. And seeing Danny play like a Southern, like a Redneck character, like that's like kind of against type of what Danny will usually play. So that was so fun. Yeah, you're right. Like anybody paired with Jan, it's going gonna make for good watching but it just really struck me is how Danny was playing this like southern character he wasn't playing an angry boss or he wasn't you know he just fell right into this like good acting chops man that's like really those acting chops really definitely helped the sketch.
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[53:08] Yeah, and I mean, listen, we're talking about season 13, and you can argue that this is maybe the greatest season of SNL, one of the greatest, for sure, 13, 14.
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[53:21] And when people ask me about this, like, well, how, why, what makes it so special? I think what you see is, and we'll talk about this sketch now a little bit, the doorman, which kind of wraps up the night. Um you know every it's a buzzword especially within the snl community slice of life slice of life but this is actual slice of life and and there's not it's not played for laughs uh danny's a doorman at an expensive uh hotel and uh you know he's talking to nora who comes in and you know none of the people in the building really seem to know each other because you know coming and going and they're all rich and this and that. But obviously Danny is the doorman does. And Phil is moving out of the building that day. And they start to realize that they had never really gotten to talk to each other in a meaningful way. And this kind of really touches Phil. You know, it's funny. It just hit me. I have seen you every day for years. And I don't know anything about you. I mean, I don't know anything about your life or where you're from or your family. It's no big deal. You know, the building is a big chunk of my life, so I'm here. But still, it hits me like that. Well, you know, I live in Long Island City. I commute. I got three kids. Little one, Amy, is still in high school.
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[54:45] The big one, my son's in engineering school. Oh, he's so smart. My Susan, she's at Queens College. And I love this. Like this, you would not see this in modern SNL, for better or worse, and I think for worse, because there's not a lot of laughs here. It's just three people and then two people having a conversation, figuring out, you know, human way to be. And it's just, I don't know, this is something that always gets to me. I love this. And again, getting to see Danny and Phil work together so much this week is fantastic. And this was kind of the cherry on top.
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[55:25] You said it perfectly. Like this is one of those things that I love that touches on shared human experiences is we've all been in that situation where we kind of get one on one with somebody, the co worker, maybe a family member, like some cousin that maybe we should know better, but we haven't. So we get up one on one and it's like, what are we talking about? And then so they're reminiscing about like, because they only know each other's doorman and tenant. It so they're like remember when that package was delivered and it fell back here like so that's the their only common ground that they're establishing right away is that like a one of tenant and doorman so i think that's like funny and it's like it's inherently funny but it's not like played for like comedic heights necessarily it's very relatable but i just i just love that but there's humanity there because you're right like feel like they want to get to know each other but they're just struggling to figure out the common ground that they have outside of the obvious tenant-doorman thing. Yeah, I mean, they're from two walks of life. You imagine this to be probably a fairly low-paying job, and Phil is the rich person who's leaving this building probably for an even nicer place.
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[56:37] So yeah, as you said, the common ground is really, really interesting. Great season. I'm so glad that Danny came back to play with this cast. He's back the next season 14 episode 7 December of 88 he and Arnold did Twins they're out there promoting that movie Arnold makes an appearance here in this episode they had to do Hans and Franz cold open again Danny's in the cold open Bill two episodes in a row Danny's in the cold open with Hans and Franz which by this point was getting a little stale but he injects life into it as an even more more extreme workout partner with Hans and Franz, Victor, I believe his name was. He's taking it past the pump you up into, you should be dead if you're not working out.
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[57:27] Yeah, and then, as you said, Arnold, I think only the one of two times we ever see him on SNL as well. I think he does a filmed cameo at some other point. But yeah, he's sitting in the audience with Maria Shriver. And this, to me, talk about this monologue. We've talked about a couple of monologues that are kind of, eh, okay. We get to see literally behind the door Thomas. And other than Melissa McCarthy on that Mother's Day episode, do we ever really see this? Like, I can't think of another time. Not on the show. Like, the SNL's released videos and we get to see, like, the host waiting. Yes. Or the James Franco documentary, we got to see John Malkovich waiting. But you're right. Like, in an actual episode, we don't see that. Yeah. And it's all because he had such a rush coming out for the first time.
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[58:24] So he wants to do it again, and that's how they get Arnold involved. He gets to see it live from New York, and they're playing the montage, and Danny's just back there, and you can see him getting riled up. I mean, it's such a tiny space, and it's so funny to think about it, because I think in your mind, especially then, when you didn't have as many behind-the-scenes things to see, you're like, this has to be a huge space. They're walking out onto 8-8. No, it's smaller than a closet in your house, like and you know could barely fit two people as they're standing back there but it's just fascinating and i know i know when i was watching this in 1988 that i just i it blew my mind like it's just one of those moments that you're like oh my god did we really see behind the door so.
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[59:11] It's just fantastic it's just such a great way to open probably his best episode arguably not yeah i think it might be and and that's perfectly for for snl geeks like us yeah seeing that backstage i love danny mouthing when like don pardo's like uh because they do the whole intro and i have forgotten that they did that when i watch this again i'm like oh they might just say danny's name and he's gonna know they did like the whole intro i guess back then there were many cast members so so but you could see a mouth like yeah nora dunn and then he i love how the look on his face when he was able to mouth Danny DeVito, he looked all excited. And then the, you can see the, the, the stage director is like, okay, go, go, go, go, go. And then he, and then, then I love it. He's tired. So he does the rest of the monologue laying down.
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[59:59] Exactly. So, so unique. Even at this point, they had done probably 300, 400 episodes of SNL. So to find a new twist on it was really, really great. And again, to this day, we don't really see something like this. So a lot of fun. This episode has in the running for maybe the best sketch that Danny was in throughout his six episodes. I don't know if we're doing parallel thinking as far as what stood out, but I want to hear from you. There's so much from this one. I assume you're talking about You Shot Me? Yes, absolutely. Yes, I mean, oh my goodness. How great is this? How about you, senor? Do you know how to dance?
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[1:00:48] Ow, ow, ow, ow! Why did you shot me? Oh no, I shot you! Did I hit you? Where did I hit you? Where did I hit you? I shot you in the foot. Oh, no, let me see. Oh, no. Oh, no. Are you all right? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit you. Get away from me. Are you okay? You shot me. It doesn't hurt. I'm so sorry. I don't mean let me help you. Get away. A nothing concept. A nothing concept. And talk about where host matters. He finds a way to make, and Lovitz too, but basically to set it up, he's a Mexican bandolier in this old west town, and he walks in and they do the whole stereotypical thing with shoot at his feet to make the guy dance, and they don't usually hit them, even in the movies, but somehow Danny hits Lovitz, and.
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[1:01:48] It's into, you shot me. You shot me. Over and over. Over and over and over again. And there's so many other people in this sketch, but who the hell knows that? Because it's just Lovitz and Danny going back and forth. Lovitz is clearly trying to make Danny break, especially towards the end when he's in the bed. You shot me again. Yeah, this is one of those, I mean, all-time moment with Lovitz. But again, if you had an off week and this was, I don't know, Chris Everett, this doesn't work. You need an all-time classic host coming in here to carry a one-note sketch like this and make it into an all-time classic. It is one note, but it's also clever. To me, I don't know what the writing credit on it is, but it has Conan O'Brien's fingerprints on this or Smigel or somebody like that. I don't know if your close personal friend, Robert Smigel, mentioned this sketch to you. I don't know.
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[1:02:50] He has not, but I can ask him next time we have coffee. Yeah, ask him. It feels like Conan or Jack Handy or just that whole writing stable.
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[1:03:00] The cliche of, now dance for me.
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[1:03:03] You see the cowboy shooting. But what if the cowboy actually shot him in the foot? And also what if the cat the guy still maybe felt a little bad about shooting him so that goes to his house the next day yeah exactly that's like one of the things he's like it's almost like i didn't mean to shoot him i was just trying to literally get him to dance so that's like another just like layer to this and then i love how danny tries to convince him that maybe we're both at fault if you really think about it that's right and that's when you see love it's turn and really start to hammer Danny with the shot. And you almost see Danny break. I think, I think he does a pretty good job of, of turning his head. So you can't really see it, but you know, what's happening. We know what's happening there. Yeah.
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[1:03:51] Danny seems like somebody who's just always wanting to stay in the scene as goofy as he can be. He seems like somebody who's like, here's the scene I'm staying in this because it's going to make it better. So yeah, to me, that's like a forgotten classic kind of hard to watch nowadays. Days you kind of have to know where to be a sleuth and know where to look but this was one when i was a kid and the you shot me is like hearing lubbitt say that's just all burned into my snl brain again yeah and it's only done this one time but it is one of those things that you would say with your friends and uh yeah it it held up the test of time for a long time to me that's the highlight of the episode but again you're right like what else like good episode what what else.
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[1:04:35] Yeah, you know, it's funny because you wonder why some of the Christmas sketches haven't carried through. And I think, talk about underrated and forgotten, I think the Scrooge sketch in this is really phenomenal.
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[1:04:50] I mean, last Christmas I gave away so much money and forgave so many loons. I mean, I just barely got my head above water this year. Boy, you gave everyone some great Christmas presents. Ah, tell me about it. Yeah, and then you got New Year's Eve presents for everybody. Yeah, I know. I didn't even realize that you're not supposed to give New Year's Eve presents. They were nice, though. Tell me about it. They were good. Well, sir, maybe you shouldn't have given me that raise. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. The raise was good. But I think I should have just concentrated on you and a little less on the rest of the world. You know, it's been done to death. We've seen it as recently as Steve and Marty. You know scrooge is just kind of hammered into the zeitgeist as far as christmas stuff but yeah they basically it's it's danny as scrooge and uh dana as marley and it's the next year so we've moved a year past you know his realization about the world and and how he's been a.
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[1:05:52] So mean to everyone and he's still nice but he's trying to cut back and that's that's really the genius of this concept to me he's paying for tiny tim's medical bills but he's moving him to a you know a smaller a cheaper hospital still gonna get great care and you know dana's kind of a dick in this like he's just like well okay you know and and like he he offers to get him a turkey and he's He's like, well, last year, you know, he got me the biggest goose in town. So he's being kind of, he's being overextended by this. And he spent so much the year before that he's, again, still being nice, but he needs to. And then it escalates where we get Victoria in one of her better roles, I think, who's trying to collect for drunken sailors who want to stay drunk.
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[1:06:44] You know you donated all this money to them last year mr scrooge like why why can't and he eventually is talked into it but it's it's so smartly written and it's one of those things again that just kind of could have been overplayed it's not it's perfectly done a quieter piece as far as christmas pieces go but yeah this this is something that sticks out to me and something that I've almost forgotten over the years because we don't see it in the specials. So yeah, a couple of like really cool, smart pieces with the Scrooge and the, you shot me. Uh, uh, and, uh, another thing, anything else that kind of sticks out for you? Um, I mean, I think, uh, you know, it's another Christmas piece and it's not as good as the Scrooge one we just talked about, but they, they doubled down on wonderful life here too, where Kevin's, uh, in the Jimmy Stewart role and, and looks like he's going to kill himself and, and Danny shows up as his angel. But he wasn't going to kill himself. He was actually admiring life and kind of just contemplating all the good in the world.
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[1:07:48] Dandy's just never going to get his wings because he can't find anybody who's ready to jump off a bridge and uh you know then we get phil and dana in there as well so that's another one that's that's kind of something that sticks out to me that i think i will put into my christmas rotation along with the scrooge one because i i think uh they just really hold up yeah i like that one little parade of ghosts there right yeah and that all the angels waiting for their wings yeah absolutely so a really great appearance that was his fourth gig season 14 episode 7 january of 93 his uh fifth time though according to danny and the show this might be his fourth time bill i don't know we'll get to that uh here in probably in a few minutes but but this is his fifth time damn it and uh what i'm gonna call unofficially the amy fisher episode of snl.
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[1:08:43] Gather the kids around and explain why the hell an entire episode of snl is dedicated to this one story like almost an entire episode of us oh my goodness like but you know i mean you're younger than me thomas this was everywhere and this was yeah i mean completely this is accurate to the time that it's in and you would never see this we talked about alec baldwin on the episode that you were on with us on the John Goodman episode for the host and how they leaned into the Monica Lewinsky thing. And it was an entire episode dedicated to that controversy. And you wouldn't see this in SNL today because it's more of the YouTube bits. What can we put up online and as a five minute thing to have a runner like this.
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[1:09:37] Uh danny playing multiple roles he's playing butafuco a couple of times uh if if you don't know what we're talking about kids go look it up we're not going to explain it to you uh amy fisher joey butafuco it's a real thing but um yeah and and they do this like what four or five times we get this runner throughout the episode and then they do other sketches dedicated to it as well So the runner is like, they start off with Aaron Spelling's Amy Fisher. It's like a takeoff on Beverly Hills 90210. So they play it like that. Danny's playing Joey Buttafuoco. Amy, you really did it this time. You really banged up your car. Yeah. I'll bet that's not all you could bang. Yeah. The only Amy Fisher story told from Tori Spelling's point of view. You know, I've been with the same woman for 17 years. That's crazy.
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[1:10:42] You don't want to get involved with an old guy like me. And then they do a Masterpiece Theater version of it that Danny was in again. Again, my favorite one, Danny wasn't in it, but it was the BET version with Ellen, Clay Horn and Tim Meadows. So good. Yeah. Yeah, that was really good. And the whole concept of this was, you know, we were talking earlier about the networks, you know, fighting each other and how they only had each other. I mean, cable was prevalent at this point in the early 90s, but there was a competing movie of the week for this Amy Fisher controversy. And three different networks were putting on a movie within weeks of each other so that's where this whole concept came from and why they were doing things like the bbc and bet and then eventually getting into an infomercial with ron popiel right jan hooks jan hooks was playing mary joe buttafuoco who was uh joey's wife who was uh who probably who got the crap end of of that whole deal uh i would say again kids go look it up yes exactly but yeah i mean there are some Some good sketches in here as well that we can get into. Yeah, and it's not all Amy Fisher. I mean, it was heavily dominated. The monologue I thought was really cool. I feel like most great hosts have to do at least one song and dance monologue in their SNL tenure. So we get the song and dance monologue with Danny and Rob Schneider doing like a little vaudeville number.
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[1:12:08] You see, I wasn't well liked when I was a kid. I didn't get the attention my siblings did. That's why I'd crawl under a cow and suckle if it would make you chuckle. I dip my face in some acid on your behalf.
Track 4:
[1:12:33] How old were you when you first slept with a woman? Why, I was 32 years old. I'll pick up a radio and jump in the tub. Of all the people to do a song and dance with, I mean, who else but Rob Schneider, right? Yeah, first choice. I'll do anything for a laugh. Yeah, kind of reminiscent of what would come. But listen, it's okay. The vaudeville end of it I really like Because that's not something we see on SNL Very often, maybe a couple of times In the original era But yeah, it's something different, as you said As his fifth time comes around here To find a different angle You get the Watkins of the world Who are always doing a song and dance And this is the first time that Danny's doing Something like this, Yeah, so at least he gets his song and dance monologue At the way That's like a rite of passage message if you're going to be a multi-time snl host one recurring character from this era bill that i've never talked to you about is simon mike myers character and this is the simon that i really like remember when i was a kid watching i remember danny devito in the bathtub this is probably like my favorite installment of the simon sketches yeah they they tended to be a little repetitive competitive uh i mean how much can you do with a a lonely boy in a bathtub over and over again like this but uh it's a fun sketch i like.
Track 4:
[1:14:02] I think this is one of Mike's better moments on the show. He always finds this kind of sweetness about this boy who's been left in a hotel room by his, you know, errant father and the mother who's with the angels. But now this time he's found a friend. And, you know, it's this little Italian boy whose father's probably doing something untoward as well because his pictures are a lot darker than what Simon is used to. So there's a lot of fun here. This is one of the most memorable ones because of the way they're able to play off of each other and the fact that he keeps shocking Simon with his graphic artwork. Yeah, those drawings were really funny.
Track 4:
[1:14:46] Simon's was his dad losing money at the roulette table, so you alluded to a darkish backstory for Simon. And then the other one was a guy that Vinny's dad whacked, and he's dressed as Santa. Because sometimes santa's got to get whacked yeah sometimes yes my favorite part of this though what really kind of elevated it for me is because simon always says like are you looking at my bum you bum looker cheeky monkey so danny's italian i put boy question mark his italian boy it's supposed to be a boy but he's like obviously playing it like i'm like a well the italian man, but he's saying, were you looking at my ass? Don't look at my ass. Ass-looker.
Track 4:
[1:15:33] They was looking at my ass. So that was the part where I really like, that really stood out for me. Yeah, that's the part that definitely stands out after and stood the test of time. As far as this goes you can tell they're having a lot of fun together in this sketch so um yeah to find a different angle with simon at this point was was really great and yeah and danny plays it perfectly yeah quite the feat for that january of 93 that was quite the feat to find a different angle for this one what do you got that stood out to you from this his fifth time hosting you know this fascinates me because it's funny but also because of where of maybe a seedling of the Always Sunny stuff that we talked about earlier, talking about books on tape. Okay, let's try one.
Track 4:
[1:16:27] I'm having a problem with the word at the top of the page. Which one? The P word. Couldn't I just say vagina? Heston, you sound like an old whore. Read it the way Madonna wrote it. Show some respect. So we've got Phil as Charlton Heston, who's going to read the book, and Danny is going to describe the photos, which I didn't know was a thing with audiobooks. I don't know. Is that something they still do today? I'm not sure. But Danny's playing this sleazy Al Goldstein, who's known in the porn industry and things like that. And they're reading Madonna's sex book, which was the only thing that was almost as popular as Amy Fisher was the sex book by Madonna. And we didn't have the internet back then, kids.
Track 4:
[1:17:20] But they're reading from it. And Phil's playing his perfect Charlton Heston. And he's like, I don't want to say that word. Couldn't I just say vagina? And Al Goldstein Danny is scolding him. You know, just say it how she wants to say it. Don't be an old whore. Now, if you watch Always Sunny, this is a word that Frank Reynolds, Danny DeVito, says in almost every freaking episode. So my thinking is that this kind of sat in his brain from 1993 till 2006, and he decided to kind of put a little Al Goldstein into Frank Reynolds. And, you know, comedy gold was, you know, fermented. Like, it's just amazing. Because he says it exactly the same way. Yeah, sourcing like a caveman version of Frank Reynolds here with his Al Goldstein depiction. Yeah. I love that theory. But yeah, he has a lot of great lines in this where he's talking about the picture and he's like, she's squatting over the mirror like she's getting ready to snap the ball to Warren Moon. Madonna, you are such a whore. Yeah, that was definitely my favorite. To Warren Moon. To Warren Moon. And I thought about it. I'm like, who else could have they... I think choosing Warren Moon's the best play. Probably, yeah. So I'm like, Jim Kelly, no, Steve Young. Warren Moon, that's like a perfect one. Exactly.
Track 4:
[1:18:48] So just for its historical possible significance, that's one that sticks out for me. Yeah, that was a good one. Shifty Eyes, I think, is really good, where he barely has to say anything. thing. And it's just, uh, he's sitting in a restaurant with Julia and, uh, she's talking about traffic and paper, her newspaper missing a section that morning. And they just do this dramatic music and close in on his eyes and his eyes are shifting back and forth. Like he had done something wrong. And it just kind of escalates from there where we get Sandler coming in and they're talking about somebody pissing in the ginger ale and, you know, um, Phil comes in as the waiter and says, what took so long? You guys back there jerking off? And Phil's just like.
Track 4:
[1:19:38] But Danny's eyes in this are so great. Talk about a great actor. Like, this is just, he doesn't have a lot of lines, per se. But being able to say the whole scene with what his eyes are saying is just so, so great. And he was given permission to overact on purpose.
Track 4:
[1:19:56] Yes. which is always good i love watching a good actor um be a bad actor on purpose so this was like overacting with their eyes and stuff is yeah really great adam sandler great in this phil as always just not knocks it out of the park uh yeah this this was a good one um hit the hitman one out i gotta kick out of too but it was a guy who wants his wife to stay out of his business he's a mobster he gets a call that he has to go like take care of something but then he's asking and his wife like the best way to get to the place and but she's getting a too specific for him so he's like stay out of my business and so that's kind of like a refrain to dump the body where do you want to dump the body don't ask me about my business yeah and then he pulls a godfather he pulls a michael corleone he's like i'll let you ask me about my business one time okay what do you do i'm an import exporter yes yeah yeah yeah this is great and again you know we just keep.
Track 4:
[1:20:52] Talking about danny being able to work with so many different people on the show and and you know with shifty eyes and then with this one getting to see the underrated julia sweeney play off of danny is is so so great you know it really just is that concept of there's always a great woman behind any great man right like so they they find a good twist to that and i i think this is really well played in something that could have been very predictable yeah 100 and you You mentioned seeing Danny work with people. So you said Julia Sweeney. I got a kick out of seeing him in a sketch with Eddie Murphy.
Track 4:
[1:21:26] He was in a sketch with Chris Rock, which I thought was really neat. It was the adults living at home sketch. It was like a support group for adults who live at home. And everybody's trying to justify why they live at home. Or they don't really. Kevin Nealon's like, my mom's just my roommate. I'm not living with her. But Danny's character has no intention of moving out. He loves living at home because his mom does everything for him My mom says there's only one thing more pathetic than a grown man that lives at home And that's any woman willing to sneak into his room.
Track 4:
[1:22:03] So what does that tell you well, you know, maybe it's time I made the big move it's about that time I made that big move to the basement What about you Paul, Well, some women don't like my bunk bed, but hey, where's my brother going to sleep? Chris Rock, who's completely like, they may as well put him on the side of a milk carton at this point in SNL tenure because he's not in anything at this point. So, yeah, that is a great point. And again, seeing him with Sandler in Shifty Eyes as well, I think you're getting to see him with so many different people who go on to superstardom. Fun time capsule, SNL, just a fun time capsule in general. So yeah, you see Danny working with Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Phil Hartman. That's just so fun. So another great episode from 93. His last one, actually the final episode of The Millennium, Danny has the honor of hosting. It's season 25, episode 8, December 11th, 1999.
Track 4:
[1:23:08] Bill, I want to maybe let you rant about this monologue as an SNL nerd. Thank you. Thank you. It's great to be back here hosting the show. Not only is this my fifth time, hosting the show, but I am truly... Thank you. Thank you. Oh, yes. I joined the five club, you know, whatever it is. I don't know what they got here, but it's some kind of group or something. Listen, you know, we talked about this with Marty. We talk about this with Marty all the time because Martin Short, who I nominated last season, never seems to know how many shows he's hosted. He switches back and forth between one and three and four. This is so strange in what should have been a celebration of really, I think, only the second time we had heard of the Five Timers Club. You know, we get the famous Tom Hanks sketch in 1990. But here we are in 1999, and we're not doing five-timers jackets with every host at this point. You know, it's not a thing. I think Goodman references the seven-timers at some point. He's got a crown with a seven on it.
Track 4:
[1:24:15] It hasn't turned into what it's become today. And instead of getting a jacket, he gets a Mr. Peepers.
Track 4:
[1:24:23] I like to think, I don't think this was written by my best friend, Smigel, but I'd like to think that when I talked to him about the Hall of Fame, he said, am I going to get a set of Peepers ears in the mail? So I like to think that this is where he got that idea from, that Danny was given a Mr. Peepers for his fifth, sixth time. is he going to get something similar for getting into the SNL Hall of Fame. Good catch. But, yeah, the whole concept of ignoring some episode. I mean, we can assume that they're ignoring the one he did with his wife. Who knows? Like, how did nobody fact check this? I know there was no SNL stats back then, but this is an easy one to figure out. And, you know, he just keeps talking about it. He doesn't even call it the Five Timers Club. I think he calls it the Five Club. So it's just so bananas to think about it was a kind of a mea culpa by snl that they wanted to do something for a five-timer sketch and they had missed the opportunity with daddy so now here he was coming in filling in uh as it's as pretty well known uh filling in for jim carrey who was supposed to host this week he was a last minute fill-in host otherwise we would have stopped talking about him in 1993, which is crazy, crazy to think about. So maybe this was kind of their way to be like a little pat on the back, a little attaboy.
Track 4:
[1:25:47] Now, as an SNL nerd, it makes me crazy up there with Marty saying that he's hosted as many times as Robert Blake. No, you haven't, Marty. You've hosted a lot more than that murderer.
Track 4:
[1:26:00] I thought so. I thought of you, of course, right away. I'm like, oh, Bill's going to love this monologue. The one that just like I've always loved that a lot of people don't talk about, like people talk about the delicious dish. They talk about Anna and Molly. Molly, they talk about Alec going on sweaty balls. They even talk about Betty White's appearance on delicious dish. But this one that Danny was on, honestly, to me, it may not rival sweaty balls, but it's right there to me. Like this one's such a wonderful premise. Just like to me, it's just like almost brilliant. Like this is one of my favorite top two delicious dish sketches. But this is just a great sketch on its own. Yeah, I love this one.
Track 4:
[1:26:45] Yes, love, love, love. Probably my favorite one, the delicious dish. It's kind of funny to me, and for better or for worse, what delicious dish became because of sweaty balls and leading into doing another sweaty thing with Baldwin and then obviously Dusty Muffins with Betty, it wasn't always just a play on let's find a nice way to say something dirty. There was a concept behind these two very soft-spoken women and their guests sometimes it turned into something else but yeah this is the most well-written delicious dish in my opinion uh we we kind of hone in they don't mention y2k a lot in this episode which for a show that's always topical they don't really talk about the fact that everybody was shitting their pants whether you know if computers were going to shut down airplanes were going to fall out of the sky because none of these computers knew how to go to the year 2000 But, yeah, this is the apocalypse six months after the year 2000, and he's Chef Willie Boucher on his 167th consecutive shift. So, Willie, this is an exciting time to be cooking and an exciting time of year as the sights and sounds of the season turn our thoughts to avoiding starvation.
Track 4:
[1:28:06] That's right And avoiding starvation means Wonderful culinary treats We can enjoy As we cower from the Aryan blood armies And packs of wild dogs Who control the night, It's neat It's fun And who knows Obviously probably no one's even listening to it I doubt even the radio signals work To me they're doing this Just to pass the time, Oh, without a doubt. Yeah. Without a doubt. I mean, they're making clam chowder out of whiteout. Like, you know. Yeah, I love the character. This is a really, really stellar moment for Molly and Anna.
Track 4:
[1:28:49] Yeah, like Molly bringing up a sex gang that was terrorizing the area. One of their topics was avoiding starvation. Just that simple. I love the line, it's amazing what desperation can make you do. And then Molly uses her example is that she spent the night with the bikers for a packet of ketchup. You're just seeing like this desperation, this just post-apocalyptic world that they're all in. And the topic for the next show was what to serve if you've been paid a visit from the water militia.
Track 4:
[1:29:20] Just so clever. Like, just kind of hashing out with you, Bill, right now. It might actually be my favorite delicious dish. Yeah, I mean, you know, like you said, sweaty balls gets all the pub. But, like, this is really, I mean, even the set design. You know, we don't talk a lot about that with SNL. But, I mean, it's really, really well done where they just kind of char up everything. And, you know, it's clearly been through hell. You'd like to imagine in your head that that's the set that they were on the last time you saw them, pre-apocalypse, and it's just been burned to hell, and they're still sitting there, as you said, talking to no one. There's probably not even wires to those microphones at this point, and they're just doing this so they don't lose whatever sanity they have left. Right. Great. Yeah, great premise. And it sets the template for the show in general. I mean, recurring characters, recurring sketches. We're in 1999. This is what's happening on SNL. So this is a snapshot of 1999. So many recurring characters in this episode. So many. Some good, some not so good. Sure.
Track 4:
[1:30:30] When people talk about, why don't they have recurring characters anymore? There's stuff like this where it's just like, oh, there's way too much. Now, I like to think...
Track 4:
[1:30:40] To ease danny into i don't know how much lead-up time he had knowing that he was filling in for jim carrey but this was an easy way to write an entire show without putting too much pressure on even though he was a you know obviously as we've said a well-established host at this point you know if he's getting a call on monday night like we really need some help here you don't want to have to be like you know hammering him with new ideas so i think but they definitely leaned into to it a little too much yeah uh crazy way to end the millennium for sure yeah mango it was the boston teens it was sally o'malley i didn't mind the sally o'malley one it was kind of fun um but just there was not much that that totally stood out aside from danny's like commitment to his characters typical stellar acting um an all-timer delicious dish sketch in my opinion but just very Very of the time. Very of the time. But I do think, you know, even with stuff that was completely played out by this point, like Mango, he does elevate whatever material is there. So, as you said, the Sally O'Malley, he makes that work. I think the Boston Teens really works pretty well, too, because he's playing the shop teacher. And there's a lot more physical comedy than you normally get in the Boston Teens, even though there's the obvious jokes as well.
Track 4:
[1:32:05] Yeah, I mean, the material wasn't as strong. For a season that was pretty good, there's more here than normally would be. Again, going back to not everybody could do this. If you had a lesser host coming in to have all these recurring characters, it wouldn't have worked as well. So I think for what the material he was given, this is a pretty good show. Yeah, I think it's a pretty good episode. His final episode, 1999. 1999 like he did a cameo during charlie day's monologue in 2011 but he's been largely absent and hopefully not forgotten but maybe some younger snl fans don't quite understand uh the power of danny devito and snl i know uh you're not personal friends with danny devito that i know of but do you have any working theories maybe as to why like danny hasn't come back to host in 25 years now You know, and it's been a recurring question for a lot of hosts. And the host countdown that we've talked about, he came in 50 in the fans poll.
Track 4:
[1:33:13] And every week, John Schneider and I have moved him up. And almost every week, the people who were on with us were like, I got to go back and watch those Danny DeVito episodes because you guys are really high on him. He was number one on both of our lists until way, way into the countdown. And I'll tell you, Thomas, I'm breaking news here, although this will air after our reveals, but he's 17 all time for me as far as hosts. He is just amazing. It's hard to say why somebody doesn't come back. And we've seen this with modern people like Jon Hamm, Justin Timberlake.
Track 4:
[1:33:48] Why did he stop? If he had just hosted, and again, in the zeitgeist, on a show, a very popular show for the last 18 years. Is it an age thing? You can't imagine that SNL hasn't asked him.
Track 4:
[1:34:04] Yeah. How is this possible? How is it possible that we haven't at least seen him in a bigger cameo besides that Charlie Day episode in all of these years? It's been 25 years. He is the forgotten member of the recurring 90s host. I mean, you had all-time classics with Hanks, Baldwin, Goodman, Steve Martin, and Danny. And I think people do forget that because all of them, in one form or another, have come back this millennium. Not asking a lot. You know, Walken hasn't really been back since 08, but he's been there more recently. So yeah, it's kind of a bummer because he clearly still knows how to be funny. And you just really hope that we see him in some form on SNL. Yeah, as is often the case, the boring answer is probably the correct answer in that he just doesn't want to.
Track 4:
[1:35:00] When people, when SNL fans say, like, why haven't they got this person to host or that person, the boring, probably correct answer is that person just said no. They just didn't want to. So I mean, that's probably the case here. I mean, we dive deep into this a lot with people, with hosts, and it may be, you know, the diminishing returns that we often see with somebody. You know, we talked about these amazing, amazing episodes in season 13 and 14. He comes back in 18. He's still got a lot of great stuff. 25, not as great and through no fault of his own.
Track 4:
[1:35:37] Is it something where you're like, I'm not going to tarnish my reputation? It's almost like the aging quarterback is like, I'm not going to play one more year just to get a couple stats under the belt. I want my reputation to be as good as it is right now. So is that something that factors into Danny and maybe some others too? Yeah, it could be. So we would love to have Danny back. We just started a season 50. So it'd be wonderful if Danny returned. We'd be shocked. I'd be a little shocked if he did. Maybe not at the 50th celebration in February, but I don't know, be a pleasant surprise. So Bill, now's the time. You're talking to voters, fans, the folks at the water cooler. Why should they appreciate Danny's work as an SNL host? Well, there's so many good reasons, much of which we've talked about over the last 90 minutes.
Track 4:
[1:36:29] He covers multiple eras. We've seen him work with people all the way back to 1982. 82. He always elevates his game. There's something about a Danny DeVito episode that is special. And he's only the eighth person to join the Five Timers Club. You think about that today, it's almost, again, going back to the sports metaphor, things that get watered down over the course of time. And they're handing out Five Timers jackets to everyone these days. I'm looking at you, Woody and Jonah. But yeah, I mean, he got his Five Timers jacket before Baldwin, before Goodman before Bill Murray before Walken so he was established in the show before most of these people were and the fact that we haven't had him back should not be held against him because his six episodes still hold up to this day some of them over 40 years ago were made and they're still very funny there's still something to see about Danny DeVito at every return. Just to see him again would be fantastic. If you see him on Always Sunny on a weekly basis, you'd know that he could still do something like this. He elevates that show. He elevated SNL.
Track 2:
[1:37:56] So there's that very interesting retrospective, uh, of the CV of Mr. DeVito that we were just taken on. And, uh, I learned a lot between Matt and between Bill and Thomas. Uh, there's a lot on the plate here, folks. And as you pick up the pen and start to think about your ballot and how you are going to vote, you know, maybe go back and watch some of these episodes that, uh, Bill and Thomas were talking about. Uh, he was a bonafide movie star. And I mean, had he not locked himself down into a sitcom right now, I'm sure he would still be doing film.
Track 2:
[1:38:41] So there's that, but don't take my word for it. As always, we are going to listen to a sketch from the Danny DeVito. And, And you can judge for yourself. This is a reoccurring sketch that it's delicious dish. It's a reoccurring sketch and DeVito shows up on it. And, you know, it's sort of a reinvention of the of the sketch. They really push it to a different place and DeVito stays with them the entire time. So let's give this a listen right now. Now it's Delicious Dish with Danny DeVito.
Track 5:
[1:39:33] Hello, I'm Margaret Jo McCullen. And I'm Terry Rialto. It's June 16th of the year 2000, and you're listening to The Delicious Dish on National Public Radio. Wow, Terry. It's hard to believe we're already six months into the year 2000. Or as we like to call it, the hellish aftermath of the Y2K catastrophe. It's neat though. It's fun. Fun. It's pretty fun. It's kind of a catastrophe, but it's good times. Good times. So, Terry, we've got another great show for anyone who might still be alive out there. Which is doubtful. It seems like only yesterday that New Year's came in with a bang. And then another louder bang. Really loud. Really loud bang. It sure was. It was Jesus knocking at the door. No, it wasn't. No. It was a roving sex gang.
Track 5:
[1:40:42] Anyway, we really have a corker of a show for you tonight. We're joined by a good friend and a familiar face. Since he's been our guest every day for the past six months. He's the author of an exciting new book you can find in burned out and looted bookstores everywhere. It's called Sumptuous Delights. Please welcome Chef Willie Boucher.
Track 5:
[1:41:15] Thanks for joining us, Willie. Hi, Terry. Hi, Margaret Jo. It's great to see you again, Willie. It's really a pleasure for me to be back here on my 167th consecutive show. It's our pleasure. It's nice having you. So, Willie, this is an exciting time to be cooking and an exciting time of year as the sights and sounds of the season turn our thoughts to avoiding starvation. That's right. All right, and avoiding starvation means wonderful culinary treats we can enjoy as we cower from the Aryan blood armies and packs of wild dogs who control the night. It's neat. It's fun. It's a nice diversion. It's good times. Yeah, it is. Now, Willie, as our listeners know, when civilization began to collapse, Terry and I had stockpiled half a jar of non-dairy creamer, some sweet and low, and a ficus plant. I guess we should have thought that through a little better.
Track 5:
[1:42:37] Anyway now that provisions are gone we've had to improvise and willie's been a real miracle worker well thank you margaret joe you're welcome it's amazing what desperation can make you do yeah like the night that i spent with those bikers in exchange for that packet of ketchup willie i understand you have a special treat for us today, I hope you're going to read to us from your book Well I'd like to but if you recall we ate all the pages last week, They were delicious If you chewed them long enough they tasted like juicy fruit, Did you say Jesus? No, juicy fruit, Anyway Today we once again explore Laura, some simple dishes you can make in your own things that are lying around your own radio station. I like this. It's creamy New England clam chowder made out of whiteout.
Track 5:
[1:43:52] And some dice I found. And, oh, you heat it in the microwave for two minutes and then you season it with some imaginary pepper. Ooh, I hope I don't sneeze. And as you can see here, I've served up a side dish here with some pan-seared Dristan tablets. They're very good. Take a couple myself. Bon appetit. Wow, Terry. Smell those delicious fumes. I can hear my ears ringing already. Neat. This is good. That's nice. Yes. It's not soup. It's white out.
Track 5:
[1:44:54] Kill me. Anyway, that's all the time we have. All Things Considered would be up next, but the All Things Considered guy starved to death four months ago. So, All Things Considered, he's not doing too well. You've been making that joke for four months. We'll join you again tomorrow when our guests will be me, Willie Boucher and our topic will be what to serve if you receive an unexpected visit from the water militia I really wish we'd thought to buy a gun if we had a gun I'd eat it, that actually wouldn't be that bad that would be delicious oh that's.
Track 2:
[1:45:50] Very good you know that's very good when you consider how weathered that sketch is at this point um i i thoroughly enjoyed it and devito uh helped make it so as always make sure to tune in to the snl hall of fame water cooler that is every thursday provided i don't have technical difficulties, that is. We will be discussing this episode and the previous Saturday Night Live episode as well. So tune into that for sure. I can also tell you that next week we are going to be covering writer Alan Zweibel, and we are going to be joined by Gary Seeth, once again, the returning Gary Seeth. So there's that. Now that's what I've got for you.
Track 2:
[1:46:42] So, if you would do me a favor and on the way out, as you walk past the Weekend Update exhibit, turn out the lights, because the SNL Hall of Fame is now closed.
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