'Wasn't That Special' Season Five Bonus Material
As the Wasn’t That Special co-hosts watch each season of Saturday Night Live, they compare notes on each episode, chatting back and forth about both popular and long-forgotten sketches. Some of the topics they discuss make it to the final podcast; others are left on the cutting-room floor.
But for those of you who join at the Executive Producer level, you will have access to Christian and Scot’s behind-the-scenes notes, as well as bonus materials the co-hosts used to prepare for the episode.
Below is the Season Five bonus notes section, with the clips coming next week.
So please help keep the podcast advertisement-free and upgrade to the Executive Producer level, which will keep these emails coming in the future.
Episode One: Steve Martin
Scot: Live band listed in credits for first time? - Feels like fun, more so that S4, but could just be Martin's presence.
Martin comes into Murray and Radner's house to teach them Spanish, starts taking a shower
Christian: Silly and fun.
Scot: I have a funny feeling this might one of the best acted sketches of the season.
The Vandals attack Roman soldiers by doing flaming poop trick, getting egged, TP'ed, ordering pizzas under Martin's name. They catch Franken, Murray and Jane are his parents.
Scot: Franken missed his cue to enter b/c he was daydreaming about how perfect his role would have been for Belushi.
Murray as David Susskind - panel of people who have seen Carter COS Hamilton Jordan do cocaine
Christian: Dated, but probably wasn't even funny then.
Scot: Was David Susskind a big deal? This is like his third appearance and I don't really know who he is.
Shearer introduces Martin and Radner, who dance in Russian ballet while surrounded by Russian police officers.
Christian: What happened in the Russian ballet that week - maybe someone defected?
Scot: Yep. Defection. It's not fantastic, but a point for being very current and figuring out a way to comment on the recent news.
Episode Two: Eric Idle
Christian: A top-5 episode from the first five seasons.
Scot: A very good episode; I'm not quite as high on it as you are, but still could end up one of the season's best.
Eric's sick - Harry Shearer as doctor - if Idle goes on, he has a 50/50 shot of surviving the show (Hi, John) ---weird false start to song.
Christian: Direct shot at Belushi - how do we feel about Lorne as a performer?
Prince Charles Tells You How to Pick Up Girls
Christian: "How many times has this happened to you?" - Some callbacks: "Foxes," "Hot Monkey Love."
Scot: Idle says the name of the book wrong the second time ... women, not girls.
Murray as dancer in drag bar, Laraine's father - "Hardcore II"
Christian: Um
Andy Kaufman - Wrestles women - they are not physically or mentally capable - good for scrubbing potatoes, mopping floors, raising babies - men are pussycats and pansies for letting women's lib happen - crowd wants pregnant woman to do it - beats the woman - challenges Diana Nyad.
Christian: One of the best things on television, ever.
Scot: I mean, he's cutting a wresting promo. Ravishing Rick Rude (and others) used this template for years. - Kelly would be a handful, methinks. - Wait, is the winner pregnant? -- It's so natural that Kaufman would be drawn to the real/fake world of wrestling
Episode Three: Bill Russell
Ted Kennedy (Murray) late to his presidential announcement because he's soaking wet
Christian: "There are those who would look at my past and say 'why?' I choose to look at my past and say 'so what?'"
Scot: Downey is Dave Powers, I think?
"The Ann Landers Files" - finally, Jane has her "Baba Wawa"
Christian: Paul Shaffer is effectively an uncredited cast member at this point.
Scot: Paul's reward for not defecting to the Blues Brothers & sticking with Gilda Live! --- too long, too many segments.
Eleanor Roosevelt sends lesbian love letters as chain letters?
Christian: Can't quite unlock this one.
Scot: "My hot monkey love, always. Eleanor."
Murray hosts sports talk show about made up sports like "sticks and melons," and "rudder bat," has never heard of basketball. Russell is guest.
Scot: A different version of the Aykroyd/Idle nonsense sketch from a few years ago; a likeable sketch.
Episode Four: Buck Henry
Scot: First real disappointing episode of the season.
Rally against Buck hosting -- Everyone hates Buck but NBC forces Lorne to use him -- Buck saved Fred Silverman's life in the Korean War.
Scot: Jane finally gets to say it!!
Mystery of Toad Island -- inbreeding leads to residents becoming toads
Scot: Franken and Davis sketch - Davis called it "A noble failure." - inflating condoms in throats, PAs blowing to inflate (you can see the hose as Laraine walks to the table).
Buck racing home to get to bathroom
Scot: Quick, fun.
Episode Five: Bea Arthur
Christian: Even with Danny and John gone, Garrett can't get any meaningful airtime.
Scot: Bad show. A bunch of clunkers and “First He Cries.”
Reagan post-speech briefing with advisor and Laraine's Valley Girl taking off make-up.
Scot: Reagan is old and can't speak, apparently. One of the worst things in the first 5 seasons.
Christian: The opposite of prescient.
First He Cries - mastectomy and its effects on men who deal with anguish of living with half a woman.
Christian: It's not perfect - it probably goes on too long, but it is genius and bold.
Scot: "Most controversial sketch ever aired" -- a F&D piece --- NBC News correspondent wrote First, You Cry about her breast cancer. Murray was terrified: "Do you know what it's like to go play something that's going to make people hate you?" Arthur and censors approved, later would have second thoughts --- 250+ phone calls, 300+ letters.
The Roches: Musical guest
Christian: We couldn't get the Ramones, but we get the Roches?
Scot: Paul Simon pushed them.
Young adults eating Thanksgiving dinner in basement -- begin acting like kids.
Christian: In gaming parlance, Shaffer as a cast member is basically a NPC.
Scot: Shaffer not great as a sketch member.
Woman to Woman --- Mother vs. childless woman
Christian: The premise here is the whole sketch - and they don't offer anything to make good on the premise.
Scot: The mother seems to paint a pretty great picture - without the catty conflict, there's not really a point.
Shearer and Shaffer create a new musical
Christian: I miss Aykroyd - Murray actually a really good singer.
Scot: Oh, no. Oh, no. -- I know they're describing a story, but I just don't care.
Episode Six: Howard Hesseman
Christian: Hesseman got his start in sketch comedy - wish it showed a little more here.
Scot: I love Hesseman and Randy Newman, but this was a terrible, terrible episode.
In his monologue Hesseman says they can't talk about Iran -- the Ayatollah watches SNL, loves Mr. Bill.
Scot: Hesseman leads chant of "Restraint!"
Christian: Woodrow Wilson has some famous quote about a nation being "too proud to fight." Updated for 1979 by President Hesseman.
The BelAirabs - Beverly Hillbillies takeoff - screeching grandma, cutting off hands, Burqa jokes
Christian: If Newsmax started their own sketch show, this is exactly what they would run - "Script Consultant - Kareem Abdul Jabbar."
Scot: Hooooooooo baby. If there's a better "Sketch That Could Not Be Done Today" I will be shocked. Jeepers. Starts cringey and doesn't get any better.
Hesseman meets Gilda's old boyfriend - new age-ish conversation ... working of ourselves
Christian: Finally a realistic representation of people named Scot.
The Nuclear Family
Christian: There is a ton of talent in the Aykroyd family. And it is all in one brother.
Aviva Film "First Love"
Christian: It's bad, but seeing Jane enjoying herself is enough to keep it from being a 1.
Episode Seven: Martin Sheen
Christian: Show just seems lost. No recurring, go-to characters. Writers are just grasping.
Scot: Entering Tailspin Territory -- the writing stinks and the cast isn't good enough to pull something out of nothing.
Quick Sex Change Operation
Christian: It's not a great joke, and couldn't be done today, but is it that offensive?
Scot: Am I being harsh here? They just change Murray into a dress and wig.
Sheen doesn't sing, dance, or tell jokes very well - pushes Toys for Tarts campaign
Scot: Holy cripes, his tone/mannerisms are exactly like Charlie's --- also talking about hookers, just like Charlie.
Le Shoe --- French film
Christian: Stupid and pointless, but I laughed.
Scot: I don't get it.
Apocalypse Now -- Sheen asked to take out Francis Ford Coppola for running over budget.
Christian: Inside Hollywood news isn't interesting at all - this is one of the all-time bombs - think of all the props and extras they needed for this.
Scot: 12 minutes. I can't ever get them back.
Bruce and Chrystie Jenner divorce --- endorse Minolta camera
Christian: I guess we are supposed to laugh at the fact that they noticed Bruce Jenner is getting divorced?
Scot: Audience missing applause cue numerous times tonight.
Revisions of Freudian Theory with Franken --- new "The Nasal Stage"
Christian: I actually kind of liked this? Good mix of high and low comedy.
Scot: Franken honing in on Jane's territory.
Martin Sheen for women's hair
Christian: It's funny because his name is Sheen.
Episode Eight: Ted Knight
Christian: Ted Knight was a good host, but the material wasn't there.
Scot: Really only 3 sketches all night.
Live From Panama; Xmas Gift from Shah and friends -- gets Ayatollah pinata as gift -- Sadat and Baba Wawa show up.
Christian: As cast members, Franken and Davis make great writers.
Knight comes out for monologue as "Steve Martin" --- white hair, white suit.
Christian: That's it. I'm bringing back the white suit, Tom Wolfe-style.
Scot: Knight is just 56 years old here - "Steve, I'm your father" - definitely decent.
Insurance company grievance board - first woman on committee - sex harassment allegation - Knight enters to defend himself, eventually breaks down in tears
Christian: Murray overloaded, stumbling on a lot of lines - this could have been run in 2017.
Scot: "I've had sex during office hours. I'm just a normal red-blooded American guy." - Knight's role is one Will Ferrell would own.
Nerds Christmas Pageant ---Zweibel plays donkey
Christian: I thought a bad Nerds sketch wasn't possible. But they managed it.
Scot: This is a mess. It's not a Nerds sketch and it's not a pageant sketch. Nothing resembling a laugh.
Andy Kaufman wrestles more women on television
Christian: Name something else that causes such a riotous response on live TV.
Scot: Kaufman muttering "This is the best they could do?" during the match - He's never really in danger.
Schiller's Reel ... Java Junkie
Christian: I appreciate Schiller's love of old movies.
Scot: Teri Garr appears - Peter Aykroyd stars - visually very appealing.
Episode Nine: Teri Garr
Christian: Using so many writers as cast members makes the show look confused and indecisive. Radner starting to fade into the background - writers are letting her down.
Iowa caucus - candidates in home doing chores - Downey as Bush, Murray as Kennedy, Aykroyd as Connally, BD Murray as Sen. Baker ... Carter calls in; Rosalyn is scrubbing floors - the real John B. Anderson in the crowd.
Scot: Kennedy volunteers to take the car to pick up kid from band … a genuine laugh there - Good concept.
Anchovy Council of America --- Teri Garr as marketing exec
Christian: There's a weird cutaway to a sweaty Murray eating an anchovy that made me laugh. It's not quite offensive, but far from fensive.
Episode Ten: Chevy Chase
Christian: At this point I want a Steve Martin episode the same way Uncle Roy wants Polaroids.
Gerald Ford at home --- Kissinger visits to draft Ford for POTUS --- Chase falls down stairs
Christian: "Reagan is too old." He was 68.
Chase references fight with Murray before last show, sings a duet with Murray now.
Christian: Caddyshack had been filmed in the fall of 79, where they worked together. So maybe there they quashed the beef?
Scot: It *looks* like they're having fun.
You Can't Win - kinda like Price Is Right - huge prize package - must find one coin among thousands in pot - pick a number out of 1500 - who is this in box?
Christian: This whole thing could have been improvised and it probably would have been better - you don't often see Chevy really struggle, but he's a sweaty mess here.
Scot: There's no real escalation. One joke. Chevy is awful, stumbling over everything.
Fashion show in black and white with Mr. Blackwell and Chevy (he's designed clothing)
Christian: What the f–k is this?
Scot: Bomb.
Jane recording a message for her mom(?) and then everyone is killed by darts.
Christian: Cocaine is a hell of a drug.
Scot: What did I just watch?
Chevy Chase sings "16 Tons" with Tom Scott (really)
Christian: The "16 Tons" refers to the amount of blow Chase did to think this was a good idea.
Episode Eleven: Elliot Gould
New Hampshire Kennedy-Carter debate --- Carter can't make it, press sec (Brian Doyle Murray) fills in
Christian: SNL continues to hammer Kennedy over Chappaquiddick. Also, could there be anything better than being in an SNL sketch where you're sparring with your brother?
Scot: Bill Murray's Ted Kennedy is underrated ... I mean, no one talks about it - Feels like a Downey, the first of these Q&A things?
Gould recruiting high school player in jail - serving multiple life terms - murdered a family
Christian: They keep using the name "Schindler" as a fake name.
Scot: Garrett playing high schooler? And he's really struggling.
Episode Twelve: Kirk Douglas
Christian: Douglas was 63 when he did this show and lived 40 MORE YEARS.
Scot: Douglas was pretty darn great as a host. Where is Gilda? Seriously. You'd think there would be ample opportunities.
What If? --- What if Sparticus had a Piper Cub
Christian: Kevin, the kid asking the question, was going to take the piper model and blow it up with firecrackers. In 1980, I was just about the age where I was doing the same.
Scot: "I've been thinking about this since I walked into the studio" -- Kirk Douglas brings childlike enthusiasm to the dramatization.
Bar Mitzvah - Schiller takes the lead - Nick the Bar Mitzvah singer
Scot: Jewish words are funny by themselves, apparently - Drunk Nick is different.
Gilda as bathroom attendant - Douglas walks in - wants him to sign paper towel - she mistakes him for other actors.
Scot: Cute, lighthearted, easy premise. Could use more things like this.
Episode Thirteen: Rodney Dangerfield
Christian: Murray in every non-cold open sketch. Pretty good episode for Laraine.
Scot: Signs of life? Rodney was a great get.
"Manhasset:" Woody Allen "Manhattan" parody - Dangerfield is dating a 10-year old?
Christian: In “Manhattan,” Woody Allen dates a 17-year old, but this just comes off creepy and unfunny.
Scot: Dangerfield not even close on fake eating the sandwich - kids at school calling him a "son of a butch" - couple decent jokes buried inside a really long Woody Allen parody and a creepy relationship.
Brian Doyle-Murray is a judge in an unruly courtroom
Christian: When Rob Morrow hosts in 1992 he mentions this sketch, as he is an extra in the jury box.
Scot: The courtroom is like a classroom with a substitute judge/teacher -- man, there's a professionalism shot through this that is missing from a lot of other stuff this season - so many good details.
Episode Fourteen: 100th Episode with Paul Simon, James Taylor
Christian: If you had to choose, would you take Steve Martin hosting 8 episodes in the first 5 seasons or John Belushi's whole four seasons?
Scot: Lorne, Michael O'Donoghue, Belushi on stage for goodnights - really not different than a regular episode. Slightly better quality that most of the season.
Shaffer trying to teach Murray ryhthm in old England --- sketch is writing excuse to say "flogging" instead of "f---ing" -- James Taylor has a speaking part -- Belushi guests in drag, no less, and hitting people with a drumstick
Christian: They saved Belushi's return for this garbage?
Scot: Shaffer slips and clearly says the f-word, but no one really caught it -- Murray figures it out by pounding on Shaffer's head.
Talk or Die, the action talk show - Michael Palin hosts - Spider on Garrett's shoulder -- taking sniper fire - bear mauls Garrett
Christian: Sure.
Scot: Good enough!
Aykroyd and Garrett as bums saving for really good wine - Murray as The Honker - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan at end to promo New York wines
Christian: I liked it! Laughed pretty hard when Garrett growled..."mmmm, delicate bouquet."
Scot: There was something here, but not fleshed out as it could have been.
Episode Fifteen: Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss
Scot: Watching the credits. There's a lot of writers on that list. A lot of talented writers. What are they all doing?
Christian: 17 writers on staff.
Gilda/Laraine treating Jesus as sex symbol - imagine lives with him - competing for his affection
Christian: A good sketch starring Laraine! Jesus does provide miracles!
Benjamin having affair; wife can smell anything - he starts freaking out, locks himself in bathroom
Christian: This is like porn without any sex - a sketch with everything but jokes.
Scot: Plays like a Miller sketch in which there are jokes to be had but not taken and instead it's just a view into a weird hotel bedroom.
Assertiveness Training w/ Bobbi Farber (no husband again)
Christian: Just skipping this.
Scot: For the last time, the Farbers are a couple. They don't work separately. - Really wanted to like it; it's all the women. But, of course, it's awful.
Franken & Davis - Iranian Tonight Show w/ Ayatollah - Khomeini the Magnificent
Christian: Not as funny as the average Carson Kreskin bit, and they wrote a thousand of them.
Scot: Some jokes aren't bad, actually, but on the whole it's flat. Crowd isn't into it.
Awkward neighbor dinner - bond over love for Joey Bishop - early vs.late show
Scot: Slow start, but I like where this one ends up.
Christian: Eh, never got there for me.
Episode Sixteen: Burt Reynolds
Scot: Here it is. The worst episode of the first five years of SNL. Rude, crude, loud, disgusting for no particular reason. Shearer's spots seem to be drying up a bit? Or just my imagination.
Burt interviews crowd member who doesn't know any of his films (not a plant)
Christian: Monologue while chewing gum. Is this a Norm Macdonald bit?
Scot: It works. Reynolds has charm and that goes a long way
Burt stops by random house in Lansing - with 16 &15 year old girls
Scot: Burt is going to commit statutory rape.
Christian: But Scot, it's a statement on the celebrity culture system - "Stunt Penis."
Burt and Gilda as a couple fighting
Christian: Are the cast members trying to audition for future dramatic roles?
Scot: Oh, boy. This again. - I cannot imagine the amount of cocaine hoovered up during the course of this week.
Baba Wawa at Large - Burt as fat Brando & pretty terrible impression
Christian: Radner seems like she wants to do this as much as we want to watch it.
Scot: Just when you think things can't get worse - Baba still can't say "R" or "L" - Totally out of ideas, recycling a bit for no reason.
Anne Murray sings
Christian: I bet Anne Murray banged a lot of groupies.
Episode Seventeen: Strother Martin
French camp run by The Captain from Cool Hand Luke - Murray tries to run away
Christian: Single joke run into the ground.
Reading of the Will - Martin via videotape - he's doing a TV show
Christian: Cringe emoji
Scot: I literally cannot believe this made it to air. What did the cut sketches look like?
Invasion of the Brain Snatchers - Regan pods dropped off by volunteer - friends are now Reagan supporters/zombies
Scot: "Say, what are these pods?" - Gilda is great reading zombie lines - the "scary" lines are actually very effective conservative arguments.
Weekly conductor's club meeting - stopping meeting to conduct - Murray brings guest who wants to join
Christian: Named "Sketch of the Year" by Hobby Conductors Magazine
Scot: Maybe an audience full of conductors would have laughed?
Any Town - one type of everything, no names on tombstones - everything generic, don't like names
Scot: This isn't a sketch, it's a Twilight Zone episode. Shot beautifully, intricate stage movements. I'm actually very intrigued.
Christian: Dissent.
Episode Eighteen: Bob Newhart
Christian: As poor a stretch of shows as we have seen - we are going to get to some seasons that are worse, but this one is so disappointing because of the talent involved.
Scot: Feels like Lorne is checked out. There's no quality control. There's no improvement, seemingly no notes on sketches.
Christian: The year he did this episode, Newhart is the same age I am now, be right back, drinking some bleach.
Pink Lady and Carl (Sagan) - Big Bang Theory vs. Big Band Theory with Marvin Hamlisch (Shaffer)
Christian: For Executive producer-level fans we should do a Pink Lady and Jeff bonus podcast.
Scot: Pink Lady and Jeff was a giant NBC bomb - just 5 episodes aired in 1980.
Battle of Bull Run - Newhart promised soldier he'd write his mother but keeps putting it off - Mom eventually comes to see him
Christian: Good idea, but my God, does the setup drag on forever.
Scot: Pretty good, plays to Newhart's strengths.
Dave's Variety Store - customers come in for the oddest requests pink balloon filled with pretzels, record out of print since 1954, machine to wash dirty poker chips, dead turtle frozen in block of ice, half-television
Scot: The season needed more whimsical stuff like this.
Episode Nineteen: Steve Martin
Christian: Martin wouldn't be back until Season 12, Novello until Season 11.
Scot: Have they done a Carter all season?
Day 122: Paul McCartney Without Marijuana - Father Sarducci promised to get Paul to say Live From New York
Christian: Paul McCartney is literally on the show - you couldn't do a cold open when he appears as Sarducci doesn't recognize him or something?
Scot: How is it possible with Steve Martin and Paul McCartney *this* is the cold open you go with?
Steve Martin’s monologue - he’s getting out of comedy. Tells us what he believes.
Christian: Believes Reagan will make the country what it once was - an Arctic wasteland covered in ice. (When people believed in global cooling.)
Real Incredible People - woman who reads every night - man whose skin is brown, etc.
Christian: I chuckled throughout - loved the chopsticks bit.
Scot: It’s a parody of NBC show REAL PEOPLE, a rare NBC success. Fred Willard was an occasional host.- Just loud, frenetic, and obnoxious.
More Sarducci - throws rock through McCartney's window, Paul comes out
Christian: Maybe it's not a "1," but it's a disappointment to have Paul freaking McCartney and burn him on this nonsense.
Scot: Is this the least interesting concept you possibly could have imagined for a Paul McCartney visit?
A minute to kill at the end - Laraine and Shearer look like they'd rather be anywhere else
Scot: Well, they both were miserable, so that makes sense.
Episode Twenty: Buck Henry
Scot: A strong of a close as possible in this wild, weak season.
Frank Reynolds/ABC already projects Carter and Reagan as primary winners- consolation debate b/t Bush (Downey) & Kennedy
Christian: "Sponsored by the League of Voters that Dress Like Women" - Shaffer is effectively doing Steve Kornacki with pies.
Scot: Shearer gets the final LFNY of the original era.
Buck says he's hosted 103 times, teases last SNL ever? - No! Introduces new cast for next year. "Stars of the future"
Christian: He's actually telling America what will happen, but they hide it as a joke.
Lord and Lady Douchebag -- Earl of Sandwich, Lord Salisbury's steak, Lord Argyle
Christian: "Spoken like a true douchebag" - Murray is having real fun.
Scot: Real laughs here and real surprise from audience.
Week In Review - roundtable; Tabloids as serious news - mom who let dog eat her baby, diet that lets you eat anything - Buck is from the New York Times
Christian: Eh, it's fine. Why is everyone whispering?
Scot: Oh, this is really good. Could've been a series, for sure.
Buck: "Goodnight and goodbye" - Laraine isn't feeling anything - Everyone walks offstage, camera zooms on "On Air" light blinking and going out
Scot: NBC didn't know and was pissed, had no intention of losing the show, no matter what - nothing official yet at this time w/ Lorne, but looking like he was gone.