This season marks the 50th Anniversary of “Saturday Night Live:” the groundbreaking and iconic show that revolutionized late-night television with its sharp celebrity impersonations, satirical news segments, musical performances and absurd sketches  - performed by comedy’s brightest stars and brought to life by the brilliant mind of creator Lorne Michaels. To commemorate this milestone, host Alec Baldwin speaks with writer and producer Steve Higgins, a key figure of the show for three decades, and Susan Morrison, the author of Lorne’s biography “Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live”. Morrison and Higgins reflect on the early days of the show, its relation to the New Yorker Magazine, and what has kept the show a cultural touchstone for so many decades.

This season marks the 50th Anniversary of &ldquo;Saturday Night Live:&rdquo; the groundbreaking and iconic show that revolutionized late-night television with its sharp celebrity impersonations, satirical news segments, musical performances and absurd sketches &nbsp;- performed by comedy&rsquo;s brightest stars and brought to life by the brilliant mind of creator Lorne Michaels. To commemorate this milestone, host Alec Baldwin speaks with writer and producer Steve Higgins, a key figure of the show for three decades, and Susan Morrison, the author of Lorne&rsquo;s biography &ldquo;Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live&rdquo;. Morrison and Higgins reflect on the early days of the show, its relation to the New Yorker Magazine, and what has kept the show a cultural touchstone for so many decades.

Award-winning actor Alec Baldwin takes listeners into the lives of artists, policy makers and performers. Alec sidesteps the predictable by going inside the dressing rooms, apartments, and offices of people we want to understand better: Ira Glass, Lena Dunham, David Letterman, Barbara Streisand, Tom Yorke, Chris Rock and others. Hear what happens when an inveterate guest becomes a host.

Award-winning actor Alec Baldwin takes listeners into the lives of artists, policy makers and performers.  Alec sidesteps the predictable by going inside the dressing rooms, apartments, and offices of people we want to understand better: Ira Glass, Lena Dunham, David Brooks, Roz Chast, Chris Rock and others. Hear what happens when an inveterate guest becomes a host.

Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin

On the 50th Anniversary of “SNL”: with Steve Higgins and Susan Morrison

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/31baaf21-eaf6-4dd4-8cf0-b28100349c2b/transcript

Melissa Errico is a Tony-nominated actress, singer, recording artist, and writer. She is known for her iconic Broadway musical roles such as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and the title role in One Touch of Venus. She is also recognized from her roles on TV series such as Billions, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Blue Bloods, The Good Wife, Law & Order, A Gifted Man, Ed, and Miss Match opposite Alicia Silverstone. In addition to her work on stage and screen, Errico is highly regarded for her recordings of musical theater classics, including albums of songs by Stephen Sondheim and Michel Legrand. Her 2018 album “Sondheim Sublime” was described by the Wall Street Journal as “the best all-Sondheim album ever recorded”. In a review for her 2024 album “Sondheim in the City”, the New York Times described Errio as “one of Sondheim's deepest-hearted yet lightest-touch interpreters.” Errico’s interpretation of Legrand’s music is equally highly praised, so much so that she was asked to write his eulogy for the Times and was the only American singer invited to perform at Legrand’s memorial at Le Grand Rex in Paris. In recent years, Errico has become a contributing writer to The New York Times and served on the National Endowment for the Arts. 

Melissa Errico is a Tony-nominated actress, singer, recording artist, and writer. She is known for her iconic Broadway musical roles such as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and the title role in One Touch of Venus. She is also recognized from her roles on TV series such as Billions, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Blue Bloods, The Good Wife, Law &amp; Order, A Gifted Man, Ed, and Miss Match opposite Alicia Silverstone. In addition to her work on stage and screen, Errico is highly regarded for her recordings of musical theater classics, including albums of songs by Stephen Sondheim and Michel Legrand. Her 2018 album &ldquo;Sondheim Sublime&rdquo; was described by the Wall Street Journal as &ldquo;the best all-Sondheim album ever recorded&rdquo;. In a review for her 2024 album &ldquo;Sondheim in the City&rdquo;, the New York Times described Errio as &ldquo;one of Sondheim's deepest-hearted yet lightest-touch interpreters.&rdquo; Errico&rsquo;s interpretation of Legrand&rsquo;s music is equally highly praised, so much so that she was asked to write his eulogy for the Times and was the only American singer invited to perform at Legrand&rsquo;s memorial at Le Grand Rex in Paris. In recent years, Errico has become a contributing writer to The New York Times and served on the National Endowment for the Arts.

Melissa Errico: From Sondheim to Legrand and the Great American Songbook 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c04bc7f9-4cc0-4aa4-8da2-b455011ee84e/transcript

Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey are the New York Times reporters who broke the Harvey Weinstein story. For five months -- perpetually in danger of losing the scoop -- they cultivated and cajoled sources ranging from the Weinsteins’ accountant to Ashley Judd. The article that emerged on October 5th, 2017, was a level-headed and impeccably sourced exposé, whose effects continue to be felt around the world. Their conversation with Alec covers their reporting process, and moves on to a joint wrestling with Alec’s own early knowledge of one of the Weinstein allegations, and his ongoing friendship with accused harasser James Toback. The guests ask Alec questions about the movie industry’s ethics about sex and “the casting couch.” Over a respectful and surprising half-hour, host and guests together talk through the many dilemmas posed by the #MeToo movement that Kantor and Twohey did so much to unleash.

Originally aired January 21st, 2020.

Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey are the New York Times reporters who broke the Harvey Weinstein story.&nbsp;For five months -- perpetually in danger of losing the scoop -- they cultivated and cajoled sources ranging from the Weinsteins&rsquo; accountant to Ashley Judd.&nbsp;The article that emerged on October 5th, 2017, was a level-headed and impeccably sourced expos&eacute;, whose effects continue to be felt around the world.&nbsp;Their conversation with Alec covers their reporting process, and moves on to a joint wrestling with Alec&rsquo;s own early knowledge of one of the Weinstein allegations, and his ongoing friendship with accused harasser James Toback.&nbsp;The guests ask Alec questions about&nbsp;the movie industry&rsquo;s ethics about sex and &ldquo;the casting couch.&rdquo;&nbsp;Over a respectful and surprising half-hour, host and guests together talk through the many dilemmas posed by the #MeToo movement that Kantor and Twohey did so much to unleash.
Originally aired January 21st, 2020.

From the Archives: Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5c088434-db10-41a3-a26f-b44e014d4fe6/transcript

Amanda Litman is an author, digital strategist, and the co-founder and president of “Run For Something” - an organization which recruits and supports young, diverse progressive candidates. Since launching in 2017, Run For Something has helped to elect more than 1,500 leaders across 49 states- primarily women and people of color. Outspoken against “bad boomer leadership” and a “boomer mentality” in politics, Litman is also president of RFS Civics -  a 501c3 that works to end the gerontocracy. Shortly after launching Run for Something, Amanda wrote the book Run for Something: A Real-Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself and has recently published her latest book, When We’re in Charge: The Next Generation’s Guide to Leadership in May 2025. Litman cites Barack Obama as her inspiration to work in politics and started her career as an email writer for his 2012 re-election campaign. From there, Litman worked as a digital strategist for Hilary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, Charlie Crist's 2014 Florida gubernatorial campaign, and served as the deputy email director for Organizing for Action. Litman is a strong advocate for a new style of “next gen” leadership and setting a new standard for this upcoming generation of leaders.

Amanda Litman is an author, digital strategist, and the co-founder and president of &ldquo;Run For Something&rdquo; - an organization which recruits and supports young, diverse progressive candidates. Since launching in 2017, Run For Something has helped to elect more than 1,500 leaders across 49 states- primarily women and people of color. Outspoken against &ldquo;bad boomer leadership&rdquo; and a &ldquo;boomer mentality&rdquo; in politics, Litman is also president of RFS Civics - &nbsp;a 501c3 that works to end the gerontocracy. Shortly after launching Run for Something, Amanda wrote the book&nbsp;Run for Something: A Real-Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself&nbsp;and has recently published her latest book,&nbsp;When We&rsquo;re in Charge: The Next Generation&rsquo;s Guide to Leadership&nbsp;in May 2025. Litman cites Barack Obama as her inspiration to work in politics and started her career as an email writer for his 2012 re-election campaign. From there, Litman worked as a digital strategist for Hilary Clinton&rsquo;s 2016 presidential campaign, Charlie Crist's 2014 Florida gubernatorial campaign, and served as the deputy email director for Organizing for Action. Litman is a strong advocate for a new style of &ldquo;next gen&rdquo; leadership and setting a new standard for this upcoming generation of leaders.

Amanda Litman on Next Gen Leadership

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/413af5a9-affb-42e6-a87d-b4470135a31b/transcript

On the 50th Anniversary of “SNL”: with Steve Higgins and Susan Morrison

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