The Georgia Politics Podcast · Appen Podcast Network

1975, Part 13: Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!

October 31, 2025·1 hr 46 min·5 clips

George Carlin was so high on cocaine during SNL's first episode that producers had a backup movie ready.

This episode of The Georgia Politics Podcast, hosted by Craig Kidd with Professor Adam Stone, examines the origins of *Saturday Night Live* and its intersections with American politics. The hosts focus on the show's first three episodes from October 1975 and analyze instances where political figures have served as hosts. The discussion details how *SNL* was created to fill a late-night slot after Johnny Carson requested fewer original broadcasts. NBC executive Dick Ebersol hired Canadian comedian Lorne Michaels, who assembled a cast including Gilda Radner and Chevy Chase from the *National Lampoon*. The first episode on October 11, 1975, featured a notoriously difficult George Carlin, who performed while intoxicated. Billy Crystal was cut from that premiere, replaced by Canadian comic Valri Bromfield, while Albert Brooks contributed poorly received short films. The second episode was essentially a Paul Simon concert, featuring a reunion with Art Garfunkel and a skit where Simon beats NBA player Connie Hawkins in basketball. The third episode, hosted by Rob Reiner, included an early appearance by his then-wife Penny Marshall and the first "Weekend Update" segment with Garrett Morris. A surprising insight is that John Belushi had not signed his contract until five minutes before the first show aired. The hosts note the original format was an eclectic variety show, not solidifying into its modern sketch-comedy template until the fourth episode with Candice Bergen. They highlight the infamous "Land of Gorch" Muppet sketches as a notorious failure, even among Muppet enthusiasts. For the political analysis, the hosts list figures who have hosted *SNL*, including press secretary Ron Nessen, mayors Ed Koch and Rudy Giuliani, and candidates like George McGovern and Steve Forbes. They examine the 1976 episode where Gerald Ford's press secretary, Ron Nessen, hosted in an attempt to make the president seem relatable, which backfired as the cast deliberately used raunchy humor. The episode notes that First Lady Betty Ford was reportedly upset, feeling the show undermined presidential dignity. The conversation includes a clip from a 1991 sketch where Democratic figures like Mario Cuomo and Lloyd Bentsen comically avoid being the party's nominee against the popular George H.W. Bush. The hosts observe a pattern of *SNL* inviting recently failed presidential candidates, such as Al Gore and John McCain, to host. The tone is conversational and nostalgic, blending historical recap with personal anecdotes and strong opinions on classic sketches. This episode would appeal to pop culture historians and political junkies interested in the early, chaotic years of *Saturday Night Live*. Listeners seeking a tightly focused political analysis or those unfamiliar with 1970s television might find the deep dive less engaging.

As heard by us

A lively look at Saturday Night Live's Ford-era press-secretary sketches.

The episode treats Saturday Night Live as a playful look at the Ford years, using Ron Nessen and the press-secretary sketches to ask who was taking advantage of whom.

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Why you'd press play

You want the Ford-era Saturday Night Live story.

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